Economics

This oil shock won't be like the others

Kate Mackenzie and Tim Sahay break down why global inflation and Chinese manufacturing mean the old fossil fuel playbook no longer works.

Jun 5 • David Roberts

1:12:23

Are plug-in DERs going to spark a grid revolution?

James McGinniss on the rise of permissionless, plug-in energy storage and why it will eventually outcompete the utility-scale kind.

Jun 3 • David Roberts

1:12:10

The case for using prices rather than VPPs to coordinate distributed energy

Researcher Bruce Nordman explains how dynamic, real-time pricing can do the work of coordinating DERs.

May 8 • David Roberts

1:28:35

Life as a clean energy journalist in an age of madness

Robinson Meyer and I discuss why the traditional climate movement struggles to build infrastructure and how a global oil shock is scrambling US energy…

Apr 20 • David Roberts

1:31:56

Why climate funders don't fund housing policy, and why they oughtta

On the philanthropic obsession with electric vehicles and why Ben Holland and Caroline Spears think state-level housing policy is our next great climate…

Apr 8 • David Roberts

1:04:41

The high-stakes battle over energy affordability in New York

Pete Sikora and I puzzle over why New York's governor is fighting with her party again.

Mar 20 • David Roberts

1:02:07

The fate of fossil fuel systems in the "mid-transition"

I talk with Emily Grubert about the hidden dangers of letting the free market manage the decline of our legacy energy infrastructure.

Mar 4 • David Roberts

1:14:39

Are utilities making too much money?

Joe Daniel on why trimming utility profits is good governance.

Feb 11 • David Roberts

1:15:39

Making the electricity grid work like the internet

Jonas Birgersson joins me to explain how "packet-switching" for electrons can lead to energy abundance and grid resilience.

Jan 14 • David Roberts

1:29:10

What's the real story with Australian rooftop solar?

Saul Griffith joins me to debunk the myths surrounding Australia's massive influx of solar energy.

Dec 26, 2025 • David Roberts

1:27:31

Clean electrification is inevitable

Kingsmill Bond explains why the global march of "electrotech" has moved beyond the reach of US political interference.

Nov 21, 2025 • David Roberts

1:22:33

Rep. Mike Levin reflects on the Republican budget bill

On why Republicans just voted against their own districts.

Jun 20, 2025 • David Roberts

1:02:55