Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations Who Pays for AI Power? (w Cat Clifford of Cipher)
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“More clean energy. More affordable energy. That dual mandate is the real challenge.”
In this episode, Richard Delevan talks to Cat Clifford, senior reporter at Cipher News, about what happens when data center demand collides with outdated policy, broken infrastructure, and an AI arms race nobody can afford to lose.
We go deep into Cat’s reporting on:
AI’s Ballooning Electricity Appetite
– Why AI is driving the biggest spike in electricity demand in a generation
– The paradox of AI as a climate solution—if it’s powered cleanly
– The unknowables: how big, how fast, and how chaotic?
The Nuclear-Tech Bromance
– Why big tech is cozying up to small modular reactors (SMRs)
– Who’s bankrolling the nuclear revival—and who might get burned
– The role of always-on baseload in the age of AI factories
Geothermal’s Promised Land
– Advanced geothermal’s bipartisan political appeal
– Why it’s ideal for U.S. energy dominance—but underfunded
– Will Congress rewrite the tax credit rules in time to matter?
Texas, Tariffs, and Transmission
– What just happened in the Texas Legislature—and why it matters beyond Texas
– How tariffs whiplashed investor confidence in solar and AI supply chains
– Why permitting reform—and grid expansion—are stuck
Politics, 2026, and the Price of Power
– What voters will care about: the cost of energy
– Who pays to keep the lights on in the AI age?
– What the fight over IRA tax credits tells us about the Senate’s climate future
Quote of the Episode:
“If the U.S. is serious about the AI race, solar and storage are the only near-term way to meet demand. Everyone’s going to have to compromise.”
Further Reading:
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