Jeff Brumfield

And he said initially, at least, the companies all wanted to do this with renewables.

And he said initially, at least, the companies all wanted to do this with renewables.

Now, this isn't normally done by building a bunch of solar panels next to a data center or something like that. What these companies did instead was buy power from renewable companies who then just put it out on the grid. But the tech firms could still claim that they were, in effect, covering their emissions with these power purchase agreements, which is what these things were called.

Now, this isn't normally done by building a bunch of solar panels next to a data center or something like that. What these companies did instead was buy power from renewable companies who then just put it out on the grid. But the tech firms could still claim that they were, in effect, covering their emissions with these power purchase agreements, which is what these things were called.

Now, this isn't normally done by building a bunch of solar panels next to a data center or something like that. What these companies did instead was buy power from renewable companies who then just put it out on the grid. But the tech firms could still claim that they were, in effect, covering their emissions with these power purchase agreements, which is what these things were called.

Because AI is just way more power hungry than existing technology. The next generation of data centers are going to be total electricity hogs. Some of the next generation centers will end up using as much power as around one million U.S. households.

Because AI is just way more power hungry than existing technology. The next generation of data centers are going to be total electricity hogs. Some of the next generation centers will end up using as much power as around one million U.S. households.

Because AI is just way more power hungry than existing technology. The next generation of data centers are going to be total electricity hogs. Some of the next generation centers will end up using as much power as around one million U.S. households.

The problem really here is scale. I mean, you need lots of energy storage, for example. You'd have to have absolutely massive batteries on site, say, to run a solar-powered data center at night. And the battery tech isn't there yet. And also, there's just a lot of demand for batteries elsewhere. So it'd end up being really, really expensive.

The problem really here is scale. I mean, you need lots of energy storage, for example. You'd have to have absolutely massive batteries on site, say, to run a solar-powered data center at night. And the battery tech isn't there yet. And also, there's just a lot of demand for batteries elsewhere. So it'd end up being really, really expensive.

The problem really here is scale. I mean, you need lots of energy storage, for example. You'd have to have absolutely massive batteries on site, say, to run a solar-powered data center at night. And the battery tech isn't there yet. And also, there's just a lot of demand for batteries elsewhere. So it'd end up being really, really expensive.

Well, I think the best way to answer that question is with a field trip to the most well-known nuclear plant in America. I'm talking about Three Mile Island.

Well, I think the best way to answer that question is with a field trip to the most well-known nuclear plant in America. I'm talking about Three Mile Island.

Well, I think the best way to answer that question is with a field trip to the most well-known nuclear plant in America. I'm talking about Three Mile Island.

That's right, in 1979. This was the biggest nuclear accident in American history. The reactor overheated, the fuel started to melt. It was mostly contained, but more than 100,000 people had to evacuate. But here's the thing that most people don't realize. Only one of the reactors at Three Mile Island melted down. The other reactor was restarted and it produced power for decades.

That's right, in 1979. This was the biggest nuclear accident in American history. The reactor overheated, the fuel started to melt. It was mostly contained, but more than 100,000 people had to evacuate. But here's the thing that most people don't realize. Only one of the reactors at Three Mile Island melted down. The other reactor was restarted and it produced power for decades.

That's right, in 1979. This was the biggest nuclear accident in American history. The reactor overheated, the fuel started to melt. It was mostly contained, but more than 100,000 people had to evacuate. But here's the thing that most people don't realize. Only one of the reactors at Three Mile Island melted down. The other reactor was restarted and it produced power for decades.

It did it without emitting greenhouse gases because nuclear power for all its risks like meltdowns and nuclear waste generates just staggering amounts of electricity without any carbon dioxide emissions.

It did it without emitting greenhouse gases because nuclear power for all its risks like meltdowns and nuclear waste generates just staggering amounts of electricity without any carbon dioxide emissions.

It did it without emitting greenhouse gases because nuclear power for all its risks like meltdowns and nuclear waste generates just staggering amounts of electricity without any carbon dioxide emissions.