Shows
Energy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldUnlocking Hidden Power In Transmission LinesIn early March, mid-Atlantic grid operator PJM Began using Ambient Adjusted Ratings to better determine how much power can flow through its lines based on actual weather conditions. In addition, the DOE announced it will award billions for quick and effective upgrades to the transmission system.First we have to fix the broken interconnection issue. For all projects seeking interconnection to the grid from 2008 through 2019, only 19% of the projects actually flowed power by the end of 2024. The typical project built in 2025 took 55 months to get through the queue, compared with 36 months in 2015.
2026-03-2607 min
Definitely, Maybe AgileAI Agent Governance in Production with Logan KellyMost organizations are somewhere between experimenting with AI agents and quietly hoping nothing breaks in production. Logan Kelly, CEO of Waxle AI, has spent a lot of time in that gap, and he thinks governance is the piece most teams are walking past too quickly.In this episode, Logan joins Peter and Dave to talk about what agentic governance actually looks like in practice, why a single consistent layer beats a pile of point solutions, and how to keep developers moving fast without letting things go sideways when it counts.This week's takeaways:Let...
2026-03-1928 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldDecoding Solar Capacity: What do those huge megawatt numbers actually mean for the grid?The U.S. solar industry installed 43.1 gigawatts-direct current (GWdc) of capacity in 2025, down 14% from 2024. GWdc is the nameplate rating of projects before they connect to the grid through inverters, which convert direct current (DC) to the alternating current (AC) our grid uses.Two elements lower DC ratings to AC ratings. First, inverter losses account for around 4%.More importantly, solar panels have specific output duration curves; there’s only a very small period when they produce maximum output, or even 80–90%. It’s uneconomical to buy an inverter that rarely hits full MW ratings, so developers resort to “so...
2026-03-1905 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner World100 Hours of Storage: Unpacking the Iron-Air Battery Deal That Changes EverythingXcel Energy and Google recently announced a monumental clean energy agreement to power a new data center in Minnesota. While the deal includes massive wind and solar additions, the real game-changer is the energy storage component: 300 MW of iron-air batteries manufactured by Form Energy, boasting an unprecedented 100 hours of duration.To put the scale into perspective, this single 30,000 MWh (30 GWh) project represents over 50% of the entire battery energy storage installed across the U.S. last year.In our latest update, we unpack the details of this historic deal, including:...
2026-03-0506 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldState of Commercial Fusion Energy: Market UpdatesI have spell-checked and fixed the grammar in the document's content. I've focused on corrections that maintain the original meaning and structure of the text.-----The last few weeks have seen numerous announcements by U.S. fusion energy companies.First, let’s briefly explain fusion. With fission, you take a heavy and unstable nucleus and split it into two smaller nuclei, releasing energy and creating a chain reaction.With fusion, you cause two light nuclei (usually hydrogen isotopes) to collide and merge into a heavier nucleus (such as helium), releasing energy. The sun is an en...
2026-02-2307 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldLessons from January: Building a Resilient Energy Mix Against Over-Reliance on Single Sources of SupplyLet’s explore the complexity associated with keeping the lights, using New England as an example. The region is a bit of an outlier because of its proverbial end-of-the-pipeline location. Most days, its two pipelines are sufficient to heat homes and generate power. But late January to early February was unusually cold and there was not enough gas for both.We’ll look at both energy and capacity issues. Capacity is the instantaneous amount of electricity produced or consumed. Energy is a function of capacity times the duration.The hott...
2026-02-0608 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldA 15-year guarantee? Inside the "Emergency" Capacity AuctionThe "Power Game" is shifting. Here’s what you need to know from this week’s Energy Story:Courts 3, White House 0: Three different federal judges have now lifted the "stop-work" orders on massive offshore wind projects, ruling that the administration failed to prove any urgent "national security" risk.A "Social Good" vs. A Commodity: PJM took the rare step of siding against the administration, arguing that stopping these projects causes "irreparable harm" to the reliability of the grid for 67 million people.The 15-Year Hook: A new bipartisan proposal suggests an "Emer...
