AI needs a different kind of power plant [partner content]

AI needs a different kind of power plant [partner content]

August 19, 2026 · 23 min

About this episode

This episode discusses how Arbor Energy is using rocket technologies to create modular, carbon-negative power plants to address current energy demands.

Arbor Energy is betting that smaller, modular turbines can solve problems the conventional generation model was never designed for. Arbor Energy was founded with an unusual idea: take technologies from rocket engines and use them to make carbon-negative power plants. Today, the market has radically changed. Demand for turbines is exploding, the supply chain is jammed, and data centers need power on rapid timelines. Suddenly, Arbor’s 3D-printed turbine is a potential answer to the power bottleneck. In this episode, Stephen Lacey talks with Arbor CEO and co-founder Brad Hartwig, a former SpaceX engineer who found his calling in power generation. They explore how Arbor is adapting rocket technologies for power generation, how additive manufacturing could unlock new turbine supply chains, and why the company believes cleaner power solutions are critical for community acceptance. Can rocket engineering help reinvent the way we build power plants? This episode was produced in partnership with Arbor Energy. 

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