Podcast appearances and mentions of amy myers jaffe

Recorded in front of a packed room at NYU's Kimmel Center during Climate Week NYC, Ed Crooks and Amy Myers Jaffe moderate a debate on the high-stakes topic of AI and energy. They dig deep into the questions raised by the surge of investment in data centers: what it means for grid stability and electricity bills, and how new technologies and market structures can help the power industry adapt.Climate Week this year often felt more like AI Week, given how many discussions were centred around it. To explore the issues, the team Ed and Amy are joined by representatives of two of the key companies at the heart of the revolution. Josh Parker is Head of Sustainability at NVIDIA, and Craig Sundstrom is Head of Energy & Sustainability Policy at AWS. Xizhou Zhou, Wood Mackenzie's Head of Power and Renewables, also joins the discussion, to add his perspectives on how the industry is changing The load shock is real. Xizhou says that more than 116 GW of US data centers are under construction or fully committed to interconnect in the next few years: equivalent to about 15% of US peak load today. After two decades of flat demand, the electricity industry must rebuild its muscle memory for rapid infrastructure build-out. US power prices went up 6% in the past year, with rates in some states going up far more. What is driving that surge? And what can be done to provide some relief for hard-pressed consumers? One answer comes from rapid progress in the technologies that make AI possible, including the chips. NVIDIA's Josh Parker notes NVIDIA has cut energy use for inference tasks by 100,000× over the past decade ,and by about 30× in just the past two years. Craig from Amazon explains how new grid-enhancing technologies could quickly make a difference, pointing to an AWS/RMI study showing that 6.5 GW of extra capacity could be freed up on the PJM grid without building any new transmission lines. He adds that AI is already helping in California, where smart battery dispatch is cutting costs in real time. Data centers don't only use electricity for computation: they create a lot of heat, too. Josh says there are ways to use that heat, and describes Scandinavian projects that use it for their local district heating networks. With geothermal and new small modular reactors unlikely to reach widespread deployment until well into the 2030s, the panel agrees that the real solutions in the next few years lie in upgrading transmission, expanding storage, redesigning rates, and building in flexibility.It's a busy and lively discussion, with a couple of questions from the audience answered by the panel. If you have any further questions or comments on the show, we'd love to hear them. You can comment on Spotify, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, or find us on YouTube and leave a comment there. Thanks!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

One big drawback of generative artificial intelligence is the vast energy and water that data centers use to power it. But AI also promises to save energy and fuel across industries such as transportation, manufacturing and building maintenance. Amy Myers Jaffe, director of the Energy, Climate Justice, and Sustainability Lab at New York University, tells us how AI could save as much energy as it uses—or more. Plus, WSJ reporter Sebastian Herrera discusses how layoffs of tech workers are affecting Seattle. Peter Champelli hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free Technology newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AI is adding to US electricity consumption at a pace not seen in decades. That demand growth is creating new strains on the grid in many parts of the country. But what if AI could instead help keep the system running? Varun Sivaram is a founder & CEO of Emerald AI and a Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. He says that far from undermining the grid, AI could actually save it. If we can enable AI data centers to provide flexibility during times peak stress, they can become a powerful ally for reliable, affordable, and clean electricity.Earlier this year, the Energy Gang hosted a conversation with Tyler Norris of Duke University, author of an influential paper assessing the potential for large flexible loads in the US electricity system. He argued that if grid operators could ask data centers to dial back the power consumption when the system is under strain, those new facilities could get online faster without waiting for long transmission and generation upgrades. In effect, flexibility is like a fast-track pass: by allowing short reductions in consumption during peak stress, the grid can handle more demand and data centers can connect sooner.That's the theory. In this show we talk about how to make it a reality.To explain how data center flexibility works, and will work in the future, Varun joins host Ed Crooks, regular guest Amy Myers Jaffe, Director of NYU's Energy, Climate Justice and Sustainability Lab, and resident investment expert Shanu Mathew, Portfolio Manager and Research Analyst at Lazard Asset Management. How can data center developers, operators and customers create flexible loads? Spread computing tasks across multiple sites, pause the less time-critical ones during grid stress, and use smarter software and batteries to smooth short spikes. The gang discuss early real-world tests with utilities and tech companies, and why some regions are considering rules that let them temporarily reduce power to big users rather than risk neighborhood blackouts. Is this all hype? Some of the claims being made are running ahead of what is actually being achieved in the industry today. And even as chips get more efficient, demand for AI is growing even faster. But Varun wants to run more pilots, reward flexibility with quicker hookups, and build toward a “virtual power plant” made of data centers that can respond in milliseconds. If the irresistible force of AI development is to overcome the immovable object of power grid capacity, that is the kind of innovation that is going to be needed.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The COP21 climate talks in Paris in 2015 were hailed as a historic success. They resulted in a global agreement to curb climate change, and set a framework for every country in the world to contribute to achieving that goal.Ten years on, the conference no longer looks such a triumph. Greenhouse gas emissions are still rising, and so are global temperatures. The Paris agreement's goals for keeping global warming in check seem to be slipping out of reach.So what is the world really getting out of the UN's annual COPs? (The name stands for the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.) Every year, pledges are made and commitments agreed, but real-world changes have not been nearly fast enough to achieve those international goals. COP30 is coming up fast: it will be held in Belém in northern Brazil, a little over two months from now. What can we expect from this latest attempt to drive forward global action on climate?To look ahead to the meeting, host Ed Crooks is joined by climate and energy journalist Simon Evans, deputy editor at the climate science publication Carbon Brief. Simon and Ed were on the ground in Azerbaijan last year at COP29. They reflect on the outcomes from that meeting, and the progress that has been made – and not made – in the months since then. Regular guest Amy Myers-Jaffe – director of NYU's Energy, Climate Justice and Sustainability Lab – is also back on the show, asking about the broader context of international efforts on climate change. She raises the question of whether China and the EU have stuck to their commitments under that historic Paris Agreement. They ask: is COP30 is likely to be a success or a failure? And is it time for a completely new approach to global cooperation on climate?With the UN strategy for curbing global warming in crisis, Ed, Simon and Amy discuss the effectiveness of COPs, the potential for carbon pricing, and new ideas for strengthening international climate efforts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is the global transition to low-carbon energy accelerating or slowing down? One answer is that it depends where you look. In the US, energy policy has shifted away from support for low-carbon technologies, but China is continuing with record installations of solar, wind, and batteries, and record sales of EVs. With AI emerging as the central arena for great power completion, which model will work best at providing the power the new technologies need?The AI revolution will be the most transformative change in human history. That's according to Gerard Reid, this week's guest, a veteran energy commentator and co-founder of the advisory firm Alexa Capital. Gerard, who also co-hosts the podcast Redefining Energy, says he thinks AI will reinvent the world's energy system. There is a widening gulf between ‘petrostates' such as the US, which are rich in oil and gas and favor fossil fuels, and the ‘electrostates', led by China, which is dominates global manufacturing for technologies such as solar panels, batteries and EVs.Europe, which is relatively resource-poor, is following China's path out of necessity, while India and others weigh up which model to adopt. Gerard, host Ed Crooks and regular guest Amy Myers-Jaffe debate the different approaches that different countries are taking to build secure energy systems that will be able to meet growing demand for electricity for AI. Electricity is now the ultimate security priority, demanding grid upgrades, new technologies to support resilience including vehicle-to-grid, and new strategic partnerships. Gerard argues that OPEC's current strategy suggest it sees oil demand peaking soon. As the world adopts Chinese EVs and other low-cost, low-carbon technologies, some big questions are becoming increasingly urgent. Will the US continue to cling to fossil fuels? Will cheap solar upend electricity industries around the world? And above all, will the race for strategic and economic success be won by whichever country integrates AI, low-cost power, and resilient grids first?Ed Crooks is Vice Chair for the Americas at Wood Mackenzie. Amy Myers-Jaffe is the Director of NYU's Energy, Climate Justice and Sustainability Lab.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, we take a trip in a time machine, five years into the future. 2030 has been set as a deadline for many climate goals, and is a milestone for checking progress towards a low-carbon energy system. Ed Crooks, Amy Myers Jaffe and Melissa Lott imagine themselves five years from now, and look back at how the US energy industry has changed since the “big beautiful bill” was passed. What do they think have been the key headlines from the last half-decade? And how will history judge America's energy bets?The reconciliation bill that was signed into law by President Trump on July 4 restricted support for low-carbon energy, especially wind and solar power, and doubled down on fossil fuels. The gang break down the sectors that are most at risk, and assess what the changes to tax credits will mean for project developers in renewables and storage. EVs are another sector that will be hit hard. Amy warns that the end result is likely to be a struggling US auto industry and increased Chinese dominance. Another important change is that geopolitics is playing an increased role in deciding who can claim tax credits and who can't. The new rules on FEOCs – foreign entities of concern – from China, Iran, Russia and North Korea could cause headaches for battery storage developers, in particular.Mitigating the impact of all that are state policies and private sector commitments to invest in clean energy, which will continue to push the industry forward. Will they be enough? Amy Myers Jaffe is Director of the Energy, Climate Justice and Sustainability Lab at NYU. Melissa Lott is a Partner at Microsoft, focusing on energy technology, speaking on the show in a personal capacity.With host Ed Crooks, they assess whether the “big beautiful bill” will result in a lasting setback for clean energy in the US, or just a pause for breathe before the next leap forward.