Energy Central

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316

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Welcome to the Energy Central Podcast Network—your ultimate resource for the biggest ideas, boldest perspectives, and best insights from across the electric power industry. We publish… Power Perspectives. From CEOs of major utilities to founders of energy tech startups pushing the envelope, Power Perspectives curates the news, thought leaders, and big picture conversations most important to modern power professionals—every week on Tuesdays. The Watt & Why. Dive deep into utility business strategies, straight from the minds of the leaders deciding what comes next. Host Mike Smith leverages his own decades of power utility industry experience and leadership to get to the bottom of what inspires, drives, and challenges utility decision makers. And there’s even more to come. Energy Central is a community where 250K electric power professionals share, learn, and connect in a collaborative environment. Want to join in? Visit www.EnergyCentral.com to register for free.

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August 21, 202638 min

How Utilities Are Putting Agentic AI to Work | IBM

AI is quickly moving from pilot projects to real-world applications across the utility industry. But what does it take to make these tools work at scale? In this episode of Power Perspectives, host Matt Chester sits down with IBM energy and utilities leaders Christopher Behme and Biren Gandhi to explore how utilities are applying agentic AI across grid planning, operations, emergency response, and predictive maintenance. The conversation covers how AI can help utilities coordinate complex workflows, accelerate new load connections, make better use of existing grid capacity, and turn growing volumes of data into actionable insights. The guests also discuss the role of digital twins, the importance of breaking down data silos, and why human oversight remains essential as AI takes on a larger role in utility decision-making. Plus, hear IBM’s vision for the “adaptive grid” where operators have access to integrated, real-time information and workflows, and can respond dynamically to changing grid conditions.

August 18, 202627 min

The truth about nuclear's comeback

Nuclear energy is making headlines declaring its comeback. But did nuclear ever really go away? In this episode, Matt Chester unpacks what’s behind nuclear’s renewed moment in the spotlight. He traces the industry from its massive buildout in the 20th century through Three Mile Island and Chernobyl, and explores the role nuclear has quietly continued to play on the U.S. grid. He also digs into what’s changing now: AI and data centers are driving unprecedented electricity demand, policymakers are reconsidering nuclear retirements, and emerging technologies like small modular reactors (SMRs) are promising new ways to deploy nuclear power. Watch now to learn what’s behind nuclear’s comeback, what utilities need to know about public perception, and what’s to come in the next decade.

August 11, 202638 min

This Tiny Nuclear Battery Could Unlock the Next Era of Space Exploration

What if a nuclear battery the size of a grain of rice could power critical sensors for decades—or help build the infrastructure needed to explore the Moon and Mars? In this episode of Energy Central’s Power Perspectives Podcast, host Molly Glick sits down with City Labs CEO Peter Cabauy to explore the emerging world of nuclear micropower. City Labs develops long-lasting betavoltaic power sources that generate electricity offering continuous power for applications where conventional batteries and solar energy can fall short. The conversation follows City Labs’ journey from an idea inspired by quantum physics to a major milestone: launching what the company calls the world’s first commercial nuclear-powered satellite aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-17 mission. Peter explains how betavoltaic technology works, why tiny amounts of continuous power can be valuable, and where City Labs sees opportunities—from sensors embedded across the power grid to pacemakers, lunar infrastructure, Mars exploration, and deep-space missions. He also discusses the regulatory and technical hurdles involved in bringing nuclear technology to space.

August 4, 202615 min

Inside the Heated AI Data Center Debate

Today’s episode of Power Perspectives tackles one of the most contentious issues in the energy industry today: should states slow or even pause the rapid expansion of AI data centers? Energy Central’s Molly Glick and Carrie Klein break down New York's first-in-the-nation temporary data center moratorium, why more than a dozen states are considering similar policies, and the arguments on both sides of the debate. The conversation explores concerns over rising electricity costs, grid reliability, water use, and whether ratepayers should bear the cost of powering AI infrastructure. At the same time, they examine the economic benefits data centers can bring through jobs, investment, and innovation. Whether you're for or against data center moratoriums, this discussion offers a balanced look at one of the biggest policy debates shaping the future of AI and the electric grid.

July 28, 202633 min

Can Data Centers Actually Lower Your Electric Bill?

As electricity demand surges and customer bills come under increasing pressure, utilities are being challenged to balance affordability, reliability, and economic growth. But can bringing more data centers and large industrial customers onto the grid actually help lower costs for everyone else? In this episode of Power Perspectives, Kinsey Grant Baker sits down with Christine Martin, President of PPL Electric Utilities, to discuss why electricity prices are rising, how utilities can protect residential customers while supporting massive new loads, and why transparent communication has become just as important as grid infrastructure. Christine explains how PPL is preparing for unprecedented demand growth, why "growth should pay for growth," and what utilities can do to build trust with the communities they serve. Whether you're interested in grid modernization, utility regulation, data centers, or the future of electricity affordability, this conversation offers an inside look at one of the industry's biggest challenges.

