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Pat McDonald is joined by Meredith Angwin, a chemist, author and electric grid expert. They discuss the electric grid in the state and the rest of the country.
On this episode, Nate is joined by ER doctor, nuclear power advocate, and podcast host Chris Keefer for a broad ranging conversation including the basics of nuclear energy, how he engages with opposing opinions, and hypotheticals for a future medical system. Coming from a broad background, Chris understands what it means to have a human to human conversation and put together the pieces of our systemic puzzle in a clear and compelling way. What role could nuclear play for our future energy needs - and how are different countries making use of it today? How can we prioritize the health and safety of people under energetic and resource constraints? Most of all, how do we listen to others that we don't agree with - regardless of the issue - to foster the diverse perspectives necessary to navigate the coming challenges of the human predicament? About Chris Keefer: Chris Keefer MD, CCFP-EM is a Staff Emergency Physician at St Joseph's Health Centre and a Lecturer for the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto. He is also an avid advocate for expanding nuclear power as the President of Canadians for Nuclear Energy and Director of Doctors for Nuclear Energy. Additionally, he is the host of the Decouple Podcast exploring the most pressing questions in energy, climate, environment, politics, and philosophy. PDF Transcript Show Notes 00:00 - Chris Keefer works + info, Decouple Podcast, Canadians for Nuclear Energy 04:45 - Egalitarian hunter gatherer society, infant mortality 05:12 - Bow drill fire 07:10 - Yukon 07:30 - Humans and livestock outweigh wild mammals 50:1, not in the Yukon 08:10 - Dr. Paul Farmer 08:45 - Most humans use to work in agriculture, ~15% now involved in healthcare 10:56 - Ontario nuclear power, one of lowest electric grid in the world 12:01 - Justin Trudeau 12:24 - Simcoe Clinic, Canadian Center for Victims of Torture 14:01 - World population over time 14:36 - Paleodemography 14:59 - Degrowth 15:19 - Infant mortality in developed countries 15:55 - Tight link between energy, materials and GDP 20:54 - Duck and Cover Drills 21:05 - Environmental Movement and Nuclear 21:21 - Nagasaki bomb radiation injuries 21:49 - High dose radiation is deadly, low dose radiation less so 21:05 - Strontium-90 found in the teeth of babies 21:10 - Atmospheric weapons testing ban 22:33 - Fukushima meltdown, health impacts are negligible 23:09 - 20,000 people died from the Fukushima earthquake and following tsunami 23:47 - Fukushima contaminated water has been filtered out and is safe 24:24 - How radiation is measured 26:02 - Health effects from alcohol 26:16 - Drinking culture in the U.S. 27:22 - Nuclear energy density, land footprint 28:23 - Best nuclear applications and limitations 30:01 - Those who live in nuclear powered areas fare better 30:33 - Price of nuclear energy over the lifetime 30:45 - Nuclear power in France 31:18 - Canada energy history, center for nuclear research outside of the Manhattan Project 32:23 - 1000 people die prematurely every year due to coal 33:25 - Ontario population 33:38 - Candu Reactors 34:15 - Levelized cost of electricity, skewed with renewables 37:01 - Lazard Graphs 38:09 - Mark Jacobson 41:07 - Carbon emissions by power source 41:23 - Lifespan of nuclear plants 43:11 - Land use change impacts 43:31 - Nuclear and job creation 46:05 - US spending on military vs healthcare 48:49 - Meiji Restoration 49:33 - Vaclav Smil 50:42 - AI electricity demands 50:55 - AI risks 51:29 - Meredith Angwin 52:42 - Nuclear fuel 53:10 - 46% of uranium enrichment happens in Russia 54:15 - Known Uranium Reserves 54:25 - Haber Bosch 54:55 - Breeder Reactors 55:42 - Uranium in seawater 56:14 - Slow vs Fast Neutrons, fertile elements 57:04 - Sodium Fast Reactor 58:45 - China built a nuclear reactor in less than 4 years 1:00:05 - Defense in depth 1:01:11 - EMP, solar flare 1:01:30 - HBO's Chernobyl, wildlife thriving in chernobyl area 1:03:13 - Death toll from radiation in Chernobyl 1:05:13 - Scientific literature and confirmation bias 1:08:12 - Chernobyl Children's International 1:08:44 - Genome sequencing of highest exposures to radiation from chernobyl 1:09:09 - Germline mutations if the father smokes 1:10:02 - The Great Simplification animated video 1:10:32 - Peak Oil 1:12:10 - Complex 6-continent supply chains 1:12:30 - I, Pencil 1:15:19 - Nuclear Fusion 1:16:24 - Lawrence Livermore 1:17:45 - Tomas Murphy, Galactic Scale Energy 1:18:11 - Small Modular Reactor 1:19:26 - Cost saving in nuclear comes from scaling 1:19:34 - Wright's Law, economies of multiples 1:23:33 - Biden administration policies and advances on nuclear 1:24:00 - Non-profit industrial complex 1:24:24 - The size of the US non-profit economy 1:24:44 - Sierra Club, anti-nuclear history 1:25:14 - Rocky Mountain Club 1:27:15 - Hans Rosling 1:27:32 - Somalia infant mortality rate 1:27:42 - Cuba 1990s economic shock and response 1:27:42 - Vandana Shiva + TGS Episode 1:30:27 - Cognitive Dissonance 1:31:45 - Jonathan Haidt + TGS Podcast, Righteous Mind 1:32:48 - Fatality and hospitalization statistics for COVID for first responders 1:33:22 - Truckers protest in Ottawa 1:34:15 - The problem with superchickens 1:36:54 - How social media tries to keep you online 1:37:12 - Paleopsychology 1:37:55 - Tristan Harris and Daniel Schmachtenberger on Joe Rogan 1:39:45 - John Kitzhaber + TGS Episode, Robert Lustig + TGS Episode 1:39:55 - US healthcare 20% of GDP, 50% of the world's medical prescriptions are in the US 1:41:55 - Superutilizers 1:42:37 - Cuban medical system, spending, life expectancy, infant mortality 1:43:06 - Cuban export of pharmaceuticals 1:44:08 - Preventative medicine, chronic disease management 1:44:25 - Cuban doctor to person ratio, rest of the world 1:48:47 - Social determinants of health 1:49:20 - Cement floor reducing illness in Mexico 1:50:03 - Hygiene hypothesis 1:50:28 - Zoonotic disease and human/animal cohabitation 1:50:50 - Roundworm life cycle 1:52:38 - Acceptable miss rates 1:53:16 - Cancer screening effectiveness 1:53:58 - Drugs produced from nuclear plant byproducts 1:58:18 - Timothy O'Leary 2:02:28 - Superabundance 2:02:40 - Julian Simons and Paul Ehrlich bet 2:02:15 - Malthusian 2:06:08 - Pickering Plant Watch this video episode on YouTube
"Age of Miracles" Packy and Julia have spent the first five episodes of Age of Miracles diving into the past and present of nuclear fission—before jumping from the yin to the yang and covering nuclear fusion in the second half of this season, today we wanted to take a step back and talk about all the non-nuclear energy sources out there. We ask this icebreaker question to every guest we bring onto the show: "What does the pie chart of energy sources look like in the US in the year 2050?" From advocating for the widely accused fossil fuels like oil and gas, to the widely celebrated renewables like geothermal, solar, and wind, each guest brings a new perspective to the mix. In this episode, Packy and Julia hear out their cases, and afterwards, answer the infamous question themselves. Thank you to this episode's guests: Meredith Angwin, Mark Hinaman, Alex Epstein, Casey Handmer, Noah Smith, Angelica Oung, and Eli Dourado. Huge thank you to our sponsors: Secureframe: the only compliance automation platform with AI capabilities that help customers speed up cloud remediation and security questionnaires. Get 10% off your first year of Secureframe: https://secureframe.com/packy Pilot.com: accounting, CFO, and tax services that are designed with flexibility and scalability in mind. To get 20% off your accounting bill for the first 6 months, go to https://pilot.com/packy Clean Air Task Force For the full list of resources referenced in this show: https://ageofmiracles.co/ Subscribe to Not Boring to get weekly doses of tech and business strategy, straight to your inbox: https://www.notboring.co/ Follow our hosts: Packy McCormick on Twitter and LinkedIn Julia DeWahl on Twitter and LinkedIn Timestamps: (00:00:00) Energy in 2050 (00:08:29) Fossil fuels (00:28:41) Geothermal (00:36:53) Wind (00:56:54) Understanding the grid (01:03:30) Solar (01:25:02) Batteries (01:36:06) Episode Recap This show is produced and distributed by Turpentine, a network of shows and other media properties, where experts talk to experts about tech, business, culture, and more. Credits: Nancy Xu produced this season of Age of Miracles. Audio editor: Justin Golden. Video editor: Nancy Xu. Executive producers: Amelia Salyers, Packy McCormick, and Erik Torenberg.
