The Power Behind the Power, with Ivan Penn

Mar 3, 2026

Ivan Penn, a New York Times energy correspondent who covers electricity, utilities, nuclear power, and data centers, shares his career path into energy reporting. He unpacks data centers and AI's strain on grids. He explores nuclear's comeback and small-reactor debates. He examines who pays for power, shifting utility-tech dynamics, and equity in reporting.

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ANECDOTE

Chili's Meeting That Launched a Nuclear Investigation

Ivan Penn's utilities beat began after reporting on a broken nuclear plant near Tampa that cracked during a steam generator replacement.
An anonymous source met him at a Chili's, produced NRC documents, and launched a years-long public-records investigation into Crystal River.

INSIGHT

AI Is Reviving Electricity Demand And Nuclear Talk

Electricity demand dipped for years but is now surging again due to AI and data centers creating exponential new loads.
That renewed demand is a primary driver for renewed interest in nuclear, despite its high cost.

INSIGHT

Grid Additions Shift Costs Across All Customers

Anything tied to the grid affects everyone because infrastructure costs are shared across consumers, businesses, and new large users.
Tech companies argue for shared cost; consumer advocates argue data centers created the need and should bear most upgrade costs.

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Electricity underwrites nearly every aspect of modern life, yet decisions about power, cost, and control are increasingly opaque. New York Times energy correspondent Ivan Penn joins Mark Labberton to unpack how data centres, AI, utilities, and politics are reshaping the grid—and who ultimately bears the cost.

"The real focus is who pays and who gets paid."

In this episode with Mark Labberton, Penn reflects on his journey into journalism, his unexpected path into energy reporting, and how covering power revealed the economic forces shaping daily life.

Together they discuss electricity as a moral and economic issue, the rise of AI-driven data centres, nuclear power's return, utilities versus tech giants, consumer vulnerability, racial inequity in journalism, and faith as a commitment to truth.

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Episode Highlights

"The real focus is who pays and who gets paid."

"Electricity is the most important resource we have."

"The utilities once the Goliath have suddenly become a David."

"We wouldn't have need for any of this if you didn't build a data centre."

"To be able to stop abuse with a pen is a powerful thing."

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About Ivan Penn

Ivan Penn is an energy correspondent for the New York Times, where he reports on electricity, utilities, nuclear power, data centres, and the economic forces shaping the energy transition. He has covered energy and utilities for more than fifteen years and has previously worked at the Los Angeles Times, Tampa Bay Times, Baltimore Sun, and Miami Herald. Penn's reporting has examined nuclear plant failures, grid reliability, climate pressures, and the growing influence of technology companies in energy markets. A longtime journalist shaped by investigative reporting, he is also attentive to issues of equity, public accountability, and consumer protection.

Penn is a graduate of the University of Maryland and was the first black editor-in-chief of its student newspaper. He also holds a master's in global leadership from Fuller Theological Seminary and was a John S. Knight Fellow at Stanford University.

His work reflects a commitment to accuracy, fairness, and public service journalism.

Learn more and follow at nytimes.com/by/ivan-penn

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Helpful Links and Resources

Ivan Penn – New York Times profile https://www.nytimes.com/by/ivan-penn

The New York Times – Energy and Environment coverage https://www.nytimes.com/section/climate

Three Mile Island nuclear plant background https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/fact-sheets/3mile-isle

National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners https://www.naruc.org

PJM Interconnection electricity market https://www.pjm.com

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Show Notes

Childhood shaped by public-school educators and nightly news rituals
Early journalism roots as school weatherman and student editor
Becoming first Black editor-in-chief at University of Maryland paper
"It was a powerful thing that I was able to experience."
Early reporting career across major regional newspapers
Assigned to energy and utilities beat as apparent punishment
Broken Crystal River nuclear plant sparks investigative focus
Anonymous source meeting at a Chili's launches major reporting trail
NRC documents unlock public-records investigation
Rare use of anonymous sources, reliance on verifiable documents
Sixteen years covering nuclear, utilities, and electricity markets
Nuclear renaissance promised dozens of reactors, delivered only two
Return of nuclear amid AI-driven electricity demand
Rise of small modular and advanced reactor proposals
Debate over safety, fuel design, and reactor scale
Data centers driving exponential growth in electricity demand
"Anything connected to the grid plays a role."
Grid costs shared across homeowners, businesses, and industry
Tech companies argue for shared infrastructure responsibility
Consumer advocates argue data centers cause new costs
Utility regulation spanning local, state, and federal levels
"The real focus is who pays and who gets paid."
Tech giants eclipse utilities as dominant financial players
Consumer advocates outmatched by utility and tech resources
Journalism as faith-shaped commitment to truth and fairness

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#EnergyPolicy #ElectricityGrid #Journalism #FaithAndPublicLife #AIInfrastructure #Utilities #ClimateEconomy

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Production Credits

Conversing is produced and distributed in partnership with Comment magazine and Fuller Seminary.