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Building out the electricity grid was traditionally a predictable and straightforward business. Now it's like trying to land a jet on a moving aircraft carrier in the dark. That's a quote from this week's guest Quinn Nakayama. He's the senior director of Grid Research and Innovation at Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E). He joins host Ed Crooks and regular guest Amy Myers Jaffe to discuss how California is dealing with all the uncertainty created by new demands being placed on the grid: variable renewable generation, electric vehicles, data centers, and more. Quinn refers to the fast-changing electricity system of today as the ‘crazy grid', because so many things are happening at once. Wind and solar power create new challenges for grid stability, while batteries and demand response offer new solutions. Electric vehicles, following mandates from the state of California and other governments around the world, create new patterns of electricity consumption. The latest breakthroughs in AI are creating a surge in power demand from data centers. And those advances in AI are also opening up new possibilities for grid management. Planning is harder than ever. Are Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) an important solution? Amy, Ed and Quinn debate their effectiveness; these tools are helpful, but they can't solve everything. Large loads such as data centers still need major upgrades to wires and substations. But with a high penetration of electric vehicles, California is working on smart tech that makes it easier to install EV chargers without expensive upgrades. PG&E is also exploring faster ways to connect large users, such as allowing temporary solutions until new lines are built. Despite the range of innovations that are available, and the exciting rate of progress in new technologies, the US risks falling behind other countries. Quinn and Amy warn that cuts in support for clean energy and EVs could lead to the US losing out to China, which is investing heavily in these technologies. The Reconciliation Bill that was signed into law last week included abrupt curtailments of tax credits for wind and solar power. So what is the right way forward for the grid? For the electricity system to meet the fast-evolving demands of the modern world, it needs everything: more energy, more flexibility, and faster action. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week the US budget reconciliation legislation, dubbed the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill', squeaked through the Senate on a 51/50 vote. The bill has wide-ranging implications for energy in the US, including an imminent end to tax credits for wind and solar power. To discuss what the new legislation means, host Ed Crooks is joined by regular guest Amy Myers-Jaffe, director of NYU's Energy, Climate Justice and Sustainability Lab. Also joining the show are Robbie Orvis, senior director of Modeling and Analysis at the think-tank Energy Innovation, and Jeremy Horan, VP for Government Affairs at ACORE, the American Council on Renewable Energy. They discuss some of the key implications of bill: less investment in wind and solar, increased use of natural gas, and a relatively bright outlook for battery storage. And they explain the dramatic twists and turns of the past few days that have brought us to where we are today. They also dive into the impacts of the dreaded rules on FEOC: Foreign Entities of Concern. These are new regulations intended to ensure that companies controlled by China and Russia, among others, don't benefit from US energy subsidies. But they will have the effect of tying the industry up in a mountain of new red tape. Before that, Ed and Amy talk about an even more dramatic event in global energy: the US intervention in the Israel-Iran conflict. The US dropped 30,000 pound ‘bunker-buster' bombs on Iranian nuclear facilities. Iran retaliated with threats to close the Straight of Hormuz: the critical artery that delivers oil from the Gulf to the West. But by the middle of last week, tensions had eased significantly: there was a ceasefire, and negotiations were under way to agree a lasting peace. Put it all together, and it adds up to a hectic couple of weeks for the future of energy. Expect in-depth analysis of all the news, and ideas on how the energy industry can prepare for what's coming.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The world is experiencing a new reality: infrastructure, agriculture, and supply chains were built for a historical climate that no longer exists. Last year the average global surface temperature was about 1.47° C warmer than in the late 19th century, according to NASA. On current trends we are on course for perhaps 2.7° C of warming by the end of the current century: far in excess of the Paris Agreement goal of 1.5° C.As it becomes increasingly likely that the world is not going to cut greenhouse gas emissions enough to meet that Paris goal, it becomes more and more important for us to learn how to adapt and become more resilient in a warming world.It's an issue that has been a focus for Dr Sarah Kapnick, the Global Head of Climate Advisory at the bank JP Morgan. She is a former Chief Scientist at NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and she knows the worlds of climate science and climate finance inside out.She returns to the show to talk to host Ed Crooks and regular Amy Myers-Jaffe about what the world's failure to get on track for meeting the Paris goals means for finance, investment and our futures. Together they unpack what global warming means for economies, energy systems and vulnerable communities. One critical point where climate damages and risks are emerging as an urgent issue is in insurance costs. Some areas are becoming uninsurable as threats of flooding or wildfires mount. The impacts are worst for low-income communities and countries. Without support to adapt and build resilience, many nations could face a climate-induced debt spiral. So what can we do to be prepared for a warming world? How are energy companies investing to stay ahead of the risks? And can there be a profitable business in climate adaptation? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the third and final special episode recorded live from the ACORE Finance Forum, host Ed Crooks and regular guest Amy Myers Jaffe talk to industry leaders to explore some key issues in renewable energy technology and finance.Amy starts the episode by speaking with David Ulrey, CFO of Fervo Energy, an innovative geothermal startup. David shares insights into Fervo's projects, including their initial commercial pilot in Nevada and the ambitious 100-megawatt development in Utah. They discuss the challenges and successes of pioneering next-generation geothermal energy, the potential for the technology to offer clean, reliable power across the US, and the evolving landscape of financing structures in the industry.Ed then sits down with Mona Dajani, global co-head of Energy, Infrastructure and Hydrogen at the law firm Baker Botts. Mona provides an expert perspective on the shifting sands of energy dealmaking amidst political and economic uncertainty in the US. She highlights how companies are rapidly pivoting their strategies, shifting from green hydrogen to alternative technologies or repurposing sites for data centres, and discusses why global markets remain committed to clean energy despite changing US policy priorities.Later, Ed and Amy speak with leaders from businesses supported by ACORE's Accelerate programme. Amy talks with Tonya Hicks, founder of Power Solutions Inc, who shares her inspiring journey as a woman entrepreneur in electrical contracting and renewable energy. Tonya stresses the importance of resilience and adaptability in the face of policy volatility and argues that the industry's momentum will continue despite political shifts.Ed also speaks with Jennifer Rouda, CEO of 7Skyline, who discusses the unique challenges faced by tribal governments in the US pursuing renewable energy projects. Jennifer highlights the critical role of bridging finance and impact investors as federal funding becomes less predictable.Finally, Ed and Amy wrap up with a comprehensive conversation with Ray Long, President and CEO of ACORE. Ray summarises key themes from the forum, including the industry's concerns about the abrupt potential removal of energy tax credits and the urgent need for viable alternative financing mechanisms. He underscores the economic and environmental impacts of current legislative uncertainty and outlines the future resilience strategies the clean energy industry may adopt. This concludes our three-part series from the ACORE Finance Forum. We'll be back in two weeks, resuming regular coverage of all the latest developments and discussions shaping the energy transition.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As the US races against China to develop the most advanced capabilities in AI, energy is critical. In this second episode from the ACORE finance forum, we speak to experts about how US energy policy, and in particular the reconciliation bill now being debated in Congress, might affect that race.Host Ed Crooks and regular guest Amy Myers Jaffe talk first to Joseph Webster, a Senior Fellow at the think-tank the Atlantic Council. They discuss the need for increased power supplies for data centers, the US reliance on clean energy supply chains that originate in China, and the challenges facing attempts to reduce that dependence.Ed and Amy then talk to Seth Hanlon, a Senior Fellow at the New York University Tax Law Center, and to Lesley Hunter, the Senior VP for Policy and Engagement at ACORE. They dig into the politics around the reconciliation bill currently being worked on in the Senate. Seth previously worked at the US Treasury on the implementation of the energy tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act, and shares his perspectives on the possible effects of the new legislation that could come out of Congress. Lesley provides her insight on the prospects for persuading senators to support a more favorable outcome for the clean energy industry.This is the second of three special episodes from the ACORE Finance Forum. We'll be back next week with further coverage of all the essential conversations at the event.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Energy Gang are at The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) Finance Forum in New York City, which brings together industry leaders, investors, and bankers to discuss the hottest issues in clean energy. Host Ed Crooks and regular guest Amy Myers Jaffe talk to ACORE Chief Executive and President Ray Long about the uncertainty hanging over the industry following the debate in Congress over repealing energy tax credits. He talks about the reasons why a Republican president and Congress should preserve tax breaks for low carbon technologies to advance their energy dominance agenda. Ed and Amy also talk to Meghan Schultz, EVP and Chief Financial Officer of Invenergy, the largest independent power producer in the US, and to Ted Brandt, CEO and Founder of Marathon Capital. They explain the impact that uncertainty over tax credits has already had on their businesses. They discuss what rising demand from data centers means for electricity prices. And they explore the potential implications if subsidies for low carbon energy are scrapped.Finally, Ed and Amy reflect on what the proposed legislation could mean for energy competition between the US and China.This is the first of three special episodes from the ACORE Finance Forum. We'll be back tomorrow with further coverage of all the essential conversations at the event.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Legislation with massive implications for clean energy in the US has been making progress in Congress. The Republican party's “big beautiful bill”, introducing sweeping changes to taxes and government spending, would phase out most of the tax credits for low-carbon energy that were created, expanded or extended in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022.To unpack the proposals and examine what they might mean for the US and the world, host Ed Crooks is joined by some of the Energy Gang's top policy wonks:Amy Myers-Jaffe, Director of NYU's Energy, Climate Justice, and Sustainability LabRobbie Orvis, Senior Director for Modelling and Analysis at the thinktank Energy InnovationRay Long, President and Chief Executive of the American Council on Renewable Energy They discuss whether the phaseout of tax credits for wind, solar and storage will deter the development of renewable energy. The credits have created a whole industry to support investment in new renewables projects. What happens if those credits go away?The group also dig into the crucial details of the proposals, including changes to the transferability of tax credits, and more stringent provisions on “foreign entities of concern” or FEOCs. Those rules could affect the majority of clean energy projects in the US. As of Tuesday 20th May, the game is not over. Some Republicans in the House and the Senate senators think the proposals don't fit with the administration's bigger goals, and have been fighting to save at least some of the credits.The gang set out the various options for how the negotiations over the bill could play out, and assess the potential damage.And they ask the question: could clean energy in the US actually be better off without support from tax credits?