Volts

Volts: a newsletter focusing on clean energy and political matters. With climate change progressing rapidly and the state of US politics in disarray, the outlook can seem bleak. However, amidst these troubling trends, there is a silver lining: the shift from fossil fuels to clean, carbon-free energy is not only happening but is also speeding up each day.

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How is clean electricity doing globally?

2 weeks ago | volts.wtf | David Roberts

In this episode, I dig into the just-released Global Electricity Review from the think tank Ember, with founder Bryony Worthington and lead author Nicolas Fulghum. Clean electricity surpassed 40 percent of global generation in 2024, driven by record solar deployment. We explore solar's rapid doubling, the pace of demand growth, and the way China's clean energy decisions shape global trends.
What's up with clean-energy supply chains and global trade?

2 weeks ago | volts.wtf | David Roberts

In this episode, I talk with Antoine Vagneur-Jones, head of clean energy, trade, and supply chains for BloombergNEF, about the messy world of global clean energy supply chains. We explore China's manufacturing dominance, the faltering quest to "onshore" production in Western countries, and why blanket tariffs often undermine the very goals they're supposed to achieve. (PDF transcript)(Active transcript)David RobertsHello everyone.
The view from inside DC, with Rep. Sean Casten

3 weeks ago | volts.wtf | David Roberts

In this episode, I sit down with my old friend Sean Casten for a frank insider's take on the precarious state of clean energy policy amid our ongoing constitutional meltdown. We dive into the political knife fight over IRA tax credits (some Republicans support them), why transmission reform remains frustratingly partisan despite economic logic, and the fossil industry's fear of competition.
Mailbag episode - March 2025

3 weeks ago | volts.wtf | David Roberts

Current time: 0:00 / Total time: -11:46Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. In this month's mailbag, I rave about my new EV (despite my lifelong aversion to cars), explain why our political system would never permit a "decarbonization Trump", wrestle with solar geoengineering, and share my thoughts on why home batteries are so much pricier than the ones rolling around in our cars.
What's going on with public power in New York?

4 weeks ago | volts.wtf | David Roberts

In this episode, I talk with Patrick Robbins of Public Power NY and Johanna Bozuwa of the Climate and Community Institute about New York's groundbreaking Build Public Renewables Act, which empowers the state's public utility to build clean energy at scale. We explore how this surprising legislative victory happened, the challenges of implementation, and why public ownership might be the key to making renewable energy both politically resilient and economically accessible.
Canada's largest sustainable community takes shape

1 month ago | volts.wtf | David Roberts

In this episode, I'm joined by Toms Lumsden and Young (development manager and architect, respectively) to explore Blatchford, an ambitious sustainable community being built on the grounds of a former municipal airport in Edmonton, Alberta (Canada’s most conservative province). We dig into how this city-led, mixed-use development is creating a carbon-neutral community with pedestrian-first streets, a variety of housing forms, and a district energy system, right in the heart of oil country.
Volts community thread #16

1 month ago | volts.wtf | David Roberts

1. 📫 Leave your mailbag questions below!You may have noticed that I tried something new for February’s bonus episode: a “What the F is happening” news roundtable episode rather than a mailbag. People seemed to enjoy it? Perhaps I’ll alternate between the two formats. As always, if you have opinions, share!📌 Note: This was the first time we’ve sent out a “free preview”, which is an abbreviated version of the bonus episode meant to entice free subscribers into signing up for a paid subscription.
Making sure smart devices can talk to each other and the grid

1 month ago | volts.wtf | David Roberts

Current time: 0:00 / Total time: -56:34Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. In this episode, I talk with Devrim Celal from Kraken Energy about ensuring all our smart home energy devices can actually talk to the grid. We discuss how Mercury will certify devices to create reliability standards, preventing your fancy EV charger or heat pump from becoming useless if a manufacturer disappears while helping utilities manage load growth.
Who is paying for all that data center power?

1 month ago | volts.wtf | David Roberts

Current time: 0:00 / Total time: -1:00:12Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. In this episode, Harvard Law's Eliza Martin and Ari Peskoe join me to unpack how data centers' skyrocketing electricity demand could leave ordinary customers subsidizing Big Tech's power bills. Most chilling is the potential alliance between utilities and tech giants that threatens to derail much-needed utility reforms while entrenching fossil-fueled infrastructure.
Why housing is a pass/fail question for climate

1 month ago | volts.wtf | David Roberts

Why are housing and urban land use so central to climate policy? In this episode, I try to answer the question squarely, in dialogue with Matthew Lewis of California YIMBY. We discuss why EVs alone can't decarbonize transportation fast enough, how the climate-driven insurance crisis will bankrupt states, why the climate movement’s own internal NIMBYs are its greatest impediment, and when green philanthropists and leaders will finally catch up.