As the energy industry turns the page to 2026, Tim and Sara look ahead at what’s coming next for the grid — from rising demand and renewable integration to the growing role of AI. This episode blends forward-looking insights with a little fun, including surprising home energy facts, a lightning round, and a few spirited debates about duck curves, elephant bellies, and “negawatts.”

The conversation features Remi Raphael, Chief AI Officer at EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute), who shares how artificial intelligence is shaping the future of power systems and what utilities should be preparing for now.

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Hosts: Tim Stafford & Sara Tupac

Topic: What will it take to power a more electric, data-driven, and AI-enabled world in 2026 and beyond?

Overview:
For the first time in decades, electricity demand is accelerating — driven by data centers, electrification, and emerging technologies. Utilities must strengthen grid resilience, integrate diverse energy resources, and adopt new tools to operate faster and smarter. This episode explores the trends, myths, and technologies that will define the next phase of the energy transition.

Highlights:

o Why the grid’s “New Year’s resolution” should be resilience and flexibility
o The biggest myths about renewable energy — and why reliability is achievable
o How flexible demand, storage, and forecasting can reshape the duck curve
o Why nuclear remains a critical source of carbon-free generation
o What “negawatts” really mean for capacity and reliability markets
o How AI-powered agents could help utilities respond faster than humans ever could

Featuring insights from EPRI Chief AI Officer Remi Raphael, this episode offers a thoughtful — and entertaining — look at where power, technology, and innovation are headed as we move into 2026.

As AI demand surges, so does the world’s need for power. Tim and Sara explore how cloud computing, renewables, and smarter infrastructure are reshaping the energy landscape — and what it takes to keep AI running 24/7. Featuring insights from AWS Executive in Residence Jake Burns.

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Hosts: Tim Stafford & Sara Tupac

Topic: What happens when the world’s fastest-growing technology meets one of its oldest infrastructures — power.

Overview: As artificial intelligence drives massive demand for data, compute, and always-on cloud capacity, the energy industry faces a new challenge: keeping up.

Highlights:

o How AI is reshaping global power needs and data center growth

o Why cloud migration and renewable energy are critical to AI’s future

o The innovation race to make models and chips more energy-efficient

o What utilities and cloud providers must do to meet 24/7 power demand

o A glimpse at how AI could “democratize intelligence” — if we can power it responsibly

Featuring insights from AWS Executive in Residence Jake Burns, this conversation connects the dots between cloud, compute, and kilowatts — and explores how energy will fuel the next wave of AI transformation.

The Power Up Podcast is your guide to the people, trends, and technology reshaping the power and utilities industry. In this trailer, hosts Tim Stafford — a longtime energy consultant — and Sara Tupac — the “new kid on the grid” — introduce the vision behind the show: a mix of real-world expertise, fresh curiosity, and just enough humor to keep things energized.

Brought to you by Slalom, the series explores how clean energy, digital transformation, data centers, and AI are driving the next era of the grid. If you want to stay current on what’s powering the future, hit follow and get ready to plug in.