About this episode
Robert Bryce stops by the Energy News Beat and The Energy Question podcasts to discuss the energy crisis, blackouts, and their causes in Spain. This is a huge warning sign for the grid operators and hopefully a wake-up call. Join Robert, David Blackmon, and Stu Turley as we discuss the financial causes and impacts of this historic blackout. Highlights of the Podcast 00:01 – Introductions 01:36 – Cause of Spain’s Blackout 03:16 – Media Spin & Denial 05:27 – Pre-Warnings Ignored 08:31 – Comparison to Texas Blackouts 10:32 – Grid Stability Concerns in the US 12:37 – Microgrids and Energy Inequality 15:02 – Media Coverage Shifts 19:22 – Cybersecurity & Grid Hardware 22:00 – Transformer Shortage 25:13 – US Energy Policy & Nuclear Hope 28:16 – Global Nuclear Trends 30:04 – Germany’s Ideological Influence 32:50 – California as a National Risk 39:54 – Oil Demand Reality 41:02 – Nuclear as Only Viable Zero-Carbon Path 42:29 – Manufacturing & LNG Fleet Gaps 45:22 – Nuclear Bipartisanship Required 48:40 – Floating Nuclear as Export Model 53:06 – SMRs: Sizzle vs. Stake 56:27 – Closing Remarks