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's the most talked-about academic paper this year in the world of energy. Rethinking Load Growth, co-authored by Tyler Norris of Duke University has caused a stir in energy circles because it offers a new perspective on the hottest issue of the moment: how to provide power for new data centers and other large consumers. With new sources of electricity demand growing rapidly – from data centers for AI to battery factories to EV charging networks – grid planners are scrambling to understand how to integrate large new loads without breaking the system or budgets. That is the question for Rethinking Load Growth, and it delivers a startling insight: The US grid could absorb 98 gigawatts of new load, IF those loads can be sufficiently flexible. They would need to be curtailed for just 0.5% of the year, which is about 42 hours in total – not all in one go, but in blocks averaging a couple of hours at a time.That kind of load flexibility could unlock faster, cheaper grid expansion, with big implications for investors, policymakers, and companies racing to develop new data centers and other facilities.Tyler joins the show with host Ed Crooks and regular guest Amy Myers-Jaffe to discuss his research. They debate the questions:Why is his paper is causing so much interest in energy circles, and beyondWhat real-world adoption of flexible load looks like for data centersWhether virtual power plants (VPPs) are the missing pieceAnd how governments and regulators could make or break this opportunitySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Send us a textEnergy expert Amy Myers Jaffe returns to EvC to chat with Ed about Energy and Artificial Intelligence. Nearly every aspect of the economy seems to be impacted by the stunningly rapid development of AI. Energy is no exception. Ed and Amy have a wide-ranging discussion that covers a lot of ground and touches on several hot topics, including: How AI is transforming the production, distribution, and consumption of energy; The energy needs of data centers; Whether or not AI is an asset or liability for the clean energy economy; The role of tech companies; The geopolitics of AI; Security vulnerabilities created by increasingly AI-dependent energy infrastructure; And Canada-US relations.(01:35) Skip IntroDetailed Notes available on the show pageAbout Our Guest:Amy Myers Jaffe is a leading expert on global energy policy, sustainability, and geopolitical risk. She is widely published on energy, commodity markets and finance and is author of several books, including her most recent book, Energy's Digital Future and Oil, Dollars, Debt and Crises: The Global Curse of Black Gold. Jaffe serves as Director of the Energy, Climate Justice and Sustainability Lab at New York University's School of Professional Studies and is a research professor who teaches graduate-level courses examining clean technology innovation and business and global climate finance. Jaffe is a regular contributor to the popular podcast “The Energy Gang” and a frequent media commentator in television and print media, including the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times of London and CNN International. Jaffe holds a career prize in energy economics from the US Association for Energy Economics and also served as the organization's President in 2020.Produced by Amit Tandon & Bespoke Podcasts___Energy vs Climatewww.energyvsclimate.com Bluesky | YouTube | LinkedIn | X/Twitter

The Chinese car company BYD, the world's top-selling manufacturer of electric vehicles, is launching two models that can charge in five minutes; about the time it takes to fill a tank with gasoline. It's news that looks like a landmark moment in the energy transition, the way that the release of the DeepSeek model was for AI. It's another eye-opening breakthrough out of China that should have the US worried. Or is it?To explain the significance of this latest leap forward in Chinese technology, Ed Crooks is joined by Amy Myers Jaffe, director of the Energy, Climate Justice, and Sustainability Lab at New York University, and Robbie Orvis, senior director for modelling and analysis at the think-tank Energy Innovation.They debate the question: is the US being outpaced in the global race to innovate in clean energy technology? If the US has lost the automotive innovation race to China, what does that mean for US car companies? Robbie argues that the US auto industry needs solid policy support for domestic battery manufacturing to stay competitive. The Trump administration is relying heavily on tariffs: will that strategy be effective, or might it actually hinder progress in building a modern industrial base in the US?Amy calls for a shift in how US policy approaches innovation in the EV sector, and energy generally. Can the recipe that created the spectacular success of Silicon Valley be recreated in the energy industry? The gang also discuss the problems at Tesla. In the face of challenges in China and Europe, how will the company respond?Tune in for a lively discussion on these critical questions, and more. Join the conversation about the future of energy and innovation. Follow the show wherever you get your podcasts, and visit woodmac.com/podcasts for more information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Investors have gone sour on clean energy. In a troubled time for stock markets in general, where is the capital for energy flowing now?Host Ed Crooks is joined by Shanu Mathew, Senior VP and Portfolio Manager at Lazard Asset Management, and Amy Myers Jaffe, Director of the Energy, Climate Justice, and Sustainability Lab at NYU. Shanu returns to the show to break down how institutional investors, under pressure to deliver returns, are shifting strategies on energy. Amy shares insights on cleantech venture capital trends, and the factors that support investment in low-carbon solutions. With support for renewables under threat, and cutting-edge technologies facing mounting challenges, is the transition to low-carbon energy slowing down or recalibrating? Meanwhile, Big Oil companies are changing course on their decarbonisation strategies and approaches to addressing climate change. BP and Shell are pulling back from power and renewables and emphasising oil and gas investments instead, after pressure from investors. Are they adapting to market realities, or are they abandoning clean energy too soon? And what will their strategic shift mean for the rest of the industry and for the climate? Amy discusses the close ties between oil prices and capital flows into cleantech.Finally, there's no end to the debate around AI's evolving role in energy infrastructure. Electricity demand growth remains a dominant trend. The hyperscale data centre users, such as major tech firms, have emerged as key players in power demand. But trust issues persist between them and energy providers. The sector has a history of overestimating demand growth, leading to overbuilding. Are we in danger of going through that cycle all over again?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's a historic moment in energy, with a leap forward in AI technology coming as the Trump administration sets a new direction for the US. The Energy Gang break down what it all means. When they make The Energy Transition – The Movie, the week of 27th January 2025 will be a pivotal scene. The Chinese AI company DeepSeek sent shockwaves through stock markets, as it revealed its model that apparently is capable of better performance than its competitors at a fraction of the cost. Host Ed Crooks talks through the implications for energy with regulars Amy Myers Jaffe of New York University and Melissa Lott of Microsoft. Together they discuss the market reactions to the launch of DeepSeek, shifting forecasts for AI demand, and the implications for the industry and for government.President Donald Trump has come into office putting emphasis on the importance of energy supplies for AI as a matter of national security. His administration wants more “baseload” power. But there is a debate on what that word means for a modern electricity system, and whether it even has any relevance. Do modern solutions for grid stability make talk of baseload power obsolete in 2025?Finally the gang review the flurry of executive orders signed by President Trump. Climate change is off the agenda as a priority for the US administration. What does that mean for energy, in the US and around the world?Follow The Energy Gang wherever you get your podcasts and go to woodmac.com/podcasts for more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The people, places and technologies to watch this year.Host Ed Crooks is joined by regulars Amy Myers Jaffe and Melissa Lott to share their predictions for energy in 2025. They discuss the policy changes expected from Washington under the Trump administration, the crucial role for California as a leader in clean energy, the exciting new technologies that may be launched or ramped up this year, and the political and business leaders who will be shaping our future.The team also discuss some of the threats and challenges the energy industry could face this year. Amy warns that the wind sector is in trouble; is it really? And what about the wild cards: the unexpected events that could force everyone to reassess their plans? Melissa has concerns about the impacts of extreme weather: how will a warming world affect our lives? As the latest news on bird flu shows, the threat of another deadly pandemic is real; Ed analyses the risks.It's going to be another tumultuous year in energy. To help make sense of it, get all the insights and analysis from us here.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

China's booming EV industry, AI and clean energy, questions over hydrogen, and the other big stories from 2024.To round off a momentous year for clean energy, Ed Crooks is joined by regulars Melissa Lott and Amy Myers Jaffe to reflect on the highs and lows of 2024. The gang revisit the predictions they made in January, share their highs and lows for the year, and talk about their favourite episodes of 2024. And, as is fast becoming a tradition on the show, we finish the year with some relevant holiday gifts.Some of our predictions for 2024 were spot on, but others were slightly off. The team discuss the continued rise and rise of China's largest electric vehicle company BYD, and look ahead to what 2025 holds for the EV industry. Amy predicted big things for hydrogen this year, as did Melissa for geothermal. Did these fast-moving sectors hit the heights that they expected? And where do they go from here?There were some real lows in 2024, mostly related to international politics and conflict. But there were also some much more positive trends related to the energy transition, including the spread of low-cost solar panels and battery storage around the world. As for The Energy Gang: we had plenty of high points through the year. Amy, Melissa and Ed choose the episodes that they most enjoyed taking part in – and listening to – in 2024. Subscribe to The Energy Gang so you don't miss the first show of 2025, where Ed, Amy and Melissa will look ahead to what promises to be another massive year for clean energy. Listen back to the shows mentioned in the episode:• Is There an Energy Transition? (April)• Cleantech Entrepreneurs at NYU (Climate Week, September)• The Future of AI and the Grid (November)The articles Melissa mentioned: https://www.power-eng.com/renewables/fervo-energy-claims-70-reduction-in-geothermal-drilling-time-2/https://www.eenews.net/articles/blm-approves-massive-geothermal-project-moves-to-ease-permitting/This episode is brought to you by Enbridge. Listen to Enbridge and GZERO's podcast Energized: The Future of Energy at GZEROmedia.com/theenergygangSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Amy Myers Jaffe, Director of the Energy, Climate Justice, and Sustainability Lab at NYU, joins the Power Perspectives Podcast in the wake of the November 2024 elections to discuss the most pressing issues shaping the energy landscape. With her expertise in energy geopolitics, climate risk, and sustainability, Amy offers invaluable insights into how utilities can adapt to evolving challenges while pursuing a more resilient and sustainable future. Listen in as Amy explores: - The intersection of federal energy policies and state climate goals amidst political changes - Why small modular reactors (SMRs) may not be the universal solution some hope for - How digital solutions for demand management remain an underutilized opportunity - The role of supply chain resilience in ensuring reliable energy amid geopolitical tensions Join host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester as they get a crash course into these critical topics with Amy Myers Jaffe. Whether you're a utility executive, policymaker, or energy enthusiast, this episode provides actionable strategies for tackling today's energy challenges and securing a sustainable future. Key Links Energy Central Post with Full Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/power-perspectives%E2%84%A2-podcast-navigating-energys-post-election-crossroads-2024-and Energy's Digital Future: Harnessing Innovation for American Resilience and National Security by Amy Myers Jaffe: https://cup.columbia.edu/book/energys-digital-future/9780231216753 Five Ways to Disaster-Proof the Energy Grid by Amy Myers Jaffe: https://www.wsj.com/us-news/climate-environment/energy-grid-extreme-weather-power-outages-c77e97e2 Amy's Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/amy-jaffe Ask a Question to Our Future Guests: Do you have a burning question for the utility executives and energy industry thought leaders that we feature each week on Power Perspectives? Leave us a message here for your chance to be featured in an upcoming episode: www.speakpipe.com/EnergyCentralPodcast

