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New Report Urges Caution in the Race for Space-Based Data Centers

The report warns that space-based data centers are likely to become a reality within the next few years—well before the risks of large-scale deployment can be fully understood.

News and Publications with David Sandalow & Julio Friedmann • State of the Planet • November 12, 2026

Energy Explained

Get the latest as our experts share their insights on global energy policy.

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Nuclear Energy

Nuclear Regulatory Reform Beyond the Permitting Bill

The BAAJA bill could facilitate nuclear development by streamlining federal environmental reviews and providing greater certainty for permitted projects.

Blog by Ashley Finan • November 2, 2026

Nuclear Regulatory Reform Beyond the Permitting Bill

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Energy Policy

The Costs of Delaying Implementation of the EU Methane Regulation

This Energy Explained post represents the research and views of the author(s). It does not necessarily represent the views of the Center on Global Energy Policy. The piece...

Blog by Tim Boersma & Anne-Sophie Corbeau • October 22, 2026

Geopolitics

Restarting Russian Gas Flows to Europe Would Undermine US Energy Dominance

This Energy Explained post represents the research and views of the author(s). It does not necessarily represent the views of the Center on Global Energy Policy. The piece...

Blog by Anne-Sophie Corbeau & Tatiana Mitrova • October 20, 2026

Podcasts

Hear in-depth conversations with the world’s top energy and climate leaders from government, business, academia, and civil society.

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Energy Policy

Aliya Haq and Rich Powell on Energy Affordability and the New Congress

Affordability was one of the key issues that drove US voters to the polls last week, and the resulting message for the newly elected Congress is clear: driving...

Columbia Energy Exchange Podcast • November 10, 2026

Aliya Haq and Rich Powell on Energy Affordability and the New Congress

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Energy Policy

Katie Dykes Shares Lessons on Building and Regulating a Modern Grid

Energy costs are a big consideration for voters in much of the US today as they head to the polls. But the decisions that shape those costs will...

Columbia Energy Exchange Podcast with Katie Dykes • November 3, 2026

Climate Change

Senate Permitting Reform Bill: If It Passes, Will It Work?

Every permitting bill promises the same thing: build faster. The harder question is what the trade-offs are, and who bears them. That question is at the heart of...

Columbia Energy Exchange Podcast with Robin Millican , Noah Kaufman and Jack Andreasen Cavanaugh • October 27, 2026

Events

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Featured

November 17, 2026 • 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm est

AI Data Centers: Is Space the Next Frontier?

Putting data centers in space once seemed fanciful. Today, a growing number of companies have started doing so.

Event

AI Data Centers: Is Space the Next Frontier?

Get Involved

November 18, 2026 • 9:00 am - 10:00 am est

Student Roundtable with the Association of International Energy Negotiators

Join Columbia University's Women in Energy (WIE) initiative and the Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIEN) for a student roundtable following AIEN's US Chapter forum, "Powering the New...

Event • Large Conference Room
Center on Global Energy Policy

November 18, 2026 • 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm est

Student Roundtable with Dr. Zainab Usman

The Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University SIPA’s Women in Energy initiative invites Columbia University students to a roundtable discussion with Dr. Zainab Usman, Senior Research...

Event • Large Conference Room
Center on Global Energy Policy

About Us

We are the premier hub and policy institution for global energy thought leadership. Energy impacts every element of our lives, and our trusted fact-based research informs the decisions that affect all of us.

Zachary A. Wendling

Innovation & Technology

Biography

Dr. Zachary A. Wendling is a former Senior Research Associate at the Columbia University Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP). His research experience includes the role of technology and innovation in energy transitions, energy systems modeling, and sustainable development. Before joining CGEP, Dr. Wendling was the project manager for the Global Commons Stewardship Index at the Sustainable Development Solutions Network and the principal investigator for the Environmental Performance Index at the Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy, where he did his postdoctoral training. Dr. Wendling holds a Ph.D. in Public Affairs from the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public & Environmental Affairs at Indiana University Bloomington, with major fields in policy analysis and environmental policy. He earned a joint Master of Public Affairs – Master of Science in Environmental Science and a B.S. in Biology, also from Indiana University.

Relevant Articles

Power Sector

Using New Marginal Emissions Data to Improve State Renewable Portfolio Standards

The majority of US states use a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) to achieve clean energy targets. RPS programs typically set annual clean energy production levels, but they ignore the significant variations in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity of the grid at different times of the day and at different locations.

Report by Devan Samant, Abraham Silverman & Zachary A. Wendling • May 30, 2024

Using New Marginal Emissions Data to Improve State Renewable Portfolio Standards

Power Sector

Outlook for Pending Generation in the PJM Interconnection Queue

Report by Abraham Silverman, Zachary A. Wendling, Kavyaa Rizal + 1 more • May 08, 2024

What China, Germany, and Texas Tell Us about Capacity Adequacy

Recent electric power policy decisions in Germany, China, and Texas demonstrate the emerging challenge of preserving capacity adequacy amidst high renewable penetration rates.

News and Publications with Joshua Rhodes, Abraham Silverman & Zachary A. Wendling • Center for Strategic and International Studies • February 21, 2024

Power Sector

Estimating Interregional Transmission Expansion Under the BIG WIRES Act

Recent congressional legislation has the potential to accelerate the construction of new electricity transmission projects that cross existing electric grid boundaries.

Blog by Joshua Rhodes, Abraham Silverman & Zachary A. Wendling • February 6, 2024

Estimating Interregional Transmission Expansion Under the BIG WIRES Act

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New Report Urges Caution in the Race for Space-Based Data Centers

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Nuclear Regulatory Reform Beyond the Permitting Bill

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Aliya Haq and Rich Powell on Energy Affordability and the New Congress

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AI Data Centers: Is Space the Next Frontier?

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Using New Marginal Emissions Data to Improve State Renewable Portfolio Standards

Outlook for Pending Generation in the PJM Interconnection Queue

What China, Germany, and Texas Tell Us about Capacity Adequacy

Estimating Interregional Transmission Expansion Under the BIG WIRES Act

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