Turning an outdated grid into ‘prosperous infrastructure’

Arushi Sharma Frank started working in the energy industry in the early 2010s and quickly learned how vital state and federal regulatory bodies are to the energy transition. Years later, as part of Tesla’s U.S. energy policy team, she convinced Texas regulators to allow Tesla to connect a 100 megawatt battery to the grid. More recently,  she developed new ERCOT rules that allow data centers to connect to the grid much faster.Arushi invests in and supports clean energy startups as the founder and principal of Luminary Strategies, a venture studio she launched in 2024. But she also spends a lot of time contributing to efforts to improve grid infrastructure. Without the technology startups she supports, consumers' trust in the grid can’t be restored, she says. This week on With Great Power, Arushi Sharma Frank describes her vision for “prosperous infrastructure” and her recent work with Texas regulators. She also talks about some of the startups she’s working with, as well as how she sees AI impacting the power sector.Credits: Hosted by Brad Langley. Produced by Mary Catherine O'Connor. Edited by Anne Bailey. Original music and engineering by Sean Marquand. Stephen Lacey is executive editor. The GridX production team includes Jenni Barber, Samantha McCabe, and Brad Langley.