2025.09.16 | AI's Power Gold Rush: Can Our Grid Handle the Demand Surge?

Current Events - The Electric Utility Today

This episode explores the "power gold rush" ignited by Artificial Intelligence, which is fundamentally reshaping investment decisions and creating immense new energy demands. We examine how this surge in demand is driving ambitious policy goals, such as adding 300 gigawatts of new nuclear capacity by 2050, and influencing immediate market moves, including significant investments in natural gas plants to power AI data centers. The discussion also tackles critical grid reliability questions, from developing new standards for inverter-based resources to the ongoing debate over how to accurately measure grid performance and ensure stability. Finally, we delve into the split views on future energy security—between maintaining fossil fuel output and shifting towards critical minerals and clean tech—highlighting the complex challenge of building tomorrow's grid quickly, reliably, and affordably.