President Trump plans a sharp change of directionThe US elections last week are set to transform the energy landscape, with the Republicans now in control of the presidency, the Senate, and likely the House of Representatives. They intend to set a new direction for energy policy, emphasising affordability and reliability over sustainability and climate. In this special episode of The Energy Gang, we explore what this shift means for the American energy sector and the potential implications for both domestic and global markets. Host Ed Crooks is joined Amy Myers Jaffe, Director of the Energy, Climate Justice and Sustainability Lab at New York University; Robbie Orvis, Senior Director at the think-tank Energy Innovation, and a new voice on the show: Ray Long, President and CEO of the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE). Their discussion gives a preview of what we can expect over the next four years. They debate how a new set of priorities in Washington will affect low-carbon energy sectors including wind, solar and storage, as well as carbon capture, hydrogen, and nuclear energy. What will happen to the Inflation Reduction Act's tax credits, which are crucial to the outlook for renewables? How will national security policy and the rise of artificial intelligence shape the new administration's thinking. What is the outlook for the US vehicle industry as Chinese EV sales boom? And how could President-elect Trump's tariff plans affect all energy sectors, both low-carbon and high-carbon? Tune in for answers to all these questions, and to gain a comprehensive understanding of the evolving energy policy landscape. As negotiators gather for the COP29 UN climate talks in Baku this week, the future of the US under a new administration is going to be top of mind for everyone.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

To make the leap from niche products to the mass market, electric vehicles need to reassure potential buyers that they have enough range and enough charging options that they won't get stranded by the side of the road with a flat battery. Amy Myers Jaffe, director of the Energy, Climate Justice, and Sustainability Lab at New York University, has been suffering repeated frustrations in her search for working charging points for her EV. If the charging companies can't get this right, it will be a big problem for expanding the market for EVs, and Amy is looking for answers.In this episode Amy joins host Ed Crooks to discuss EV charging in the US, tacking issues including: Is the industry growing fast enough? Where should new charging stations be built? What technology will they be using?Stepping in to give a perspective from the EV charging industry is Mike Battaglia, COO (and soon-to-be CEO) of Blink, a global leader in electric vehicle charging systems. He dispels some myths about EVs, and shares some of his predictions about the future of the charging industry.Together Ed, Amy and Mike talk about the rise of charging stations, both in the US and around the world. Mike explains Blink's business model, and talks about his plans for the company. They explore the challenges in public EV charging, from software glitches to maintenance issues, and discuss how companies are stepping up to solve them. An EV is just one part of a complex system that includes charging points, power grids and generators, just as a gasoline vehicle is part of a system including filing stations, refineries, pipelines and oilwells. For EVs to succeed, the industry has to persuade customers to switch over to that new and unfamiliar system. Can the charging sector address those significant challenges and ease customers' concerns? To keep up to date with everything we discuss on the show, and more, sign up for the newsletter the Inside Track.Let us know what you think. We're on X, at @theenergygang. Subscribe to the show so you don't miss any of the discussions. Available on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.Listen to Enbridge and GZERO's podcast Energized: The Future of Energy at GZEROmedia.com/theenergygangSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The transition to a low-carbon energy system will need a lot of people with bright ideas for how to do things differently. It is the greatest business challenge of our time, and also the greatest opportunity.In this latest special edition of the Energy Gang for Climate Week NYC, Ed Crooks and Amy Myers-Jaffe host a live taping of the show in front of an audience of Amy's students at NYU.Joining them on the show are two founders of innovative cleantech companies. Marissa Beatty leads Turnover Labs, which is developing an advanced electrolysis process that can directly convert impure carbon dioxide wastes into valuable chemicals. Apoorv Sinha leads Carbon Upcycling Technologies, which uses industrial carbon dioxide emissions, combined with natural materials or industrial wastes, to create new materials with improved performance and lower emissions. Together they tell their stories of innovation and entrepreneurship, discussing the obstacles they faced, the support that helped them, and the strategies they used on their journeys from laboratory tests to commercial deployment. Also on the show is one of the biggest names in the world of cleantech venture capital investment: Dan Goldman, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Clean Energy Ventures, which invests in early-stage cleantech companies that are working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Along with Marissa and Apoorv, he talks about the role of venture capital funding in the transition, and how policy can support innovative new businesses. A consistent policy frameworks is vital to foster long-term growth in the clean energy sector, but is that at risk in the US?The team offer words of wisdom for anyone thinking of trying to launch their own cleantech startup. If you want to help fix the climate problem while making money at the same time, what do you really need to know? Dan, Marissa, Apoorv and Amy have some answers.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There's no transition without transmission, they say. It's a cliché because it's true. The US Department of Energy says that the nation will need to expand transmission capacity by 60% by 2030 to meet growing clean energy demand. A recent study found that delays in transmission development are adding $2.5 billion annually in additional costs to consumers due to the inefficiencies of the current grid. So why is building transmission lines in the U.S. so hard? To find out, host Ed Crooks and regular guest Amy Myers-Jaffe of NYU are joined by Christina Hayes, Executive Director of Americans for a Clean Energy Grid. Her organization, which is backed by clean energy and tech companies and environmental groups, works to “expand, integrate, and modernize the North American high-voltage grid.”Christina explains some of the complexities of building new transmission lines in the US, taking us through the regulatory, local, and state barriers that slow down the development of new capacity that is essential for the growth of renewable energy.The Manchin-Barrasso Bill, legislation proposed in the Senate to expedite the construction of new energy infrastructure in the US, has been generating some heated debate. Could the proposals be a game-changer for infrastructure development that will accelerate deployment of clean energy and help cut emissions? Or do they give too much to fossil fuel interests relatives to the potential gains for renewables? The gang debate the pros and cons of the bill, and how much impact federal legislation can have when so many barriers exist at the local level. They also discuss some of the other key issues for the grid. FERC Order 1920 was issued in May: what is it, and why is it so significant for transmission planning? And advanced transmission technologies: how can innovations such as reconductoring and grid-enhancing technologies make the grid stronger and more flexible, and what obstacles are in the way of these investments?To keep up to date with everything we discuss on the show, and more, sign up for the newsletter the Inside Track: www.woodmac.com/nslp/the-inside-track/sign-up/The article Ed mentions early on in the show is here: https://www.cleanenergygrid.org/fewer-new-miles-2024/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The need to meet increased demand while cutting emissions is exposing some fundamental issues in the industry.It's common knowledge that data centers use a lot of energy, and will use even more in the future as AI applications develop. One thing is not clear, though: who will end up paying for all that extra electricity?US utilities typically used to receive perhaps one or two large customer requests – meaning 20 megawatts or more – each year. Now, they may be receiving one or two of those requests every week. The need for increased electricity supply means increased investment in generation, transmission and distribution. And that investment has to be paid for. So who is going to end up picking up the tab?To find out more, Ed Crooks is joined by regular guest Dr Melissa Lott, a professor at the climate school at Columbia University, and Brian Janous, co-founder and CEO of Cloverleaf Infrastructure, which develops sites that can support large energy-dense users such as AI data centers and chip manufacturing plants. With 12 years previously leading energy strategy for Microsoft, Brian is well placed to answer the big questions on energy demand, investment and customers' bills. With Melissa and Ed, he explains how the industry can balance the need to increase supply with the need to achieve decarbonization targets. What role does flexibility play in a highly electrified system, and how can it be leveraged to enhance grid reliability and resilience? Can the ambitious sustainability goals of tech companies like Microsoft and Google be achieved in the face of their rapidly growing demand for power, and what compromises might need to be made? And is nuclear power a source of 24/7 clean energy that could plug the demand gap? The gang debate its efficacy as a long-term solution to the energy needs of Big Tech. Meeting the energy demand for AI is a complex topic. The Energy Gang will be exploring it further in a special episode recorded live at New York Climate Week, September 22-29. If you can't make it to New York for what is one of the energy industry's biggest events of the year, subscribe to the show so you don't miss the discussion.Ed and regular guest Amy Myers-Jaffe of NYU will be speaking with Caroline Golin, Chief Sustainability Officer at Google, and Kate Gordon, the CEO of CA FWD, a statewide organization dedicated to building a more sustainable, resilient and inclusive economy in the state of California.Subscribe to the show so you don't miss an episode. Find us on X – we're @theenergygangTo keep up to date with everything we talk about on the show, sign up for our weekly Inside Track newsletter. You'll get extra analysis from Wood Mackenzie and be notified when a new episode of the podcast is out. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Complex, outdated, expensive: concentrating solar power used to be a clunky way of harnessing the sun. What's changed to now make it viable? Concentrating Solar Power, or CSP, takes energy from the sun, converts it to heat, and uses it to drive a turbine to provide renewable electricity. It has more moving parts than photovoltaic (PV) solar – which has none – so there is more that can go wrong. But it has the big advantage that the heat can be stored for days, weeks and even months, meaning that CSP can support grid stability even when the sun isn't shining. Its real competition isn't PV solar, but other “clean firm” power sources such as geothermal. The US Department of Energy is funding 25 projects in this area, with almost $100 million to research and develop CSP technologies. To discuss the technology and the viability of a process that's been trying to get off the ground in the US for decades, Melissa Lott and Amy Myers-Jaffe are joined by Dr Matt Bauer from the Solar Energy Technologies Office.They explore the different generations of CSP technology, with Gen 3 focusing on higher temperature heat and more efficient power cycles. The steep learning curve and capital intensity of CSP plants is a particular barrier to deployment at the moment, as is the risk associated with building large thermal plants. The potential for CSP to bridge seasonal energy storage gaps is there; unlocking it is the problem.