For today's discussion we were delighted to welcome back our good friend Robert Bryce. Robert is the author of six books (his most recent being "A Question of Power: Electricity and the Wealth of Nations"), host of the Power Hungry podcast, and a former journalist with more than 30 years of experience reporting on the energy sector. He is a frequent contributor to the energy discussion and his Substack is linked here. Robert has just released his latest docuseries focused on power titled "Juice: Power, Politics, and the Grid" (available to watch here). The series officially debuts today, January 31st, and we were thrilled to visit with Robert to discuss the vitally important examination this docuseries brings to light around the state of power grids both domestically and internationally. "Juice: Power, Politics, and the Grid" is a five-part docuseries with 20-minute episodes titled "Texas Blackout," "Undermined by Enron," "Green Dreams," "Nuclear Renaissance," and "Industrial Cathedrals." In our conversation with Robert, we touch on Canada's recent nuclear power developments, the challenges and legacy of Enron and Enron-type thinking in today's electricity market, the importance of government involvement in supporting nuclear energy, the consequence of electricity being treated as a commodity rather than a service, and the crucial role of reliability in the grid. Robert shares his perspective on the impact of permitting delays, regulatory issues and land use conflicts, the difficulties of building infrastructure, including high voltage transmission lines, the need for long-term bipartisan support for nuclear energy, and how the "anti-industry industry" affects energy policy. We also discuss policy as a reliability risk, industrial consumers (i.e. Dow, Microsoft) becoming more interested in nuclear (see recent Microsoft news here), NGO influence, the need for balanced priorities among decarbonization, affordability and reliability, and more. We want to congratulate Robert for the launch of "Juice: Power, Politics, and the Grid" and for his contributions to help change the conversation. It was a fantastic discussion!To kick us off, Mike Bradley highlighted the upcoming FOMC meeting, continued bullish equity market sentiment, rebound in crude oil prices, and broadening out of Q4 energy subsector reporting in the coming weeks. Wednesday's FOMC Rate Decision meeting looms large, with most expecting the FED will continue to pause interest rates. Equity volatility is still very low and equity market sentiment remains very bullish. On the commodity front, global crude oil prices continue to rise and the biggest surprise for crude oil markets this week was Saudi Aramco's decision not to proceed with plans to increase their maximum sustainable capacity up to 13mmbpd, which weighed heavily on the consensus positive sentiment towards internationally levered oil service equities. Brett Rampal flagged Canada's recent announcement to refurbish the Pickering nuclear plant, extending its operational life by several decades, and showcasing the ability of groups, advocates and the nuclear industry to execute large-scale refurbishment projects efficiently. As mentioned, Robert previously joined COBT on Jan. 5, 2021 (episode linked here) and first on Aug. 11, 2020 (episode linked here). Our COBT episode with Meredith Angwin, author of "Shorting the Grid," is linked here from June 8, 2022. As is almost always the case, this past week was a busy one with many things happening i
In her sixth appearance on the podcast (her last appearance was January 13, 2023), I welcome back Meredith Angwin, the author of the 2020 book Shorting the Grid: The Hidden Fragility of Our Electric Grid. In this episode, Meredith discusses the physical and the policy grids, why no one is responsible for electricity reliability, and why facts are finally “intruding on the narrative” about decarbonization and the electric grid. (This episode was recorded on January 16, 2024.)
I love my job. Talking with executives, authors, and industry leaders about all types of energy is extremely cool. Douglas Sandridge, SVP of Fulcrum Energy Capital Funds and the Executive Director for Oil & Gas Executives for Nuclear, came by the podcast.His substack article: Oil & Gas Executives Believe that Common Sense Energy Policies Must Include a Greater Role for Nuclear Energy caught my eye and it was fantastic. People seem to think a competitive issue exists between the nuclear and oil and gas markets. He is right, and in fact, everyone from the oil and gas field that I have talked to loves nuclear. Everyone in the energy space, from the linemen, rig workers, nuclear plant operators, and Union Construction folks, wants to deliver the lowest kWh to the consumers. In fact, it was Chris Wright, CEO of Liberty Energy, who influenced the Energy News Beat podcast formula. I met Chris and loved his message to elevate humanity from poverty through low-cost, sustainable energy. Sustainability includes not printing money and impacting the environment in the least amount possible. The Oil & Gas Executives for Nuclear has over one hundred oil and gas executives who signed the declaration, and I turned mine in for the Sandstone Group.Check out the Oil &Gas Executives for Nuclear HERE: https://executives4nuclear.com/Connect and follow Doug on his LinkedIn HERE: https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-c-sandridge-63996312/Thank you, Doug, for your industry leadership and for stopping by the podcast. I am looking forward to our future podcast with Chris Wright to talk about Nuclear and its implementation in the oil field. I am also jealous that you got to hang with Robert Bryce on his new movie. - StuHighlights of the Podcast00:00 - Intro02:50 - Douglas C. Sandridge's frustration with the oil and gas industry's perception challenges Michael Bloomberg's claim on renewable energy feasibility, deeming it unrealistic.05:31 - Emphasizes fossil fuels' role in manufacturing, concerns about increased usage, and the importance of nuclear energy as a baseline—positive mention of a nuclear facility in the UAE.09:33 - Douglas C. Sandridge's journey into nuclear advocacy, creating a declaration supported by over 100 oil and gas executives favoring nuclear energy.18:04 - Chris Wright's impact on low-cost energy and humanitarian efforts credits major oil companies for advancing research and technology.22:27 - Discussion on changing perceptions in the energy industry, growing interest among the younger generation, and evolving energy education at the University of Oklahoma.26:50 - Examples of shifting perspectives in the energy industry, emphasizing the transformative power of education, citing Michael Shellenberger's associate Benny Peiser's transition.29:37 - Discussion on Meredith Angwin's book "Shorting the Grid" and its insights into the intricacies of the energy grid, emphasizing the importance for energy policymakers to read and comprehend its content.35:14 - Emphasis on the need for a global perspective in energy discussions, frustration over energy hypocrisy preventing African nations' development, and the impact of virtue signaling in developed countries.38:58 - Frustration over energy hypocrisy in California, potential agreements to buy oil from China, and the need for responsible and globally conscious energy policies.42:33 - Discuss the potential integration of nuclear energy into oil and gas operations, exploring the concept of using small modular reactors to power fracking fleets and addressing environmental concerns.47:32 - Appreciation for Irina Slav's insightful writings, recounting a personal visit to her in Bulgaria, and suggesting a collaboration with Irina for a future panel discussion on the synergy between oil and gas and nuclear energy.59:30 - Outro
We had a great time with Mr. Douglas Sandridge, an Oil & Gas Executive in the USA. His message came out strongly that everyone needs reliable energy therefore let us diversify the energy mix and not try to over-regulate it. Listen in the podcast to hear his thought on energy; nuclear energy; hydrogen, as well as climate change issues. He recommends two books for anyone wishing to bring in a great energy renaissance: The Price by David Yergin and Shorting the Grid by Meredith Angwin. Mr. Douglas Sandridge has supported this podcast by getting me some equipment over christmas! A good chrismas gift for all of us. It is good to support us in all ways because we have the social license to reach out through public engagement, educating our communities and through podcast interviews.
Meredith Angwin previously worked at the respected EPRI, but now focusing on her book, Shortening the Grid. Mike Bradford runs Project Share in GA for the Salvation Army and shares how everyone can get involved with helping the poor with their energy bills during the holiday season and beyond.
