$20 Billion Energy Shockwave: Nuclear Revival, AI Grids & EV Takeover!

A potential nuclear revival emerges as Santee Cooper selects top contenders from fourteen proposals to complete the abandoned V.C. Summer nuclear reactors in South Carolina. After $9 billion spent and construction halted in 2017, the site remains in "mostly excellent condition" according to recent inspections, breathing new life into nuclear energy's prospects. Meanwhile, Constellation Energy eyes new nuclear development in upstate New York, capitalizing on Governor Hochul's directive for at least one gigawatt of new nuclear power in the state.

The battle over critical energy infrastructure intensifies with the $11 billion Grain Belt Express transmission project caught in political crossfire. Missouri Senator Josh Hawley claims to have secured commitments to halt the project, while developer Invenergy pushes back against what they call "unfounded noise" threatening America's ability to build necessary energy infrastructure. This 4,000-megawatt project would transport renewable energy across four Midwestern states, highlighting the tension between clean energy goals and political opposition.

Innovation continues reshaping grid operations as California's CAISO pilots AI technology for outage management, potentially automating critical grid decisions. Google invests over $3 billion in hydroelectric power to achieve 24/7 carbon-free energy for its data centers, while nine governors from PJM states warn of an "unprecedented crisis of confidence" in the regional grid operator over electricity costs and reliability concerns. As Chinese company Envision Energy begins constructing what aims to be the world's largest green hydrogen plant and Uber invests $300 million in electric and autonomous vehicles, the energy landscape continues its dramatic transformation across multiple sectors.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
I've got your energy stories for this.
The fourth week of July 2025.
And in the first one, santeeCooper, south Carolina
state-owned utility and owner ofthe abandoned till now VC
Summer 2 and 3 nuclear units,recently released a request for
interest for those interested inpotentially acquiring and
finished building the project.
Of 14 proposals received,santee Cooper selected quote

(00:24):
fewer than five unquote.
The next step is for designatedparties to conduct additional
due diligence and submit finalproposals to resume construction
on the two 1,100 megawattAP1000 pressurized water
reactors.
The utility expects theselection process to be
completed by the end of thissummer.
The end of this summer.

(00:46):
Construction of Units 2 and 3was canceled in 2017 due largely
to cost overruns and thebankruptcy of Westinghouse, the
primary contractor.
By that point, over $9 billionhad already gone out the door,
with Unit 2 nearly 48% built andUnit 3 with significantly less
work.
A September 2024 inspection bythe South Carolina Nuclear
Advisory Council characterizedthe site as being in mostly

(01:08):
excellent condition.
Well, constellation Energy'sCEO says it plans to develop an
upstate New York nuclear project.
Constellation already owns andoperates three facilities in New
York and last month New YorkGovernor Kathy Hochul announced
it would direct the New YorkPower Authority to develop at
least one gigawatt of newnuclear power in the state.

(01:28):
Invenergy, developer of the $11billion 4,000 megawatt Grain
Belt Express transmissionproject, sent a letter to the
Department of Energy requestingit to proceed with a 2024 $4.9
billion conditional loanguarantee that came from the
Biden administration.
Missouri Senator Josh Hawleysaid last week that he had quote
secured a pledge unquote fromDOE Secretary Chris Wright to

(01:52):
halt the project that would movewind and solar energy across
four states in the Midwest.
The publicly shared lettercharacterized US Senator Josh
Hawley and Missouri AttorneyGeneral Andrew Bailey as quote
declaring open season onAmerica's ability to build
needed energy infrastructure.
Unquote.
It asked the DOE Secretary toput this unfounded noise aside

(02:13):
and affirm a commitment to theGrain Build Express to reach
closing following thefulfillment of conditions
negotiated in our conditionalcommitment.
Well, south Texas ElectricCooperative, STEC, issued a
request for proposals for up to500 megawatts of firm
dispatchable capacity and energyfor terms for 20 to 30 years in

(02:34):
the ERCOT region.
Stec says it's open to alldispatchable generation
technologies and fuel types aslong as the project is currently
operating or expected to becommissioned by December 1st of
2028.
Operating or expected to becommissioned by December 1st of
2028.
Stec provides wholesale powerto nine Texas distribution
co-ops across 47 South Texascounties.
The deadline to submit a noticeof intent to respond for the

(02:56):
RFP is August 6th.
So get going.
Google said it will spend over$3 billion for power to supply
its data centers for over 20years from two hydroelectric
projects owned by BrookfieldAsset Management.
These two plants total 670megawatts of capacity and the
contracts are the first in alarger agreement that may

(03:17):
include up to 3,000 megawatts inPGM and MISO.
The hydro will also help firmup other variable renewable
assets, such as wind and solar,to help Google meet its goal of
24 by 7 carbon-free energy forits data centers.
California's grid operatorKaiso is planning to use AI to
manage outages with a pilotprogram utilizing OATI's

(03:40):
software called Genie.
Genie will analyze and carryout real-time analyses with the
potential to autonomously makedecisions affecting critical
functions on the grid.
In today's world, engineersmanually review outage reports
for planned or ongoingmaintenance and then use the
current software system tocalculate how downed lines or
failed transformers might impactpower supplies.

(04:02):
If using Genie yields moreefficient and reliable analyses
than the current process, kisomay automate additional
functions.
Also, in ISO RTO news, theSouthwest Power Pool plans to
cut interconnection studytimelines for large loads to
just 90 days, as long as the endusers either cut demand or use

(04:22):
backup generation to help thegrid during periods of stress.
This approach still must beapproved by SPP's board and
federal regulators.
And also in ISO RTO news.
Nine governors from states inthe Mid-Atlantic PGM region just
penned a letter to the gridoperator stating their concerns
about electricity costs andreliability.

(04:42):
Stating the PGM quote faces anunprecedented crisis of
confidence from marketparticipants, consumers and the
states.
Unquote.
The letter further noted thatdiscussions of leaving PGM are
becoming increasingly common andcalled upon the grid operator
to make changes.
Commenting that quotefundamental challenges and new
leadership are needed to restoreconfidence in PGM's ability to

(05:06):
meet the many challenges of thismoment.
Unquote.
This letter comes at a criticaltime.
Last year's base residualauction for delivery year
2025-26 capacity cleared atnosebleed high numbers at over
$269 per megawatt day.
Results for the 2026-27delivery year will come out this
week.
If they come out high, expectthe pressure to grow.

(05:29):
In other news, chinese companyEnvision Energy last week
officially cut the ribbon on a500 megawatt 320,000 ton per
year first phase of its planned2,500 megawatt green hydrogen
and ammonia plant, which wouldmake it the largest in the world
.
Envision, known best for itswind turbine manufacturing
experience, will supply theentire facility with off-grid

(05:51):
renewable resources.
And finally, uber announced itwill invest $300 million in US
electric vehicle maker Lucid andpurchase at least 20,000
autonomous vehicles equippedwith self-driving technology
from autonomous vehicle softwarecompany Nuro.
Uber will also make amulti-hundred million dollar
investment in Nuro.

(06:12):
Two months ago, uber claimed tohave grown to an annual
capability of 1.5 millionautonomous rides or delivery
trips.
Well, thanks for watching andwe'll see you again soon.