In this episode of The Energy Gang, we draw our attention away from the IRA and switch focus to the ongoing energy crisis in Europe. Host Ed Crooks is joined by regular guest Melissa Lott, Director of Research at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, and Amy Harder from Cipher.
The race to stay warm is on as Russia cuts off more gas supplies to Europe. The continent is facing a potentially very bleak winter, but how bleak depends on the weather. If it’s a mild winter, then Europe will probably have enough gas. If it’s a cold winter, then things are going to get rough. There will probably need to be demand for curtailment, rationing and blackouts. Already, leaders are urging people to take action, by having cold showers and switching off the air-conditioning to save money and lighten the load on the grid.
What do these extreme measures tell us about the sacrifices people are being asked to make to serve a humanitarian cause? Is there a parallel to draw between that and changing our habits to curtail catastrophic climate change? Also, does Europe have enough gas to keep people warm without having to introduce rationing? And what does this say about the lack of tools in our belt when these crises occur?
Also on the show: the rise in natural gas prices is being felt around the world. In the U.S., energy costs are hitting homes hard as the price of natural gas and oil has soared to record levels. This has given a big boost to the demand for electric cars.
Last month, California approved a ban on the sale of new gasoline- powered vehicles as the state takes dramatic steps to reduce emissions and combat the climate emergency. How will the Clean Air Act impact the energy world? In this new law, 35% of new cars and light trucks sold in the Sunshine state must be either zero-emission, plug-in hybrid or hydrogen-powered by 2026. Is this an ambitious goal?
As always, check out our Twitter to let us know your thoughts and any future topics you want us to discuss. We’re @TheEnergyGang
This episode of the Energy Gang is brought to you by Hitachi Energy, a global technology leader advancing a sustainable energy future for all.
Learn more by listening to the Power Pulse podcast, where the Hitachi Energy team discusses the latest in the ongoing transformation of the world’s energy systems. The Power Pulse podcast is available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or any other podcast app.
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