Best Kleinman Center for Energy Policy Podcasts (2025)

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U.S.–China Competition in the Age of Trump’s Energy Law 40:18

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3h ago40:18

40:18

Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act reorients U.S. energy policy, redefining its rivalry with China and the global transition. --- Once, climate and clean energy were common ground between the United States and China, most notably in the lead-up to the 2015 Paris Agreement. In the years since, cooperation has given way to competition. China has emer…

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From the Energy Policy Now Archive: How Virtual Power Plants Could Strengthen the Electrical Grid 26:24

1M ago26:24

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For the month of August, we’re highlighting episodes from the 2024-2025 season of Energy Policy Now. We’ll be back with new content, and a new season, on September the 9th. Virtual power plants can help electric grid operators address supply shortages and reliability concerns, but policy support is needed. --- (This episode was recorded on October …

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From the Energy Policy Now Archive: Bridging the Partisan Climate Divide 46:27

1M ago46:27

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For the month of August, we’re highlighting episodes from the 2024-2025 season of Energy Policy Now. We’ll be back with new content, and a new season, on September the 9th. Former Republican U.S. congressman Bob Inglis offers a conservative perspective on climate solutions in discussion with Penn climatologist Michael Mann. --- (This episode was re…

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Why This Energy Transition is Different 45:00

2M ago45:00

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Though today’s energy transition is often framed as new, it follows patterns we’ve seen before. Cutler Cleveland of Boston University’s Institute for Global Sustainability explores the historical context of today’s shift. --- Today’s shift to carbon-free power is commonly called “the energy transition,” yet the label can suggest that this is the fi…

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Will Interconnection Reform Unlock the Grid? 50:12

3M ago50:12

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Thousands of clean energy projects are waiting to connect to the grid. How many will make it through, and will it be soon enough to keep the grid reliable? --- Electricity demand in the U.S. is rising fast, fueled by the rapid growth of AI data centers and other power-hungry technologies. At the same time, many fossil fuel power plants are retiring…

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Will "Big Beautiful Bill” Derail Clean Energy Growth? 42:34

3M ago42:34

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BloombergNEF’s Derrick Flakoll discusses the outlook for U.S. clean energy development under the House version of Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.” --- On May 22, the House of Representatives passed its version of what President Trump has dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill,” a sweeping budget package addressing taxation, federal spending, and the debt ceil…

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Renewable Energy’s Land Use Reckoning 44:15

4M ago44:15

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As renewable power grows, land use decisions will influence its environmental impact. --- Decarbonizing the electric grid will require a dramatic expansion of renewable energy by mid-century, and significantly more land dedicated to clean power. But where and how that buildout occurs will shape whether the environmental benefits of renewables are f…

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Consumers on the Sidelines? The Fight Over the Grid’s Future 52:02

4M ago52:02

52:02

As electrical grid operators move to fast-track gas projects, consumer and environmental advocates raise red flags. --- The U.S. electricity grid is undergoing a dramatic transformation. As coal plants retire, wind, solar, and battery storage now dominate the pipeline of new power projects. Yet in recent months, some policymakers and grid operators…

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Beyond Yield: Climate, Nutrition and the Future of Farming 40:56

5M ago40:56

40:56

Dr. Lindiwe Majele Sibanda, chair of global food security research network CGIAR, on adapting agriculture for climate and food security. --- Global agriculture changed dramatically during the 20th century as small, traditional farms were replaced by large-scale, monoculture farming in many parts of the world. This shift led to a dramatic increase i…

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Planning for Net Zero in an Imperfect World 44:00

5M ago44:00

44:00

Ambitious climate policies may overlook practical constraints. Kleinman Center Visiting Scholar Niall Mac Dowell explores what deliverable paths to net zero might require. --- The Earth’s average temperature surpassed the 1.5°C threshold for the first time in 2024—a milestone driven in part by El Niño, but also a stark warning about our broader cli…

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Can California’s Emissions Market Survive Past 2030? 39:31

