The Energy Question: Recent Episodes

David Blackmon

Discussions are a two-way street. This podcast is for all sides to have an open forum and share their opinions on fossil, renewable, nuclear, and all things energy.

View Details

  1. "Fueling America: 250 Years of Energy Innovation"Tom Hall introduces the Institute for Energy Research's special project celebrating America's 250th anniversary by highlighting the nation's leadership in energy innovation. Key points include:

  2. The U.S. has historically led in energy innovation (Drake well, Henry Ford, Wright brothers, first LNG terminal)

  3. Energy innovation has been a driver of progress, democracy, freedom, and prosperity
  4. The project focuses on prominent figures and innovators in the energy sector throughout American history

  5. Property Rights and American Energy ExceptionalismA critical distinction is made about why the U.S. is uniquely positioned as an energy producer:

  6. American property owners own subsurface mineral rights, unlike most countries where governments own them

  7. This uniquely American system of property rights, combined with the rule of law and common law system, has been fundamental to energy progress
  8. This explains why the U.S. leads in shale production while other countries (Bulgaria, England, Germany) don't

  9. Iran Crisis and Geopolitical StrategyExtensive discussion of the current conflict with Iran, including:

  10. A 47-year struggle with a radical regime that finances terrorism through oil revenues

  11. The blockade strategy as a way to starve the government of revenue without ground war
  12. The importance of preventing Iran from controlling the Strait of Hormuz
  13. The need for regime change (civilian government replacing the mullahs) for lasting success
  14. How U.S. energy strength (shale revolution, LNG exports) enables this policy

  15. Global Energy Market RealignmentThe conversation explores how the geopolitical situation is reshaping global energy:

  16. OPEC is effectively dead as a controlling force

  17. The U.S. is now the "swing producer"
  18. Expected shifts in oil trade flows and relationships
  19. UAE's withdrawal from OPEC signals the organization's decline
  20. Potential strategic alliance between Saudi Arabia and Israel

  21. Trump Administration's Energy Policy ImpactDiscussion of how Trump's policies are reshaping energy regulation:

  22. Repeal of Chevron deference and the EPA's 2009 endangerment finding

  23. These repeals dismantle the legal foundations of Obama and Biden energy restrictions
  24. Trump is described as "American energy unleashed"
  25. Broader policy shifts including border control and NATO burden-sharing

  26. Venezuela's Energy RecoveryAnalysis of Venezuela's potential return as an oil producer:

  27. Venezuela previously produced 3+ million barrels per day before Maduro/Chavez

  28. ExxonMobil is now exploring re-entry into the market
  29. Recovery would supply Gulf refineries with heavy crude
  30. This would increase U.S. exports and reshape oil markets
  31. Benefits would extend to Venezuelan people through economic improvement

  32. California's Energy CrisisDiscussion of California's self-inflicted energy problems:

  33. The state has transitioned from a major oil producer to being dependent on Middle East imports

  34. One-party rule has created policies that drove out oil companies (Chevron, Valero)
  35. Climate policies have merely exported emissions rather than reducing them globally
  36. Trump suspended the Jones Act to help alleviate the crisis
  37. The state serves as a cautionary tale of poor energy policy

  38. Broader Geopolitical RealignmentThemes about shifting international relationships:

  39. The U.S. is becoming more naturally aligned with countries like India than France

  40. European countries are moving toward authoritarian socialism and proving unreliable allies
  41. The Trump administration is reshuffling long-standing international arrangements (NATO, embassy moves, etc.)
  42. Focus on Western Hemisphere security (the "Don Roe doctrine")

This podcast presents a comprehensive view of how energy policy, geopolitics, and innovation intersect to shape global affairs.

Follow David on his Substack https://blackmon.substack.com/

View Details

This will be a great episode of the Energy Impacts Podcast with David Blackmon and his guest, Dan Doyal, author and President of Relliance Well Services. Buckle up as David and Dan will be covering the hard truth in the oil and gas markets. Live on LinkedIn and YouTube.

  1. Dan Doyle's Background in Oil & Gas

Dan shares his journey from college through various roles in the industry—starting with his father's well-drilling venture in the late 1970s, moving to Texas, experiencing the price crash of the 1980s, a brief detour into filmmaking, and eventually founding his own fracking company. This sets the context for his book "Of Roughnecks and Riches."

  1. Media Misrepresentation of the Oil & Gas Industry

A significant portion of the conversation focuses on how the industry has been negatively portrayed in popular media—from shows like Dallas to documentaries like "Gasland" (funded by the Park Foundation). They discuss Josh Fox's discredited documentary that falsely portrayed methane issues and how this shaped public perception. They contrast this with the more balanced portrayal in the TV show "Yellowstone."

  1. Environmental Policy & Political Ideology

The hosts discuss how hard-left environmental policies have created barriers to energy production, particularly in New York State, which has banned fracking despite the economic benefits seen in neighboring Pennsylvania. They critique how these policies disproportionately affect the poor and middle class through higher energy costs, while also preventing economic development.

