Energy Rush: Can the Electric System Handle Surging Demand?

Rapidly rising electric power demand driven by data centers and AI, manufacturing growth, the push to electrify the economy, and other factors means we’re going to be asking a lot of America’s energy infrastructure. What is the current state of the power grid? With reliability concerns already on the horizon, how will the need to connect and run not just new megawatts or gigawatts – but terawatts – of power impact the system? What kinds of power generation will be needed to keep the lights on, and how are system planners keeping pace? Reliability watchdog Jim Robb of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, analyst Christi Tezak, and Aftab Khan, who leads operations, planning, and security for the nation’s largest grid operator, PJM Interconnection, weigh in. 

This is the second episode in a four-part series from Energy Solutions, exploring the challenge and opportunity presented by rising power demand, policy and market design considerations, and ways to meet the moment.

Episode Guests: 

• Jim Robb, president and CEO, North American Electric Reliability Corporation
• Aftab Khan, executive vice president of operations, planning, & security, PJM Interconnection
• Christi Tezak, senior director, ClearView Energy Partners LLC

The opinions and analysis presented in this episode represent the viewpoints of the speakers, not necessarily those of the Electric Power Supply Association.

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