The American grid faces a triple threat: climate disasters, explosive AI data center growth, and mass electrification. Paul Gerke, Content Director for Renewables at Clarion Events and host of Factor This podcast, breaks down how batteries, microgrids, and smart grid technology provide the path forward for grid resilience and reliability.
Paul leads content strategy for Factor This, the rebranded home of three legacy energy publications: Renewable Energy World, Power Grid International, and Hydro Review. He covers utility innovation, grid modernization, and clean energy deployment through both written journalism and weekly podcasting. Clarion Events produces DTEC, North America's largest utilities conference.
Key Discussion Points:
The three forces stressing the grid: climate shocks, electrification of everything, and AI data centers driving 30-fold load growth
Why the regulated utility monopoly model must transform to meet modern challenges
How microgrids and battery storage deliver critical resilience during extreme weather events
EV-to-grid technology turning school buses and vehicles into mobile virtual power plants
Texas ERCOT success story: 50% clean-powered, handling record heat without blackouts
Air conditioning will drive more load growth than data centers over the next 30 years
Blue Oval Initiative: Ford is building 120 GWh of domestic battery manufacturing capacity
State-level leadership: California, New York, Illinois, and Massachusetts are driving grid innovation
Clean energy economics: 90% of new generation is renewables, winning on cost without subsidies
Political power gap: Clean energy invests 1/20th of what fossil fuels spend on political influence
The grid transformation is already underway. Utilities that break down silos and adopt batteries, microgrids, and smart technology will lead. Those that resist will fall behind as extreme weather, soaring demand, and economic reality force change.
You can find Paul Gerke here.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulrgerke/
Factor This B2: https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/podcasts/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB8XYCq2Wah9nfI7olK6If7DPUZADfYnZ
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