Packy and Julia have spent the first five episodes of Age of Miracles diving into the past and present of nuclear fission—before jumping from the yin to the yang and covering nuclear fusion in the second half of this season, today we wanted to take a step back and talk about all the non-nuclear energy sources out there. We ask this icebreaker question to every guest we bring onto the show: "What does the pie chart of energy sources look like in the US in the year 2050?" From advocating for the widely accused fossil fuels like oil and gas, to the widely celebrated renewables like geothermal, solar, and wind, each guest brings a new perspective to the mix. In this episode, Packy and Julia hear out their cases, and afterwards, answer the infamous question themselves. Thank you to this episode's guests: Meredith Angwin, Mark Hinaman, Alex Epstein, Casey Handmer, Noah Smith, Angelica Oung, and Eli Dourado. Huge thank you to our sponsors: Secureframe: the only compliance automation platform with AI capabilities that help customers speed up cloud remediation and security questionnaires. Get 10% off your first year of Secureframe: https://secureframe.com/packy Pilot.com: accounting, CFO, and tax services that are designed with flexibility and scalability in mind. To get 20% off your accounting bill for the first 6 months, go to https://pilot.com/packy Clean Air Task Force For the full list of resources referenced in this show: https://ageofmiracles.co/ Subscribe to Not Boring to get weekly doses of tech and business strategy, straight to your inbox: https://www.notboring.co/ Follow our hosts: Packy McCormick on Twitter and LinkedIn Julia DeWahl on Twitter and LinkedIn Timestamps: (00:00:00) Energy in 2050 (00:08:29) Fossil fuels (00:28:41) Geothermal (00:36:53) Wind (00:56:54) Understanding the grid (01:03:30) Solar (01:25:02) Batteries (01:36:06) Episode Recap This show is produced and distributed by Turpentine, a network of shows and other media properties, where experts talk to experts about tech, business, culture, and more. Credits: Nancy Xu produced this season of Age of Miracles. Audio editor: Justin Golden. Video editor: Nancy Xu. Executive producers: Amelia Salyers, Packy McCormick, and Erik Torenberg.
Don't kid your selves, there is no cleaner source for low-cost, low carbon, electricity than Nuclear. In our interview not only was it a fun talk about hope, it was about abundant energy and jobs for the next generation!We covered everything from nuclear fusion, fission, renewable, and a positive look for a balanced energy grid going forward. Grace's journey is an excellent role model for everyone, and I even recommended her for Secretary of Energy! I would like to have a discussion with Grace and Meredith Angwin, author of "Shorting The Grid" to cover more grid-related topics. Grace and Meredith have the same passion for low-cost, clean energy and it shows.Grace is a current student at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, She is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering. And is the current Miss America 2023, traveling the nation to promote her social impact initiative "Clean Energy, Cleaner Future" and discuss the misconceptions surrounding nuclear energy. As a former co-op in Constellations's Nuclear Fuels department, she gained work experience within core design and fuel enrichment. Thank you Grace for stopping by the podcast, it was a blast! Stu 00:03 - Intro01:05 - How do we get the next generation of engineers? How do we get the next generation in there?03:01 - So what's it like being the representative for Miss America?04:45 - Now encouraging the next generation of engineers. What are you hearing from students out there?06:54 - It was Colorado where a nuclear reactor is starting up, where you just saw that one. How was that experience?08:32 - Grace Stanke appreciates the energy secretary position consideration but stresses the need for practical engineering experience before pursuing politics. She emphasizes the importance of politicians having relevant qualifications and field experience.12:32 - Baseload power, comprising 70% of the grid, is vital for daily functions. Ensuring reliable power is crucial, as seen in the Texas freeze, where power outages had life-threatening consequences.16:02 - Where do you see yourself going after the Miss America job that you have?21:33 - Can you imagine having your own nuclear reactor? Having a basement.23:08 - Her potential attendance at COP 28 in Dubai, expressing her interest in conversing with attendees, and highlighting the changing dynamics where big oil companies are shifting towards green initiatives,27:09 - Are you interested in all forms of nuclear, whether it's uranium, normal fission, thorium, do you care? What is your passion there?29:08 - What was the toughest question you had in the Miss America competition when they were the judges were asking you questions?32:34 - What are your last thoughts as we're coming around the close here? Give us the world according to Grace.34:35 - OutroConnect and Follow Grace on her LinkedIn HERE: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-stanke-48700519b/
Troy Cross and Bitcoin Bassload Treble + Bass = Energy Grid Harmony In this electrifying episode of BitBuyBit, Max and Jon speak with energy market expert and Pleb Miner Mafia Capo, Bitcoin Bassload as well as Philosopher and Bitcoin enthusiast Troy Cross from the Bitcoin Policy Institute. The relationship between Bitcoin mining and the American energy industry is complex, nuanced, wrought with acronyms, oversight, and regulation. The purpose of this conversation is to find where we agree and disagree on the relationship between Bitcoin mining and the energy industry and what we as Pleb Miners can do when our energy is focused and pointed in the same direction. Troy and Bassload come from different perspectives when looking at the relationship between Bitcoin mining and energy, but their hearts and minds are focused on making sure that Bitcoin wins. In this discussion Bassload defines terms like the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Regional Transmission Organizations (RTO), and Independent Systems Operators (ISO) and explains how regulation and government policy steer energy markets. He discusses the Physical Grid versus Policy Grid, balancing authorities, generation fleet mix, and Meredith Angwin's fatal trifecta for the grid: over reliance on renewables, backing up the renewables with just in time resources, and overdependence on neighbors. Bassload offers advice on creating relationships with energy providers: 1. Print the load 2. Pay an invoice. Bitcoin Bassload's Energy Market Inflows can be found on his Substack in which he puts out frequent updates. Troy discusses the unique characteristics of Bitcoin mining and its relationship with energy, particularly in the context of environmentalism and regulatory arbitrage. He highlights that Bitcoin's decentralized nature and algorithmically fixed production makes it resistant to local regulations and taxes. His point in conveying this, is that Bitcoin mining can take advantage of excess energy in regions with corrupt governments, it can bypass restrictions, and potentially disrupt the energy market. The discussion emphasizes that Bitcoin's fundamental value is tied to the cost of energy rather than fiat currency. Over the long term, government regulations and subsidies may not significantly impact Bitcoin mining, or its adoption. Troy expands on this theory in this recent article. Treble and Bass = Grid Harmony Terms and Definitions FERC- FERC was originally called the Federal Power Commission to then become the Federal Regulatory Commission created on October 1 1977. The FPA was originally designed to coordinate federal hydropower development (in 1920) then in 1935 it was given the independent regulatory status to then regulate both hydropower and electricity. Then in 1938 the natural gas act gave FPA jurisdiction over interstate NG pipelines and wholesale sales. FERC was created due to a response to the oil crisis of 1973 and thus passing the Department of Energy Organization act of 1977 in an effort to consolidate agencies into a ‘department of energy'. DOE was born. Congress insisted that the independent regulatory body be retained. FERC originally was to determine whether wholesale electricity prices were unjust and unreasonable If so regulate the pricing and give some refunds to ratepayers FERC an independent organization that its commissioners are appointed by the president and confirmed by the senate Order 888 was issued in 1996 which created the RTO's (regional transmission organizations) in response to the Energy Policy Act in 1992. RTO's- Organized by FERC to have what were the former power pools to ‘rebrand' themselves as independent transmission operators that would be able to compete in a wholesale electric market administered by RTO's. PJM, NYISO and ISONE were first in line. Like an ISO they operate transmission systems and develop innovative procedures to manage transmission equitably. ISO's- Independent System Operators were designed to consolidate and manage the operation of transmission facilities to provide nondiscriminatory open transmission service for all generators and transmission customers. Traditional wholesale markets were in the SE, SW and NW and most were vertically integrated where they own generation, transmission and distribution systems to serve electricity consumers. They also many include federal systems: Bonneville Power System Tennessee Valley Authority Western Area Power Administration At the wholesale level, the RTO's and the ISO's is managing economic dispatch of generators and its auctions to the clearing price. Less expensive power gets dispatched first. RTO controls the bids, they know the cost of fuel, and they know the marginal cost of the next kwh your generator plant makes. One can add a risk premium to the bids but the RTO's are checking. (Meredith Angwin) TYPES of RTO's and ISO's CAISO- California Independent System Operator ERCOT- Electric Reliability Council of Texas SPP- SouthWest Power Pool MISO- Midcontinent Independent System Operator (15 states and canadian province of Manitoba) SouthEast Power Pool PJM- Pennsylvania New Jersey and Maryland NYISO New York Independent System Operator ISONE Independent System operator of New England Vertically integrated- this is where the same entity owns all of the generation, transmission and distribution to service electricity consumers in the given region that they are in. PUC's- Public Utility Commission were designed to do a couple of things: Balance the needs of consumers AND utilities Ensure safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates Protect public interest Educate consumers to make independent and informed utility choices Typically the PUC's were designed for the consumer, but they are also heavily “in bed' with the utilities Regulate electric, gas, telecommunications, water and wastewater facilities Typically appointed by the governor serving 4-6 year terms. Typically regulate all investor owned utilities in their state Municipalities and cooperative utilities are often exempt from PUC regulations PUCs often use non-adjudicatory processes to address new and evolving issues. This would include traditional rulemakings, in addition to informal stakeholder collaborative processes. Over the past decade, the stakeholder process has become one of the mainstays of issue resolution. In these proceedings, professional facilitators are often used and the parties work toward a narrowing of issues or their complete resolution through a negotiated or shared agreement. Typical participants include utilities, ratepayer advocates, environmental advocates, and industry advocates. Load Shape- the amount of energy consumption one uses, measured in watts or kilowatts over a period of time. When looking at the curve of how that energy is consumed, the shape of that curve is what is monitored. If flat, good. If not and seeing spikes means that the shape is inconsistent with the amount of watts consumed over time BTU- A British Thermal Unit, the base unit of measure for measuring energy in the US. a btu is the amount of energy required to heat one pound of water Joule- joule, unit of work or energy in the International System of Units (SI); it is equal to the work done by a force of one newton acting through one metre. Named in honour of the English physicist James Prescott Joule, it equals 107 ergs, or approximately 0.7377 foot-pounds. Watt- the SI unit of power, equivalent to one joule per second, corresponding to the power in an electric circuit in which the potential difference is one volt and the current one ampere. 