Energy Realities

In the rapidly transforming landscape of global energy and transportation, China’s grip on the electric vehicle (EV) sector has become a dominant force. With control over critical supply chains, particularly batteries, China is reshaping the industry through aggressive strategies that blend state support with market tactics. This dominance, however, comes at a cost—raising alarms about fair competition and the survival of auto industries in regions like Canada, the UK, and the EU. Meanwhile, scandals within China’s own market expose vulnerabilities, contrasting sharply with Tesla’s pivot toward a tech-driven future. As we examine these dynamics in early 2026, the implications for energy security and automotive innovation are profound.

The main topics discussed in this Podcast are:

1. The challenges facing the electric vehicle (EV) industry, particularly the struggles of Western automakers to compete with Chinese EV manufacturers. Speakers discuss the significant financial losses and write-downs reported by major automakers like Stellantis, Ford, and GM in their EV divisions.

2. The potential for China to dominate the global EV market due to factors like lower production costs, government subsidies, and vertical integration of the supply chain. Speakers express concerns about Western countries becoming overly dependent on China for EVs and related technologies.

3. The policy decisions and government interventions in various countries that are shaping the EV market, such as emissions regulations, EV mandates, and subsidies. Speakers critique the effectiveness and unintended consequences of these policies.

4. The broader geopolitical and economic implications of the shift towards EVs, including the potential impact on domestic manufacturing, energy security, and trade relationships. Speakers discuss how the EV transition is tied to larger issues like de-industrialization, dependence on foreign suppliers, and the competition between the US, China, and other powers.

5. The role and responsibility of corporate leaders and executives in the EV transition, with some speakers criticizing the lack of pushback and advocacy from automakers against government policies that undermine their competitiveness.

6. The potential political and economic disruptions that could arise from the EV transition, including the possibility of regime changes, trade disputes, and realignments of global alliances and power dynamics.

02:33 What is going on in the EV markets?

 03:30 Western Car companies vs China 

06:01 Write downs on EV losses 09:02 EU car companies losing money even with subsidies 

11:21 Clown show in US car companies 

14:39 Deindustrialization as a plan implemented through Net Zero policies 

20:21 Subsidies will lead to collapse 

21:28 Supply Chains 

27:13 Carbon taxes, grid failures, and how? 

41:31 Defence Manufacturing with Net Zero 

51:51 CBAM is another tipping point 

56:41 OPEC and the future of oil pricing

Check out for Stu Turley on The Energy News Beat Substack: https://theenergynewsbeat.substack.com/

For David Blackmon https://blackmon.substack.com/

For Tammy Nemeth https://thenemethreport.substack.com/

For Irina Slav https://irinaslav.substack.com/

Boy it was a lively group on the comment sections of the Energy Realities live Podcast.

The discussion of natural gas is only the beginning. We need to have an honest discussion about relooking at the grid. We need wind, solar, and storage to pay for reliability, and I even feel that they should pay for the additional wear and tear on natural gas and coal turbines that must cycle to enable wind and solar to generate, thereby costing consumers millions.

The podcast with Irina Slav, David Blackmon, Tammy Nemeth, and Stu Turley is always entertaining, and today we had lively comments from regular listeners and even some troglodytes.

The main topics discussed in this Podcast are:

1. The role of natural gas as a vital fuel, not just a “bridge fuel”, especially during extreme weather events in Europe and Texas. Speakers emphasize that natural gas was crucial for keeping people warm and the grid stable during recent cold snaps.

2. Criticism of the over-reliance on intermittent renewable energy sources like wind and solar, which failed to perform when needed most during the extreme weather. Speakers argue this has led to higher costs for consumers.

3. The challenges facing nuclear power development, with concerns that it is not being built fast enough to replace retiring nuclear plants and provide reliable baseload power.

4. The potential for using cleaner coal technology and the importance of maintaining coal power plants as a reliable baseload source, especially in regions lacking sufficient natural gas infrastructure.

5. Discussions around energy policy, subsidies, and the impacts on consumers, with speakers arguing that the push for renewable energy has led to higher utility bills.

6. Geopolitical issues related to Europe’s reliance on Russian natural gas and the need to diversify supply, including increased LNG imports from the US.

A shout-out to our own The Electric Grandma Merideth Angwin, as we mention her several times. We strongly recommend purchasing her book, and we need her to lead the effort to plan how the grid should be built.