2026-01-2305 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldWhy Meta and Google are betting billions on NuclearIs a Nuclear Renaissance finally here? In our latest update, we look at how the insatiable energy appetite of AI is catalyzing a new era of fusion and fission.Fusion Hits the Gas: From Commonwealth Fusion’s massive magnet breakthrough to Google’s $1 billion commitment, the "future" of energy is arriving faster than expected.Big Tech as a Utility: We break down Meta’s massive new deals with Oklo and TerraPower, and why Amazon is targeting 5,000 MW of nuclear capacity by 2039.The Reality of Sca...
2026-01-1508 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldCourts, Contracts, And The Fight To Keep U.S. Offshore Wind AfloatOffshore wind was targeted by the Trump Administration in 2025, with multiple rationales offered to cripple the industry. On January 20th 2025, President Trump issued an executive memorandum to suspend issuance of any approvals required to develop and operate wind energy projects, pending wide-ranging federal assessment. Seventeen states and DC filed suit, and won, with a Circuit Court judge ruling the executive order was “arbitrary and capricious.” The Department of Interior also went after Orsted’s Revolution Wind project with a stop work order in August 2025, citing unclear national security concerns, though DOI Secretary Burgum cited und...
2026-01-0807 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldThe PJM Grid Crisis: How AI & Data Centers Are Spiking Energy PricesIs the "AI butterfly effect" about to send electricity prices through the roof? In this video, we break down the critical PJM Base Residual Auction taking place between December 4th and December 10th, 2025. While grid auctions usually sound arcane and boring, this one is deciding the capacity and cost of power for June 2027—and the stakes have never been higher.Here is what we cover in this episode:• The AI Boom & Power Demand: How the launch of ChatGPT and the manufacturing of energy-hungry Nvidia chips kicked off a massive spike in data center load, specifically in stat...
2025-12-1507 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldData Centers, Nukes, And The GridAI is hungry for power, but the grid’s most precious resource isn’t just generation—it’s time. We dig into a headline‑grabbing plan to build a 1,500‑megawatt nuclear‑powered data campus in South Texas and unpack why the near‑term reality starts with on‑site gas, not fission. From regulatory approvals and factory build‑outs to fuel and financing, modular nuclear still has miles to go. Meanwhile, data center builders face a thicket of interconnection queues, uneven utility processes, and hardware lead times that stretch to 2030.We trace the practical playbook emerging across the industry: bridge wit...
2025-11-2008 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldEnergy Update | Week 5 – Oct 2025: Nuclear Revival, Offshore Wind Setbacks & AI Grid InnovationIn this Week 5 – October 2025 Energy Update, I take a look at another eventful week in U.S. energy — one defined by offshore wind setbacks, renewed nuclear ambitions, and AI-driven grid innovation.I start with Shell’s withdrawal from Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, which leaves EDF Renewables as the sole developer after a key EPA permit was pulled. I then discuss the Trump administration’s $80 billion nuclear partnership with Brookfield and Westinghouse, signaling a strong policy shift toward new reactor development.I also cover FERC’s efforts to streamline large-load...
2025-11-0706 min
Navigating Net Zero with Alexia KellyNavigating Net Zero: Peter Freed on Clean Energy Strategy & Principled PragmatismIn this episode of Navigating Net Zero, Alexia Kelly welcomes Peter Freed, a seasoned clean energy strategist with over two decades shaping the future of corporate clean energy and climate strategy. Peter, who has led energy strategy at Meta and now advises companies through Near Horizon Group, shares his journey from early work at Terra Pass to advancing corporate renewable energy initiatives. The discussion delves into the evolution of clean energy strategies, from initial carbon offsets to current greenhouse gas accounting practices.Peter highlights the importance of practical sustainability measures and the role of...
