The landscape has changed a lot since this hugely i fluential one by @tnorris.bsky.social came out barely a year ago, but it remains a very important part of the conversation.

“Google’s demand response capability allows us to limit or shift a portion of machine learning (ML) workloads running in our data centers. This reduces the overall data center power demand, helping to stabilize the grid during certain hours or times of the year.”

Today marks a significant milestone in the history of demand flexibility, as Google announces it has contracted one gigawatt of data center demand response capacity into long-term energy contracts with multiple utilities across the US. 🔌💡 blog.google/innovation-a...

Tesla, Google, Carrier launch coalition to save $100B+ by unlocking idle grid capacity

Thank you Senator @whitehouse.senate.gov!

If you’re in Cambridge on Monday, please come say hello!

Not about working out in jeans but... if data centers acted like responsible grid participants and maximized demand flexibility, they could reduce power infrastructure needs by 40 GW, or like 50% of projected data center demand growth by 2035. nicholasinstitute.duke.edu/articles/key...

When everyone has a personal fleet of AI ‘experts’, the scarcest resource arguably becomes the human we trust to tell us which ones to believe. Paradoxically, the value of top-tier human expertise and verification may reach an all-time high.

Yes, Google has massive stakes with the US fed govt - which makes this from Google’s Chief Scientist even more meaningful. Have your execs spoken up?

The recent days have been horrific. We can't become numb to repeated instances of illegal and unconstitutional action by government agencies. It's even worse when public officials are blatantly lying in ways that contradict dozens of pieces of video evidence.

If you’re distraught and distracted today, it means you still have your humanity

NEW: Woman shot dead by ICE agent in Minneapolis identified as Renee Good, 37. According to her mom, Renee had 3 children and was not part of any ICE protest groups

More than 25 GW of large-scale generating projects reached an interconnection agreement in the ERCOT grid region in 2024. Berkeley Lab said ERCOT’s “connect and manage” approach “is likely one reason” for the grid operator’s success. @josephrand.bsky.social @tnorris.bsky.social #EnergySky

New @wsj.com: "The Fight Over Making Data Centers Power Down to Avoid Blackouts" “T​​he pressures of connecting to the grid at the scale and pace that people are talking about is going to push these solutions,” @jessedjenkins.com said. “There isn’t another option.” www.wsj.com/business/ene...

Country 9 in global oil reserves has invaded country 1 and arrested its president. Country 7 is under sanctions and its refineries are being destroyed. Country 2 is facing off with country 6. And there are riots in country 3. But oil is only $60/bbl. Maybe oil is not as critical as it used to be?

www.utilitydive.com/news/in-an-e... ...Large loads increase rates if they induce utilities to make expensive grid infrastructure upgrades to meet higher demand peaks...But with policy incentives to “restrain” peak demand, large loads can avoid the costs that drive higher rates...

Most of the year, U.S. electricity grid utilization is around 50 percent. Some researchers say that spare electricity could be tapped and sent to other customers, presenting an opportunity to lower prices.

Not many Christmas gifts beat @shannonosaka.bsky.social covering grid utilization! WaPo: “The US may have a secret weapon against rising electricity prices” www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solu...

To anyone worried about a national energy wonk shortage: rest assured, there are still many brilliant experts available, Google just took the ones who chatter the most 😂

If you're interested, the link in the screen shot leads to www.ferc.gov/news-events/...

FERC’s bipartisan order last week is genuinely one of the more hopeful things I’ve seen happen in 2025. Good, well-informed, bipartisan policy on big complex issues is still possible!

Google is obviously doing great things, on many fronts. Among the most inspiring are their energy transition and climate focused efforts, having also recently added superstars like @tnorris.bsky.social and @douglewin.bsky.social to their mix.

My elderly mother just sent me this - I don’t know if AI-assisted research will arrive in time to help her, but the possibility is part of why I believe we need responsible AI leadership from Google and others.

Speaking of TIME, I had no idea they made my profile #1 for TIME100 Climate this year until I saw the hard copy (1st and longest profile)… clearly a very slow news year! 😂

FT's big new piece on "The AI power crunch" appropriately includes a section on flexibility, and I appreciate them referencing our research. ig.ft.com/ai-power

If you're not a subscriber, you're missing out on this goldmine - www.powerpolicy.net/p/new-study-... A good topic for anyone at the intersection of #CloudNative DataCenters, #EnergySky and Telco @tnorris.bsky.social

Speaking of sensible things, @volts.wtf new solo pod episode is must-listen! 🔌💡 www.volts.wtf/p/whats-goin...