Here are some of the most interesting and impactful quotes from the transcript:

1. “Gas is here to stay because people need it, especially in winter. They will be needing it in summer as well when it will be hot and we’ll need air conditioning. So yeah, that’s what I wanted to say. We have to forget this whole bridge-fuel story.” - Irina Slav

2. “If you just force the developers to ensure against real retirement costs at the end of life, which means digging up those foundations and retiring them, because we’re just, we’re condemning millions of acres of arable lands in the United States to build these damn windmills that will never be usable again. And that’s because there’s no requirement for proper retirement. If there You wouldn’t Nobody would invest in it.” - David Blackmon

3. “In Texas, most people don’t realize that both the Texas and California grids and then many other grids throughout the country afterwards were modeled by, They were created by Enron and Kinlan. The Texas legislature deregulated our market in 99 and 2001 sessions and adopted the Enron model for our grid. We never had blackouts prior.” - David Blackmon

4. “If you just put more capacity on. Capacity, who cares? You could have a thousand solar panels, but they don’t operate at night when it’s freezing. You could a thousand windmills that don’t operate when it’s calm, cold and calm. So what good does it do when it not there when you need it?” - Dr. Tammy Nemeth

5. “We have now as rate payers in Texas paid to build two separate power grids in Texas. We’ve got this virtue signaling power grid for the politicians to brag about. That’s wind and solar and batteries that fails when we got a weather emergency. And then we’ve got the conventional grid made up mainly of natural gas.” - David Blackmon

Irina Slav

International Author writing about energy, mining, and geopolitical issues. Bulgaria Irina Slav

David Blackmon

Principal at DB Energy Advisors, energy author, and podcast host.Principal at DB Energy Advisors, energy author, and podcast host. David Blackmon

Tammy Nemeth

Energy Consulting Specialist The Nemeth Report

Stuart Turley

President and CEO, Sandstone Group, Podcast Host

You won't want to miss this episode of the Energy Realities Podcast with Stu Turley, Irina Slav, Tammy Nemeth, and David Blackmon as we unpack the wild Davos 2026 World Economic Forum meetings and their impact on Energy. We were live on X, YouTube, and LinkedIn at 7:00 am Central US from Texas, Bulgaria, and the UK.

The main topics discussed in this Podcast are:

1. The World Economic Forum (WEF) summit in Davos, Switzerland:

  - Highlights of the event, including Mark Carney's speech which was seen as critical of the United States

  - Discussions around the failure of the net-zero emissions push and the admission by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that the green energy transition is not working as planned

2. The geopolitical and economic implications of Canada's potential trade agreements with China:

  - Concerns about Canada undermining its trade relationship with the United States

  - Potential job losses and economic impact on Canada if the U.S. imposes tariffs in response

  - Allegations of China's involvement in illegal activities in Canada

3. The performance and challenges of energy grids, particularly in Texas and Europe:

  - The resilience of the Texas power grid during the recent winter storm, compared to the 2021 outages

  - Issues with the integration of renewable energy sources like wind and solar into the grid

  - Europe's struggles with natural gas storage levels and the high cost of LNG imports

4. Criticism of progressive policies and regulations, particularly in Canada and the United States:

  - Concerns about government overreach, censorship, and infringement on individual freedoms

  - The role of organizations like the World Economic Forum in promoting these policies

The pannel provide detailed analysis and commentary on these key topics, drawing on their expertise and personal perspectives.

04:29 Net Zero Push has failed

09:15 Canadian Problems

11:08 Key points at Davos from the Trump Administration - Global plans don't work

19:23 Quebec built a new interconnect with New England

20:10 "Only Stupid People use Wind Power" - Trump

22:44 Nine European countries proudly announced offshore wind

24:29 Texas Grid

25:23 Meredeth Angwin - Author Shorting The Grid

26:18 Chancleor Mertz admitting that regulations and net zero are catastrophic for business.

29:11 Trade deal with India and the EU

31:54 China has 5 illegal police stations operating in Canada

43:56 Scott Bessent hits it out of the park.

Irina Slav

International Author writing about energy, mining, and geopolitical issues. Bulgaria Irina Slav

David Blackmon

Principal at DB Energy Advisors, energy author, and podcast host.Principal at DB Energy Advisors, energy author, and podcast host. David Blackmon

Tammy Nemeth

Energy Consulting Specialist The Nemeth Report

Stuart Turley

President and CEO, Sandstone Group, Podcast Host

On the Energy Realities podcast today, with David Blackmon, Dr. Tammy Nemeth, and Stu Turley, we have an eye-opening discussion about the UK's totally horrific energy policies. Irina Slav was unable to attend this week’s podcast.

Just to tee up the next interview with Kathryn, she has another one on the UK’s oil and gas markets rolling out next month, and we have already asked for her to hop on the Energy Realities or Energy News Beat podcast.

