Best Energy Policy Podcasts (2024)

1
Keeping the lid on the climate Pandora’s Box 35:17

17h ago35:17

35:17

Download our award-winning app and enjoy access to all exclusive features. Click here to access on Apple or Android. Emission reductions are the primary way to address climate change. But if the international community is not able to slash greenhouse gases quickly enough or if leftover emissions persist, then the climate may still need a helping ha…

1
How Virtual Power Plants Could Strengthen the Electrical Grid 25:18

8d ago25:18

25:18

Virtual power plants can help electric grid operators address supply shortages and reliability concerns, but policy support is needed. --- The U.S. electrical grid is under growing stress, raising concern that recent widescale power outages may signal more grid challenges to come. In recent years, electricity demand has grown at an accelerating pac…

1
Who you gonna call? CO2-busters! 36:25

14d ago36:25

36:25

Download our award-winning app and enjoy access to all exclusive features. Click here to access on Apple or Android. Removing CO2 from the atmosphere is set to be big business in the coming years. Johan Börje joins the show to explain what is needed to scale carbon removals up and what challenges need to be overcome. Carbon removals will be crucial…

1
How Identity Politics Shape U.S. Energy Policy 39:48

24d ago39:48

39:48

David Spence explores the rise of identity politics in the U.S. and how it has fueled bitter partisanship over the transition to clean energy. --- Throughout American history, opposing political parties have at times set aside their differences to create “republican moments”— periods of bold, bipartisan action to address critical challenges. Today,…

1
Riding out the rough bump in the EV road 35:36

1M ago35:36

35:36

Download our award-winning app and enjoy access to all exclusive features. Click here to access on Apple or Android. Transport’s electrification is gathering pace but it’s not quick enough for some. 2024 has been branded a disappointing year for EV sales and some have even suggested that this is the beginning of a dip. But is this true? Or is 2024 …

1
Why AI Consumes So Much Energy - and What Might Be Done About It 37:46

1M ago37:46

37:46

Nvidia’s director of accelerated computing, and a Penn expert in AI and datacenters, explain why AI uses so much energy, and how its energy appetite might be curbed. --- Artificial Intelligence is taking off. In just under two years since the introduction of Chat GPT, the first popular AI chatbot, the global number of AI bot users has grown to one …

1
How to build a wind farm 32:41

2M ago32:41

32:41

Download our award-winning app and enjoy access to all exclusive features. Click here to access on Apple or Android. Look out of a plane window when you are flying over the sea or peer at the horizon from a ferry these days and chances are good that you will see giant wind turbine blades looming out of the deep. Offshore wind is generating more and…

1
Exploring Electricity Pricing: Are Alternatives to Flat-Rate Plans Worth It? 25:49

2M ago25:49

25:49

Time-of-use electricity rates can save consumers money and optimize renewable power. But they can backfire if not carefully designed. --- A notable feature of the U.S. electricity system is the disconnect between the cost of generating electricity and the prices most consumers pay for power at any given time. Flat-rate pricing, where consumers pay …

1
Rise of the climate court cases 44:21

2M ago44:21

44:21

Download our award-winning app and enjoy access to all exclusive features. Click here to access on Apple or Android. Global climate action is not restricted to protesting in the streets. Legal courts are increasingly playing a bigger role in the fight for a decarbonised world. As cases against companies and even governments are becoming more common…

1
From the Archive: Michael Mann on the Lessons of Climate Past 26:44

2M ago26:44

26:44

For the month of August, we’re highlighting episodes from the 2023-2024 season of Energy Policy Now. We’ll be back with new content, and a new season, on September the 10th. Climatologist Michael Mann discusses his new book on Earth’s climate past, with insights into our climate future. --- (This episode was recorded on September 14, 2023) Renowned…

1
From the Archive: Senator Sheldon Whitehouse on the Rising Prospects for a U.S. Carbon Border Fee 32:46

3M ago32:46

32:46

For the month of August, we’re highlighting episodes from the 2023-2024 season of Energy Policy Now. We’ll be back with new content, and a new season, on September the 10th. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse discusses the prospects for bipartisan U.S. carbon border fee legislation, and the need to protect the Biden administration’s clean energy and climat…

1
Navigating the Geopolitical Risks of Solar Geoengineering 43:03

3M ago43:03

43:03

Two experts discuss the geopolitical risks of solar geoengineering and the need for global governance frameworks to prevent conflict. --- Solar geoengineering, the deliberate modification of Earth’s atmosphere to curb global warming, still seems like science fiction. However, research is progressing rapidly, and geoengineering’s potential implement…