2025-11-0356 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldEnergy Update | Week 4 – Oct 2025: Nuclear Revival, UAE Solar Boom & China’s Battery SurgeIn this week’s Energy Update, I take a look at some of the biggest developments shaping the global energy landscape — from a nuclear revival in South Carolina to solar and battery breakthroughs overseas.South Carolina’s Santee Cooper has selected Brookfield as its partner to restart the long-abandoned 2.3 GW V.C. Summer nuclear plant, signaling renewed U.S. interest in large-scale baseload power. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates has begun building a $6 billion, 5.2 GW solar + 19 GWh battery hybrid project — the largest of its kind — designed to deliver a...
2025-10-3105 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldEnergy Update | Week 3 – Oct 2025: NY Grid Strains, U.S. Fusion Plan & Amazon’s Nuclear MoveEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner World with Peter Kelly-Detwiler explores the forces reshaping the global energy landscape — from grid reliability in the U.S. to renewable breakthroughs in Europe and Asia. Each episode dives into the week’s most important developments across clean energy, power markets, EVs, nuclear innovation, hydrogen, and sustainability policy.As a leading energy expert and industry analyst, Peter brings clarity and context to complex stories about how technology, policy, and investment are driving the energy transition. Whether it’s the rise of small modular...
2025-10-2404 min
The PulseArnold Schwarzenegger's Stunt Double & Parksville's First Light the Night Walk"Send us a text about this episode!"This Episode Features:(06:48) Kelly Hobbis discusses her husband's chronic lymphocytic leukemia diagnosis in 2010, his journey through multiple chemotherapy treatments, a life-saving stem cell transplant, and six years battling graft-versus-host disease. Recently discharged from the bone marrow transplant program after successful recovery, Kelly is now organizing Parksville's first annual Light the Night walk to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. (18:47) Peter Kent shares how a $20-a-night room at the Hollywood YMCA led to a career-defining phone call from director James Cameron. Despite h...
2025-10-0741 min
Clean Power HourWhen 1,500 MW Vanished: Peter Kelly-Detwiler on the Hidden Crisis Breaking Our Grid#EP307 The electric grid faces its biggest transformation in decades. Data center demand is set to triple in five years, capacity prices in PJM just hit $329 per megawatt-day, and grid operators are scrambling to prevent blackouts as massive AI facilities pull offline during disturbances.Today on the Clean Power Hour, grid expert Peter Kelly-Detwiler reveals how microgrids and artificial intelligence are creating a "fractal grid" that could solve our mounting reliability crisis. Peter explains the critical difference between traditional microgrids and the emerging "macrogrids" - 500+ megawatt data center installations that function like inverse power plants.
2025-09-1646 min
From There to HerePeter Kelly-Detwiler: The Mad ScientistPeter Kelly-Detwiler is a definitive leader in the electric energy industry (who literally wrote the book on it). In this episode, Peter talks about getting off the conveyor belt, devaluing the future, letting the trip take you, funding the opposition, serving others first, and examining your life.
About Peter Kelly-DetwilerPeter Kelly-Detwiler has over 35 years of experience in the electric energy industry, with much of his career in competitive power markets. Currently, Mr. Kelly-Detwiler is a leading consultant, researcher, speaker and trainer in the electric industry. He provides strategic advice to clients and investors, helping them...
2025-08-131h 06Energy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldCalifornia's Distributed Battery Network Shows Its Power in Recent TestThe rapidly evolving energy landscape of 2025 is bringing remarkable innovations across multiple sectors, from affordable electric vehicles to creative renewable energy solutions and unexpected comebacks in nuclear power.Ford's announcement of a $30,000 electric pickup truck represents what CEO Jim Farley calls a "Model T moment" for the company. Using revolutionary manufacturing techniques including unicasting and parallel assembly, this vehicle will contain 4,000 fewer feet of wiring than conventional models. Despite having a smaller battery than the current Lightning, it's engineered to power a home for up to six days during outages – positioning it as both transportation and energy re...
