The Big D: Data Centers and America’s Power Challenge w/Jimmy Glotfelty

Data center demand is no longer theoretical. It is reshaping grid planning, infrastructure investment, and energy policy across the country.In this episode of Across the Aisle, John Ashford speaks with former Texas Public Utility Commissioner Jimmy Glotfelty — founder of the Office of Electricity at the U.S. Department of Energy and a leader in transmission expansion and grid reliability.They discuss:• The difference between cloud data centers and AI training loads• Why ERCOT could see tens of gigawatts of new demand by 2030• How battery storage is changing reliability dynamics• Whether nuclear can meet near-term demand• The reality of supply chain constraints in gas and nuclear technologies• Affordability pressures and what consumers should expect• Why Texas remains committed to grid independenceAs AI-driven load growth accelerates and markets debate reliability, transmission, and permitting reform, this conversation offers a grounded look at what is realistic — and what is not — for the next phase of American energy development.