Catalyst with Shayle Kann sponsors and ad reads

Catalyst is brought to you by Engie. Your business has enough challenges. Energy shouldn't be one of them. That's why Engie builds tailored energy solutions around real business needs to support growth, strengthen predictability, and move businesses forward. Because real power comes from shared expertise and relationships that outlast the paperwork. Learn more at engieresources.com. That's E-N-G-I-E-N-G-Resources.com.

In May and June alone, millions of thermostats, batteries, and EVs across North America shifted energy during peak periods, quietly becoming one of the most powerful resources on the grid. Energy Hub builds and operates virtual power plants, or VPPs, that turn 2.5 million customer devices into 3.4 gigawatts of dispatchable capacity. That's the equivalent of more than three nuclear reactors' worth of flexible, clean grid capacity, coordinated from customers' homes. Learn more at energyhub.com.

For data center developers, power availability is the defining challenge, but it's not the only one. Today, growth also hinges on earning a community's trust. Bloom Energy solves for both. Bloom's fuel cell platform delivers on-site power for the digital age, sustainable, reliable, and scalable from tens to hundreds of megawatts. Bloom generates electricity without combustion, meaning lower emissions, minimal water use, and quieter operation than conventional solutions. That's why developers and utilities turn to Bloom to power their operations, and you can learn more at bloomenergy.com.

When it comes to energy, the best solutions don't start with a product. They start with understanding your business. Engie works with customers to understand their goals, operations, and challenges before building solutions to their energy needs. Because while Engie knows energy, no one knows your business like you. And because the work doesn't stop once the paperwork is signed, Engie helps turn energy plans into outcomes. Learn more at ngresources.com. That's E-N-G-I-E-N-G-Resources.com or click the link in the show notes.

Peak temperatures don't have to mean peak prices. When summer heat drives demand up, utilities need flexible capacity they can call on in minutes while keeping customer rates down. That capacity starts in customers' homes. Energy Hub's EdgeGerm's platform aggregates thermostats, batteries, and EVs into VPPs that grid operators can dispatch with the same confidence as a traditional power plant. with real-time performance, accurate forecasting, and end-to-end verification that holds up from the control room to the living room. This peak season, more than 170 utilities are turning everyday devices into the grid's most responsive asset, exactly when the grid needs it most. Find out what utilities expect from a VPP partner at energyhub.com.

When building a data center, the two hardest problems aren't technical. They're speed to power and earning community support. And that's where Bloom Energy comes in. Bloom's fuel cell platforms deliver fast, reliable electricity without combustion. For local communities, installing a Bloom system means lower emissions, minimal water use, and quieter operations compared to conventional solutions. The track record backs it up. For over 25 years, hospitals, universities, and utilities have trusted Bloom Energy to power communities where safety is top of mind. If you're building infrastructure where delays are not an option and community support is key, your power choices matter. Visit bloomenergy.com to learn more or the link in the show notes.

Learn more at ngresources.com. That's engresources.com. In May and June alone, millions of thermostats, batteries, and EVs across North America shifted energy during peak periods, quietly becoming one of the most powerful resources on the grid. EnergyHub builds and operates virtual power plants or VPPs that turn 2,500,000 customer devices into 3.4 gigawatts of dispatchable capacity. That's the equivalent of more than three nuclear reactors worth of flexible, clean grid capacity coordinated from customers' homes. Learn more at energyhub.com. For data center developers, power availability is the defining challenge, but it's not the only one. Today, growth also hinges on earning a community's trust. Bloom Energy solves for both. Bloom's fuel cell platform delivers on-site power for the digital age, sustainable, reliable, and scalable from tens to hundreds of megawatts. Bloom generates electricity without combustion, meaning lower emissions, minimal water use, and quieter operation than conventional solutions.

Trillions of dollars are flowing into clean and critical infrastructure, but those investments aren't driven by technology alone. They're shaped by markets, by policy, by capital, and by the institutions that connect them. I'm Alfred Johnson, CEO of CrUX and host of a brand new podcast, Critical Capital. Each episode, I talk with people deploying capital, shaping policy, and building the clean economy. Tune in as we unpack how progress is actually made. Listen to Critical Capital on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.