Electric Futures: The Data Center Next Door Debuts April 9, 2026 Across Platforms

Season three of the USC "Electric Futures" podcast, titled "Electric Futures: The Data Center Next Door," will launch on April 9, 2026, focusing on data center development in California's Imperial Valley. This region, previously highlighted in season one for its lithium extraction potential, is now seeing a new wave of "hyperscaler" developers interested in tapping into its rich geothermal resources for data centers. Host Charles Zukoski, the Robert E. Vivian Professor in Energy Resources, has been tracking reports of a potential large-scale data center project in the area since last summer. The podcast addresses the exponential growth in demand for data centers, which are projected to more than double their global electricity consumption by 2030, and the increasing community pushback against these developments. Residents of the Imperial Valley voice concerns about rising electricity bills, environmental degradation, and the broader implications of AI technology. The series will feature interviews with various leaders and experts, including Tom Steyer, a former Democratic gubernatorial candidate for California; Gilberto Manzanarez, founder of Valle Imperial Resiste; Diane Papan, California State Assemblymember for the 21st District; Kelly Sanders, Professor at USC Viterbi School of Engineering; John Reynolds, President of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC); and Ryan Kelley, a member of the Imperial Valley Board of Supervisors. The podcast aims to explore whether the economic benefits of data center development in the Imperial Valley outweigh the associated costs to the community and environment. Notably, the region has also seen its lithium extraction plans stalled due to existing lawsuits, setting a complex backdrop for new industrial development. The podcast also provides resources, including a Spanish-language episode and guides for understanding data center development issues.