6M ago39:31

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Danny Cullenward, vice chair of California’s Independent Emissions Market Advisory Committee, explores the legal and policy challenges that threaten the future of the state’s carbon cap-and-trade market. --- For more than a decade, California’s cap-and-trade program has been a key component of the state’s broader efforts to reduce greenhouse gas em…

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Bridging the Partisan Climate Divide 47:00

6M ago47:00

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Former Republican U.S. congressman Bob Inglis offers a conservative perspective on climate solutions in discussion with Penn climatologist Michael Mann. --- Politically conservative and concerned about climate change? In this special episode of the Energy Policy Now podcast, Penn climatologist Michael Mann talks with Bob Inglis, former Republican C…

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Carbon Tariffs & Global Trade: Inside the EU’s CBAM Plan 47:22

6M ago47:22

47:22

The European Union’s carbon border tariff arrives in January. An architect of the plan discusses its impact on trade, competition, and climate. --- On January 1, 2026, the European Union will launch its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)—the world’s first carbon tariff on imported goods. Designed to support the EU’s ambitious decarbonization…

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The Midwest's Big Bet on Clean Electricity Transmission 43:37

7M ago43:37

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Aubrey Johnson, head of transmission planning for Midwest electrical grid operator MISO, explains the $22 billion effort to expand and modernize the grid for clean energy and reliability. --- Last year, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, issued its landmark Order number 1920, with the goal of spurring the development of long distanc…

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The Future of Electricity Demand in the AI Era 38:44

7M ago38:44

38:44

Grid Strategies’ Rob Gramlich discusses the dramatic increase in electricity demand from data center and manufacturing growth, and the challenges it presents for the grid. --- Electricity demand growth has returned with a vengeance in the United States due to an increase in manufacturing and, most dramatically, the growing use of AI. Across the cou…

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North America’s Looming Electricity Supply Shortages 56:45

8M ago56:45

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North America’s electricity grid faces a shortfall of power. A grid policy expert explores one region’s efforts to ensure reliability and the controversies its proposals have raised. --- In December, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, or NERC, released its annual assessment of grid reliability across North America. The results wer…

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Rethinking Air Conditioning in A Hotter World 46:30

8M ago46:30

46:30

Two experts discuss the challenge of keeping billions of people cool while minimizing electrical grid and climate impacts. --- Global air conditioner use could triple by the middle of this century, driving a dramatic increase in electricity demand. This growth will place additional strain on already overburdened electrical grids and lead to signifi…

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Could Clean Energy Thrive Despite Trump Policy Changes? 40:51

9M ago40:51

40:51

President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to cut support for clean power. Two guests from Bloomberg NEF weigh the likely impacts on clean energy development. --- President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to reduce federal support for clean power as soon as he takes office in January. Yet political realities may limit the extent to which incentives, such …

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Why Electrical Grid Governance Needs Reforming 1:04:09

10M ago1:04:09

1:04:09

Byzantine governance structures and vested interests are slowing the greening of the U.S. electrical grid. Two grid policy experts discuss paths forward. --- The U.S. electrical grid faces declining reliability, often attributed to a rapidly evolving energy mix, surging demand, and more frequent severe weather. Yet a deeper issue lies in the fragme…

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Empowering Communities for Climate and Energy Justice 32:05

10M ago32:05

32:05

Carnot Prize recipient Jacqueline Patterson explores how the clean energy transition can drive meaningful progress toward energy and climate justice. --- In 2009 Jacqueline Patterson became the founding director of the NAACP’s Environmental and Climate Justice Program. It was a role that Patterson, who’s this year’s recipient of the Kleinman Center…

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Beyond Labor: The Expanding Scope of the Just Energy Transition 30:55

11M ago30:55

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Kleinman Center visiting scholar Kirsten Jenkins explores the concept of a just energy transition, and why it must be expanded beyond its labor roots to address broad energy system injustices. --- The term “just transition” has its roots in organized labor movements, and has traditionally referred to the idea that workers in the fossil fuel economy…

