In this episode of Bracewell’s Data Center Counsel podcast, Scott Segal and Andrew Shaw explore whether nuclear energy can meet the rapidly growing electricity demands of AI-driven data centers. As hyperscale facilities transform electricity demand into a system-level challenge, the discussion examines why nuclear — both large light water reactors and small modular reactors (SMRs) — is uniquely positioned to provide firm, carbon-free baseload power.

The conversation covers a range of topics, including:

• the operational alignment between
• nuclear generation and high-load data centers emerging partnerships between tech companies and nuclear operators
• Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensing reforms
• fuel supply constraints
• safety considerations

In this episode of the Data Center Counsel podcast, Scott Segal and Tamara McKinzie examine the shifting geography of US data center development. What was once concentrated in traditional hubs like Northern Virginia is rapidly expanding into rural and emerging markets across Texas, Oklahoma, Kentucky, North Dakota, South Dakota and parts of the Southeast.

Scott and Tamara look at the drivers behind this migration — including land availability, speed to power, regulatory certainty and grid reliability — as well as the growing pushback from communities concerned about energy prices, water usage and land preservation. They discuss the growing importance of regulatory certainty, land-use considerations and affordable electricity as communities evaluate the potential impacts of large-load development.

In this episode of the Data Center Counsel podcast, Jared Berg and Bryan Clark talk with Ted Duver about the regulatory forces driving data centers to develop on-site, behind-the-meter generation. They examine how long interconnection timelines, grid infrastructure constraints and evolving regulatory frameworks — particularly in PJM and ERCOT — are pushing developers toward greater control over power supply in pursuit of “speed to power” and Five 9s reliability.

The group compares ERCOT’s energy-only market and recent Senate Bill 6 reforms with more traditional ISO/RTO markets, highlighting regulatory uncertainty, cost allocation debates and the growing role of co-located generation.