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As the world struggles to co-operate on the energy transition, international trade rules can be a foundation for the new low-carbon economy. Ed Crooks is joined by regular guest Amy Myers-Jaffe, Director of New York University's Energy, Climate Justice, and Sustainability Lab, and new guest on The Energy Gang: Dan Esty, who is the Hillhouse Professor of Environmental Law and Policy at Yale University. Dan goes a long way back in clean energy: he was on the US delegation that negotiated the original Framework Convention on Climate Change back in 1992. And he has recently been working for Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, to develop a sustainability strategy for the global trading system.Dan argues that the trade system may be the best way to get everyone in the world, and businesses in particular, to “lock arms and move together” to decarbonize the global economy. The goal is to make sure that “no one's competitively disadvantaged by stepping out in front of the pack when it comes to this movement to a clean energy future."Ed, Amy and Dan explore this concept in this week's show. The trade system provides a structured framework of rules that can enforce environmental standards globally. By integrating these standards into trade policies, countries can be encouraged to adopt low-carbon technologies without fearing competitive disadvantages. Businesses and countries are reluctant to switch to clean energy if they think their competitors won't do the same. Trade rules can make sure everyone plays fair. What's more, a reformed trade system that promotes clean energy technologies can also create economic opportunities around the world. The gang discuss how new rules could help developing countries.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Regulators are trying to clear the path to the grid that clean energy needs.To go from an electricity system based on coal and gas to one based on solar and wind, the US needs a very different power grid. On some estimates, annual installations of new transmission capacity need to double. To help build the grid that a new clean electricity system will need, the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has been working on regulatory reforms, intended to smooth the path for new investments in transmission lines. Ed Crooks is joined by Amy Myers-Jaffe of New York University and Shanu Mathew of Lazard Asset Management, to unpack the latest orders from FERC. What are the regulators trying to do, and why do some people object to their plans? And what will the proposed reforms mean for the energy transition in the electricity sector in the US? It has been a busy few weeks for big announcements in energy. A new round of tariffs on clean energy products from China was announced this month by President Biden, with rates of 100% on electric vehicles, 50% on solar modules, and 25% on lithium-ion batteries. The goal is to revive clean energy manufacturing in the US, but critics say the tariffs could be counter-productive, because they will drive up the cost of low-carbon technologies for American businesses and consumers.One important gauge of the state of the energy transition is the health of investment in low-carbon stocks. The news on that over the past couple of years has not been great. So what are the markets telling us about the future of clean energy? Shanu gives us his analysis, and joins Amy and Ed to debate investor sentiment and what it means. For more analysis and to keep up-to-date with everything that happens with the Energy Gang, sign up for the newsletter at woodmac.com/the-inside-trackSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

AI is driving up demand for electricity. How can we meet that demand with clean energy?It has been a big theme on the Energy Gang this year: the massive additional demand for energy that could be created by data centers for artificial intelligence. It's an emerging issue that threatens to cause new challenges for the world's attempts to achieve net zero goals.So it is a great opportunity for us to have on the show a representative from Google, a company that relies heavily on data centers and is at the forefront of the AI revolution. It also has some ambitious decarbonization goals: the aim is to power the company's operations entirely with clean energy by 2030. Maud Texier is the global director of clean energy and decarbonization development at Google. She joins Ed Crooks and Amy Myers-Jaffe to explain how she sees the path to achieving that goal by 2030. Google's objective of 24/7 clean energy requires sourcing renewable power that aligns with its consumption patterns. That means not just buying enough renewable energy to match its usage over the course of a year: every kilowatt-hour consumed must be carbon-free. It's a challenging goal that it driving Google, like other companies with similar objectives, to explore new ways to generate power, store energy and manage the grid. Google is looking at or already investing in a range of innovative energy technologies, including enhanced geothermal, hydrogen, long-duration storage and advanced nuclear. Big energy users such as Google can do a lot to shape the evolution of the energy industry. But policy support is, as ever, crucial to achieving net zero goals. How is Google engaging with policymakers and regulators to help support the deployment of clean energy? New standards in the European parliament, aimed at improving energy efficiency, include mandates for data centers to report their performance. Are we moving towards an era of more stringent regulation of energy use for data centers and other large loads?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office has a grandstand view of the energy transition. Where is it going next?Jigar Shah, one of the originators of the Energy Gang, now runs the Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office, playing a key role in advancing clean energy projects. By helping to bridge the gap between R&D and large-scale deployment, it encourages private sector investment and supports the administration's work to achieve its net zero goals.Jigar was appointed Director of the LPO in March 2021 with a brief to “to rev those engines back up” after a quiet period under the Trump administration. He returns to the Energy Gang to discuss the progress he has made so far, and the goals he is working towards in the future. In particular, he talks about the hot topic of the moment in energy: how to meet increased demand for electricity driven by data centers for AI, new factories, and electric vehicles.Much of the new load being added to the electricity system will not be flexible. Data centers mostly need to be available 24/7. So how is the grid going to manage these growing demands? Host Ed Crooks is also joined by Amy Myers-Jaffe, Director of NYU's Energy, Climate Justice & Sustainability Lab, to discuss Jigar's views on the solutions to these challenges.Topics covered include Virtual Power Plants, enhanced geothermal and advanced nuclear. Those latter two are among the handful of sources of energy that we usually think about when we are discussing “clean firm power”. Geothermal in particular is generating a lot of buzz lately. What will it take to get it deployed at scale? Is it pulling ahead of advanced nuclear in the race to commerciality and large-scale deployment?The Energy Gang will be recording live from the Global Energy Transition event in June in New York. To secure a discounted ticket, use the ENERGYGANG500 discount code. Visit https://events.reutersevents.com/energy-transition/global-energy-transition-new-york to book.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Fossil fuels still dominate the world's energy supplies. Do we need different terminology to talk about what's happening?We talk about “the energy transition” all the time. But is that language misleading? 20 years ago fossil fuels were 85% of the world's energy, today they're just a few percentage points less. If there is a transition to low-carbon energy, it is happening only slowly, and it needs to move much faster to achieve the climate goals of the Paris Agreement. The world has made huge strides in both the cost and deployment of renewable energy, but can we really say that we are in a transition away from fossil fuels?Host Ed Crooks is joined by Melissa Lott, a professor at Columbia University's Climate School, and Amy Myers Jaffe, director of NYU's Energy, Climate Justice, and Sustainability Lab, to discuss the way the language we use shapes our ideas about energy policy. Amy quotes her Tufts University colleague (and previous guest on the show) Kelly Sims Gallagher: “climate doom and gloom really disregards the progress that's been made”. That progress includes 56 countries, between them responsible for over half of global emissions, passing direct climate mandates to limit greenhouse gases.But despite all that action, we still get the great majority of our energy from fossil fuels. The gang debate whether the current global shift towards low-carbon energy represents a real "transition", or maybe even a “transformation”. Or is it merely an addition of new energy sources on top of the existing ones such as oil and gas.Ed, Amy and Melissa debate the feasibility of achieving net zero by 2050, considering the political and economic hurdles ahead. Innovations including carbon pricing, electrification, and advances in renewable energy technologies will play prominent roles in shifting us towards cleaner energy systems. Will they be enough?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As half the world heads to the polls, how important will the results be for efforts to cut emissions?Over half the world lives in a country that will be holding an election this year. The votes come at a time when resistance to the energy transition is building in many parts of the world, as concerns around energy security grow and some of the challenges of decarbonization come into focus. In the US, a finely-balanced election offers voters two sharply differing visions of the energy future. But there are other places around the world where elections could also shape the direction of energy policy, including the EU, where parties that are skeptical of climate action are on course to win an increased number of seats in the European Parliament.To explore the ramifications of these key elections around the world, host Ed Crooks is joined by Energy Gang regular Amy Myers Jaffe, director of New York University's Energy, Climate Justice, and Sustainability Lab, and by Vijay Vaitheeswaran, global energy & climate innovation editor at The Economist. The show is recorded live from NYU, as the gang take part in discussions on the outlook for elections and energy policy in 2024.Together they debate the potential consequences of the US election for issues including permitting reform clean energy tax credits, and look at some other significant votes around the world, in India, Mexico, the European parliament among others.While other countries are arguing over the right course for energy policy, China is betting big on low-carbon technologies, adding a huge amount of manufacturing capacity in solar, EVs and lithium ion batteries. Those are what the Chinese government calls “the new three” sectors, intended to drive export growth, and they are having a far-reaching impacts on energy all around the world.The Biden administration has pinned its climate policy on using support for low-carbon energy to incentivize manufacturing investment and create well-paying jobs. But with China adding so much capacity in key sectors, sending prices for products such as solar panels tumbling, the challenges facing that strategy are growing. That is an issue that will play out in elections in the US and elsewhere this year: what does it mean for clean energy globally if China continues to dominate the competition?