2025-08-1205 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldUS Energy Market Faces Data Center Boom, Fusion Breakthroughs & Offshore Wind RollbacksThe digital revolution is fundamentally reshaping America's electrical grid, with data centers emerging as the dominant force driving unprecedented demand growth. American Electric Power's staggering forecast of 24 gigawatts of new load by 2030—18 gigawatts from data centers alone—signals a transformation that utilities across the country are scrambling to address. Their system, currently at 37 gigawatts, has received requests totaling a mind-boggling 190 gigawatts, highlighting the scale of potential growth.A ray of hope emerges from Google's groundbreaking agreements with Indiana Michigan Power and Tennessee Valley Authority to curtail power consumption during peak demand periods. These first-of-their-kind commitments suggest AI load...
2025-08-0607 min
The PulseTHE Vancouver Island Photography Book & Transforming Lives Through Community Singing"Send us a text about this episode!"This PULSE podcast episode celebrates Vancouver Island community arts through two inspiring local stories. Featuring Sylvia Humble of Humble Harmony community singing groups and photographer duo Dave and Kelly Hutchinson discussing their bestselling book "Vancouver Island: The Art of the Landscape."This Episode Features:(10:08) Sylvia Humble, founder of Humble Harmony, shares her inspiring journey from government worker to community singing facilitator. After a cancer diagnosis prompted her career change, Humble created inclusive singing groups across Parksville and Nanaimo where perfection isn't required—ju...
2025-08-0545 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldPJM Capacity Auction Results As Bad As Feared, Portending a Grim Future For CustomersThe energy landscape is transforming rapidly, with remarkable developments across multiple sectors reshaping how we generate, distribute, and consume power. Oregon leads the charge in grid modernization with groundbreaking bipartisan legislation that will enable both private and community microgrids, creating designated zones where these localized energy systems can flourish. Meanwhile, Native Hawaiians on Oahu are gaining access to affordable clean energy through innovative microgrids combining solar panels, batteries, and EV chargers at just 18 cents per kilowatt-hour—less than half the standard utility rate.On the global stage, China has begun construction on a mammoth $167 billion hyd...
2025-07-2905 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner World$20 Billion Energy Shockwave: Nuclear Revival, AI Grids & EV Takeover!A potential nuclear revival emerges as Santee Cooper selects top contenders from fourteen proposals to complete the abandoned V.C. Summer nuclear reactors in South Carolina. After $9 billion spent and construction halted in 2017, the site remains in "mostly excellent condition" according to recent inspections, breathing new life into nuclear energy's prospects. Meanwhile, Constellation Energy eyes new nuclear development in upstate New York, capitalizing on Governor Hochul's directive for at least one gigawatt of new nuclear power in the state.The battle over critical energy infrastructure intensifies with the $11 billion Grain Belt Express transmission project caught in political...
2025-07-2106 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldU.S. Reverses Climate Bill, China’s Solar Surge & 7-Year Turbine BacklogThe energy landscape is experiencing a seismic shift with the passage of the "One Big, Beautiful Bill" into law. This dramatic policy reversal dismantles much of the Biden-era renewable energy initiatives, triggering the cancellation of tens of gigawatts of renewable projects and creating what promises to be persistently tight power markets for years to come.The ripple effects are already visible throughout the energy sector. Major turbine manufacturers like GE Vernova, Mitsubishi, and Siemens face overwhelming demand with wait times stretching up to seven years and prices jumping by 50% in less than a year. With natural gas...
2025-07-0803 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldGoogle, Gates & the Energy Tech Revolution: Fusion, Fission, and the FutureThe clean energy landscape is transforming rapidly as major tech companies stake their claims in next-generation power sources. Google has made a significant move by signing a power purchase agreement with Commonwealth Fusion Systems for 200 megawatts from their planned Virginia facility, showing serious confidence in fusion technology's commercial potential by the early 2030s.Advanced nuclear energy continues to gain momentum with Bill Gates-backed TerraPower securing a massive $650 million in funding, with NVIDIA's venture arm among the investors. Their innovative sodium-cooled reactor design paired with molten salt storage promises flexible power output of up to 500 megawatts. Meanwhile, X-Energy...
