The Clean Energy Edge is your go-to podcast for insightful discussions on the evolving energy landscape. Hosted by industry expert Russ Bates, the podcast delves into topics centered around clean energy while also exploring broader aspects of the energy sector. From renewable technologies and policy developments to traditional energy sources and emerging innovations, Russ provides in-depth analysis and real-world insights to help listeners navigate the complexities of the energy transition. Whether you’re an industry professional, policymaker, or energy enthusiast, The Clean Energy Edge delivers the knowledge and perspectives you need to stay informed and ahead in the dynamic world of energy.
Episode 110: The Grid Can't Keep Up — So Data Centers Are Building Their Own Power!
Data centers need massive amounts of electricity. But what happens when the power grid can't keep up?
With AI and cloud computing driving electricity demand higher, data-center developers are facing a growing challenge: getting enough reliable power when they need it.
And there's another controversy. Should homeowners and businesses have to pay higher electricity bills to support these massive facilities?
Some states are introducing restrictions, special electricity rates, and policies encouraging data centers to supply more of their own power.
Meanwhile, developers are exploring alternatives to waiting years for utilities to deliver the electricity they need.
In this episode of the Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ explores:
Why data centers are increasingly considering their own power generation.
How states and utilities are responding to growing electricity demand.
Why solar and battery storage are playing a major role in powering these facilities.
How new approaches to building utility-scale solar, including the Maverick system, could help accelerate deployment while reducing field labor and making better use of available land.
Natural gas, solar, battery storage, and other technologies all have roles to play. The challenge is developing reliable, cost-effective solutions that can be built fast enough.
Data centers aren't just changing how much electricity America needs. They're changing how we're going to produce and deliver it.
For more information about the Maverick solar system and how NXTGEN can help evaluate large-scale solar opportunities, contact info@nxtgencleanenergy.com.
#DataCenters #ArtificialIntelligence #PowerGeneration #SolarEnergy #BatteryStorage #ElectricGrid #EnergyInfrastructure #CleanEnergy
27 Oct 2026
Episode 109: Why Do 75% of Proposed Power Projects Never Get Built?
America needs more electricity. So why does so much proposed power generation never get built?
According to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, approximately 75% of the generating capacity that entered U.S. interconnection queues between 2000 and 2020 had been withdrawn by the end of 2025. Only about 13% had reached commercial operation.
That's a staggering amount of proposed generation that never made it onto the grid.
In this episode of the Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ takes a closer look at why so many power projects get withdrawn before construction.
We explore rising interconnection costs, expensive transmission upgrades, financing challenges, permitting, and why some developers enter projects into the queue before they're ready to move forward.
We also discuss how these withdrawals can create additional delays for other projects and what needs to change to get more viable generation built.
With America's electricity demand growing, we don't just need more projects entering the queue. We need more projects actually getting built.
#PowerGeneration #GridInterconnection #ElectricGrid #EnergyInfrastructure #CleanEnergy #RenewableEnergy #EnergyTransition
20 Oct 2026
Episode 108: Why Does It Take So Long to Connect to the Power Grid?
America needs more electricity. Developers are proposing hundreds of gigawatts of new generation and battery storage.
So why can it take more than five years for a new power project to go from an interconnection request to commercial operation?
In this episode of the Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ breaks down what actually happens when a large power project tries to connect to the grid.
We look at interconnection studies, transmission capacity, grid upgrades, utilities and regional grid operators, project withdrawals, and why connecting hundreds of megawatts isn't as simple as finding the nearest transmission line and plugging into it.
We also look at how the process changes for behind-the-meter generation and massive new loads like data centers, where the interconnection challenge can look very different.
There absolutely needs to be a process to make sure the grid remains safe and reliable.
But should that process take five years?
With U.S. electricity demand growing, getting more power online faster isn't just about building more generation. We also need to find ways to modernize the process for connecting it.
#PowerGrid #Interconnection #Electricity #PowerGeneration #Energy #Transmission #DataCenters #GridReliability #CleanEnergy
Who has been a guest on The Clean Energy Edge
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Russ
Myria Williams
Dr Janette Freeman
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16,137
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Apple Podcasts (US)
3.0 / 5
2 ratings
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Podcast Authority Score: 26 / 100
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