1 watt = 1J/s Baseload- Baseload electricity generation creates 24/7 power to the grid to meet the base energy needs of the U.S. While peaking generation must follow the varying hourly electricity needs as demand rises and falls, base load generation operates constantly to support the increment of demand that is always there no matter the time of day or day of the week. https://energytransition.nema.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/NEMA-QuickFacts-Baseloadgeneration.pdf Balancing Authority- The BA makes sure that the supply of power on the grid is exactly matched with the requirement for power always. The BA must keep voltage within a narrow range and balance demand on the grid. The BA must also make sure that the VARs (Volts Amps Reactive) are in balance. Refer to page 28-30 of shorting the grid. “A well run grid is like a good bicyclist on a smooth road, while a more difficult grid (more sudden ups and downs in power or energy requirements) requires more of a balancing-type energy (Meredith Angwin). 60Hz or 60 cycles per second in the US 50HZ or 50 cycles per second everywhere else The responsible entity that integrates resource plans ahead of time, maintains load-interchange-generation balance within a balancing authority area, and supports interconnection frequency in real time. Energy Auction House- mentioned above and see pages of Mereidth Angwins book shorting the grid pages 91-93 Generation Fleet Mix Nuclear Coal Natural Gas Oil Hydro Solar Wind Geothermal Renewable energy- Renewable energy is energy produced from sources like the sun and wind that are naturally replenished and do not run out. Renewable energy can be used for electricity generation, space and water heating and cooling, and transportation. Non-renewable energy, in contrast, comes from finite sources that could get used up, such as fossil fuels like coal and oil. (DOE definition) energy from a source that is not depleted when used, such as wind or solar power. "the environmental benefits of renewable energy" (Oxford Dictionary) Net Zero- net zero means cutting greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible, with any remaining emissions re-absorbed from the atmosphere, by oceans and forests for instance. To ‘go net zero' is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and/or to ensure that any ongoing emissions are balanced by removals. (university of oxford) REC- Renewable Energy Credits A renewable energy certificate, or REC (pronounced: rěk, like wreck), is a market-based instrument that represents the property rights to the environmental, social, and other non-power attributes of renewable electricity generation. RECs are issued when one megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity is generated and delivered to the electricity grid from a renewable energy resource. RECs include several data attributes, including:* Certificate data Certificate type Tracking system ID Renewable fuel type Renewable facility location Nameplate capacity of project Project name Project vintage (build date) Certificate (generation) vintage Certificate unique identification number Utility to which project is interconnected Eligibility for certification or renewable portfolio standard (RPS) Emissions rate of the renewable resource *Note: This list is not exhaustive and, depending on the market in which the REC is generated, other attributes may be associated with the certificate Three buckets o financial- everything to do with pricing, hedging, derivative markets for energy, from wholesale to retail o physical- infrastructure related, engineering and design of the implementation and installation of large equipment o regulatory- politics, rules and regulation from governing bodies aka FERC, DOE, PUC, ISO, RTO and alike. We hope this to be the first of many discussions on Bitcoin's relationship with energy markets and energy providers. If you enjoyed the discussion in this episode, let us know by boosting on Fountain. Ungovernable Misfits Socials https://www.ungovernablemisfits.com Twitter https://twitter.com/ungovernablemf Ungovernable Misfits Socials https://www.ungovernablemisfits.com Twitter https://twitter.com/ungovernablemf Show Sponsor - Foundation Devices Foundation builds Bitcoin-centric tools that empower you to reclaim your digital sovereignty. As a sovereign computing company, Foundation is the antithesis of today's tech conglomerates. Returning to cypherpunk principles, they build open source technology that “can't be evil,” Thank you Foundation Devices for sponsoring the show. Use code BITBUYBIT at check out for $10 off your purchase. https://foundationdevices.com Show Sponsor: sx6.store SECURE YOUR BITCOIN IN MARINE GRADE, 316L STAINLESS STEEL!
Pat McDonald welcomes in author and chemist Meredith Angwin to talk about Vermont's electric grid.
After listening to what we talked about with Ryan concerning renewables and nuclear, you'd so much want to get the book, "Shorting The Grid" by Meredith Angwin. Beside this we also talked about Africa and the energy decisions: how effective they are and what are the does and don'ts. So, this is the conclusion: what are you waiting for? Have a listen
As a working chemist, Meredith Angwin headed projects that lowered pollution and increased reliability on the electric grid. Her work included pollution control for nitrogen oxides in gas-fired combustion turbines, and corrosion control in geothermal and nuclear systems. She was one of the first women to be a project manager at the Electric Power Research Institute. She led projects in renewable and nuclear energy. In the past ten years, she began to study and take part in grid oversight and governance. For four years, she served on the Coordinating Committee for the Consumer Liaison Group associated with ISO-NE, her local grid operator. She teaches courses and presents workshops on the electric grid. Meredith's newest book release - Shorting the Grid, The Hidden Fragility of Our Electric Grid is an exposé of the insider-ruled practices of the “deregulated” areas of the United States electric grid. Shorting the Grid shows the hidden problems caused by lack of accountability on the grid. Americans need to pay attention to how the grid is managed. Hopeful speeches will not keep the lights on. If you assume that the lights will go on when you flip a switch, you need to read this book. Meredith has been keynote or featured speaker at several nuclear events, including keynote at the worldwide Nuclear Science Week in 2018. She and her husband George live in Vermont. They have two children and four grandchildren who live in the New York City area. Slides for this podcast: https://tomn.substack.com/p/shorting-the-grid “Shorting the Grid” and “Campaigning for Clean Air” at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Shorting-Grid-Hidden-Fragility-Electric/dp/1735358002/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= https://www.amazon.com/Campaigning-Clean-Air-Strategies-Pro-Nuclear-ebook/dp/B01MA5GU9Q?ref_=ast_author_dp Website: https://www.meredithangwin.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeredithAngwin Email: meredithangwin@gmail.com On Robert Bryce' podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOBIwPHwg2o With Jim Meigs: https://shows.acast.com/howdowefixit/episodes/our-electricity-grid-is-surprisingly-fragile-meredith-angwin ========= About Tom Nelson: https://linktr.ee/tomanelson1 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL89cj_OtPeenLkWMmdwcT8Dt0DGMb8RGR Twitter: https://twitter.com/tan123 Substack: https://tomn.substack.com/ About Tom: https://tomn.substack.com/about
In Episode 46 of the Energy Question, David Blackmon interviews Meredith Angwin, Author of "Shorting the Grid," about issues impacting the New England, Texas and national power grids. 00:00 - Intro00:56 - Where you can Find Meredith Angwin03:46 - Burning a lot of oil6:27 - lawsuit against New York State saying that by refusing to build pipelines a.)Jones Act11:18 - Offshore Projects20:04 -dichotomy is among the federal regulatory agencies23:34 - Talks about the power generation27:55 - Entire telegraph system of United States -Power Grid32:51 - OutroYou can find The Energy Question With David Blackmon podcast at Spotify, Spreaker, Apple Podcasts and other regular podcasting platforms.Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media. David Blackmon LinkedInDB Energy Questions Energy Transition Absurdities SubstackThe Crude Truth with Rey TrevinoRey Trevino LinkedInEnergy Transition Weekly ConversationIrina Slav LinkedInArmando Cavanha LinkedIn ENB Top NewsENBEnergy DashboardENB PodcastENB Substack
Mike annoys enviro-activists by adding facts to the EV/renewables debate with Meredith Angwin, author of the energy classic, Shorting the Grid: The Hidden Fragility of Our Electric Grid.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mike returns to annoy environmental activists by adding facts to the EV/renewables debate with Meredith Angwin, author of the energy classic, Shorting the Grid: The Hidden Fragility of Our Electric Grid. Martin Straith of thetrendletter.com talks oil and gold, and a quote poses a question that is sure to infuriate our “betters.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In Episode 24 of The Energy Transition podcast, David Blackmon and Meredith Angwin Author and Energy AnalystFollow Meredith Angwin on LinkedinSponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media. David Blackmon LinkedInDB Energy Questions The Crude Truth with Rey TrevinoRey Trevino LinkedInEnergy Transition Weekly ConversationDavid Blackmon LinkedInIrina Slav LinkedInArmando Cavanha LinkedIn ENB Top NewsENBEnergy DashboardENB PodcastENB Substack
Mark Nelson, the managing director of the Radiant Energy Fund, joins the podcast for the fifth time, tying the record held by Meredith Angwin. (Mark's last appearance was on March 3, 2022.) In this episode, Mark he talks about Germany's expansion of the Garzweiler lignite mine, how warm weather has given Europe's economy a “stay of execution,” Belgium's plans to close its nuclear plants, and why it's “almost impossible” to build new high-voltage transmission projects in the U.S.
