Chris Kurtz | Why AI Data Centers May Be the Best Thing to Happen to the Electric Grid

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AI server farms are asking utilities for gigawatts of power on timelines the grid was never built to meet. Discover how transmission investment, battery storage, and smarter substations are reshaping the electric utility industry — and what it takes to keep up.

In this episode of Power the Network, host Tim Locker sits down with Chris Kurtz of CBM to discuss the real state of the U.S. power grid and the forces reshaping it. Returning for his third appearance, Chris explains why the grid remains dependable even as resiliency work continues, what actually causes rolling blackouts, and why transmission — not generation — has been the long-standing bottleneck. He breaks down how AI data centers are driving unprecedented transmission investment, delaying coal plant retirements, and prompting new generation, while supply chains for large transformers and switchgear stretch five to six years. Chris also looks ahead to touchless "smart" substations and capacitance-based battery technology, then shares lessons from 43 years in the industry: moving from a Fortune 500 utility to a 100% employee-owned rep firm, the value of an ESOP, and why relationships and honesty matter more than selling. Whether you're a utility engineer, a manufacturer's rep, or a sales leader building customer trust, this episode delivers practical perspective. It's a candid look at where the grid is headed over the next decade and beyond.

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Hosted by CBM's own Vice President of Broadband, Tim Locker, Power the Network is bringing industry leaders to your feed every other week. One minute, you'll dive deep into products and innovative new processes. The next minute, you'll be learning timeless principles to equip you in your career. At CBM, we are powered by ownership, and we're bringing the same energy into podcasting with Power the Network.