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Data centres centers used to have power demand measured in the tens of megawatts. Now they are in the hundreds of megawatts, and the new ones that are being proposed have demand in the thousands of megawatts: gigawatts. At Distributech in Feburary, Harry Sideris of Duke Energy said it used to be a big deal when they had a customer wanting to add 10MW or 20MW of load. Now they have several planned data centers for AI needing 1000MW each. How is this additional demand being met? According to Duke, with a lot more renewables, more gas, and eventually more nuclear. What does that mean for net zero goals? Despite the growth in renewable energy sources, the anticipated 25% increase in gas-fired generation over the next 15 years in the US raises concerns for achieving net zero, especially when compared to the expected triple-digit growth rates for onshore wind and utility-scale solar. On this episode of Wood Mackenzie's The Energy Gang, Ed Crooks is joined by Amy Myers-Jaffe, Director of NYU's Energy, Climate Justice and Sustainability Lab, who returns to the show to explore the feasible paths to net zero in light of increased energy demand. Also joining this week is Samantha Gross, Director of the Energy Security and Climate Initiative at the Brookings Institution. Together they debate the plans for demand management, and stocktake on global warming goals set at the Paris Agreement.Is it time to give up on the 1.5 degree target? The world looks like crossing the threshold set in 2015 at COP21 to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, to mitigate and ultimately avoid catastrophic climate breakdown. John Kerry, who just stepped down as President Joe Biden's climate envoy, said recently that the world was on course for more like 2.5 degrees of warming. Many businesses still have alignment with a 1.5 degree scenario as part of their climate goals but we've just experienced a year of temperatures more than 1.5 C above pre-industrial levels. And finally, the EV market is – contrary to popular opinion – doing just fine. In China, things are more than fine; prices are falling and sales are skyrocketing. Sales of what China calls “new energy vehicles” – that is, battery electrics, plug-in hybrids, and fuel cell vehicles – were up 37.5% in the first two months of 2024 compared with the same period of 2023. In that period – January and February of 2024 – those New Energy Vehicles took 33.5% of the car market. The prices are on the way down too. Reuters has calculated that BYD has cut the prices of its EVs by an average of 17%. What does this mean for the US market?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There are no two ways around it: 2023 was a difficult year for low-carbon energy investment, and 2024 has so far carried on in very much the same vein.Rising interest rates, fears around future energy policy, cost inflation in some sectors, and perhaps a correction to some earlier over-exuberance, have meant that shares in clean energy companies have generally under-performed the market.To take a couple of high-profile examples, Tesla shares have fallen about 55% from their peak in 2021, while Ørsted shares are down about 75%.Capital flows into climate-focused funds has also fallen sharply. Morningstar data suggested that climate-focused funds attracted about $38 billion of new investor money last year, down about 75% from 2021 levels. In the private markets, on the venture capital side, the flows into clean energy also seem to have fallen, if not quite as sharply.To examine the reasons why low-carbon energy investment is having a rough time of it at the moment, and explore some of the more positive indications in the outlook, host Ed Crooks and regular guest Amy Myers-Jaffe are joined this week by newcomer Dan Goldman, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Clean Energy Ventures. They discuss the huge shortfall in terms of the investment needed to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, and raise some ideas for closing the gap. And on the brighter side, they look at the healthy ecosystem of innovative companies working on new ideas that could solve the toughest problems in energy and climate.Mobilizing capital will be the key to tackling the threat of global warming. How can we make sure the money flows where it is needed? Plus, two specific ideas that could make big contributions to decarbonizing the energy system. Grid-enhancing technologies can help overcome transmission capacity bottlenecks that are obstacles to the deployment of renewable energy. Dan's firm Clean Energy Ventures has invested in a company called LineVision that has provides those technologies, and he and Amy explain why they are important.And finally, as the aviation industry continues to grapple with the best ways to cut emissions, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is a popular potential solution. The gang discuss the potential of companies like OXCCU, which is backed by Clean Energy Ventures, and the fundamental scientific challenges inherent to producing e-fuels from hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Keep an eye out for an upcoming episode with an in-depth look at SAF and OXCCU, on our sister podcast The Interchange.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Whether you feel passionate about climate change, or think it's a hoax, technology is bringing changes to the energy system.Amy Myers Jaffe is an energy consultant and leading expert on the geopolitics of oil, energy, security, and risk, and an influential thought leader on global energy policy and sustainability. She is currently serving as Director of the Energy, Climate Justice, and Sustainability Lab and a research professor at New York University's School of Professional Studies.This is part 2 of a 2-part conversation with Amy where we evaluate technology's role in climate change and the current geopolitical landscape. In this episode, we look at the commitments of various countries, including the U.S. and Canada, towards renewable energy, before turning to the topic of how changing to clean energy will influence the economy. We also touch on the potential conflicts between economic commitment and implementation of renewable technologies. In particular, how the cost of fossil fuels versus renewable energy technologies might affect developing nations. Amy emphasizes the transformational potential of renewable energies over fossil fuels, referencing particularly their positive impacts on job creation and decarbonization. The conversation also explores the geopolitical implications of the renewable energy shift. In light of current global instability, Amy underscores the importance of strategic diplomacy alongside a concerted push for renewable energy implementation worldwide.Key Topics:Understanding Renewable Energy & TechnologyThe Role of Technology in Energy TransitionThe Role of Government and Private Sector in Energy TransitionThe Role of Politics in Climate ChangeThe Growth of Clean Energy in the USThe Geopolitical Implications of Climate ChangeEpisode Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-jaffe-80baaa9/Website: https://www.amymyersjaffe.com/Her Podcast (The Energy Gang): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-energy-gang/id663379413Energy's Digital Future: https://www.amazon.com/Energys-Digital-Future-Harnessing-Innovation/dp/0231196822Books:Energy's Digital Future: https://www.amazon.com/Energys-Digital-Future-Harnessing-Innovation/dp/0231196822Sign up for the Some Future Day Newsletter here: https://marcbeckman.substack.com/To join the conversation follow Marc here:YoutubeLinkedInTwitterInstagramMarc is a Senior Fellow of Emerging Technologies at NYU, the CEO of DMA United, and is on the New York State Bar Association's Taskforce for Cryptocurrency and Digital Assets.

Ed Crooks is joined by Amy Myers-Jaffe and Dr Melissa Lott to look ahead to 2024. They explore the people, places, and technologies that could have a big influence on energy this year. Amy kicks things off with a look ahead to the US elections in November. The results of that vote will have big impact on policy in the US, and there are several other elections coming up around the world that could also have significant consequences for energy.COP28 in Dubai may be only just behind us, but the world is already looking ahead to COP29, which will be held in Azerbaijan. With Brazil lined up for COP30 next year, that will make three consecutive UNFCCC COPs in large oil-producing countries. The gang discuss how that could shape the energy transition.Then there are the technologies to watch in 2024, including Melissa's choice, enhanced geothermal power. Fervo Energy's Project Red geothermal facility went online in December, marking a major milestone for an energy source with huge potential. As Melissa explains, there are not too many energy sources that can offer “clean firm power”: low-carbon generation that is available 24/7.Finally, the gang talk about their energy-related New Year's resolutions, including one that has already been broken!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As 2023 comes to a close, the Energy Gang reflects on the events and trends of 2023 that provided grounds for optimism about the transition to a lower-carbon world.On this week's show, Ed Crooks is joined by Melissa Lott and Amy Myers-Jaffe as they share their reasons to be cheerful this holiday season. Ed chooses the precipitous drop in the cost of solar modules, making solar power ever more competitive against fossil fuels, and driving the adoption of solar energy on a global scale. Amy's choice is the continued growth of EV sales. Despite all the negative commentary about electric vehicles in recent months, and some genuine setbacks for the industry, the long-term outlook still looks bright. Finally, Melissa chooses another important development in 2023: the start of construction for Form Energy's new factory in West Virginia to make batteries for long-duration energy storage. The batteries use iron-air technology, an example of several advances in battery chemistry that are offering solutions to the problems associated with lithium ion storage. We wrap the show with the gang trying a not-so-secret Secret Santa, exchanging gifts for the festive season. We hope the show will lift your spirits and put you in the frame of mind to enjoy the holidays. Thanks to everyone who listened during the year. We look forward to seeing you again in 2024. As usual we are keen to hear thoughts and comments. You can find us on most platforms – we're @theenergygang.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

COP28, this year's Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, started in Dubai on Thursday November 30. The Energy Gang will be there, bringing you all the latest news from the negotiations and explaining what it all means. As the climate talks get under way, Ed Crooks sits down in New York with Energy Gang regulars Dr Melissa Lott and Amy Myers-Jaffe to look ahead to the talks. On the show today, they explore the four key items on the agenda: The Global Stocktake – a review of progress on cutting emissions since the Paris Agreement was signed.The renewables goal – the idea that governments should commit to tripling renewable energy generation capacity by 2030.The methane pledge – commitments to reduce carbon footprints by cutting methane leakage from oil and gas operations.And climate finance – the search for ways to get rich countries to pay to help poorer countries cut their emissions and adapt to a changing climate.Subscribe to the show so you don't miss the special bonus episodes coming daily from the 4-8th December, and join the conversation by finding us on X; we're @theenergygang.For more information visit woodmac.com/podcasts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Thanksgiving is a special time in America when families across the country get together and argue. In honor of that tradition, host Ed Crooks and regular Amy Myers-Jaffe are joined by Danny and Toby Rice, two brothers who have both had very successful careers in energy but have gone in somewhat different directions. Toby Rice is president and chief executive of EQT, the largest producer of natural gas in the US. He is an advocate for the benefits of exporting liquefied natural gas, and makes the case for its importance in strengthening energy security, creating jobs, and cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Danny Rice is chief executive of NET Power, which is developing utility-scale power plants with its proprietary technology that uses natural gas while capturing more than 97% of its emissions. With Ed and Amy, they debate the case for gas as a climate solution. Is gas really any better than coal when full life-cycle emissions are counted? And even if it can reduce emissions, how much good is that when what we need is not lower carbon but zero carbon? How much does the case for gas rely on carbon capture and storage, which has no clear path to large-scale deployment?Join us at the Energy Gang table for a Thanksgiving debate on family, energy, and what we should be thankful for.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The International Energy Agency last week published its World Energy Outlook, which is its big annual review of everything that is going on in the world of energy.One of the headlines that has been attracting a lot of attention is the forecast that, on current trends, demand for all three fossil fuels – that is, oil, gas and goal – will peak before 2030. The IEA's report states that the pathway to limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees C, the objective the world set in the Paris Agreement, is still open. Although if we carry on as we are, by 2030 it won't be.Joining Ed Crooks to discuss the IEA's views and progress in the transition away from fossil fuels are Dr Melissa Lott and Amy Myers-Jaffe. Regular Energy Gang guests, Melissa is Director of Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy. Amy heads up NYU's Energy, Climate Justice and Sustainability Lab. They debate whether this decade might witness the arrival of peak fossil fuel demand. What are the forecasts saying, and are they believable? The gang weigh up the recent tide of bad news about electric vehicles. Should we be preparing for an abrupt turn away from EVs? What could it mean for oil demand if it happened? And how should we interpret the two recent mega-deals in the US oil industry?Plus: offshore wind is in trouble. Rising interest rates and supply chain issues are driving up costs, and big projects in the US are being cancelled. Can the industry find a way out of its predicament?And finally, China's share of global production of spherical graphite, used in battery anodes, is over 99%, putting it in a strong position in global supply chains. Now China has announced new export restrictions on several forms of graphite, raising questions about whether a new vulnerability has been exposed for US and European battery and EV manufacturers.It's a packed show, and as always we are keen to hear your thoughts and comments. You can find us on most platforms as @theenergygang. Subscribe to the show so you don't miss the next one, out every second Friday at 7am ET.