In her fifth appearance on the podcast, we welcome back Meredith Angwin, the author of Shorting the Grid: The Hidden Fragility of Our Electric Grid. (Her last appearance was on February 18, 2022). In this episode, Meredith talks about the blackouts that hit the eastern U.S. over the Christmas holiday, why grid reliability is getting worse, why generators in New England are having to burn more oil to produce power, why “'renewable' is a marketing term,” and why trying to “electrify everything” and “run all that electricity on renewables and natural gas...No. That's a really bad idea. We are putting too many eggs in those baskets.” (This episode was recorded on January 5, 2023.)
Every day Americans take the reliable supply of electricity for granted. Except during severe storms, we rarely, if ever, think that the lights might not turn on in the morning.But in some parts of the country, consumers face the threat of rolling blackouts, and sudden surges in the price of electricity. Nearly two years ago, nearly 300 people died when the Texas power grid partially failed during a winter cold snap. California came close to a grid collapse last summer. And New England might be in big trouble this coming winter. Energy analyst, author, and chemist, Meredith Angwin, is our guest in this episode of "How Do We Fix It?" Her latest book is “Shorting the Grid: The Hidden Fragility of our Electric Grid.” In recent years, our podcast co-host Jim Meigs has written extensively on energy, and says it's a bad idea to shut down nuclear power plants that supply large amounts of reliable energy and aren't dependent on the weather. But the threatened electricity grid crisis is not just about how we make power—it's how we deliver power to users. For big chunks of the country that system has changed radically in recent decades. Reforms that were meant to make our energy system more competitive backfired. The fragile gird matters more than at any time in memory for three reasons: - The need to decarbonize energy production to limit the future impacts of climate change. - Modern technology requires a big increase in electricity output.- The geopolitical clash over energy has grown more intense and violent since Putin's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.We also discuss why it's not enough to add more solar panels, wind turbines and hydro-electric power to the system. We need new and improved transmission lines to move all that power.Recommendation: Richard is watching "Extraordinary Attorney Woo", a South Korean TV series about a brilliant rookie attorney who has autism spectrum disorder. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of the ENB Podcast, I have the privilege of sitting down with Meredith Angwin, the author of the book "Shorting The Grid.". The book is a must-read for anyone that wants to understand the real issue of energy stability in the United States.The "Grid" is the backbone of the electrical distribution system. In the U.S., we have electricity and feel it is our right to have unlimited and continuous service. Just like armchair quarterbacks, we throw our opinions on how it should be run. Like putting more wind, solar, or shutting down coal plants even before a replacement can be installed.Most of the time, we walk into a room, turn on the lights, and never worry about regular service. Without thorough planning, allocating proper fiscal resources for upgrades, or forcing renewables into areas that are not even possible by the laws of physics, you get rolling blackouts.Meredith brings the "Grid" hidden shadow world to the light. We talk about the Balancing Authorities (BA) and how stressful balancing the flow of electricity is.Thank you, Meredith, for taking the time to visit with us on your book. I had an absolute blast - Stu. Buy the book "ShortingThe Grid" today. It will make having fossil and renewable discussions even more insightful.We would also like to thank our ENB Podcast sponsor. Enverus. You can find out more at their website: Enverus.comEnverus-A shout out to our fellow travelers with Enverus. Fellow Podcast Travlers:Mark LaCour, Editor in Chief, OGGN Mark LaCour, Editor in Chief, OGGNPaige Wilson, Host of Oil and Gas Industry Leaders and Co-Host of Oil and Gas This Week Podcast. OGGN NetworkDavid Blackmon, Author, Industry leader, Podcast Host, DB Energy QuestionsDB Energy Questions Podcast
When we think about energy, we often forget one critical element—the grid. Most of us depend every day on our national grid to supply the energy we need for our life and work. And our need for electricity continues to grow and is likely to increase further over the coming years with, among other things, the move to electric vehicles. So how do we build a grid that fits a future in which our need for electricity is growing, and our need for low-carbon sources is as well? Is it possible? What are the challenges? Energy Analyst Meredith Angwin, author of Shorting the Grid: The Hidden Fragility of Our Electric Grid is an expert in the essential skillset that we often take for granted as we consider the future of energy—engineering. With the rush for low-carbon alternatives to coal and oil, the engineering challenges of distributing new sources of energy through the grid are considerable. So what solutions are on the horizon, if any? Is there a path to reliable decarbonization? What should be the role of renewables, natural gas, hydro, and nuclear? In this episode of Thinking Ahead, Meredith Angwin brings her deep knowledge of how we source energy and how we distribute it though our national grid to help us discern the realistic options for our future from the many optimistic dreams and pessimistic fears that occupy the cultural conversation. Alarmed by the growing fragility of our national grid, she calls for a future with “less slogans, more engineering.”
On this episode of the Energy Security Cubed Podcast, Kelly Ogle and Joe Calnan discuss current events in energy security, including the Chilean constitutional referendum, the planned Russian oil price cap, and Liz Truss' plan to support households on energy in the UK. For the interview section of the podcast, Kelly Ogle talks with Reiner Kuhr about electricity market design, and its implications for attempts to decarbonize the grid. Guest Bio: - Reiner Kuhr is Energy Technology Economist at Center for Academic Collaboration Initiatives. Find CACI here: https://centeraci.com/ Host Bio: - Kelly Ogle is the CEO of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute What is Reiner reading? Shorting the Grid, by Meredith Angwin: https://www.amazon.com/Shorting-Grid-Hidden-Fragility-Electric/dp/1735358002 Interview recording Date: August 17, 2022. Energy Security Cubed is part of the CGAI Podcast Network. Follow the Canadian Global Affairs Institute on Facebook, Twitter (@CAGlobalAffairs), or on LinkedIn. Head over to our website at www.cgai.ca for more commentary. Produced by Joe Calnan. Music credits to Drew Phillips.
On this episode of the Energy Security Cubed Podcast, Kelly Ogle interviews Kathryn Porter about dramatic shortfalls in electricity supply occurring around the world. Guest Bio: - Kathryn Porter is the founder of Watt-Logic. You can find Watt-Logic here: https://watt-logic.com/ Host Bio: - Kelly Ogle is the CEO of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute What is Kathryn reading? - Shorting the Grid: The Hidden Fragility of Our Electric Grid, by Meredith Angwin https://www.amazon.ca/Shorting-Grid-Hidden-Fragility-Electric/dp/0989119084 Interview recording Date: July 11, 2022. Energy Security Cubed is part of the CGAI Podcast Network. Follow the Canadian Global Affairs Institute on Facebook, Twitter (@CAGlobalAffairs), or on LinkedIn. Head over to our website at www.cgai.ca for more commentary. Produced by Joe Calnan. Music credits to Drew Phillips.