2025-07-0204 min
Faith Hope and LoveFaith Hope and Love ep 536 - The Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul - Year ABCSolemnity of Saints Peter And Paul 29th June. (episode: 536)
Readings for the Day
FIRST READING: Acts 12:1-11;
Psalm: Ps 33:2-9 "The Lord set me free from all my fears."
SECOND READING: 2 Tim 4:6-8, 17-18;
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION, (Matthew 16:18). "Alleluia, alleluia!
You are Peter, the rock on which I will build my Church; the gates of hell will not hold out against it. Alleluia!
GOSPEL: Mt 16:13-19
Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed stock photo ID: 41136337. Icon of saint Apostles Paul and Peter on mahogany and gold. By Dmitry Kalinovsky
References:
Fr. Paul W. Kelly
Quotes: https://anastpaul.com/2018/06/29/quote-s-of-the-day-29-june-the-solemnity-of-saints-peter-and-paul/
Image Credit: Shutterstock...
2025-06-2539 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldAWS, Meta & the Military Go Nuclear: New Energy Deals Reshape the GridThe energy landscape is transforming rapidly as tech giants forge ahead with ambitious power supply strategies for their ever-expanding data center operations. Amazon Web Services has secured a monumental 1,920-megawatt agreement with Talon Energy to tap Pennsylvania's Susquehanna nuclear facility through 2042, cleverly restructuring a previously rejected proposal into a front-of-meter framework that sidesteps federal approval requirements.Meanwhile, Meta is pursuing multiple paths to power security. In Ohio, they've received approval for a $1.6 billion behind-the-meter gas-fired facility featuring 31 generating units that will remain completely isolated from the grid. Simultaneously, they're partnering with XGS Energy to develop 150 megawatts of...
2025-06-1605 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldEV Grid Breakthrough, $2.9M Battery Grant, & Meta’s Massive Nuclear DealThe future of energy is unfolding through innovative solutions that merge transportation, storage, and grid management into integrated systems. Utrecht's groundbreaking vehicle-to-grid network demonstrates this perfectly—transforming electric vehicles into mobile power plants that balance renewable energy while providing shared mobility services. This dual-purpose approach could revolutionize how we think about EVs, changing them from mere transportation to crucial components of our energy infrastructure.Meanwhile, advancements in sodium battery technology offer a promising alternative to lithium-ion dominance. Unigrid's new manufacturing facility in California represents a significant step toward commercializing these salt-based batteries that boast exceptional longevity, safety, an...
2025-06-1205 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner WorldThe Solar Duck Is Too Fat?! California’s Grid Crisis + Texas & Louisiana ShakeupsRenewable energy curtailment has hit new highs in California, with the state forced to turn away 3.4 million megawatt hours of clean electricity in 2024 - a 29% jump from the previous year. The solar "duck curve" continues to deepen as midday generation vastly outpaces demand, especially during spring months when solar output soars but air conditioning needs remain low. This imbalance leaves grid operators in a precarious position, requiring some gas plants to keep running during peak solar hours just to ensure they can ramp up quickly enough when evening demand spikes.Looking forward, California is taking steps to...
2025-06-0305 minEnergy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner World$20B Nuclear Bet, $1B Fusion Boost, & Solar Grid WarsThe energy landscape is rapidly evolving in mid-2025, with groundbreaking developments that could reshape our energy future. Canadian nuclear ambitions come with a hefty price tag as Ontario Power Generation reveals its planned 300-megawatt small modular reactor will cost $7.7 billion Canadian—significantly more expensive than conventional generation. Meanwhile, NuScale Power reports manufacturing progress and potential deals that could see its modular reactors operational by 2030, while fusion startup Commonwealth Fusion Systems secures over $1 billion in funding from data center developers and tech giants to accelerate its timeline for commercial fusion.A troubling security development has emerged as...
2025-05-2006 min