On this episode of HELLO FUTURE, Kevin Cirilli explores the hidden crisis behind the AI boom: America’s power grid isn’t ready. Kevin interviews Terry Ploetz, co-founder of Next Century Power.

As hyperscalers race to build massive data centers, the demand for reliable energy is exposing serious vulnerabilities—from grid strain in key hubs like Virginia to overlooked cyber risks tied to fiber infrastructure. Kevin breaks down how energy, connectivity, and national security are now deeply intertwined, why the U.S. risks falling behind in AI, cyber, and space competition, and what new models—like behind-the-meter power, community energy agreements, and domestic resource recycling—could help stabilize the grid while delivering real benefits to local communities.

The bottom line: the future of AI won’t be won by code alone—it will be powered, quite literally, by who controls the energy.

On this episode of HELLO FUTURE, Kevin Cirilli explores the hidden crisis behind the AI boom: America&rsquo;s power grid isn&rsquo;t ready. Kevin interviews Terry Ploetz, co-founder of Next Century Power.
As hyperscalers race to build massive data centers, the demand for reliable energy is exposing serious vulnerabilities&mdash;from grid strain in key hubs like Virginia to overlooked cyber risks tied to fiber infrastructure. Kevin breaks down how energy, connectivity, and national security are now deeply intertwined, why the U.S. risks falling behind in AI, cyber, and space competition, and what new models&mdash;like behind-the-meter power, community energy agreements, and domestic resource recycling&mdash;could help stabilize the grid while delivering real benefits to local communities.
The bottom line: the future of AI won&rsquo;t be won by code alone&mdash;it will be powered, quite literally, by who controls the energy.

HELLO, FUTURE with Kevin Cirilli is the daily podcast where tomorrow’s biggest questions come alive. Are aliens already visiting us? Could your next job be in space? What if satellites could find lost cities, or stop the next wildfire? What happens if America loses the space race… or if every satellite went dark tomorrow? From Mars to UFOs, from flying cars to “civilization starter kits,” each episode blends science, technology, and imagination with the real choices shaping our world. It’s smart, fast, and curious, built for anyone who’s ever looked up at the night sky and wondered what comes next. This isn’t science fiction. It’s the future, knocking on your door. 

Kevin Cirilli is the founder of meet the future™ (mtf.tv). Cirilli has advised some of the nation’s leading military nonprofit philanthropists and policymakers and he is an emerging playwright. As a journalist, he is the former Chief Washington Correspondent for Bloomberg Television and Radio, where he covered the White House, Congress, and global economic policy while anchoring a daily geopolitical business affairs program.

Before founding mtf.tv, Kevin appeared across nearly every major network — including CBS News, MSNBC, CNN, FOX News, C-SPAN, NPR, and Yahoo Finance — providing nonpartisan political and economic analysis and conducting exclusive interviews with some of the most influential figures of the 21st century. He was also a media fellow at the Atlantic Council in the Global China Hub.

He has reported from across the United States and around the world — including assignments in Israel, Vietnam, and Saudi Arabia — covering pivotal moments in global affairs and the people driving change.

HELLO, FUTURE with Kevin Cirilli&nbsp;is the daily podcast where tomorrow&rsquo;s biggest questions come alive. Are aliens already visiting us? Could your next job be in space? What if satellites could find lost cities, or stop the next wildfire? What happens if America loses the space race&hellip; or if every satellite went dark tomorrow? From Mars to UFOs, from flying cars to &ldquo;civilization starter kits,&rdquo; each episode blends science, technology, and imagination with the real choices shaping our world. It&rsquo;s smart, fast, and curious, built for anyone who&rsquo;s ever looked up at the night sky and wondered what comes next. This isn&rsquo;t science fiction. It&rsquo;s the future, knocking on your door.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-cirilli-943b162a/">Kevin Cirilli</a>&nbsp;is the founder of meet the future&trade; (mtf.tv). Cirilli has advised some of the nation&rsquo;s leading military nonprofit philanthropists and policymakers and he is an emerging playwright. As a journalist, he is the former Chief Washington Correspondent for Bloomberg Television and Radio, where he covered the White House, Congress, and global economic policy while anchoring a daily geopolitical business affairs program.
Before founding mtf.tv, Kevin appeared across nearly every major network &mdash; including CBS News, MSNBC, CNN, FOX News, C-SPAN, NPR, and Yahoo Finance &mdash; providing nonpartisan political and economic analysis and conducting exclusive interviews with some of the most influential figures of the 21st century. He was also a media fellow at the Atlantic Council in the Global China Hub.
He has reported from across the United States and around the world &mdash; including assignments in Israel, Vietnam, and Saudi Arabia &mdash; covering pivotal moments in global affairs and the people driving change.

HELLO FUTURE with Kevin Cirilli

As hyperscalers race to build massive data centers, the demand for reliable energy is exposing serious vulnerabilities—from grid strain in key hubs like Virginia to overlooked cyber risks tied to fiber infrastructure. Kevin breaks down how energy, connectivity, and national security are now deeply intertwined, why the U.S. risks falling behind in AI, cyber, and space competition, and what new models—like behind-the-meter power, community energy agreements, and domestic resource recycling—could help stabilize the grid while delivering real benefits to local communities.

HELLO FUTURE: AI Boom vs. America’s Power Grid: Why Data Centers Are Straining U.S. Energy

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/4114fc38-9c39-40a0-b69e-b42f0009c121/transcript