Factor This This Week in Cleantech (04/17/2026) - Utilities are on a spending frenzy to power the AI boom
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This Week in Cleantech is a weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in clean energy and climate featuring Paul Gerke of Factor This and Tigercomm’s Mike Casey.
This week's episode features special guest Jennifer Hiller of The Wall Street Journal, who wrote about U.S. utilities' plans to spend about $1.4 trillion over the next five years to upgrade the aging power grid and meet surging electricity demand driven largely by AI data centers.
This week’s “Cleantecher of the Week” is Kerry Bowie, President and Founder of Browning the Green Space, or BGS, a nonprofit in Massachusetts that creates job and business opportunities in clean energy for people of color through training programs, startup support, and career pipelines. It also brings together companies and partners to remove barriers and expand access to affordable, equitable energy solutions. Congratulations, Kerry!
This Week in Cleantech — April 17, 2026
- Stung by Iran war, countries are turning against U.S. fossil fuels — The Washington Post
- US power and natgas prices turn negative in Texas and California as mild weather cuts demand — Reuters
- Michigan regulators to utilities: Incorporate virtual power plants, or else — Factor This
- Great Britain households to be urged to use more power this summer as renewables soar | Renewable energy — The Guardian
- Utilities Plan to Spend $1.4 Trillion Over Next Five Years to Power AI Boom — The Wall Street Journal
Want to make a suggestion for This Week in Cleantech? Nominate the stories that caught your eye each week by emailing Paul.Gerke@clarionevents.com