The QTS Experience

David Quirk joins me to unpack liquid cooling, AI infrastructure chaos, and why the data center industry might be losing—and rediscovering—its collaborative DNA. We talk standards, disruption, and what happens when innovation moves faster than certainty.

References Mentioned

ASHRAE TC 9.9: https://tpc.ashrae.org/?cmtKey=fd4a4ee6-96a3-4f61-8b85-43418dfa988d

ASHRAE Standard 90.4: https://www.ashrae.org/file%20library/about/government%20affairs/advocacy%20toolkit/virtual%20packet/standard-90.4-2022-fact-sheet.pdf

Guest Links

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-quirk-258b8b40/

Company: https://www.dlbassociates.com/

Nuclear is getting sexy again, and it’s all AI’s fault. I’m sitting down with Brian Smith to talk about why big tech is reopening Three Mile Island and why splitting atoms is the most exquisite way to power our digital future. Let's get glowing!

Guest & Company Links

Guest: Brian Smith

Company Website: Idaho National Laboratory

Studies & References

Kairos Power & Google PPA: Partnership for reactor deployment in Tennessee.

Crane Clean Energy Center: Microsoft/Constellation partnership to reopen Three Mile Island.

Idaho National Laboratory (INL): Lead laboratory for Nuclear Energy Research.

The Advance Act (2024): Federal legislation reforming the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP): DOE public-private partnership initiative.

Join me and Robert Bryan from Enercon as we dive into why nuclear power is finally having its "Cubs win the World Series" moment. From extending plant lives to 80 years to "drawing your box" for work-life balance, we’re getting pragmatic about the grid's future.

References & Guest Information
Guest: Robert Bryan, Enercon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-bryan-b7828714/ 
Company: Enercon Engineering: https://www.enercon.com/about/ 
Referenced Entities:
Idaho National Labs (GAIN Program): https://gain.inl.gov/ 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC): https://www.nrc.gov/
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA): https://www.tva.com/
Three Mile Island (Constellation/Microsoft Project): https://penncapital-star.com/economy/microsoft-describes-three-mile-island-plant-as-a-once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity/
Vogtle Electric Generating Plant: https://www.southernnuclear.com/our-plants/plant-vogtle.html

I’m joined by Dan Golding to tear down the old rules of data center design. We explore the nuclear renaissance, why the fiber-to-power trifecta is non-negotiable, and why 600kW racks might require you to wear a face shield. It's time to stop resting on our laurels.

 

External References & Links

Idaho National Lab (INL): Referenced in transcript as "Gaidu National Lab" regarding SMR scale calculations. https://inl.gov/

Commonwealth Fusion Systems: Mentioned regarding Google’s power purchase agreement for the first plant in Virginia. https://cfs.energy/

Nvidia: Referenced regarding the 600kW rack roadmap. https://www.nvidia.com/

Open Compute Project (OCP): Mentioned regarding upcoming discussions on cooling infrastructure. https://www.opencompute.org/

Guest Connections

Guest: Dan Golding, CTO and Apple/Google Veteran.

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dgolding/

Jim McDermott drops a provocative idea: a Digital Monroe Doctrine to keep compute close to home while partnering with Canada and Mexico. We geek out on why moving bits beats moving electrons, power gravity, and how prosperity next door keeps everyone happier (and scorpions cooler).

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesacmcdermott/