Energy Switch

Climate change is making an impact on everyday lives. In this episode, Dr. Steve Koonin, a former U.S. Secretary of Science, and Dr. Michael Greenstone, Director of the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago, delve into the intensifying risks our communities face due to global warming. From record-breaking temperatures and melting ice to frequent coastal flooding, learn how these changes are reshaping our world and what it means for our future.

Hydraulic fracturing has revolutionized the energy sector, making gas abundant and affordable. This has led to a shift from coal to gas in power production, resulting in lower, but not zero, carbon emissions. In this episode, Dr. Naomi Boness, Managing Director of the Natural Gas Initiative at Stanford University, and Rachel Fakhry, Analyst for the Climate & Clean Air programs at the National Resources Defense Council, explore the implications of this shift for our energy sector and the environment.

Solar and wind provide carbon-free power, but can they scale up to meet global demands? While they enjoy favorable public opinion now, concerns over the materials, mining, and land use needed for expansion could shift perspectives. In this episode, Leia Guccione, Managing Director of Carbon Free Electricity at RMI, and Robert Bryce, best-selling author, continue their discussion on whether solar and wind can one day power the world.

Solar and wind energy are now among the cheapest new power sources in many countries, yet they contribute only 4% of global electricity. Scaling them up 25-fold poses a major challenge, but they offer a carbon-free alternative. In this episode, Robert Bryce, best-selling author, and Leia Guccione, Managing Director of Carbon Free Electricity at RMI, discuss the potential for wind and solar to power the world and the obstacles ahead.

Countries are increasingly looking to hydrogen as a solution to reduce CO2 emissions. However, for hydrogen to compete effectively, costs must decrease and technological and manufacturing developments need to advance. In this episode, Dr. Julio Friedmann, Senior Research Scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, and Dr. Steve Hamburg, Chief Scientist at the Environmental Defense Fund, discuss the future of hydrogen as an energy source and its potential to revolutionize the global energy sector.

Transitioning the developed world toward lower-carbon energies and ensuring the developing world has sufficient energy are significant, and sometimes conflicting, challenges. Both transitions will require trillions of dollars. In this episode, Deborah Byers, Partner and Americas Industry Leader at EY, and Ken Medlock, Senior Director of the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University, explore where this funding will come from and how it will be utilized.

The world of energy is evolving. While many experts believe coal, oil, and natural gas will continue to dominate as the largest global energy sources, solar and wind are becoming more affordable, spurring their growth worldwide. In this episode, Secretary Ernie Moniz, the 13th United States Secretary of Energy, and Dr. Dan Yergin, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, discuss the new geopolitics of energy, exploring how these dynamics are shaping our global energy landscape.

The conversation on nuclear power continues as Dr. Arjun Makhijani, President of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, and Michael Shellenberger, a best-selling author, delve deeper into its role in achieving decarbonization targets. They discuss the lengthy timeline required to permit and construct each nuclear plant, compared to the faster deployment of alternative technologies. The episode explores whether expanding nuclear power is a viable option for decarbonizing the electricity sector both in the US and globally.

As debates intensify about meeting climate goals, proponents argue that expanding nuclear power and embracing new nuclear technologies is essential, while opponents cite cost and time constraints as significant hurdles. In this episode, Dr. Arjun Makhijani, President of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, and Michael Shellenberger, a best-selling author, discuss the role of nuclear power in decarbonizing the electricity sector and the challenges and opportunities it presents.

Exploring the multifaceted approach to sustainable energy, this episode dives into three critical areas: environmental equilibrium, societal enrichment, and economic viability. Dr. Bridget Scanlon, Senior Research Scientist at the Bureau of Economic Geology, and Sean O’Donnell, Partner at Quantum Energy, discuss whether various energy resources can align with these sustainability criteria and what it means for the future of energy.