Robert Bryce, author, film producer, and host of the Power Hungry Podcast, discusses headlines and current events in energy, notably the recently-passed landmark U.S. bill, the Inflation Reduction Act. He offers an alternate perspective to the hyperbolic praise this bill has receive from some clean energy advocates, and contextualizes it amid broader trends in energy geopolitics. Listen to the Power Hungry Podcast: https://robertbryce.com/power-hungry-podcast/ Subscribe to Emmet Penney's Grid Brief: https://www.gridbrief.com/ Support Decouple on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decouple Learn more about Decouple Media: https://www.decouplemedia.org

Mark Nelson, managing director of the Radiant Energy Group, joins us for the third installation of his masterclass series, this time all about energy storage. The ability to store electricity for later use can improve our ability to match supply with demand. Deployed at a large enough scale, it can fill in valleys and smooth out peaks, creating a more manageable grid. But electricity itself must be used the instant it is generated, so how can we go about storing it for later? Mark explains the basic of energy storage, corrects common misconceptions, and gives a numerically literate overview of a few different energy storage technologies. Listen to Mark's two other masterclasses: https://www.decouplemedia.org/podcast/episode/2a543c07/this-land-is-mined-the-coal-masterclass https://www.decouplemedia.org/podcast/episode/1ebfcc84/a-natural-gas-masterclass-feat-mark-nelson Note: We apologize for occasional glitches in Dr. Keefer's audio and video. Support Decouple on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decouple Learn more about Decouple Media: https://www.decouplemedia.org

Mark Nelson, managing director of the Radiant Energy Group, joins us for his second masterclass, this time all about coal. Much maligned by environmentalists and a significant source of air pollution and carbon emissions, coal still constitutes a whopping 25% of our primary energy consumption, and over 30% of global electricity production. What is it, where does it come from, how did it change the world, and why is it so difficult for even the most affluent and environmentally conscious countries to stop using it? Intro music: "Exodus Song (Land Is Mine)" by Ernest Gold, performed by Mark Nelson live after our interview. Support Decouple on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decouple Learn more about Decouple Media: https://www.decouplemedia.org

The knowledgable Noah Rettberg returns to the show to update us on how Germany is faring amid its ongoing energy crunch. How and why is the crisis unfolding, how have key industries been affected, what are the possible ways out, and how can Germany serve as a warning for other countries pursuing energy transitions? Follow Noah on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoahRettberg Support Decouple on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decouple Learn more about Decouple Media: https://www.decouplemedia.org

Ted Nordhaus, executive director of The Breakthrough Institute, discusses his recent article in Foreign Policy: "Russia's War Is the End of Climate Policy as We Know It." The current energy crisis and Russian invasion are quickly causing us to prioritize energy security over climate targets. Could this, paradoxically, be a good thing for the climate? Nordhaus argues that the carbon intensity of the global energy system fell faster in the 30 years before the first major U.N. climate conference than after it—a result of rising energy efficiency, the spread of nuclear power, and the changing composition of the global economy. With new pressure to fortify ourselves against dependence on gas and energy imports, he argues that climate and energy policies, especially in the West, may shift from subsidizing demand (for things like solar panels and electric vehicles) to deregulating supply (of things like nuclear power plants and high-voltage transmission lines). This could put clean energy policies on a much firmer economic footing and better align climate objectives with energy security imperatives. Read the Foreign Policy article here: https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/06/05/climate-policy-ukraine-russia-energy-security-emissions-cold-war-fossil-fuels/ Support Decouple on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decouple Learn more about Decouple Media: https://www.decouplemedia.org

Mark Nelson, managing director of Radiant Energy Group, breaks down why France, a world leader in CO2 emissions reductions through its historic buildout of large nuclear reactors, has become an example of how NOT to manage a nuclear fleet, as mismanagement and unplanned outages threaten its future. Support Decouple on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decouple Learn more about Decouple Media: https://www.decouplemedia.org

Radiation biologist Chris Thome describes the vexing challenge of creating a zero radiation environment deep in the Earth's crust, and how life responds to a world without radiation.

Douglas Boreham tells us about his latest groundbreaking radiation experiments with NASA and debunks some major misconceptions along the way.

Dan Campbell, a licensed nuclear operator, reflects on losing his job at the coal-fired Nanticoke Generating Station during Ontario's coal phaseout and his subsequent move to the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station. As we discuss the elusive "just transition," Dan shares a unique inside perspective on the possibilities for transitioning fossil fuel workers to new, high-quality jobs; the importance of considering working people when deciding on energy policy; and how it felt taking pride in his work at Nanticoke while learning of the harms that coal causes through air pollution and carbon emissions. ---- Support Decouple on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decouple Learn more about Decouple Media: https://www.decouplemedia.org