Archive - Volts

Should we block some sunlight to cool the planet?

Dakota Gruener joins me to discuss the gaps and unanswered questions in our understanding of solar geoengineering.

Mar 27 • David Roberts

1:06:14

For data centers, a little flexibility goes a long way

Why developers are scrambling for off-grid jet engines, and how we could fix our broken grid interconnection process instead.

Mar 25 • David Roberts

1:10:37

Volts community thread #28: Iran, Bend OR, balcony solar & more

Open to all free & paid subscribers.

Mar 23 • David Roberts and Samuel R (Volts team)

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

A Tesla vet tries to master the VPP market

Kunal Girotra and I explore the massive potential of combining plug-and-play home batteries with smart enterprise software to stabilize the grid

Mar 18 • David Roberts

1:16:32

How to design a brand-new city

Jan Sramek of California Forever discusses urbanism, affordability, sustainability, & governance.

Mar 13 • David Roberts

1:12:21

Is the brand new city in California for real?

Jan Sramek joins me to discuss the controversy, funding, and master plan behind the massive California Forever project.

Mar 11 • David Roberts

1:03:21

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

February 2026

Volts/Catalyst pod crossover: the biggest questions in clean energy

I chat with Shayle Kann about whether autonomous vehicles will destroy urban density and if geoengineering is inevitably in our future.

Feb 25 • David Roberts

1:03:13

Volts community thread #27

Open to all free & paid subscribers.

Feb 23 • David Roberts and Samuel R (Volts team)

What is PJM and why is everyone so mad about it?

Clara Summers & I discuss rising prices & growing political discontent in PJM, the country's largest power market.

Feb 20 • David Roberts

1:15:28

Can fake meat help solve climate change?

Bruce Friedrich on why we need to change the meat, not the consumer, to solve the climate crisis.

Feb 18 • David Roberts

1:27:50

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