1
Giving renewables an extra helping hand 33:05

3M ago33:05

33:05

Download our award-winning app and enjoy access to all exclusive features. Click here to access on Apple or Android. Renewables are going from strength to strength in many European countries. Everyone is making some sort of progress towards their targets but if current trends continue, the EU will fall short of its benchmarks. That is why there are…

1
The Crisis of Confidence in Voluntary Carbon Offsets 52:43

4M ago52:43

52:43

Kleinman Center senior fellow Danny Cullenward examines the integrity, effectiveness, and climate impact of voluntary carbon markets. --- Last year, an investigation by the Guardian and Corporate Accountability found that most of the world’s largest carbon dioxide offset projects failed to deliver promised climate benefits. The report is among seve…

1
At the farmers carbon market 39:44

4M ago39:44

39:44

Farming emissions are not falling at the same rate that they are in sectors like power generation or industry. Complex factors like land-use change and livestock emissions make agriculture’s carbon footprint a difficult beast to tame. Factors like food production, geopolitics and strong cultural ties almost make an already complex decarbonisation c…

1
Why New Tech is Key for EPA Methane Rule Compliance 44:44

4M ago44:44

44:44

The EPA's methane rules for the oil and gas industry will depend on new technologies to monitor and verify climate impacts. --- In December the Environmental Protection Agency introduced regulations to limit the amount of methane that escapes into the atmosphere from the oil and gas industry. In theory, the path to reducing emissions should be rela…

1
Great British Clean Tech 30:03

4M ago30:03

30:03

Clean technologies are the indispensable hardware of the energy transition. Whether its wind turbines, grid components or futuristic fusion power, without clean tech, we won’t get anywhere. The United Kingdom has proven itself to be an attractive place to develop and scale up clean technologies but the sector has begun to lose momentum and stagnate…

1
Can the Global LNG Market Support U.S. Export Ambitions? 43:23

5M ago43:23

43:23

Natural gas market expert Anne-Sophie Corbeau explores the global outlook for LNG demand, and the potential for this demand to support the rapid expansion of U.S. LNG export capacity. --- The United States emerged as the leading global exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in 2023, surpassing long-standing leaders Qatar and Australia. Looking ahe…

1
Democratising carbon markets 34:15

5M ago34:15

34:15

Parts of the world that have introduced some form of carbon pricing have been able to disconnect their emissions from economic growth, thanks largely to the polluter-pays principle. But there is somewhat of a disconnect between carbon markets and the most important part of the energy transition: consumers. So is it possible to democratise emissions…

1
Power Struggle: The Electric Grid’s Natural Gas Challenge 48:21

5M ago48:21

48:21

As the nation’s reliance on natural gas as a fuel for electricity generation has grown, so have reliability challenges. --- Over 40% of U.S. electricity is generated by gas-fired powerplants yet, double the role the fuel played two decades ago. Yet the past few years have exposed risks arising from our growing reliance on gas-fired generation. Majo…

1
Preparing Europe’s grid for tomorrow 28:39

5M ago28:39

28:39

Download our award-winning app and enjoy access to all exclusive features. Click here to access on Apple or Android. Grids are a key part of Europe’s energy system but they need a massive overhaul to be ready for the growth in renewables and electricity demand expected up to 2050. Kristian Ruby joins the Policy Dispatch to look at the current situa…

1
Naphtha flow from Africa's Dangote refinery boosting product tankers 16:54

5M ago16:54

16:54

Nigeria's Dangote refinery, built at a cost of $20 billion and is Africa's largest, has started exporting naphtha to North Asian markets at a time when the clean tanker market is witnessing prolonged firmness. The naphtha flow from Dangote is adding to the ton-mile demand in the clean tanker sector and this could be boosting the clean tanker market…

1
Will Latest Solar Trade Dispute Impact U.S. Solar Growth? 23:51

6M ago23:51

23:51

Canary Media senior editor Eric Wesoff explains the latest in a history of solar PV trade disputes involving the U.S. and China, and what it could mean for the growth of solar power and domestic solar manufacturing. --- In April, a coalition of U.S. photovoltaics manufacturers petitioned the Department of Commerce to impose anti-dumping tariffs on …

1
District heating: a European champion? 31:45

6M ago31:45

31:45

Heating soaks up a huge amount of energy demand and is responsible for an equally significant amount of carbon emissions. Technology likes heatpumps and more efficient buildings are starting to have an impact on both accounts. Bankwatch Network’s Morgan Henley, the group’s head of EU heating decarbonisation campaigning, joins the Policy Dispatch to…

1
California’s Solar Equity Challenge 36:06

6M ago36:06

36:06

Kleinman Center visiting scholar Severin Borenstein discusses California’s struggle to balance residential solar growth with electricity rate equity. --- California’s residential solar market is at a critical inflection point after years of strong growth. Last year the state, which has more rooftop solar than any other, lowered the net metering rat…