July 24, 202635 min

The Engineering Debate Shaping the Future Power Grid

As electricity demand surges, utilities are being forced to rethink how they build the transmission grid. In this episode of Power Perspectives, Burns & McDonnell's Brandon Goodwin and Zach Brinker explain why a decades-old debate—lattice towers versus steel poles—is becoming relevant again. They break down the engineering, cost, construction, and reliability tradeoffs behind each approach, and explain how factors like terrain, outage constraints, supply chains, and project scale all influence the right choice. If the grid is going to keep pace with unprecedented demand growth, utilities will need to move beyond one-size-fits-all solutions for building the transmission infrastructure of the future. Thank you to Burns & McDonnell for sponsoring this episode. Discover more about Burns & McDonnell: https://hubs.li/Q04qzfSp0

July 21, 202639 min

Why Keeping The Lights On Is Getting Harder

The North American grid remains one of the most reliable in the world—but is that changing? As electricity demand surges from AI data centers, electrification, and new manufacturing, utilities are racing to keep pace while balancing an increasingly complex mix of resources. So how reliable is the grid today? Where are the biggest risks emerging? And what needs to happen to keep the lights on over the next decade? In this episode of Power Perspectives, Kinsey Grant Baker sits down with John Moura, Director of Reliability Assessment and System Analysis at NERC, to unpack the organization's latest long-term reliability assessment. They discuss why some regions face greater reliability risks than others, how the rapid growth of wind, solar, batteries, and data centers is reshaping grid planning, and why data centers may actually strengthen reliability if integrated thoughtfully. Moura also explains why traditional planning metrics are becoming outdated—and what utilities, regulators, and policymakers should do now to build a more reliable grid for the future. Whether you're planning for the next wave of load growth or navigating the evolving generation mix, this conversation offers a timely look at the challenges—and opportunities—ahead for North America's power system.

July 17, 202643 min

Why This Utility Shut Off Power Before Disaster Hit

Wildfire risk is changing—and so is the way utilities respond. In this episode of Power Perspectives, we take an inside look at Arizona Public Service's first-ever Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) and the high-stakes decision-making behind intentionally turning off power to prevent catastrophic wildfires. Host Matt Chester is joined by Wade Ward, Manager of Wildfire Mitigation and Fire Science at Arizona Public Service, and Steve Vanderburgh, Vice President of Weather & Risk Solutions at Technosylva. Together, they explain how advanced weather modeling, wildfire analytics, and operational planning helped guide one of the utility's most difficult decisions. They also discuss how utilities can balance reliability with public safety, why today's wildfire threat extends far beyond California, and what lessons every utility can apply before the next extreme weather event. Whether you're working in utility operations, emergency management, or simply interested in how critical infrastructure adapts to growing climate risks, this conversation offers practical insights into one of the industry's most important challenges. Thank you Technosylva for sponsoring this episode. Learn more about Technosylva here: https://hubs.la/Q04psJRr0

July 14, 202633 min

The New Market That Could Make Power Cheaper

As electricity demand grows and the grid becomes more complex, utilities are looking for smarter ways to deliver reliable, affordable power. I n this episode of Power Perspectives, Kinsey Grant Baker sits down with Mike Wilding, Vice President of Energy Supply Management at PacifiCorp, to explore the Extended Day Ahead Market (EDAM) and how it could reshape electricity markets across the western United States. Mike explains how EDAM builds on the success of the Western Energy Imbalance Market by enabling utilities to optimize power generation and transmission a full day in advance rather than only in real time. The conversation covers how better forecasting and regional coordination can lower costs for customers, improve reliability during extreme weather, and make more efficient use of renewable energy resources. Mike also shares the years of collaboration, technology upgrades, and regulatory work required to launch EDAM, along with lessons for utilities considering similar market models. If you're interested in the future of grid operations, regional electricity markets, and utility innovation, this episode offers an accessible look at one of the industry's most significant developments.

July 7, 202632 min

From wildfires to the Olympics: Inside one utility's resilience overhaul

In January 2025, the LA wildfires became one of the most destructive weather events in American history—and LADWP, the largest municipally-owned utility in the United States, had to respond in real time…while simultaneously planning for the World Cup, the Super Bowl, and the 2028 Olympics. This is how they did it. In this episode, host Kinsey Grant Baker sits down with Zoraya Oliver-Griffin, LADWP's Chief Resiliency and Emergency Officer, to talk about what it actually takes to build a utility that can withstand anything. From standing up a state-of-the-art emergency ops center to stress-testing infrastructure through back-to-back global events, Zoraya breaks down how LADWP is turning hard-won lessons into a long-term resilience strategy—and why she thinks every major utility needs a role like hers.