The report by Kathryn Porter at Watt-Logic delves into whether the UK's electricity grid can handle this transition, especially amid reliance on intermittent renewables like wind and solar. The analysis highlights stalling deployment due to high costs, grid constraints, and reliability issues, while drawing parallels to similar policies in the European Union and "blue" states in the United States. As I often emphasize, understanding these dynamics is crucial for consumers bearing the financial brunt.

1. The state of the UK power grid and the challenges it faces due to electrification and the retirement of legacy power generation assets. Catherine Porter, an energy consultant, discusses her recent report on this topic.

2. The potential issues with the UK’s gas grid and pipeline infrastructure as North Sea gas production declines. This could lead to gas shortages during peak demand periods.

3. The political and policy landscape in the UK, including the role of the Labour party under Keir Starmer and the rise of new political movements like Reform UK. There is discussion around the disconnect between government policies and the ability to implement them effectively.

4. The broader themes of deindustrialization, the economic challenges facing the UK, and the impacts on ordinary citizens, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds.

5. The debate around the motivations and ideological drivers behind the UK’s energy and climate policies, with differing views on whether this is driven by genuine beliefs or a hidden agenda to control people’s lives.

Here is the link to the full Report:

I highly recommend connecting with Kathryn on her LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathrynporter26/

https://theenergynewsbeat.substack.com/p/electrification-can-the-grid-cope

Irina Slav

International Author writing about energy, mining, and geopolitical issues. Bulgaria Irina Slav

David Blackmon

Principal at DB Energy Advisors, energy author, and podcast host.Principal at DB Energy Advisors, energy author, and podcast host. David Blackmon

Tammy Nemeth

Energy Consulting Specialist The Nemeth Report

Stuart Turley

President and CEO, Sandstone Group, Podcast Host

This is a huge story, with great implications for the United States, but not so much for UN climate funds. Tom Nelson is a great friend to the Energy Realities podcast, a movie producer, and a podcast host. He will bring some fun insights to this huge story. Buckle up as Dr. Tammy Nemeth, Irina Slav, David Blackmon, and Stu Turley pile in to have some fun on this great start to a new year.

The main topics discussed in this Podcast are:

1. The United States' withdrawal from various UN and international organizations, conventions, and treaties, particularly those related to climate change. This includes the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the IPCC, and other climate-related institutions.

2. The implications and potential impacts of the US withdrawal from these organizations, with differing views expressed. Some see it as a positive development that will undermine the "climate change scam", while others are concerned it will reduce US influence and participation.

3. The debate around the role and validity of climate science, with some participants strongly criticizing the IPCC and climate change narratives as being unscientific, alarmist, and driven by political and financial agendas rather than facts.

4. The discussion of alternative energy sources, with participants expressing support for fossil fuels, nuclear power, and criticizing the push for renewable energy like wind and solar as impractical and ineffective.

5. Broader geopolitical and ideological themes, including the perceived links between climate change activism, globalism, and communism, as well as the idea of a "global reset" and shifting power dynamics.

6. The impact of events like the COVID-19 pandemic in shaping public skepticism towards expert consensus and government policies related to climate change.

Check out Tom Nelson's Substack https://tomn.substack.com/

Time Stamps:

05:01 Tom Nelson spending 50 trillion dollars on wind and solar

26:13 David Blackmon CO2 is plant food

30:52 Tom Nelson CO2 has never been the climate control knob

31::34 Irina - you can call them cultists

40:03 Stu Turley: Countries begging for Trump to capture their leaders

43:32 Clean Coal , Nuclear

44:38 Dr. Tammy Nemeth - More CO2 when dinosaurs were around

Irina Slav

International Author writing about energy, mining, and geopolitical issues. Bulgaria

David Blackmon

Principal at DB Energy Advisors, energy author, and podcast host.Principal at DB Energy Advisors, energy author, and podcast host.

Tammy Nemeth

Energy Consulting Specialist

Stuart Turley

President and CEO, Sandstone Group, Podcast Host

The Energy Realities team of David Blackmon, Irina Slav, Dr. Tammy Nemeth, and Stu Turley kicks off 2026 with a bang! This is a wild ride, and we are off to the Energy Realities Races in 2026.

00:00 Introduction

02:09 Dr. Tammy Nemeth looks to kick off energy trends in Canada and Oil markets

05:00 David Blackmon Venezuela

06:29 Irina Slav - Common Sense

09:34 David - Battery Advancements

11:18 Stu Turley - batteries must be recyclable, and it will take Billions to get Venezuelan oil moving

14:57 If North Korea, Democrats, or Republicans who allegedly took money grumble, it means you're on the right track.

