Brent Bennett on the physics of energy progress and the politics of Texas electricity

Brent Bennett on the physics of energy progress and the politics of Texas electricity

On this week's Power Hour, Alex Epstein interviews Brent Bennett, a materials scientist by training and Policy Director of Life:Powered.

In the first half of the interview, Brent shares how his background in physics and materials science has informed his views on the future of energy. In the second half, he summarizes the politics of Texas electricity--before, during, and after the recent mass-blackouts.

Some of the specific topics covered include:
- Alex's analogy between drug addicts and "renewable" power sources.
- How Moore's Law is not a physical law, and how treating it that way distorts thinking about batteries.
- The limitations of batteries given existing physics knowledge.
- The proper relationship between physics and economics, and how today's politicians invert it.
- How Texas did not have enough electricity generation to avoid rolling blackouts even if zero natural gas and coal plants had gone down.
- Why today's Texas electricity "market" is totally unfair to reliable producers of electricity.
- What reforms are needed to make Texas electricity "markets" fair and reliable.
- How large financial institutions and tech companies are advocating policies that double down on unreliable electricity when Texas desperately needs reliable electricity.
- The powerful lobbyists that shape Texas electricity policy.

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Episode 66: Dave Quast on Fracking in California

Episode 66: Dave Quast on Fracking in California

For this episode of Power Hour, Alex Epstein interviewed Dave Quast, California Director for Energy in Depth, about fracking in California. CIP highly recommends Energy In Depth as a source of information about energy. You can find Dave’s work there at http://energyindepth.org/california. Subscribe to Power Hour on iTunes

6 Syys 201354min

Episode 65: David Kreutzer on Fossil Fuel Policy

Episode 65: David Kreutzer on Fossil Fuel Policy

On this episode of Power Hour, Alex Epstein talks with Dr. David Kreutzer about fossil fuel policy, the ideas that have inspired it, and their effects. Dr. Kreutzer is a Research Fellow in Energy Economics and Climate Change at the Heritage Foundation. You can learn more about him and his work at http://www.heritage.org/about/staff/k/david-kreutzer. Subscribe to […]

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Episode 64: Alex Epstein Visits the Kentucky Mining Institute

Episode 64: Alex Epstein Visits the Kentucky Mining Institute

For this episode of Power Hour, CIP’s Adam Edmonsond interviewed Alex Epstein about his upcoming visit to the Kentucky Mining Institute’s Mine Rescue Competition, where Alex will speak to an audience consisting mostly of coal miners about how to be better champions of their industry. Subscribe to Power Hour on iTunes

23 Elo 201342min

Episode 63: Andrew N. Kleit on Electricity Markets

Episode 63: Andrew N. Kleit on Electricity Markets

On this episode of Power Hour, Alex Epstein talks with Dr. Andrew N. Kleit, Professor of Energy and Environmental Economics at Penn State University, about electricity and electricity markets. Other topics include the impact of weather on energy markets and the effects of energy regulation. You can read more about Dr. Kleit and his work […]

16 Elo 201342min

Episode 62: Peter Grossman on U.S. Energy Policy

Episode 62: Peter Grossman on U.S. Energy Policy

For this episode of Power Hour, Alex Epstein talked with Dr. Peter Grossman, Professor of Economics at Butler University, about his latest book, U.S. Energy Policy and the Pursuit of Failure. You can follow Dr. Grossman’s work at http://peterzgrossman.wordpress.com. Subscribe to Power Hour on iTunes

9 Elo 201353min

Episode 61: Larry Bell on Big Picture Thinking

Episode 61: Larry Bell on Big Picture Thinking

On this episode of Power Hour, Alex Epstein interviews Larry Bell, Professor of Space Architecture at the University of Houston and a regular contributor to Forbes.com, about big picture thinking about energy subsidies and about claims of catastrophic climate change. You can find Larry’s recent Forbes article about subsides here, and you can pick up […]

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Episode 60: Kirk Sorensen on Thorium

Episode 60: Kirk Sorensen on Thorium

On this episode of Power Hour, Alex Epstein talks with Kirk Sorensen, Chief Technologist at Energy From Thorium, on the subject of nuclear power from Thorium. Kirk is a leading advocate of Thorium, an incredibly potent source of energy. You can learn more about his work at www.energyfromthorium.com. Subscribe to Power Hour on iTunes

19 Heinä 20131h

Episode 59: Thomas Pyle on Gasland 2

Episode 59: Thomas Pyle on Gasland 2

In this episode of Power Hour, Alex Epstein talks with Thomas Pyle, President of the Institute for Energy Research, about Gasland 2, the new anti-fracking documentary by Josh Fox. You can keep up with Thomas and the Institute of Energy Research at http://energytownhall.org. Subscribe to Power Hour on iTunes

10 Heinä 201353min

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