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week marks 50 years, almost to the day, since the 1973 OPEC oil embargo on the US, which led to global oil prices soaring. Oil's potential role as a political weapon was thrown into sharp relief, and the world woke up to a new awareness of the vital importance of energy security. On the Energy Gang this week, Ed Crooks hosts Robbie Orvis and Amy Myers Jaffe, to explore the parallels between that first great oil shock and the economic and political issues arising from the conflict in the Middle East today. Robbie is Senior Director of Modeling and Analysis at the think-tank Energy Innovation, and Amy is Director of NYU's Energy, Climate Justice and Sustainability Lab. Together they discuss the implications for energy security in the US, and around the world, of the fighting that began with the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel.This month US oil production has hit a new all-time record high, at 13.2 million barrels a day. This surge in production means the US will be a net exporter of crude and oil products this year, to the tune of almost 2 million barrels a day. That sounds like it should help US energy security, but does it really? Despite surging production, US consumers remain vulnerable to fluctuations in fuel prices. Reducing oil consumption, as the gang discuss, could be the best way to strengthen energy security.Electric vehicles play a critical role in helping to break our addiction to oil. There have been some big changes in that industry this year, with most leading auto-makers, including Hyundai, Kia, Ford, GM, and others, adopting the North American Charging Standard developed by Tesla. That is a big win for Elon Musk, but more importantly it's a big win for customers, who won't have to worry about getting an EV with the right connection ports to find public chargers. It's like Lightning cables versus USB-C, but with much more at stake.Finally, we look once again at the ever-evolving hydrogen sector. The Biden administration last week announced the seven Hydrogen Hubs selected to share $7 billion in government funding to accelerate the domestic market for clean hydrogen. The hubs are spread around the country, from the Pacific Northwest to south Texas, and are intended to catalyse more than $40 billion of private sector investment. The idea behind the hubs is that developing the industry in a few locations will make it easier to share infrastructure and a skilled workforce, helping to bring costs down faster. But questions still remain about how big a role hydrogen can play in the energy transition.It's a packed show, and as usual we are keen to hear thoughts and comments. You can find us on most platforms – we're @theenergygang. Subscribe to the show so you don't miss the next one, out every second Friday at 7am ET. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What's Next for US Energy Policy?As part of Climate Week in New York, The Energy Gang recorded a special edition in partnership with New York University: an expert panel discussing the future direction of US climate policy and its implications for the energy transition.Amy Myers Jaffe, a regular contributor to The Energy Gang and director of the Energy, Climate, Justice, and Sustainability Lab at NYU, hosted the event, leading a conversation about the key steps that governments, regulators and companies need to take to pave the way to a low-carbon future.Joining her for the discussion were Ana Unruh Cohen, the senior Director for NEPA Clean Energy and Infrastructure at the White House Council on Environmental Quality; Elizabeth Gore, the senior vice president of political affairs at the Environmental Defense Fund; and Rob Gramlich, founder and president of Grid Strategies, LLC.The vital need to strengthen the US power grid was one of the key topics. As Rob Gramlich explains, it is about more than just funding: regulation and policy support are critical, too. The new rule on transmission planning and cost allocation proposed by FERC – the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission – is seen as an essential component of an energy policy suited for the new would of low-carbon power supply.The need for efficient and transparent permitting of new infrastructure projects was also highlighted in the discussion. Building a low-carbon energy system requires massive investment in infrastructure such as power lines and wind farms. The harder it is to get those projects built, the slower the transition to low-carbon energy will be. The panel discuss some of the key issues involved in securing approvals for projects, including the Permitting Action Plan of 2021, the updates to regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and infrastructure buildouts' community benefits.Towards the end of the discussion, the panel shifts its focus towards hydrogen. Is it truly the next frontier for climate solutions, or is it a mere distraction? The US already produces about 10 million metric tons of hydrogen annually, with high carbon emissions, for industrial use. But there is mixed opinion about the potential for much more extensive use of low-carbon hydrogen as a way to cut emissions in sectors where it is not currently used, such as steel-making and power generation. As research and development continues, hydrogen looks set to remain a contentious topic in climate and energy debates in the future.Follow the conversation on X – we're @theenergygang. And subscribe to the show so you don't miss an episode.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Direct air capture and carbon sequestration – is it viable, and scalable?The U.S. Department of Energy announced in late August that it would be investing $1.2 billion in two direct air capture or DAC facilities. Direct air capture technology, which uses either chemical media (such as a liquid solvent or solid sorbents) or physical processes involving filters to remove C02 directly from the atmosphere. Carbon capture technologies - that capture CO2 at emissions point sources, like power plants or steel making - is also an area the DOE will be supporting for demonstration projects.Some environmentalists have sharply criticized the Biden administration for providing financial support for DAC and CCS technologies, arguing not only is the technology expensive and unproven, but that it serves as a false flag mechanism by the oil and gas industry to sanction them to continue emitting greenhouse gases.So should the government be investing billions in these technologies? Can CCS and DAC play a role in decarbonizing hard to abate sectors? To answer these questions and more, guest host Amy Myers-Jaffe steps in for regular host Ed Crooks to anchor the show this week. Amy is Director of NYU's Energy, Climate Justice and Sustainability Lab. She's enlisted two Energy Gang regulars and climate modelling experts to explore the world of carbon capture: Emily Grubert, Associate Professor of Sustainable Energy Policy at the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame, and Robbie Orvis, Senior Director of Modelling and Analysis at the climate thinktank Energy Innovation.Emily explains the challenges and viability of direct air capture as a technology, while Robbie outlines the modelling that implicates the oil industry in pushing for carbon capture; is it to prolong the lifespan of fossil fuel technologies?It's an episode packed with science and analysis, as well as an in-depth look the socio-political implications of initiatives such as DAC and CCS. There's discussion around NIMBYism, and concern of local communities around the environmental impact of the projects proposed by the DOE.How currently available incentives are structured raises another issue — they incentivize the capture of maximum CO2 for sequestration but neglect to account for how much greenhouse gas is invested in the capture process. This invites operations that can produce large amounts of CO2 to do so as they can more easily remove it from flue gas streams due to higher concentrations resulting from the use of fossil fuels.The team wrap up the show by discussing the point that energy sectors we're dealing with – including cement, steel, and various chemical productions – are mostly old, often outdated. So, is it more feasible to create a billion-dollar investment to build CCS plants on the backends of these facilities, or to invest in newer, greener technologies and start afresh? As more sustainable methods become available, the relevance and usefulness of CCS must continually be re-evaluated. It's all here on this week's episode.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's a little over a year since the US Inflation Reduction Act was passed into law. Solar was one of the main beneficiaries, thanks to an extension and expansion of the tax credits available to the industry. So why has the sector fallen out of favour with investors recently?August was a difficult month for the markets in general, but companies including First Solar, Sunrun, Sunpower and Sunnova (who have been featured on our sister podcast The Interchange) have had it particularly rough. To look into what's going on, host Ed Crooks is joined by two of our regular finance and investment experts: Shanu Mathew, of Lazard Asset Management, and Amy Myers-Jaffe, of NYU's Energy, Climate Justice and Sustainability Lab. Together, look at the residential and utility-scale solar markets and the investment going into them, the US perspective against a global investment backdrop, and the long-term prospects for solar.Also in this show: what went wrong at Proterra? Proterra was an electric bus and battery company championed by President Biden as an example of how the US could build a manufacturing base in cleantech, but it filed for bankruptcy in early August. What does its failure tell us about the future of electric vehicles? And how do these challenges facing two key sectors, solar and EVs, change our perceptions of the clean energy transition? Finally, ESG investing is in the spotlight again. Larry Fink, CEO of Blackrock – one of the world's biggest asset management firms – said recently that he “doesn't use the word ESG any more, because it's been entirely weaponised...by the far left and weaponised by the far right.” Republican politicians in the US have attacked ESG as “a direct threat to the American economy, individual economic freedom, and our way of life.” Some statistics have suggested that interest in ESG investing has been waning from its high point in 2021. Amy says the capital is still flowing into clean energy, but investors need to “pick the right team, the right technology, the right management.” Shanu argues that the trends still support moves towards increased sustainability and the use of environmental, social and governance factors in investment decisions. ESG may not be a buzz-word any more, at least not in a positive sense. But the ideas that lie behind it can still be useful.Follow the conversation on X, the platform we know as Twitter – we're @theenergygang. And subscribe to the show so you don't miss an episode. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