“People die when you can't get the grid operating.” Meredith Angwin, Author, Shorting the Grid Shorting the Grid, The Hidden Fragility of Our Electric Grid is an exposé of the insider-ruled practices of the “deregulated” areas of the United States electric grid. The grid in these areas is managed by a regional transmission organization (RTO). Within these organizations, no group is responsible or accountable for grid reliability. The RTO areas have higher retail electricity prices, no way for ordinary citizens to influence decisions, and a more fragile grid. Using the rules and history of the New England grid as an example, the book shows how RTO areas are moving steadily to a future of “rolling blackouts” where the grid operator deliberately cuts power to one section of the grid after another. To by the book, visit www.meredithangwin.com Book Reviews “An eye-opening exposé of our grid's vulnerabilities. The “deregulated” grid is highly political, secretive, overly complex, and unable to meet public needs like reliability, affordability, and low pollution. If you take for granted that the lights go on when you flip a switch, this book may blow your mind. ” — Joshua S. Goldstein, author of A Bright Future: How Some Countries Have Solved Climate Change and the Rest Can Follow “Reading Angwin's book is like chatting with an expert who helps you understand the underlying engineering, finances, and policies creating the risks. Her narrative moves back and forth between insightful overviews and specific examples. The book covers many grid attributes, suggesting realistic conclusions without ideological advocacy.” — Dr. Robert Hargraves, Author of Thorium, Energy Cheaper than Coal and co-founder of ThorCon Power About Meredith Angwin As a working chemist, Meredith Angwin headed projects that lowered pollution and increased reliability on the electric grid. Her work included pollution control for nitrogen oxides in gas-fired combustion turbines and corrosion control in geothermal and nuclear systems. She was one of the first women to be a project manager at the Electric Power Research Institute where she led projects in renewable and nuclear energy. In the past ten years, she began to study and take part in grid oversight and governance. For four years, she served on the Coordinating Committee for the Consumer Liaison Group associated with ISO-NE, her local grid operator. She teaches courses and presents workshops on the electric grid. She is also an advocate for nuclear energy. Her previous major book was Campaigning for Clean Air: Strategies for Pro-Nuclear Advocacy. Meredith has been a featured speaker at several nuclear events, including being keynote for the worldwide Nuclear Science Week in 2018. Additional Information During the interview, the following platforms were mentioned that will help better inform the public. Sign up for free information to increase your awareness about energy, power, and the grid. Grid Brief - www.gridbrief.com Utility Dive - www.utilitydive.com DeCouple Media - www.decouplemedia.org About The Political Economy Project The Political Economy Project is creating a blueprint that will unify our fellow humans to work together and create a new renaissance and a harmony of interests of the human spirit. The Political Economy Project is an EMLab brand produced by Evan Matthew Papp and we are a proud member of the Labor Radio Podcast Network. Support media, authors, artists, historians, and journalists, who are fighting to improve the prosperity of the working class. Follow our work on Substack at: https://politicaleconomyproject.substack.com/. #powergrid #power #electricalengineering #engineering #energy #electricity #powerlines #renewableenergy #electrical #substation #nuclear #solarenergy #powerdistribution #smartgrid #powerplant #cleanenergy #powergridcorporationofindia #india #powersystems #gogreen #gosolar #simplygosolar #ee #electricgrid #electric #infrastructure #microgrid #transmissionlines #gate #sunset #greenenergy
Feedback: decentmakeover13@gmail.com Episode Links - Meredith's Twitter - https://twitter.com/MeredithAngwin Website - https://meredithangwin.com/ Socials: instagram - @decentmakeover twitter - @decentmakeover Podcast Info: Apple Podcasts - https://apple.co/3NQhg6S Amazon Music - https://amzn.to/3P66j2B Google Podcasts - https://bit.ly/3am7rQc Gaana - https://bit.ly/3ANS4v1
Today we had the pleasure of hosting Meredith Angwin, Energy Analyst and Author of " Campaigning for Clean Air: Strategies for Pro-Nuclear Advocacy" and most recently " Shorting the Grid: The Hidden Fragility of Our Electric Grid." Meredith is a passionate advocate for abundant, affordable, clean energy and has also been an early advocate for nuclear energy. In her extensive career, she has headed research projects on pollution control for fossil fuels, corrosion control for nuclear plants, and was one of the first female project managers at the Electric Power Research Institute. More recently, she has shifted focus to grid governance, reliability and oversight. In her latest book and with us live today, Meredith explains the grid and associated challenges in a straightforward and understandable way. We focused today on " Shorting the Grid" and the story Meredith tells us all by closely examining power in New England. Our key topics included an overview of the structural history of the power industry, the advent of the Regional Transmission Organizations ("RTOs"), background on New England's historical reliability measures (running oil during weather driven demand increases), new pay for performance initiatives, and additional structural changes and challenges in the market (like MPOR, the minimum offer price rule). We also touch on hydro power, the implications of the current natural gas price spike, the warning signs of more potential power shortages, overdependence on renewables with limited backup fuel, the lack of transparency and accountability, the hazards of relying on natural gas but not building enough pipelines, and, of course, what Meredith thinks the power market could look like in ten years. It was an extremely educational and interesting session and we are thankful to Meredith for joining us. We wholeheartedly recommend her book. It takes some really complicated issues and makes them easy to follow. Mike Bradley started the show with an update on weekly equity and commodity performance and key events, noting that European natural gas is at the lowest price since the Ukranian war started and also focused on recent executive action around US solar tariffs and the mixed messages the government is sending to Industry. Colin Fenton provided an update on US LNG export data and crude oil, showing markets are reacting to the EU's ban on Russian deliveries and also noting inflationary effects on US households with new credit cards skyrocketing. Brett Rampal, Veriten's nuclear expert, also joined and peppered in his thoughts and observations in the session.
1. Meredith Angwin's background in chemistry and geology 2. Meredith's early work in energy focused on geothermal energy 3. The importance of a well-balanced energy mix in order to increase grid resiliency 4. Meredith's outlook on the future of the clean energy transition
In this episode I am lucky to be able to talk to an expert in the lifeblood of modern civilization, our electrical grid. The grid is the pulse that sustains civilization. It provides us with the energy to run our labour-saving appliances, it provides us with lights, it empowers our computers, it heats our homes, it refrigerates our food. Without it we would be tossed back to 19th century living conditions. It powers all of modern technology and allows us to communicate around the globe. The grid is also a curse. It is an industrial behemoth that emits dangerous pollution into the atmosphere. The burning of fossil fuels kills millions of people around the world every year from particulate pollution, and is one of the leading sources of greenhouse gas accumulation that is forcing the climate into a state it hasn't been in since homo sapiens evolved half a million years ago. My guest will tell us about the hidden fragility of our electrical grid. As a working chemist, Meredith Angwin headed projects that lowered pollution and increased reliability on the electric grid. Her work included pollution control for nitrogen oxides in gas-fired combustion turbines, and corrosion control in geothermal and nuclear systems. She was one of the first women to be a project manager at the Electric Power Research Institute. In semi-retirement, she became an advocate for nuclear power (one of the most environmentally sound forms of energy) and began to study and take part in grid oversight and governance. For four years, she served on the Coordinating Committee for the Consumer Liaison Group associated with ISO-NE, her local grid operator. She teaches courses and presents workshops on the electric grid. Her previous major book was Campaigning for Clean Air: Strategies for Pro-Nuclear Advocacy. Meredith's newest book, Shorting the Grid, The Hidden Fragility of Our Electric Grid should be required reading for any politician in office today who needs to decide how to transition away from fossil fuels and fulfil our society's obligation to future generations. She and her husband George live in Vermont. They have two children and four grandchildren who live in the New York City area. Check out my podbean page https://therationalview.podbean.com or my website https://www.therationalview.ca Twitter @AlScottRational Instagram @The_Rational_View #therationalview #podcast #electricity #nuclear #renewables #blackouts #
