Economics

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

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

Are utilities making too much money?

Joe Daniel on why trimming utility profits is good governance.

Feb 11 • David Roberts

1:15:39

Making the electricity grid work like the internet

Jonas Birgersson joins me to explain how "packet-switching" for electrons can lead to energy abundance and grid resilience.

Jan 14 • David Roberts

1:29:10

What's the real story with Australian rooftop solar?

Saul Griffith joins me to debunk the myths surrounding Australia's massive influx of solar energy.

Dec 26, 2025 • David Roberts

1:27:31

Clean electrification is inevitable

Kingsmill Bond explains why the global march of "electrotech" has moved beyond the reach of US political interference.

Nov 21, 2025 • David Roberts

1:22:33

Rep. Mike Levin reflects on the Republican budget bill

On why Republicans just voted against their own districts.

Jun 20, 2025 • David Roberts

1:02:55

What the F is happening? Part 2

Trump's latest moves on IRA credits, coal, tariffs, and state climate policies.

Apr 21, 2025 • David Roberts

54:51

What's up with clean-energy supply chains and global trade?

How trade barriers and tariff threats are creating investment uncertainty in global clean energy markets.

Apr 4, 2025 • David Roberts

1:07:31

Can we avoid the enshittification of clean-energy tech?

Cory Doctorow describes how software platform technologies go wrong and what it might look like when our homes and vehicles are on those platforms.

Dec 11, 2024 • David Roberts

1:37:15

Volts podcast: Elizabeth Popp Berman on the "economic style of thinking" that consumed US policy

Ever get the sense that everyone in center-left policy discussions is auditioning for the approval of some imagined economist? A sociologist traces the…

Apr 15, 2022 • David Roberts

1:02:49

Do dividends make carbon taxes more popular? Apparently not.

A new study examines public opinion in the (very few) countries where a carbon "fee & dividend" has been implemented. Getting money back does not seem…

Jan 24, 2022 • David Roberts

16:01

#nojs-banner { position: fixed; bottom: 0; left: 0; padding: 16px 16px 16px 32px; width: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; background: red; color: white; font-family: -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; } #nojs-banner a { color: inherit; text-decoration: underline; } This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. Please turn on JavaScript or unblock scripts