1
Can Competitive Electricity Markets Deliver Reliable Power? 38:42

6M ago38:42

38:42

An expert in electricity markets explains why market price signals alone will struggle to incentivize adequate investment in the flexible electricity resources needed for future grid reliability. -- In the 1990s the process of deregulation – or restructuring – of the U.S. electricity system began, leading to the introduction of competition to an in…

1
To boldly go… 34:26

7M ago34:26

34:26

Download our award-winning app and enjoy access to all exclusive features. Click here to access on Apple or Android. ‘Impossible’ is not in the vocabulary of Swiss explorer and environmentalist Bertrand Piccard. He was the first person to fly non-stop around the world in a hot air balloon and the first to do the same in a solar-powered plane. Picca…

1
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse on the Rising Prospects for a U.S. Carbon Border Fee 31:56

7M ago31:56

31:56

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse discusses the prospects for bipartisan U.S. carbon border fee legislation, and the need to protect the Biden administration’s clean energy and climate achievements. --- (This episode was recorded on March 15, 2024, during Penn Energy Week) Senator Sheldon Whitehouse has a reputation as an advocate for strong climate polic…

1
Winds from far far away 35:43

8M ago35:43

35:43

Download our award-winning app and enjoy access to all exclusive features. Click here to access on Apple or Android. Wind power in Europe continues to set records. Concerns over supply chains and geopolitical issues have posed challenges but have not derailed progress. Developments in the North Sea continue at a great pace but it is not Europe’s on…

1
Will Hydrogen Energy be Clean Energy? 38:10

8M ago38:10

38:10

The U.S. Department of the Treasury is finalizing rules that will determine which new clean hydrogen projects will receive the IRA’s generous 45V tax incentives, and whether those projects will deliver promised climate benefits. --- The Inflation Reduction Act provides a range of incentives for the development of clean energy resources in the Unite…

1
What's next for oil following China's announcement of its 2024 targets? 15:02

8M ago15:02

15:02

Economic power-house China has set out 10 targets for 2024, which is pro-growth for oil demand, keen on energy security, and prioritizing accelerated industry modernization and development of new productive forces. In this episode of Platts Oil Markets podcast, Managing Editor for refined oil products, Wanda Wang has invited China experts Grace Lee…

1
Policies, politics and partings 23:12

8M ago23:12

23:12

After several great years, Capitol Crude is coming to an end. We want to thank all our listeners for tuning in and supporting us over the years. Going forward, you can find Jasmin and Kate contributing to other S&P Global Commodity Insights podcasts, including Platts Oil Markets, Commodities Focus, and Future Energy. For our last episode, American …

1
Fine-tuning the future of electric cars 44:51

8M ago44:51

44:51

Download our award-winning app and enjoy access to all exclusive features. Click here to access on Apple or Android. Electrification of road transport has asserted itself as the leading decarbonisation for four-wheeled vehicles. Manufacturers are investing billions in new EV models and governments are following suit with the infrastructure needed t…

1
Europe Confronts the Reality of Energy System Sabotage 41:14

8M ago41:14

41:14

Physical attacks on critical European energy infrastructure have risen since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, threatening energy security and the pace of the low-carbon transition. --- Sabotage of critical energy infrastructure has been on the rise, most prominently in Europe, where multiple attacks have targeted subsea electric transmission cab…

1
Rumored weakening of tailpipe emissions rule would move US in wrong direction, analyst says 17:56

8M ago17:56

17:56

The Environmental Protection Agency last April pitched its strongest-ever limits on greenhouse gas emissions from passenger cars and trucks. But reports have surfaced that the EPA may be planning to soften that regulation. Dave Cook, senior vehicles analyst with the Union of Concerned Scientists, joined the podcast to share why he believes any weak…

1
LNG exports, pauses, climate impacts: Are we having the wrong debate? 29:57

8M ago29:57

29:57

The US Department of Energy in late January hit “pause” on its work issuing key LNG export permits. About 30 million mt/year of probable export capacity additions in the US and Mexico are at risk because of the permitting hold. Climate activists have celebrated the White House decision as a massive win, while industry groups have warned that it cou…

1
Indonesia, a captive of coal 33:25

8M ago33:25

33:25

Indonesia is the world’s eighth biggest polluter and one of the most populous countries on Earth. Its energy system is largely reliant on coal and its economy is propped up by mass exports of the polluting fossil fuel. But there is appetite to break coal’s hold over Indonesia’s energy future. A $20 billion partnership between the island nation and …

