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 and often require extensive transmission that leads to power loss. Cortes contrasts this with natural gas, which he describes as abundant, reliable, and cleaner-burning, positioning it as the most practical solution for meeting U.S. energy demands in the near and medium term.

He also highlights policy barriers—particularly at the state level—that limit infrastructure development like pipelines, despite growing energy needs tied to industrial expansion and emerging technologies.

Cortes previously served as a senior advisor to former President Donald Trump and has produced documentaries focused on economic and energy policy.

The League of American Workers is an organization focused on promoting policies related to domestic industry, energy independence, and U.S. workers.

In this episode of the Powering America Podcast, host Bryan Hyde speaks with Bill Beard, Municipal Affairs Liaison at the Goldwater Institute, about the growing role of data centers in the modern economy and the policy debates surrounding them. Beard explains that data centers are essentially the digital equivalent of libraries—critical infrastructure that powers everything from smartphones to cloud computing and artificial intelligence.

The conversation explores common concerns about energy use, water consumption, and environmental impact, with Beard arguing that technological advancements are making data centers more efficient through innovations like closed-loop cooling systems and alternative water sources. He also highlights how consistent energy demand from data centers can stabilize power grids and potentially align with emerging solutions like small modular nuclear reactors.

Beyond infrastructure, the episode dives into the broader implications of AI, with Beard emphasizing its potential to accelerate breakthroughs in areas like healthcare. The discussion ultimately returns to foundational principles, including property rights and free market dynamics, which Beard says are often missing from public conversations about energy and infrastructure development.

This episode offers a grounded, policy-focused look at how data centers fit into America's economic future—and why they may be more essential than many realize.

You can find the data center report that Bill mentioned below.

https://www.goldwaterinstitute.org/policy-report/data-centers/

In Part 2 of this conversation, Polar LNG President Joel Riddle expands on the economic, strategic, and national security implications of developing liquefied natural gas on Alaska's North Slope. He outlines how the project could generate billions in investment, create thousands of jobs across the United States, and drive long-term economic growth in Alaska through tax revenues, royalties, and infrastructure development.

Riddle also discusses the project's role in advancing U.S. Arctic leadership, including the potential for year-round navigation, integration with military and Coast Guard operations, and strengthening America's geopolitical position in a region of increasing global competition. He emphasizes that Polar LNG is designed to complement—not compete with—other major projects like the Alaska LNG pipeline, while helping unlock vast natural gas reserves and enabling additional development, including energy-intensive AI data centers.

Looking ahead, Riddle details key milestones, including a targeted final investment decision by 2027 and phased production scaling through 2034. He frames the project as a long-term effort to transform the North Slope into a major hub for energy production, economic activity, and strategic infrastructure, positioning the U.S. as a leading supplier in the global LNG market.

In Part 1 of this two-part episode, we are joined by Polar LNG President Joel Riddle about a major liquefied natural gas project planned for Alaska's North Slope.

Riddle outlines the scale and accelerated timeline of the project, including its potential to deliver up to 21 million tons of LNG annually and begin initial production by 2029–2030.

He explains how global supply disruptions, including recent attacks on LNG infrastructure abroad, have created an opportunity for the United States to expand its role in global energy markets and strengthen energy security for allies.

The conversation also explores the fundamentals of LNG, the logistical and environmental challenges of Arctic development, and the strategic importance of infrastructure in unlocking stranded energy resources.

Riddle discusses how projects like Polar LNG could serve as a catalyst for broader economic growth in Alaska, including enabling future AI data centers and industrial expansion. He frames the effort as both an energy initiative and a long-term development play that could reshape the region's economic landscape.

Why This Podcast Exists

What actually powers America, and who decides how it all works?

Powering America: The Energy and Infrastructure Policy Podcast, hosted by Bryan Hyde, begins with a clear purpose. This show exists to bring clarity to the policy conversations shaping how America is built, powered, and sustained, conversations that often happen without transparency or real-world context.

Energy and infrastructure policy sit at the foundation of the American economy. They determine how electricity is generated and delivered, how goods move across the country, and how communities grow. They also play an increasing role in the development of emerging technologies. Artificial intelligence, for example, depends on physical systems such as data centers, semiconductor supply chains, transmission networks, and reliable energy. As AI adoption accelerates, it is placing new and growing demands on these systems.

Yet many of the most consequential decisions are made across fragmented conversations, inside federal agencies, state regulatory bodies, industry groups, and advocacy organizations. The outcomes shape business, industry, and everyday life, but the reasoning behind those decisions is often difficult to follow. This disconnect creates a system that can feel complex, slow to adapt, and increasingly difficult to navigate.

Powering America is designed to address that gap.

Each episode features in-depth conversations with policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, economists, and analysts who are directly involved in shaping energy and infrastructure policy. The focus is on practical questions, how energy markets function in reality, what incentives are driving infrastructure investment, how AI is influencing demand, and how decisions at federal, state, and local levels interact.

The podcast also explores the tradeoffs that define these systems. Reliability, affordability, and long-term capacity do not always align, and understanding those tensions is central to making sense of policy decisions and their real-world impact.

This is not a show built around outrage or headlines. It does not aim to oversimplify complex systems or promote a single policy agenda. Instead, it offers a space for thoughtful, informed discussion grounded in how these systems actually work.

The show is intended for policymakers, journalists, industry professionals, and engaged citizens who want to better understand the forces shaping America's energy and infrastructure landscape. As these systems continue to evolve, particularly under the growing demands of AI and digital infrastructure, the need for clarity has never been greater.

In upcoming episodes, the podcast will explore the structure of U.S. energy markets, grid reliability, infrastructure funding, regulatory barriers, and the economic realities behind energy production and distribution. Each conversation is designed to inform and provide context, helping listeners connect policy decisions with real-world outcomes.

For those seeking a clearer understanding of how America is powered and built, Powering America offers a place to start.