Powering America

Devin Hartman of the R Street Institute breaks down the complex regulatory and economic hurdles of modernizing the U.S. power grid. He discusses why transmission reform has become a partisan flashpoint and outlines a consumer-first agenda to improve grid efficiency and accountability.

Arnav Rao, a transportation policy analyst with the Open Markets Institute, warned on the Powering America Podcast that the proposed UP-NS merger would consolidate an already-concentrated industry and amplify monopoly pricing power rather than improve efficiency. Rao argued that railroads have used market dominance to raise prices faster than inflation, driving shippers to trucks.

A proposed $85 billion merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern, aiming to create the first coast-to-coast freight railroad in America, is facing widespread opposition from a diverse group of stakeholders. While the railroads assert the merger would improve service, reduce delays, and shift freight from highways to rail, opponents including state attorneys general, agricultural organizati...

In this episode of the Powering America Podcast, host Brian Hyde speaks with Domenico Ferraro, a professor at Arizona State University's W.P. Carey School of Business and author of three reports for the Goldwater Institute. Ferraro discusses the economic implications of artificial intelligence and data centers, challenging doomsday predictions while acknowledging the valid concerns about cost and...

Devin Hartman of the R Street Institute breaks down the complex regulatory and economic hurdles of modernizing the U.S. power grid. He discusses why transmission reform has become a partisan flashpoint and outlines a consumer-first agenda to improve grid efficiency and accountability.

Dr. Emil Panzaru, Research Director for the Consumer Choice Center, joins the Powering America Podcast to discuss the organization's annual World Consumer Airport Index. He explains the index evaluates 60 airports across 14 categories, focusing on consumer comfort, choice, and safety. Dr. Panzaru highlights surprising findings, such as Dubai International Airport's zero percent delays despite regi...

Mark Scribner, senior transportation policy analyst at the Reason Foundation, joins the Powering America Podcast to discuss the challenges facing the US air traffic control system. He explains that while the current US model was once the global standard, it is now experiencing significant deficiencies due to chronic underfunding and a fundamental conflict of interest where the regulator also opera...

Pete Sepp, president of the National Taxpayers Union, discusses the evolving role of data centers in the U.S. economy and their impact on taxpayers. Sepp clarifies common misconceptions about data centers, highlighting their function as essential infrastructure for the information economy, encompassing everything from personal photos to AI development. He uses Loudoun County, Virginia, as a prime...

In this episode of the Powering America Podcast, Brian Hyde interviews Thomas Aiello, Vice President of Federal Affairs at the National Taxpayers Union. Aiello discusses the role of the National Taxpayers Union in advocating for lower taxes, limited government, and fewer regulations, and addressing the national debt. The conversation delves into the complexities of recycling in the United States,...

Ross Marchand, Executive Director of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, discusses the future of advanced recycling, focusing on the Recycled Materials Attribution Act. Marchand discusses advancements in recycling technology, the economic potential of increased recycling rates, and the regulatory challenges posed by state and federal guidelines. The conversation highlights the importance of a feder...

In this episode of the Powering America Podcast, Brian Hyde speaks with Kit Pfeiffer, President, Energy Freedom Alliance of the Rockies and Senior Vice President of Commercial at X2 Resources. Pfeiffer explains how global events, such as the Iran War and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, significantly impact energy prices worldwide, even for insulated markets like the United States. He highligh...

Elizabeth B. Stelle of The Commonwealth Foundation explains how Pennsylvania's market-driven history created an energy powerhouse and why keeping it that way is essential for the AI era. She discusses the dangers of reregulation and carbon taxes, emphasizing that states must prioritize permitting and flexibility to meet surging electricity demand.

Devin Hartman of the R Street Institute breaks down the complex regulatory and economic hurdles of modernizing the U.S. power grid. He discusses why transmission reform has become a partisan flashpoint and outlines a consumer-first agenda to improve grid efficiency and accountability.

Neel Brown of the Progressive Policy Institute explains how advanced recycling uses molecular breakdown to process plastics that mechanical systems can't handle. They discuss the economic benefits for municipalities, including millions in potential savings on landfill tipping fees, and the legislative hurdles facing this emerging technology.

Bartlett Cleland of the Institute for Policy Innovation joins the show to discuss why AI and data centers represent the "economic opportunity of a generation." He breaks down the physical infrastructure required to power the digital future and explains how these billion-dollar investments are revitalizing the American Midwest by creating long-term, high-paying jobs for local communities.

Yaël Ossowski of the Consumer Choice Center joins the show to discuss the rise of "climate lawfare" and its hidden impact on energy costs. He explains the details of the Stop Climate Shakedowns Act and how specific litigation strategies by state AGs and private law firms are creating a backdoor tax for consumers.

Ross Marchand, Executive Director of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, discusses the future of advanced recycling, focusing on the Recycled Materials Attribution Act. Marchand discusses advancements in recycling technology, the economic potential of increased recycling rates, and the regulatory challenges posed by state and federal guidelines. The conversation highlights the importance of a feder...

Political consultant Garrett Fulce joins the podcast to discuss how Texas is leveraging its history of aggressive infrastructure development to lead the national data center boom. He breaks down common misconceptions regarding energy and water consumption and explains why states must lean into digital infrastructure to stay competitive in the AI era.

The Powering America Podcast episode discusses the future of the Heartland Flyer, an Amtrak train connecting Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, Texas. Despite achieving record ridership and revenue, the train faces potential shutdown due to Texas not securing funding in its budget. The episode highlights the significance of the Heartland Flyer as a vital transportation option for many residents and its...

Ross Eisenberg, president of America's Plastic Makers (APM), American Chemistry Council, discusses the Recycled Materials Attribution Act, a bipartisan bill that would establish federal standards for advanced recycling and provide regulatory certainty for manufacturers using recycled content.  Eisenberg explains how advanced recycling technologies can process hard-to-recycle plastics, support a mo...

As Congress considers H.R. 7502, the "Recycled Materials Attribution Act," David Clement, Policy Director at the Consumer Choice Center, discusses the economic and environmental significance of advanced recycling and plastics policy. H.R. 7502, introduced Feb. 12 by U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy, would establish a federal framework for recycled-content marketing claims and direct the Federal Trade Com...

Paul Gessing, President of the Rio Grande Foundation, discusses the political and economic landscape of New Mexico's energy sector. He explains how "microgrids" are becoming a genius solution for powering energy-intensive data centers without straining the public grid or raising costs for residents.

Wayne Winegarden, Senior Fellow at the Pacific Research Institute, joins the show to discuss why starving the coal industry of capital creates a more fragile and expensive energy grid. He details the hidden economic costs of aggressive energy policy in California and explains why coal remains a critical "dispatchable" resource when renewables and natural gas face supply shocks.

Ross Marchand, executive director of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, said data centers are critical infrastructure supporting the modern digital economy and the growth of artificial intelligence. He argued that public concerns about water and electricity usage are often overstated and lack context, noting that data centers account for a small share of national electricity use and can be less re...

On the Powering America Podcast, Steve Cortes, president and founder of the League of American Workers, argues that large-scale wind energy projects are inefficient, costly, and environmentally harmful, calling them a "multi-billion dollar scam" that depends on subsidies and redundant fossil fuel backup systems. He contends that wind turbines fail to produce consistent, economically viable energy...