New challenges for our power supplies in a warming world.Global temperatures have been breaking records this summer. On some estimates, the earth is the hottest that it has been for about 125,000 years. In Phoenix, Arizona, temperatures have consistently reached over 110 degrees Fahrenheit, and people are being hospitalized with severe burns after falling on the ground. The heat is bringing other threats, including the wildfires that have been burning out of control in parts of southern Europe and Canada. Extreme heat inflates the demand for energy, particularly power for cooling and air conditioning, putting new strains on the power grid. In the US, electricity demand has been shattering records in Texas and Phoenix, and it's on a similar trend in other arts of the world, too. India's power demand, for instance, has been hitting new record highs due to the scorching temperatures and a steadily expanding economy.To explore the impacts of the extreme weather we've been seeing, host Ed Crooks is joined by Energy Gang regulars Dr Melissa Lott of Columbia University's Centre on Global Energy Policy, and Amy Myers Jaffe, from NYU's Energy, Climate Justice, and Sustainability Lab. The gang discusses the ramifications of a warming world, and the stresses that it creates. To take just one example, to cope with extreme temperatures more people use air-conditioning, which often means increasing the use of fossil fuels, adding to the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. In China, coal-fired power output in June was up 14% from the same month in 2022.The gang discuss the huge global disparities in energy usage around the world. In the US, about 90% of households have air-conditioning, while in the lower-income economies of Asia and Africa, it is 10% or less. Melissa and Amy discuss how the transition to a lower-carbon world will be viable only if it acknowledges the rest of the world's demand for the comforts enjoyed in rich countries today.Climate change also causes problems for energy production. In Africa, hydropower plays a large role in electricity generation. As weather patterns shift, regions that rely on particular patterns of rainfall can struggle. Parts of China have been suffering blackouts this summer because of low hydro power generation, while California has been helped by relatively high snow and rainfall over the past winter. Picking up a theme from a previous episode of the show, when Dr Sarah Kapnick of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration was a guest, the gang discuss the need for more advanced climate modelling to understand the factors shaping energy demand and supply. Finally, there is news of a potentially exciting breakthrough in what could be an important source of dispatchable power with zero emissions: geothermal energy. A company called Fervo Energy, led and staffed by people with backgrounds in both low-carbon energy and oil and gas, has reported a successful test of its first pair of geothermal wells drilled horizontally for more than 3,000 feet, using techniques pioneered in the shale industry. Could this technology eventually be a big piece of the energy transition puzzle? It's all examined on this week's show. Remember to subscribe so you don't miss an episode, and follow the discussion on Twitter – we're @theenergygang.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bidenomics' is the new buzzword that the US administration is using to brand its industrial strategy. What does it mean for energy in the US, and around the world?Last week, President Joe Biden spoke in South Carolina about his economic vision: a strategy that he is calling “Bidenomics”, with the energy transition is right at the heart of it. By “turning the climate crisis into an opportunity”, the White House says, the US can create good-paying jobs in clean energy while also bringing down consumers' energy costs. When the president and his administration talk about their energy policies, the focus is generally on jobs, investment, and the international race to lead in the technologies of the future, not the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.The Inflation Reduction Act was the legislative core of this plan, with its array of incentives for low-carbon-energy, and for US-produced equipment in particular. As we approach a year since it was passed, there is plenty of evidence that it is contributing to upturn in US manufacturing. Spending on new factories has been tracking at a rate of about $190 billion a year, triple the average rate of the 2010s. But are there dangers in the administration's drive to create new domestic industries in low-carbon technologies?To discuss that question and more, host Ed Crooks is joined by regulars Melissa Lott and Amy Myers-Jaffe. Melissa is Director of Research at Columbia University's Centre on Global Energy Policy, and Amy is Director of the Energy, Climate Justice, and Sustainability Lab at New York University.One of the biggest issues in terms of international tensions around renewable energy manufacturing is China, which is currently the dominant producer for products and components such as batteries and solar panels. At the same time as it is trying to wrest global leadership from China in some of those key sectors, the US is also arguing that the two countries need to work together to tackle the threat of climate change. Melissa was in China last week – as was US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen – and shares her insights on the implications of two countries' energy strategies.One new development is that China is restricting exports of gallium and germanium, which are used in semiconductors, fibre-optic cables, and some electrical equipment. Amy discusses what these restrictions might mean for energy producers. And the gang discuss the question: what does this new trade flare-up teach us about how much countries need to work together to make the progress we need in developing clean energy? If our world's greatest challenges, including climate change, can only be solved through co-operation, does competition between countries risk pushing us off course?Join the discussion on Twitter – we're @theenergygang, or visit woodmac.com/podcasts for more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

More money will be invested this year in the solar industry than in oil production. So said Faith Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency, last week. Amy Harder, executive editor of Cipher, attended the Cleanpower 2023 event in New Orleans and experienced at first-hand what it means for the Big Green energy industry to be rivalling the scale of Big Oil. The event has been dubbed the ‘Coachella of clean energy' and as Amy recounts walking the half-mile long hall, full of clean energy businesses looking to capitalise on the booming industry, that comparison certainly seems appropriate. Amy Myers Jaffe, director of NYU's Center for Global Affairs, is also on the show this week. She says that what was once seen as a huge divide between the high-carbon and low-carbon energy industries is now being bridged. But she argues there is still an important role for governments in supporting the growth of newer energy technologies that would otherwise find it too difficult to break into markets dominated by old energy incumbents.After discussing how the emergence of the Big Green industry relates to US permitting reforms that could affect all energy infrastructure projects, the gang turn their attention to the G7. The recent summit in Hiroshima included some important discussions of the climate and energy, with world leaders repeating their commitments to accelerating the phase-out of fossil fuels, but also acknowledging the case for increased gas production to replace Russian supplies.Finally, whatever happened to alternative protein? Impossible Foods, Beyond Meat and some of the other companies in the sector have been cutting jobs. Beyond Meat's share price, which peaked at about $235 in the summer of 2019, is about $10 this week. Impossible Foods has been talking about an IPO, but now says it is not going to happen this year. It's clear that if you can cut the emissions from food production, and from beef in particular, the climate benefits could be huge. Should changing diets play a bigger role in climate strategy?Subscribe to the show so you don't miss an episode and follow us on Twitter, we're @theenergygang Wood Mackenzie's Solar & Energy Storage Summit is back,taking place at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco on June 21 and 22. Joinexpert solar and storage analysts for discussions with leading grid-scaleutilities, solar and energy storage developers and federal policy makers.  How is the IRA catapulting the development of solar and storagein North America? How can we continue to build a productive environment forsolar and energy storage as we move forward with the energy transition? What isrequired to nurture the development of a thriving localized storage componentsupply chain?  Expect two days of panel discussions, presentations andworkshops, as we explore the opportunities for solar and storage in the comingdecades. If you are interested in sponsoring or attending find out moreon woodmac.com/events/solar-energy-storage-summit See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The excitement around ChatGPT and other large language models has put AI firmly in the spotlight in recent months. Public perception is that we're entering a new age of AI; it is a brand-new technology that promises to change our lives. In the world of energy, though, AI is not a new concept. GE was developing its AI capabilities more than a decade ago. BP invested in an AI company in 2017 to support oil exploration and production. And so far, although you can see the impact of AI in many parts of the world of energy, it has not exactly transformed the fundamentals of the industry. So when people get excited about AI in energy today, and expecting revolutionary change, are they just buying into some well-orchestrated hype?Amy Myers-Jaffe is Director of the Energy, Climate Justice and Sustainability Lab at New York University. She joins Ed and explains the real-world benefits of automation and AI for electricity networks. Automating home energy use and business operations in conjunction with power supplies could have huge implications for energy. The gang is also joined this week by Michael Webber. Michael is the Josey Centennial Professor in Energy Resources, in the Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering at The University of Texas. He's also CTO of Energy Impact Partners, a cleantech venture fund.Together, the team examine whether AI will transform energy and our lives in the same way the internet did. And they assess the question: is AI the tool that will ultimately open the door to a net zero energy system? Subscribe to the show so you don't miss an episode and follow us on Twitter, we're @theenergygang Wood Mackenzie's Solar & Energy Storage Summit is back, taking place at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco on June 21 and 22. Join expert solar and storage analysts for discussions with leading grid-scale utilities, solar and energy storage developers and federal policy makers.  How is the IRA catapulting the development of solar andstorage in North America? How can we continue to build a productive environmentfor solar and energy storage as we move forward with the energy transition?What is required to nurture the development of a thriving localized storagecomponent supply chain?  Expect two days of panel discussions, presentations andworkshops, as we explore the opportunities for solar and storage in the comingdecades.  If you are interested in sponsoring or attending find outmore on woodmac.com/events/solar-energy-storage-summit See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's a special edition of the Energy Gang this week. New York University's 2040 Now event is an initiative focused on addressing the challenges posed by climate change, and this week the Energy Gang joined in. As part of the week of exercises, talks, exhibitions and discussions, regular Energy Gang member Amy Myers-Jaffe led a workshop on building energy transition scenarios, looking for ways to deepen our understanding of the present and strengthen our predictions about the future. The Energy Gang was there to record live in the Kimmel Center for University Life at NYU. Scenario analysis is particularly useful for analyzing the energy transition, because its trajectory is still uncertain, and a large number of variables can influence outcomes. Some of the most important of those variables are qualitative rather than quantitative, making them hard to analyze in a computer simulation such as an energy systems model. Thinking about a wide range of scenarios is a vital tool for testing assumptions and highlighting alternative possibilities. Amy and host Ed Crooks were joined by Energy Gang regular Robbie Orvis, Senior Director of Modelling and Analysis at the think-tank Energy Innovation, and by Erin Coughlan de Perez, Dignitas Associate Professor at Tufts University. With contributions from NYU professors, students and invited guests, they discussed the aspects of climate, policy, technology and finance that will shape our energy system and climate over the decades to come. And they ask the question: when we try to predict the future of energy, what are we missing?Subscribe to the show so you don't miss an episode and follow us on Twitter, we're @theenergygang The Energy Gang is brought to you by Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati—the premier legal services provider to technology, life sciences, and clean energy enterprises. Wilson Sonsini has built a leading energy and climate solutions practice and its team is dedicated to a single goal: advancing what's next in the energy industry. For more information about Wilson Sonsini's energy and climate change team, visit wsgr.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.