

Planning the grid to meet future energy demand | A discussion on the future of the grid, AI, energy innovation, and delivering the electricity supply we will need in the coming decades
12 snips Aug 5, 2025
Alice Jackson, VP of Grid Modeling at Breakthrough Energy, and Melissa Lott, Partner for energy technologies at Microsoft, discuss the urgent need to modernize the electricity grid. They highlight challenges stemming from aging infrastructure and rising demands from data centers and EV charging. Jackson shares insights on developing open-source tools for grid planning to streamline regulatory approvals. The conversation emphasizes the critical role of collaboration and innovative technologies in creating a sustainable and resilient energy future.
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Alice Jackson's Energy Journey
- Alice Jackson's energy interest began with her father's geochemistry work and early tech roles at Enron and Occidental Petroleum.
- Later, she led integrated planning at Xcel, combining transmission, distribution, and generation teams.
Unique Utility Perspectives
- Utilities hold unique perspective as they manage complete grid operations and face consequences of failures.
- Complexity and reliability make utility viewpoints critical but hard to communicate to outsiders.
Aging Infrastructure Challenges
- The US grid got a low grade partly due to aging infrastructure averaging 55 years old.
- Replacement and upgrades must happen alongside expanding capacity to meet increasing demands.