This week we have Meredith Angwin on the podcast. She was a chemist that worked on projects that lowered pollution and increased reliability on the weakening electric grid. She is also a massive advocate for nuclear energy and more recently she's the author of Shorting the Grid: the Hidden Fragility of our Electric Grid. Andrew and Juan sit down with Meredith to discuss the role nuclear has in the modern energy transition discussion and its relation with solar, wind, hydro, and fossil-based energy including some of the myths that surround each fuel type. Read more about Meredith and her work on her website: meredithangwin.com NEW EPISODES: We release main series episodes every two weeks on Mondays. You can subscribe via Podbean or use this feed URL (https://tvpschroders.podbean.com/feed.xml) in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and other podcast players. GET IN TOUCH: send us a tweet: @TheValueTeam Important information. This podcast is for investment professionals only. This information is not an offer, solicitation or recommendation to buy or sell any financial instrument or to adopt any investment strategy. Any data has been sourced by us and is provided without any warranties of any kind. It should be independently verified before further publication or use. Third party data is owned or licenced by the data provider and may not be reproduced, extracted or used for any other purpose without the data provider's consent. Neither we, nor the data provider, will have any liability in connection with the third party data. Reliance should not be placed on any views or information in the material when taking individual investment and/or strategic decisions. Any references to securities, sectors, regions and/or countries are for illustrative purposes only. The views and opinions contained herein are those of individual to whom they are attributed, and may not necessarily represent views expressed or reflected in other communications, strategies or funds. The value of investments and the income from them may go down as well as up and investors may not get back the amounts originally invested. Exchange rate changes may cause the value of any overseas investments to rise or fall. Past Performance is not a guide to future performance and may not be repeated. The forecasts included should not be relied upon, are not guaranteed and are provided only as at the date of issue. Our forecasts are based on our own assumptions which may change
This week Chris is joined by Meredith Angwin, author of the book “shorting the grid”. The two talk about the stability of the US grid, how the northeast was once on the brink of a rolling black-out and why gas power plants play such a crucial role in this. Listen in to find out how tax credits influence the occurrence of negative electricity prices and how grid costs are allocated to the consumers. Link to the book:https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Meredith-Angwin/dp/1735358002/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=shorting+the+grid&qid=1651396265&sprefix=shorting+th%2Caps%2C112&sr=8-1
Krystal and Saagar discuss BlackRock's climate profiteering, MSNBC shakeup, corporate profits, nuclear energy, Tucker's influence, NYT audience, Kamala's incoherent answers, Elon's Twitter play, and corporate mergers with Matt Stoller! To become a Breaking Points Premium Member and watch/listen to the show uncut and 1 hour early visit: https://breakingpoints.supercast.com/ To listen to Breaking Points as a podcast, check them out on Apple and Spotify Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breaking-points-with-krystal-and-saagar/id1570045623 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Kbsy61zJSzPxNZZ3PKbXl Merch: https://breaking-points.myshopify.com/ The Lever: https://www.levernews.com/ Matt Stoller Links: https://secure.everyaction.com/FNcO8Kqp_kGsVUT1sYEC1g2 https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2022/01/federal-trade-commission-justice-department-seek-strengthen-enforcement-against-illegal-mergers https://mattstoller.substack.com/ Meredith Angwin: https://meredithangwin.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Krystal and Saagar discuss BlackRock's climate profiteering, MSNBC shakeup, corporate profits, nuclear energy, Tucker's influence, NYT audience, Kamala's incoherent answers, Elon's Twitter play, and corporate mergers with Matt Stoller!To become a Breaking Points Premium Member and watch/listen to the show uncut and 1 hour early visit: https://breakingpoints.supercast.com/To listen to Breaking Points as a podcast, check them out on Apple and SpotifyApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breaking-points-with-krystal-and-saagar/id1570045623 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Kbsy61zJSzPxNZZ3PKbXl Merch: https://breaking-points.myshopify.com/The Lever: https://www.levernews.com/Matt Stoller Links: https://secure.everyaction.com/FNcO8Kqp_kGsVUT1sYEC1g2https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2022/01/federal-trade-commission-justice-department-seek-strengthen-enforcement-against-illegal-mergershttps://mattstoller.substack.com/Meredith Angwin: https://meredithangwin.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The soaring price of electricity, particularly in Europe, is once again causing a search for alternative sources of power. Obviously there's a lot of interest in wind and solar -- the classic renewables. But due to their intermittency, it's difficult to use them to sustain the power grid without some kind of backup. Enter nuclear power? On this episode of Odd Lots, Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Alloway speak with Meredith Angwin, the author of Shorting The Grid: The Hidden Fragility Of Our Electric Grid, and a long time energy researcher. She makes the argument that nuclear is safe, clean, sustainable, and the answer to concerns about grid reliability. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This episode's guest is Meredith Angwin the author of the book Shorting the Grid. I'm also excited to announce that I am giving away 5 signed copies of her book to people that like and share this episode (on Twitter or LinkedIn) as well as are subscribed to the Talk Energy Podcast YouTube channel. I will be putting the names in a hat and randomly selecting the winners a week from today (3/1/22). This episode we discuss the basics of the US electrical grid. We talk about how government policies are distorting grid investment decisions and causing rampant inefficiencies. Lastly, we discuss how intermittent energy providers like wind and solar are increasingly introducing fragility to our infrastructure and putting us at risk for catastrophic failure to one of the most vital systems to humanity, the grid. Meredith's Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeredithAngwin Shorting the Grid: https://meredithangwin.com/books/ Talk.Energy Podcast: https://talk.energy/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/max_gagliardi LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/talkenergy YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TalkEnergyPodcast
For the one-year anniversary of the Texas Blackouts, we welcome back – for a record fourth appearance -- Meredith Angwin, the author of Shorting the Grid: The Hidden Fragility of Our Electric Grid. In this episode, Meredith explains why entities like ERCOT and other regional transmission organizations are “fatally flawed,” why Texas regulators should be incentivizing power plants to have onsite fuel, why offshore wind is “a tremendous amount of money,” the problems with trying to electrify everything, and why we should be thinking about the electric grid as an “orchestra.”
This week, Alan, Quinta and Scott celebrated the impending New Year by answering some questions and sharing some object lessons submitted by Rational Security listeners. They discussed:If you could only have one paid news subscription, which would it be?How do you think the U.S. will respond if Israeli policies towards Palestinians continue to deteriorate?Why does former President Trump's direction to his former associates not to cooperate with the January 6 committee not constitute witness tampering?Why are Tweets not subject to prepublication review?What are the United States' greatest vulnerabilities?What are the odds of a major nuclear incident in the next 70 years?What is the January 6 committee investigating other than the actions of former President Trump and his associates?Do you think the courts or Congress will rein in the executive branch's control over classified information?How will Finland's purchase of U.S. F-35s change the regional security calculus?What do you do to sound good on podcasts?And most importantly: which holiday movie is most relevant to the current state of international relations?As for object lessons, listeners: recommended the "Fat Leonard" and "Orientalist Express" podcasts; endorsed the book "Shorting the Grid" by Meredith Angwin; noted the existence of the iPhone game "Free Assange" by none other than RT (i.e., Russia Today); corrected Scott's mistake regarding what's happening with the long lost musical sequence from "The Muppet Christmas Carol"; recommended adding bourbon to Quinta's easy pie dough recipe; seconded Alan's earlier endorsement of the spaetzle maker; and shouted out Purdue University for the civic education program they recently implemented for all incoming students. Rational Security 2.0 will be back in 2022, but until then be sure to visit our show page at www.lawfareblog.com and to follow us on Twitter at @RatlSecurity. And Rational Security listeners can now get a committed ad-free feed by becoming a Lawfare material supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Robert Bryce talking about Power Hungry Robert Bryce is an admired journalist, book author, filmmaker, public speaker, Congressional witness and podcaster who has focused on energy, power and its implications for mankind's prosperity. In his free time, he loves to watch birds. He recognizes that electricity is the lifeblood of modernity. He is saddened by knowing that there are billions of humans on Earth who have such limited access to electricity that their consumption each year is less than an average American refrigerator. Starting with Pipe Dreams: Greed, Ego and the Death of Enron in early 2004, Robert has published six books on energy with the latest being A Question of Power: Electricity and the Wealth of Nations. He wrote that last book while he was also recording and producing Juice: How Electricity Explains the World. He would like everyone to watch his movie and has made it freely available through several outlets. He also asks that people buy his books – he excuses everyone from reading the books as long as they buy them. In June of 2020, Robert started the Power Hungry podcast and continues to release new episodes with fascinating guests at a furious pace. Robert and I talk about his work, his passions, and the difficulty of writing a book and creating a movie at the same time. We talked about his recent testimony at Congressional hearings about the growing fragility of our energy system due to what our mutual friend, Meredith Angwin, has labeled the fatal trifecta of energy policy decisions – oo much reliance on imports, too much reliance on gas and too much reliance on renewables. I think you will enjoy this discussion. Please leave a comment and engage in discussion about the important points that Robert made. PS - there is a point in the show when Robert turns the tables and begins to interview me about recent progress at Nucleation Capital. We are bullish about the growing recognition that nuclear energy is a vital tool and that advanced nuclear energy development is an enormous opportunity for solving many sticky problems.