This piece from @tnorris.bsky.social is about the only sensible thing NYT has published on the subject of electricity prices.

This is the 2nd near-catastrophic event caused by gas in a major downtown area where I’ve lived in recent yrs (other was gas explosion in dtown Durham, killing 2 and injuring 25, including 9 firefighters). www.wral.com/news/local/f...

Excited to share this professional update! 🔌💡

This recommendation of my @nytimes.com op-ed means a lot coming from Truman Semans, a respected leader in global climate finance & corporate sustainability on @dukeenvironment.bsky.social's board:

Grid utilization appears increasingly likely to emerge as a defining theme in US electricity regulation & policy going forward 🔌💡

Notable op-ed today by @allisonclements.bsky.social @mfarmer.bsky.social & Sam Walsh: "bottom line is that enabling load flexibility is critical to achieving speed-to-power for large customers while keeping the grid reliable and affordable for the rest of us." 🔌💡 www.utilitydive.com/news/data-ce...

Great piece from @tnorris.bsky.social Tyler Norris in the NYT earlier this week, ICYMI. Gift link below. "A Simple Fix to America’s Soaring Electricity Prices" www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/o...

DOE's ANOPR could change the way large energy users connect to the grid. This Policy Brief, by Roselle, @allisonclements.bsky.social and Nicholas Institute, unpacks a promising principle in the ANOPR: interconnection for flexible loads should be expedited. nicholasinstitute.duke.edu/publications...

🚨 NEW REPORT: A major FERC rulemaking on large load interconnection is likely imminent, and anyone who wants to understand its potential should read @nichinstitute.bsky.social new brief by @mfarmer.bsky.social @allisonclements.bsky.social @azevin.bsky.social @smaczni.bsky.social et al. 🔌💡

Interesting about the 22 hours/year. This aligns with the energy storage VPP programs around the nation. The batteries are expected to be used a handful of times for a few hours each time during complex grid moments. Our power grids are build to sustain these peaks, but now we have tools.

We've been doing power generation and distribution using combustion and a brute force approach which is incredibly wasteful in many ways. The good news is we have a lot of ways to move beyond this approach now, that benefits us all in many ways. Progress.

#2 piece @nytopinion.nytimes.com right now! 🔌💡

Check out this excellent article by @tnorris.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/o... #energysky 🔌💡

I love that demand flexibility has gotten to the mainstream point of being featured in the NY Times. Kudos to Tyler for his persistent and very clear push for this smart solution to manage demand growth. 🔌 💡

Well said, Tyler.

🎁 Gift link: Insightful op-ed on electricity prices by @tnorris.bsky.social Why the rise? ⬆️ natural gas prices ⬆️ costs to modernize the grid and rebuild after hurricanes, wildfires "Ask the largest power users to draw a little less from the grid during the limited hours when it’s most strained."

"if big new power users [data centers] curbed demand just 0.25 percent of the time — about 22 hours a year — the United States could accommodate more data centers without burdening household electricity users." www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/o... @tnorris.bsky.social

I have a @nytimes.com op-ed today on managing power demand growth. Central point: load growth is an opportunity to *offset* upward rate pressure (and avoid gas overbuild), if we plan the system to make fuller use of infrastructure we’ve already paid for. 🔌💡 www.nytimes.com/2025/11/04/o...

Congrats to Ph.D. student Tyler Norris, @tnorris.bsky.social, who was named to the 2025 TIME100 Climate list. His research on electric power systems is helping the tech and energy industries find ways to meet rising electricity demand using the existing grid. time.com/collections/...

The DOE proposed a new rule that could transform how large loads like data centers connect to the grid. @allisonclements.bsky.social, former FERC Commissioner, @tnorris.bsky.social + Shayle Kann unpack what this could mean in a world of AI-driven energy demand www.latitudemedia.com/news/catalys...

Stay tuned for new @catalyst-pod.bsky.social episode w/ @allisonclements.bsky.social and myself on DOE's new proposed rule to FERC, releasing tomorrow AM! 🔌💡

This is a very big deal! 🔌💡

Late night filing from Chris Wright that could greatly expand federal authority over interconnection -- and fast track the process for flexible large loads. By me for @latitudemedia.bsky.social ⤵️ www.latitudemedia.com/news/wright-... #energysky