1
Accelerating the Energy Transition with Repurposed Energy 40:52

9M ago40:52

40:52

Local opposition to clean energy projects slows the transition to a low carbon energy system. A legal expert explores how a national policy of “repurposed energy” could speed things up. --- Clean energy infrastructure projects often face opposition from communities where they would be built, a fact that stands in the way of efforts to rapidly lower…

1
Special Episode: Corporate Disclosure Law 9:07

9M ago9:07

9:07

Each fall, the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy hosts a student blog competition, where students from any field of study can showcase their creativity, innovation, and passion for energy policy and sustainability. This year, we welcomed audio submissions, and we’re featuring our first-place audio blog here. This year’s winner is Benjamin Chen, a j…

1
Push for organized phasedown of oil, gas leasing on public lands turns to RMP legal fights 26:14

9M ago26:14

26:14

Under settlement agreements with environmental groups and Colorado, the Bureau of Land Management is taking another look at that the Uncompahgre Resource Management Plan, which guides the management and use of nearly a million acres of public lands and mineral estate in western Colorado. Among the amendments it is considering to the Trump-era plan …

1
The tides are high 38:50

9M ago38:50

38:50

The majority of countries around the world have some sort of coastline. That means that they have access to natural resources that could soon make a substantial impact on the energy transition: waves and tides. Water is a proven energy source: countries with the right geography have used hydropower to generate green electricity for decades. Now the…

1
The CO2 Transportation Challenge 40:25

9M ago40:25

40:25

A national network of CO2 and biomass transportation infrastructure, spanning pipelines to rail routes, will be needed to support the permanent removal of atmospheric CO2. Can the network be economically built? --- In December the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory published Roads to Removal: Options for Carbon Dioxide Removal in the United Sta…

1
Will US confront Iran? Analyst says it must to stop Houthi attacks on major oil shipping route 25:28

9M ago25:28

25:28

Threats to the flow of crude supplies have worsened in recent weeks with oil and petroleum products tankers among targets struck by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels. Foreign policy and international energy specialist Brenda Shaffer, a professor at the US Naval Postgraduate School, joined the podcast to discuss not only the latest developments in t…

1
Ethanol industry wants more options to be part of US climate solution: ACE CEO 22:20

9M ago22:20

22:20

The ethanol industry is angling to be a bigger part of the US decarbonization strategy, but so far, the Biden administration has sent some mixed signals on the issue. For instance, the Treasury Department has made some policy decisions that could provide some big opportunities for ethanol, but the Environmental Protection Agency is slow walking oth…

1
Looking back at COP28 41:24

9M ago41:24

41:24

COP28 generated plenty of headlines during the two weeks it ran. Emission pledges, new alliances, policy agreements, informal deals and various other announcements flooded the airwaves and email inboxes. Add in the emotional aspect that is now a hallmark of top level climate talks and you would be forgiven for finding the whole thing an overwhelmin…

1
AI’s Big Future in Energy and Climate Regulation 33:41

10M ago33:41

33:41

Cary Coglianese, director of the Penn Program on Regulation, explores AI’s potential to help regulators keep pace with energy sector growth and climate-tech innovation. --- The ongoing transition to a cleaner energy system has positive implications for climate, energy security and equity. Yet the same transition poses myriad challenges for regulato…

1
Oil and gas companies opening wallets as lease sales grow scarcer 15:58

10M ago15:58

15:58

The Biden administration in December signed off on a plan to conduct the fewest oil and gas lease sales in history, with just three auctions in the Gulf of Mexico planned in the next five years. Now, oil and gas companies are changing their bidding strategies to scoop up leases when they are available. George Laguros, a technical research principal…

1
FERC Transmission Reform: A New Year's Resolution? 32:00

10M ago32:00

32:00

Ari Peskoe, director of Harvard Law School’s Electricity Law Initiative, discusses FERC’s pending reforms to the electric transmission development process in the U.S., and legal challenges they'll likely face. Description Nearly two years ago, the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission proposed a set of regulatory reforms to speed a much-needed …

1
Is the oil, gas patch M&A hot streak here to stay? 14:56

10M ago14:56

14:56

According to S&P Global Market Intelligence data, oil and gas deals topped $271 billion in value in 2023, more than doubling the value of deals made in 2022. Bruce On, EY’s US West region energy strategy and transactions leader, joined the podcast to discuss this wave of consolidation, whether it will continue and just how the oil sector is managin…

1
Guyana is a wildcard in Venezuelan sanctions picture: consultant 24:59

11M ago24:59

24:59

In October, the US agreed to ease sanctions on Venezuela in exchange for progress toward a fair election next year. But Venezuela has not fully held up its side of the US sanctions deal, and now it is threatening to annex the oil-rich Essequibo region of neighboring Guyana. David Goldwyn, president of Goldwyn Global Strategies LLC, joins to podcast…

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