Author of Shorting the Grid and Campaigning for Clean Air, Meredith Angwin joins me to talk about electricity wholesale markets, grid resiliency, the beauty of energy, and more! Follow Meredith. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nuclearbarians.substack.com
We talk to Meredith Angwin, author of Shorting the Grid, The Hidden Fragility of Our Electric Grid and energy consultant. We chat about ISOs & RTOs, beating the peak, passing the energy buck, fragilizing the grid, the myth of of 100% renewables, baseload energy, energy fiefdoms and more! As a working chemist, Meredith Angwin headed projects that lowered pollution and increased reliability on the electric grid. Her work included pollution control for nitrogen oxides in gas-fired combustion turbines, and corrosion control in geothermal and nuclear systems. She was one of the first women to be a project manager at the Electric Power Research Institute. She led projects in renewable and nuclear energy. Meredith's website: https://meredithangwin.com/ Email: meredithangwin@gmail.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeredithAngwin
In this episode, I am joined by Angelica Oung, an energy reporter from Taiwan, to discuss Taiwan's plan to power the island with up to 50% natural gas, 30% goal, 20% renewables, and 0% nuclear. This would mean shutting down its three operable nuclear plants, and flushing the money spent on a fourth fully constructed but never used reactor down the drain. The plan appears to be a whole-hearted embrace of what Meredith Angwin calls the "fatal trifecta" of energy: over-reliance on renewables, just-in-time natural gas, and energy imports. Taiwan produces no fossil fuels of its own, so must import 100% of its fossil fuel needs. And without any real goals of decarbonization, imported LNG is, as Oung says, "a bridge fuel to nowhere." Oung also reflects on her experience in the offshore wind industry; her shift from opposing to supporting nuclear; her realization that intermittency poses a special problem for Taiwan's isolated electric grid; the politicization of nuclear power from a journalistic perspective; and the past energy decision of Taiwanese governments.
Germany has once again embarked on a war on two fronts this time attempting to phase out its two main sources of reliable baseload power, Nuclear and Coal. Nevermind the fact that during a climate emergency nuclear, despite being almost zero carbon, is being phased out at breakneck speed while coal will languish on the grid for another 15 years. Germany is not alone. In many countries in the EU baseload electricity generation is on the chopping block. European energy systems are largely following the illogic of what Meredith Angwin calls the "fatal trifecta:" Over reliance on weather dependent renewables, just in time natural gas and imports. The weather is getting no more reliable, EU gas prices are skyrocketting and electricty imports will not be dependable given the amount of generation coming off line over the next decade. This phenomenon will lead to blackouts within the next couple of years according to my guest Kalev Kallemets. Kalev is the CEO of Fermi Energia, a company of nuclear scientists, energy experts and entrepreneurs looking to bring SMRs to Estonia and other countries in the EU as a vital tool for meeting its climate, economic development and energy independence goals. Kalev argues that ever increasing EU carbon pricing and volatile natural gas prices make an excellent business case for nuclear energy. Kalev believes that after the difficulties encountered with building 21st century large scale nuclear on budget and on time SMRs using tried and tested light water technology offer the most compelling options going forward. He argues that as has happened with Tesla in the electric vehicle market the private sector can pick a winner in order to deliver the economies of multiples required to make SMRs economic.
Meredith Angwin, author of “Shorting The Grid: The Hidden Fragility of Our Electric Grid”, discusses the complexities of electric power. Podcast produced by Mark Moffett. Seven (mkmA7) by Mark Moffett (c) copyright 2016.
For the one-year anniversary of the Power Hungry Podcast, we welcome back – for her third appearance -- Meredith Angwin, the author of Shorting the Grid: The Hidden Fragility of Our Electric Grid. Of the 57 episodes we published over the past year, the February 17th episode with Angwin was our most popular one. Thus, we (producer Tyson Culver and I) invited her back. We discussed the “new kinds of blackouts” that are hitting the grid, how lavish subsidies for renewables are making it more fragile, the “fatal trifecta,” and how many of the decarbonization efforts being promoted by climate activists are a new “way of enforcing energy poverty.”
In this episode, Commissioner Tim Echols and KC Boyce are joined by John Noel and James Marlowe to talk solar energy. In the 2nd half, University of Chicago grad Meredith Angwin talks about the fragility of the grid and why Georgia is in a very good place.
Join Marty as he sits down with Meredith Angwin, author of Shorting the Grid: The Hidden Fragility of Our Electric Grid, to discuss: - The fragility of grids - Misconceptions around electric grids - Energy mix - What's happening in Texas and California? - Why nuclear is important - How data is manipulated to push special interests - How we can fix our grids Follow Meredith on Twitter Pick up Shorting the Grid
Join Marty as he sits down with Meredith Angwin, author of Shorting the Grid: The Hidden Fragility of Our Electric Grid, to discuss: - The fragility of grids - Misconceptions around electric grids - Energy mix - What's happening in Texas and California? - Why nuclear is important - How data is manipulated to push special interests - How we can fix our grids Follow Meredith on Twitter Pick up Shorting the Grid
Meredith Angwin is a chemist and author, most recently, of Shorting the Grid: The Hidden Fragility of Our Electric Grid. In her second appearance on the podcast, Angwin explains why the blackouts in Texas and elsewhere are happening, the “fatal trifecta” (over-reliance on renewables, natural gas, and imported electricity), why economic incentives are needed to assure reliability, and why the grid needs power plants that have on-site fuel storage.
Meredith Angwin is an author, chemist, and former project manager at the Electric Power Research Institute. In this episode, Robert talks with Angwin about her new book, Shorting the Grid: The Hidden Fragility of Our Electric Grid, why the grid is becoming less reliable at the same time that electric vehicles and bans on natural gas are likely to increase electricity demand, how our increasing reliance on renewables and natural gas will exacerbate the reliability challenge, and why we need to pay more attention to how the electric grid is managed.
Meredith Angwin has become an authority on the arcane topic of governing electric grids in the United States. She's concerned and thinks others will may share her concern when they recognize there is a key missing element in grid governance. There is no organization or individual that is responsible for making sure that electricity is generated, transmitted and delivered to customers. Various organizations, often with competing or conflicting interests, have shared responsibility for different parts of the system that includes generators, transformers, switchyards, transmission lines, distribution lines and billing systems, but "the market" has been assigned the responsibility of supplying wholesale electricity. And that market is not the free market, but instead is a hybrid that is governed by an ever changing stack of layered rules where many of the important decisions are made by participant groups that do not include customers or even enabled representatives of customers. A growing portion of the grid's electricity is dependent on free, but uncontrolled natural flows. Another portion comes from generators whose fuel is delivered by capacity-limited pipes in a "just in time fashion." When the natural flows are interrupted or something interferes in the pipelines's capability to deliver fuel, generators stop producing power. There are processes that can be called into action, but costs can skyrocket in times of scarcity. Some market players thrive in times of crisis and have few incentives to ensure those crises never arise. Meredith has produced an accessible, clearly written book that reveals important aspects of a complex topic. It deserves to be on the reading list for people who are interested in electricity. It belongs in the library of every congressional and senatorial office. At least one person in each staff should be assigned the task of reading it and preparing a report for their member. Governors and state level legislators might want incorporate lessons revealed in the book and reconsider their decisions to rely more heavily on markets than on well-regulated monopolies with an obligation to serve. Meredith is a delightful guest who brings the wisdom of a long and productive professional career to her writing and speaking engagements. I'm pretty sure you are going to like this show. As always, I invite you to participate in the discussion thread.
The Grid has been described as one of the preeminent engineering accomplishments of the 20th century and the world's largest machine. However, when people debate the best strategies to manage a successful energy transition they often limit their analysis to electricity generation. What is neglected is the elephant in the room: the grid. There is an obvious reason. To non-specialists it is complicated. My guest Meredith Angwin is going to help us get a grip on the grid so that we can make informed decisions about the best way to move forward to clean, reliable electricity that can get us to deep decarbonisation while meeting the demands of the world's poor to fight their way out of energy poverty. Meredith is a physical chemist and one of the first women to be a project manager at the Electric Power Research Institute. Over her career she has headed projects to help power plants become more reliable and less polluting. In the past decade, she has studied the grid as a system, and taken part in grid oversight and governance.