Archive - Volts

Making sense of the data center backlash

A crossover with Jigar Shah's "Energy Empire" podcast!

Jul 20 • David Roberts

59:00

Spreading the good news about electrification

A conversation with Hawaii state Senator Chris Lee about his Electric Innovation Initiative.

Jul 15 • David Roberts

1:01:37

Want less sprawl and more urban infill? Try a land value tax!

A conversation with Greg Miller of the Center for Land Economics and Kitty Klitzke of the Spokane City Council.

Jul 10 • David Roberts

1:08:24

Forcing utilities to justify their distribution-system spending

A conversation with Minnesota regulators Sydnie Lieb & Pete Wyckoff.

Jul 8 • David Roberts

1:06:40

A key Arizona race will test clean energy's electoral power

Charlie Fisher and Ning Mosberger-Tang on scaling up the grassroots playbook to flip Arizona's powerful utility regulator.

Jul 1 • David Roberts

53:31

June 2026

How to keep people cool without making the planet even hotter

RMI's Ankit Kalanki on why fixing the way we test air conditioners is the secret lever to slashing global cooling emissions.

Jun 24 • David Roberts

1:04:14

America's flagship automaker enters the home energy market

Aseem Kapur joins me to explain how GM plans to turn its massive EV fleet into a distributed virtual power plant.

Jun 19 • David Roberts

54:18

Can the UK stay the course with its climate plans?

UK Climate Minister Katie White on navigating the decarbonization challenge amidst rising energy prices and political headwinds.

Jun 17 • David Roberts

1:00:05

Why is NERC so worried about data centers?

How massive AI & crypto loads are threatening grid stability, and what Colin McCormick and Doug Bryan say we must do to fix it.

Jun 10 • David Roberts

1:11:58

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

May 2026

Giving clean electricity a political voice of its own

Investor Steve McBee discusses a new effort to give the clean electrification sector more political muscle & swagger.

May 29 • David Roberts

1:39:38

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