435 gigawatts of data centers want to connect to a grid that has never delivered more than 85 gigawatts at one time, and they want to do it in five years.

In this highlight episode, Dr. Joshua Rhodes, research scientist at UT Austin, nonresident fellow at Columbia University, and one of the few independent experts who models the ERCOT grid for a living, explains why he called this a bubble in 2025 and why the numbers have only gotten more extreme since.

Joshua lays out exactly how the AI build-out is driving transformer costs up 200% and wire costs up 180%, why that infrastructure debt stays on ratepayer bills for decades, and how data center companies inflated the queue by filing the same project in five or six locations at once. He then makes the counterintuitive argument that Texas' aggressive build-out of solar, wind, and 20 gigawatts of battery storage is the very thing keeping the grid stable and that blocking renewables would have cost Texans tens of billions more in electricity costs than they paid.

What You’ll Learn in Today’s Episode:

• Why the ERCOT data center queue has grown to 435 gigawatts.
• Why buying infrastructure at peak prices locks in costs for decades.
• How data centers gamed a queue that had no real process.
• Why ERCOT's batch zero process is a step in the right direction.
• How Texas solar and wind are aligned to handle summer peak demand.
• Why renewables provide cost certainty that gas plants never can.

Resources in Today's Episode:

• Joshua Rhodes: LinkedIn
• The Energy Capital Podcast
• IdeaSmiths
• Gareth Evans: LinkedIn
• Dan Roberts: LinkedIn
• VECKTA: News

You can view a video of the conversation on VECKTA's website here: https://tinyurl.com/5a4rv952

Why are electricity prices rising? And what can businesses do now to protect themselves from what's coming next? In this episode, Robbie Orvis, Senior Director of Modeling and Analysis at Energy Innovation, unpacks the policy, market, and technology shifts reshaping the energy landscape. From the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to the rapid growth of AI data centers and renewable energy, Robbie explains what's really driving energy costs, why policy matters more than ever, and how businesses can build resilience in an increasingly uncertain market.

Whether you're a CFO, business leader, sustainability professional, or simply interested in the future of energy, you'll learn how energy modelling helps policymakers make smarter decisions. Listen in to hear why grid infrastructure is becoming a major cost challenge, as well as the practical strategies organizations can use to create greater price certainty in a rapidly changing world.

What You’ll Learn in Today’s Episode:

• What's driving rising electricity prices.
• How energy policy shapes the market.
• The impact of AI data centers on the grid.
• Why renewable energy continues to grow.
• The role of energy modelling in policymaking.
• Why grid infrastructure matters.
• How businesses can improve energy certainty.
• Federal vs. state energy policy differences.
• What the future holds for clean energy.
• How to plan for long-term energy costs.

Resources in Today's Episode:

• Robbie Orvis: LinkedIn
• Gareth Evans: LinkedIn
• Dan Roberts: LinkedIn
• VECKTA: News

You can view a video of the conversation on VECKTA's website here: https://tinyurl.com/y5bz8xkm

What if energy isn't just a utility bill, but one of the biggest opportunities to increase the value of your real estate portfolio? In this highlight episode, Brian Rappaport explains why energy has become a strategic real estate issue rather than simply an operating expense. He shares how growing grid constraints, rising tenant expectations, and increasing demand for reliable, low-carbon energy are changing the way commercial property owners, investors, and occupiers approach energy planning and long-term asset management.

Listen in as Brian explores the practical strategies organizations can use to reduce energy risk, improve resilience, and unlock new value through on-site energy solutions such as solar and battery storage. You'll learn how different stakeholders—from landlords and tenants to owner-occupiers—are navigating these challenges, why energy investments can significantly improve asset value, and how taking an unbiased, technology-agnostic approach can help businesses make smarter long-term decisions.

What You’ll Learn in Today’s Episode:

• Why energy has become a real estate issue.
• How grid constraints are affecting commercial property.
• Why tenants now prioritize energy reliability.
• The role of on-site solar and battery storage.
• How energy investments can increase asset value.
• Why energy planning reduces long-term business risk.
• The differences between landlord and tenant priorities.
• How owner-occupiers evaluate energy investments.
• Why technology-neutral advice matters.
• How energy strategy supports long-term growth.

Resources in Today's Episode:

• Brian Rappaport: LinkedIn
• Powering Profits Newsletter
• Gareth Evans: LinkedIn
• Dan Roberts: LinkedIn
• VECKTA: News

You can view a video of the conversation on VECKTA's website here: https://tinyurl.com/5xh2sja7