I remember growing up watching The Jetsons — a world of flying cars, talking robots,
and screens that connected us across time and space. Back then, it felt like pure
imagination. Today, it feels like a typical Tuesday.
We now live in a world where robots work in factories and homes, self-driving cars are
being tested on public roads, virtual classrooms connect students and teachers across
continents, and artificial intelligence is embedded in nearly every device we own. The
once-fanciful flying car is becoming reality through electric vertical take-off and landing
vehicles — EVTOLs — that will soon reshape the way we commute, deliver goods, and
connect cities.
This is no longer science fiction. It’s the next chapter of human progress — and it’s
powered by energy. It’s the expansion of the Advanced Industrial Revolution unfolding
right before us — a transformation driven by automation, artificial intelligence, advanced
manufacturing, and the digital infrastructure that underpins modern life. The reality is
that the Jetsons’ world, like ours, did not and does not function on magic, pixie dust, or
space sprockets. It takes energy in all forms: electricity to charge and recharge robots;
natural gas to heat homes and generate power; advanced nuclear energy for always-on
reliability; hydrogen and distributed energy resources like fuel cells and combined heat
and power systems; solar paired with energy storage; and perhaps one day, fusion.
The parallels between our childhood cartoons and today’s technologies are striking.
Rosie the robot maid has been replaced by autonomous home devices that sweep, mop
and mow. George Jetson’s video calls are now routine. His flying car? A growing
number of aviation startups are testing prototypes capable of short-haul, electric flight.
Within a decade, we may hail air taxis the same way we summon rideshares today.
But beneath all these innovations lies an unshakable truth: Every robot, data center and
EVTOL aircraft depends on power — reliable, affordable, always-available energy. And
our current systems, designed for an earlier era, are straining under the weight of new
demand.
For decades, the United States built the most sophisticated power system in the world.
Yet as technology accelerates, the gap between innovation and infrastructure widens.
Our data centers — the backbone of the AI revolution — consume enormous amounts
of electricity, rivaling the power needs of entire cities. Tens of thousands of additional EV chargers will be required as electric vehicles move from niche to mainstream. Our
homes, offices, factories, hospitals, and schools are increasingly electrified.
When we think about the future, we don’t just see machines and algorithms — we see
people. Families. Communities. The next generation. I imagine myself as a grandfather
one day, spending time with my grandchildren in a world transformed by technology but
grounded in human connection. A world where we spend less time commuting and
more time together; where homes manage energy efficiently; where the air is cleaner,
the lights stay on, and opportunity is abundant.
That vision requires foresight, investment, and a practical approach to energy policy.
We must stop treating energy as a political talking point and start recognizing it as the
foundation of prosperity in the American Advanced Industrial Revolution.
To meet this moment, we need a comprehensive all-of-the-above energy strategy —
one that harnesses every viable resource to meet growing demand while ensuring
resilience and competitiveness. Nuclear power must anchor that plan. Natural gas
remains indispensable. Fuel cells, combined heat and power systems, hydrogen, and
renewables all play important roles when paired with the infrastructure needed to deliver
energy reliably.
As this transformation accelerates, one of America’s greatest opportunities lies in its
workforce. Every power plant, transmission line, charging station, and data center
requires electricians, welders, pipefitters, engineers, and technicians. These are careers
that support families and rebuild the middle class.
Education is being transformed alongside energy. Virtual classrooms, AI tutors, and
digital tools are expanding access to learning — but only if supported by reliable power
and connectivity.
The Jetsons are here. The technology has arrived. Now it’s time to build the energy
systems worthy of their world — and ours.
Erick Ford, a vice president at Stevens & Lee Public Affairs, also serves as the
president of the New Jersey Energy Policy Coalition.