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

11M ago25:18

25:18

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

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

12M ago39:48

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

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

12M ago37:46

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

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

1y ago25:49

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

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

1y ago26:44

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

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

1y ago32:46

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

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Navigating the Geopolitical Risks of Solar Geoengineering 43:03

1y ago43:03

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

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The Crisis of Confidence in Voluntary Carbon Offsets 52:43

1y ago52:43

52:43

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

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

1y ago44:44

44:44

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

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

1+ y ago43:23

43:23

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

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

1+ y ago48:21

48:21

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

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

1+ y ago23:51

23:51

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

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California’s Solar Equity Challenge 36:06

1+ y ago36:06

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

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Can Competitive Electricity Markets Deliver Reliable Power? 38:42

1+ y ago38:42

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

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

1+ y ago31:56

31:56

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

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Will Hydrogen Energy be Clean Energy? 38:10

1+ y ago38:10

38:10

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

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Europe Confronts the Reality of Energy System Sabotage 41:14

1+ y ago41:14

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

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Accelerating the Energy Transition with Repurposed Energy 40:52

1+ y ago40:52

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

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Special Episode: Corporate Disclosure Law 9:07

1+ y ago9:07

9:07

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

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The CO2 Transportation Challenge 40:25

1+ y ago40:25

40:25

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

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

1+ y ago33:41

33:41

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

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

1+ y ago32:00

32:00

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

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Why the IRA’s Carbon Capture Tax Credit Could Increase Greenhouse Emissions 41:56

2y ago41:56

41:56

New research raises doubt around the climate benefits of the 45Q tax credit for carbon capture and storage for fossil fuel powerplants. --- The Inflation Reduction Act earmarks billions of dollars of incentives for carbon capture and storage from coal and gas-fired powerplants. Ideally, the incentive will provide a path for fossil generators to red…

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Aligning Clean Energy Policy with Grid Reliability 37:24

2y ago37:24

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Recent electric grid emergencies highlight the need for better communication, and coordination, between energy policymakers and grid operators. --- In early November the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, convened its annual technical conference on the reliability of the electric grid. In most years the conference attracts little attent…

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What’s a “Fair Share” Of Emissions Reductions Under the Paris Climate Process? 36:56

2y ago36:56

36:56

Brazilian economist and IPCC lead author Roberto Schaeffer examines what constitutes a “fair share” of emissions reductions under the Paris climate process, and how fairness is defined. -- This December, at COP 28 in Dubai, countries will consider the results of the first “global stocktake,” which is a global report card that compares real climate …

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The U.S.'s Critical Mineral Supply Challenge 36:42

2y ago36:42

36:42

A metals industry executive explores the race to develop alternative supplies of critical minerals essential to the energy transition. --- For over a century the global energy system has been dominated by fossil fuels, and governments and industry have gone to great lengths to secure reliable supplies of oil, natural gas, and coal. All along, scarc…

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How Uruguay Went (Almost Completely) Fossil Fuel Free 37:57

2y ago37:57

37:57

Ramón Méndez Galain, this year’s recipient of the Carnot Prize, reflects on leading Uruguay to a 98% renewable electricity mix, and what the rest of the world might take from his country’s experience. --- In 2008 Ramón Méndez Galain, a particle physicist with no experience in government, was appointed Director of Energy for Uruguay and proceeded to…

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Michael Mann on the Lessons of Climate Change Past 26:08

2y ago26:08

26:08

Climatologist Michael Mann discusses his new book on Earth’s climate past, with insights into our climate future. --- Renowned Penn climatologist Michael Mann’s latest book, “Our Fragile Moment,” explores the history of climate change and the lessons it can provide into the trajectory of climate change today. The book is Mann’s response to the phen…

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Why Oil Companies Support Renewable Energy 32:58

2y ago32:58

32:58

A Penn economist explores the relationship between regional energy policy and oil company support for renewable power. --- In recent years there has been a divergence in the trajectories of the world’s major oil companies. The shift has been most noticeable in the case of the European oil majors, including companies such as BP and Shell, which duri…

Kleinman Center For Energy Policy Podcasts