As AI and data demands skyrocket, the future of IT infrastructure hinges on one critical resource — power. In this episode of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to IT, host Michelle Dawn Mooney sits down with Pete DiSanto, Executive Vice President of Engineering Solutions at Enchanted Rock, to explore why energy resilience is becoming the new competitive edge for data centers and digital infrastructure leaders.

Drawing on decades of experience across nuclear, fossil, and distributed generation, DiSanto breaks down how the industry is rethinking its relationship with the grid. He explains how distributed microgrids and flexible interconnections can help data centers not only protect against outages but also give power back to the grid when it’s needed most. From lessons learned during Texas’s Winter Storm Uri to the push for cleaner, faster, and smarter energy solutions, DiSanto reveals how power and IT are converging to form the next great frontier of innovation.

Key Takeaways:

• Resilience Through Partnership: Collaboration between data centers and utilities is key to stabilizing and strengthening the grid.
• Flexibility Is the Future: Flexible interconnections and distributed microgrids can transform data centers from power consumers into grid assets.
• People Drive Reliability: Even the best technology depends on skilled, mission-driven teams to keep systems running when it matters most.
• Prepare, Don’t React: Regular operation and testing of on-site generation ensures performance under real-world stress.
• Shared Innovation: The data center industry’s culture of collaboration and knowledge-sharing is accelerating the path to a resilient energy future.