15:26 Trillions spent on the energy transition, only to have higher costs

22:07 EVs and Norway

30:55 Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive

34:33 Orsted and Equinor

43:26 Climate action faces key tests

1. Energy trends and outlook for 2026:

  - The impact of the situation in Venezuela on the global oil market and Canada's oil exports

  - The European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and its expansion to more industries

  - Challenges facing the energy transition, such as the viability of new battery technologies and the reliability of renewable energy sources like wind and solar

2. Geopolitical and economic issues:

  - Tensions between the US, Canada, and the EU

  - Concerns about corruption and fraud in China's electric vehicle industry

  - The potential impact of the US taking action in Venezuela on Chinese investments in South America

3. Energy policies and their effects:

  - The differences in electricity prices and affordability between Democratic-led and Republican-led states in the US

  - The unintended consequences of renewable energy policies, such as increased electricity costs for consumers

4. Specific energy-related news and developments:

  - Legal challenges by offshore wind companies against the US government's suspension of offshore wind projects

  - The decline in oil prices in 2025 and OPEC's efforts to manage the resulting glut

The transcript covers a wide range of energy-related topics, from geopolitics and policies to technological developments and market trends, providing a comprehensive discussion of the key issues facing the energy sector in 2026.

Irina Slav

International Author writing about energy, mining, and geopolitical issues. Bulgaria

David Blackmon

Principal at DB Energy Advisors, energy author, and podcast host.Principal at DB Energy Advisors, energy author, and podcast host.

Tammy Nemeth

Energy Consulting Specialist

Stuart Turley

President and CEO, Sandstone Group, Podcast Host

We had a great discussion with David Blackmon, Irina Slav, and Tammy Nemeth, who tried to join in but had a little spotty connection.

01:19 2026 Predictions

03:24 Dark Fleet Tankers filling up in Venezuela

04:48 Naval Assets in the Caribbean Sea and Panama

21:43 ExxonMobil cutting investments in low-carbon solutions

26:51 The world is healing

The main topics discussed in this podcast are:

1. Sanctions and their effectiveness (or lack thereof): The discussion covers how sanctions, particularly those imposed on Russia and Venezuela, have not had the intended impact on the oil and gas markets.

2. The energy transition and its challenges: The Energy Realities team analyzes the failures and "dead ends" of various clean energy technologies and initiatives, such as fuel cells, green hydrogen, and sustainable aviation/shipping fuels.

3. Geopolitics and trade blocs: There is discussion about the shifting global trade dynamics, with mentions of the potential for the U.S. to align more with India, China, Russia, and Japan, rather than the G7 countries.

4. The oil and gas industry: The gang analyzes trends in the oil and gas sector, including the pivot of major oil companies away from renewable investments and towards data centers, the potential for regime change in Venezuela, and the impact of subsidies on the solar and wind industries.

5. The economic and political landscape: Topics include the state of the U.S. economy, the popularity of the Trump administration, and the challenges faced by the EU in addressing the energy crisis.

Check out the full transcript https://theenergynewsbeat.substack.com/

Or

https://energynewsbeat.co/

Got Taxes? https://energynewsbeat.co/invest/

The Energy Realities Team drives it home - "Come On Man"

This was a fun podcast with Tammy Nemeth, Irina Slav, David Blackmon, and me! We had way too much fun and had some great comments from the live audience.

We also had some great insights from Dr. Graham Conway, Principal Engineer in the Automotive Division at Southwest Research Institute. A shout-out to Rodney, who found out who he was. I have included the full TED Talk clip below, along with the key bullet points.

Key Points for the Energy Realities Podcast this morning:

The main topics discussed in this transcript are:

1. The impact of Trump’s policies on the electric vehicle (EV) industry in the United States. The transcript discusses how Trump’s actions, such as rescinding California’s EV mandate and the CAFE standards, have negatively impacted the growth of the EV market in the US.

2. The challenges and limitations of EVs, including their high costs, limited range, battery fires, and lack of consumer demand. We provide detailed analysis on why EVs are not a viable or sustainable solution compared to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles.

3. The impact of government subsidies and incentives on the EV market. We discuss how the removal of subsidies, such as the $7,500 tax credit, has led to a significant drop in EV sales in the US.

4. The geopolitical and economic implications of the transition to EVs, including the impact on manufacturing, infrastructure, and energy security. We touch on how this transition is affecting countries like Canada and the European Union.

