DeepSummary
The energy gang discusses the recent extreme heat events that have stressed America's power grid across multiple regions, including the Pacific Northwest, Texas, and New York. They analyze the performance of the grid during these events and the factors that contributed to better or worse outcomes in different areas. The conversation also touches on the need for grid upgrades, increased transmission capacity, and better planning to handle more frequent extreme weather events driven by climate change.
The group then examines a leaked video in which an Exxon lobbyist brags about the company's efforts to fight against climate science and delay climate policy. They discuss what this reveals about the oil industry's continued influence and opposition to meaningful climate action, despite public messaging around sustainability.
Finally, the episode explores a Columbia University report on the potential for using existing natural gas pipeline infrastructure to support the transition to low-carbon fuels like hydrogen and renewable gases. The pros and cons of this approach are debated, including the need for policy incentives, regulatory changes, and investment to make it feasible.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- America's power grid is increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather events driven by climate change, with outages rising 67% since 2000.
- Different regions performed better or worse during recent heat waves based on factors like available hydro power, air conditioning penetration, and grid connectivity.
- Major upgrades and policy changes are needed to enhance grid resilience, including weatherizing power plants, increasing transmission capacity, and enabling demand response.
- The leaked Exxon video reveals the oil industry's continued efforts to mislead the public and obstruct climate action, prioritizing profits over science.
- Repurposing existing natural gas pipelines for low-carbon fuels could potentially accelerate the energy transition, but requires significant policy support and investment.
- All energy sources face risks from extreme weather, so a comprehensive approach utilizing diverse technologies is needed to fully decarbonize.
- Grid operators need to plan for multiple simultaneous extreme events, not just isolated incidents.
- Incentive structures must shift to support emissions reductions across all sectors, not just low-hanging fruit.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “Did we aggressively fight against some of the science? Yes. Did we join some of these shadow groups to work again, some of the early efforts? Yes, that's true. But there's nothing, there's nothing illegal about that. We were looking out for our investments. We were looking out for our shareholders.“ by Keith McCoy
- “And one of the recommendations we say is, like, how about we accelerate the pace of replacing remaining cast iron pipelines? They're a small percentage of the infrastructure, but they're responsible for this hugely outsized percentage of methane leaks.“ by Melissa Lott
- “And part of the problem and the danger in that, that Alexander was talking about is that while Exxon was talking about a carbon price, maybe knowing that it would never happen, that that puts us at this place where we're trying to choose between, oh, do we want this disingenuous carbon price, which is a market mechanism, or do we want regulation and investment in clean tech? And the danger of that is, of course, is that, that you're forcing yourself to choose rather than doing everything.“ by Katherine Hamilton
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Episode Information
The Energy Gang
Wood Mackenzie
7/8/21
It’s been a very intense year for America’s power grid. Across the country, the electricity system just faced another stress-test as extreme heat taxed power plants and grid operators in the Pacific Northwest, Texas, and New York.
Since 2000, outages across the U.S. have increased by 67%. Is the power system ready for tomorrow’s extreme weather -- today?
Stephen and Katherine are joined by Dr. Melissa Lott, a senior research scholar and the director of research at the Center on Global Energy Policy.
Plus, we’ll discuss a secret recording of an Exxon lobbyist bragging about the company’s efforts to delay climate policy. What does it tell us about the oil industry’s grip in Washington?
We’ll finish with a look at a new report from Columbia University: can we use natural gas pipelines to accelerate the low-carbon transition?
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