
Houston Matters State of the energy industry (March 24, 2026)
Mar 24, 2026
Laura Hughes, co-owner of Basket Books and Art, talks indie bookstore life and community. Margot Lee Shetterly, author of Hidden Figures, discusses documenting women’s roles in space. Imran Ghani, director of CAIR Houston, addresses local Muslim responses to rising anti-Islamic rhetoric. Jordan Bloom, Fortune energy editor, reports from CERAWeek on oil prices, nuclear interest, renewables and protests.
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Episode notes
Nuclear Reemerges As Scalable Option
- Nuclear is back on the agenda with large reactors and small modular reactors (SMRs) gaining attention as part of an 'all of the above' push.
- Bloom says pilot reactors may come online later this year but grid impact will take years.
Policy Shifts Redirect Clean Energy Investment
- Federal policy is tilting toward nuclear and away from some renewables, shifting corporate investment into LNG and gas projects.
- Bloom cites TotalEnergies canceling offshore wind and redirecting funds to LNG amid federal pressure.
AI Data Centers Drive Bespoke Energy Mixes
- Energy demand growth from AI data centers is forcing bespoke power solutions combining gas, wind, solar and batteries to guarantee reliability.
- Bloom highlights hyperscalers often pledging to 'bring your own power' to avoid raising local utility bills.





