Why is NERC so worried about data centers? episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 10, 2026 · 1H 13M

Why is NERC so worried about data centers?

from Volts · host David Roberts

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.volts.wtf/subscribeThe North American Electric Reliability Corporation has issued a historic warning about AI data centers. I chat with energy experts Colin McCormick and Doug Bryan about the unique electrical engineering challenges of giant computational loads that can abruptly drop hundreds of megawatts of power in the blink of an eye. We dive into the upcoming regulatory battle between hyperscalers and operators, the sudden rush for firm gas generation, and how software updates and battery storage could eventually make data centers a tool for grid stability instead of a liability.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jun 10, 2026

Embed this episode

NOW PLAYING

Why is NERC so worried about data centers?

0:00 1:13:39

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Volts?

This episode is 1 hour and 13 minutes long.

When was this Volts episode published?

This episode was published on June 10, 2026.

Can I download this Volts episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!