5. The broader context of the “green energy transition” agenda, criticizing it as an ideological and unsustainable approach that is harming economies and energy security.

Key Chapters:

00:00 Introduction - Irina Slav

03:18 David Blackmon’s view on how the Trump Administration’s impact on EVs

09:55 Dr. Tammy Nemeth covers Norway and the UK’s impact.

18:40 Dr. Graham Conway on his TED Talk and how EVs are not as environmentally friendly as advertised.

24:44 Irina Slav is pointing out that the EU wants smaller EVs and shorter ranges.

30:44 Dr. Tammy Nemeth Zelensky, Starmer, and Macron meeting to figure out the next action items.

32:48 Dr. Tammy Nemeth brings up that EU and Canada allowed deindustrialization to become a service economy, and may have caused harm to long-term manufacturing capabilities.

Dr. Graham Conway's TED Talk was outstanding; here is the TikTok video. I will be reaching out to him to get him on the podcast.

https://theenergynewsbeat.substack.com/p/did-trump-just-kill-joe-bidens-ev

Irina Slav

International Author writing about energy, mining, and geopolitical issues. Bulgaria

David Blackmon

Principal at DB Energy Advisors, energy author, and podcast host.Principal at DB Energy Advisors, energy author, and podcast host.

Tammy Nemeth

Energy Consulting Specialist

Stuart Turley

President and CEO, Sandstone Group, Podcast Host

The Energy Reality team from Bulgaria, the US, and the UK had a fun energy discussion at the expense of the COP30 participants. When you get Tammy Nemeth, David Blackmon, Stu Turley, and Irina Slav on a podcast, buckle up, as fun is around the corner.

The main topics The Energy Realities Team discussed in this podcast episode include:

1. The outcomes and implications of COP30, the recent UN climate change conference:

- The lack of significant progress or agreements made at the conference

- Discussions around censorship and information control efforts that emerged from COP30

- The role and influence of the US, particularly under the Trump administration, on the outcomes

2. The geopolitical and economic shifts happening globally related to energy and climate policies:

- The diverging paths and trading blocs forming between countries/regions pursuing net-zero policies versus those resisting them

- China's growing influence and the West's increasing reliance on China for manufacturing and energy

- Concerns about deindustrialization and the fiscal impacts of net-zero policies in Western countries

3. Specific energy and climate policy developments:

- The "memorandum of understanding" between the Canadian federal government and the province of Alberta on oil pipelines

- The UK's plans to tax electric vehicle drivers

- Germany's increasing gas usage and LNG import needs

4. Commentary and analysis on the media's coverage and portrayal of these energy and climate issues.

The podcast features in-depth discussion and differing perspectives from the co-hosts on these major topics shaping the global energy landscape.

Irina Slav

International Author writing about energy, mining, and geopolitical issues. Bulgaria

David Blackmon

Principal at DB Energy Advisors, energy author, and podcast host.Principal at DB Energy Advisors, energy author, and podcast host.

Tammy Nemeth

Energy Consulting Specialist

Stuart Turley

President and CEO, Sandstone Group, Podcast Host

If you want to get your story out, consider sponsoring the Podcast and reaching out to anyone on the team.

We have Brian Zinchuk, PipelineOnline.ca, Saskatchewan’s Energy News, stopping by the Energy Realities Podcast, and we’re ready to dive deep into Canada’s evolving energy markets. It’s always a great time having Brian on the show as he brings sharp insights and real-world perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing Canada’s energy future.

From the federal clean energy mandates to the realities of coal, gas, and nuclear development, this conversation explores how Saskatchewan is navigating the path to reliable, affordable power. Buckle up, some true energy realities are hitting the podcast as we uncover what’s shaping the future of Canadian energy.

This was a lot of fun, and Brian and I were able to catch up after the show and talk about his reporting and how we can help him out with more coverage.

Please follow Brian on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianzinchuk/

Check out his news site: Pipelineonline.ca

Highlights of the Podcast

00:00 – Introduction

01:42 – Saskatchewan’s Energy Reality

04:12 – Coal as a Bridge to Nuclear

10:26 – Challenges with Wind, Solar, and Gas

12:11 – Lessons from Europe and Maintenance Issues

22:18 – CO₂ Capture and Enhanced Oil Recovery

26:19 – Federal vs. Provincial Energy Conflict

29:09 – The Price of Unreliable Energy

35:51 – The Storage Mirage

39:33 – Saskatchewan Pushes Back

44:54 – Doubling the Grid is Unrealistic

53:25 – Nuclear’s Massive Future

55:56 – Preparing the Next Generation

58:31 – Closing Remarks