This Week in Cleantech (08/21/2026) - Data center backlash is cross-partisan

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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. Jeremiah Karpowicz, Content Director at Clarion Events, is filling in for Paul this week.

This week's episode features special guest Molly Taft from WIRED, who discusses the growing, cross-partisan backlash against AI data centers.

This week’s “Cleantecher of the Week” is Drew Baglino, founder and CEO of Heron Power. His company builds solid-state transformers that don't rely on the steel causing shortages, and Heron just closed a $140 million round to build a U.S. factory capable of producing 40 gigawatts of the gear a year. Congratulations, Drew!

This Week in Cleantech — August 21, 2026

1. OpenAI Locks In Lease for Huge Data Center in Ohio With Backing From Nvidia — The Wall Street Journal
2. The Blackout That Could Devastate America — The New York Times
3. Big Batteries to Bolster the Grid Are Stuck Waiting to Plug In — Bloomberg
4. DOE says we need more transmission, decides building less is fine — Factor This
5. How Data Centers Broke American Politics — WIRED

Energy policy on your mind? Check out all episodes of the Factor This Policycast