PROTECTING A BRIGHT FUTURE

The United States is behind the curve on clean, affordable sources of electricity. It's time to modernize our antiquated electrical grid and advanced nuclear power generation capabilities.

Most Americans don’t think about the electrical grid until the lights go out. But here are a few facts that change the picture fast: much of the U.S. grid was built over 70 years ago, it was never designed to withstand major solar storms or EMP events, and it is already struggling to meet demand before AI data centers begin doubling national power consumption. At the same time, the United States has some of the safest and most advanced nuclear technology in the world, yet political resistance and regulatory paralysis keep it sidelined.

In this episode of Connecting the Dots, the conversation digs into why America’s energy problem is not a lack of technology, but a failure of policy. Public Service Commissioner Randy Pinocci explains how outdated transmission infrastructure, slow permitting, and ideological opposition are preventing rapid grid upgrades that could dramatically increase capacity and reliability. He also outlines why advanced conductors, underground transmission, and decentralized generation are critical for resilience and national security.

Renowned nuclear engineer Dr. Robert Zubrin traces how excessive regulation crippled the U.S. nuclear industry despite decades of proven safety, and why modern nuclear power is cleaner, safer, and more efficient than the public has been led to believe. He explains how regulation, not science, has stalled innovation while other nations surge ahead.

Grid modernization expert Dr. Zongjie Wang brings the engineering reality, explaining how nuclear power and small modular reactors provide stable, predictable electricity that renewables cannot, and why they are essential for supporting AI data centers, industrial growth, and a reliable national grid.

This episode reframes energy policy as a national security issue, not just an economic one, and makes the case that without modern nuclear power and serious grid modernization, America’s technological future is far more fragile than most people realize.

Guests & Resources

Randy Pinocci – Montana Public Service Commissioner (District 1)
https://psc.mt.gov/

Dr. Robert Zubrin – Nuclear Engineer, Author
https://www.marssociety.org/
https://pioneerastro.com/
The Case for Nukes: https://www.amazon.com/Case-Nukes-Global-Warming-Magnificent/dp/1736386069/
Merchants of Despair: https://www.amazon.com/Merchants-Despair-Environmentalists-Pseudo-Scientists-Antihumanism/dp/1594034761/

Dr. Zongjie Wang – Grid Modernization Expert, Colorado State University
https://energy.colostate.edu/

Dan Happel:
https://danhappel.com/protecting-a-bright-future/