Episode 108: Aliya Haq on Clean Energy, National Security, and Powering the AI Race

In this episode of NatSec Tech, host Jeanne Meserve is joined by Aliya Haq, President of Clean Econ, to discuss why "speed to power" may be the biggest constraint on America's ability to win the AI race. Haq breaks down why the century-old U.S. electric grid, with roughly 1.3 terawatts of capacity, is struggling to keep pace with surging demand, and how China has added that same amount of capacity in just three years. They discuss the two terawatts of energy projects stuck in interconnection queues, why hyperscalers are resorting to building their own power plants "behind the meter," the political battle over renewables versus fossil fuels under the current administration, and the growing case for next-generation nuclear technology. NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.