  1. New York vs. Wyoming Regulatory Environments

A key comparison emerges between New York's ideologically-driven restrictions on energy production versus Wyoming's practical, business-friendly regulatory approach. They discuss how New York's ban on Marcellus shale extraction has created economic disparity compared to Pennsylvania, while Wyoming actively supports responsible oil and gas development.

  1. The Marcellus Pipeline Debate

They discuss the challenges of building a 150-mile pipeline to transport Marcellus gas to New England, which would reduce dependence on imported LNG from Russia and Algeria. New York's resistance to this project exemplifies the broader policy conflicts.

  1. Financial Stress in the Oil Business

Dan elaborates on the extreme financial volatility in oil and gas—dealing with dramatic price fluctuations, lease expiration pressures, and the stress of maintaining financing. He shares personal stories about the emotional and family toll of operating in such an uncertain industry.

  1. Aubrey McClendon & Industry Dynamics

They discuss the legendary wildcatter Aubrey McClendon, his aggressive leasing strategy during the Eagle Ford boom, and how gas price declines ultimately contributed to his downfall despite his vast acreage holdings.

  1. Book Publishing Challenges

Dan discusses the modern book publishing industry—the volume-based approach, the need for authors to actively promote their own work, and how the business has changed significantly. They also discuss the shift toward audiobooks as a primary consumption method.

Check out the book on Amazon https://a.co/d/03oXx4IJ

Connect with Dan on X @DanDoyleOil

Check out the Energy Absurdities Substack at https://blackmon.substack.com/

View Details

California is running on fumes, and the Federalization of Sable Offshore will only save part of the oil and gas industry. Will the Trump Administration step in and save California from itself? You won't want to miss this episode.

This ain’t your Cats and Dogs living with each other, this is a full-blown apocalypse about to happen.

This is a follow-up podcast to the one I had with Mike Ariza, and this time, David Blackmon and Professor Mike Mische are here to discuss the potential 7 Executive Orders that President Trump must enact to literally save the country.

This is an eye-opening discussion from Professor Mische and Mike Ariza, with real boots-on-the-ground information.

  1. California’s Energy Crisis & Supply Shortages

The discussion centers on a critical fuel shortage affecting California, including gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. This is driven by the shutdown of major refineries in the state, creating concerns about price spikes, supply disruptions, and impacts on transportation, agriculture, and military operations.

  1. Proposed Executive Orders & Defense Production Act

Experts have drafted seven executive orders that could be invoked under the Defense Production Act to address the crisis. These orders aim to:

Increase domestic oil and gas production

Reopen and support refineries

Override California’s regulatory authority for faster response

The discussion suggests these would likely withstand legal challenges

  1. National Security Implications

The conversation emphasizes broader security concerns, noting that California has historically been a major fuel supplier for the U.S. military and economy. The loss of refining capacity and increasing reliance on imports pose serious risks, especially in potential conflicts or global supply chain disruptions.

  1. Politics & Ideology in Energy Policy

The podcast discussion suggests California’s government has been unwilling or unable to address the crisis due to ideological priorities—particularly climate change policies—which have been prioritized over ensuring reliable and affordable energy supplies.

  1. Urgency & Consequences of Inaction

Experts emphasize the critical need for immediate intervention, warning of severe consequences, including fuel shortages, price spikes, economic disruption, and national security risks if action isn’t taken.

Connect with Professor Mische on his LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-a-mische-987b30a/

Connect with Mike Ariza on X https://x.com/MikeAriza4531

Important Story Links: California will be a national security risk for the entire country!

California Gasoline Supply Outlook: A Disaster in the Making https://californiaglobe.com/fr/california-gasoline-supply-outlook-a-disaster-in-the-making/

California’s Oil and Gas Crisis: From Military Threat to Mass Starvation

https://californiaglobe.com/fr/from-military-threat-to-mass-starvation/

EXCLUSIVE: Executive Orders for President Trump: Ensuring that US has Necessary Fuels from California to Provide US National Security

https://californiaglobe.com/fr/executive-orders-for-president-trump-ensuring-that-us-has-necessary-fuels-from-california-to-provide-us-national-security/

Check out my Substack: https://blackmon.substack.com/

View Details

David Blackmon stops by the Energy News Beat Stand Up - and we have way too much fun covering the top 10 Energy Stories.



Today’s show has a series of huge stories, and David Blackmon and I have way too much fun covering the wild energy stories going on around the world.

  1. Potential U.S. Acquisition of Karg IslandThe transcript discusses President Trump’s comments about Iran potentially handing the U.S. a “very big present” related to oil and gas. This appears to reference Karg Island, which is critical to Iran’s economy as it handles nearly 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports. The geopolitical implications of U.S. control over this strategic asset are explored.

President Donald Trump dropped a bombshell yesterday in the White House Oval Office: Iran just handed the United States a “very big present” worth a tremendous amount of money. It wasn’t nuclear-related, he stressed. It was “oil-and-gas-related” and tied directly to the flow through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump called it a “significant prize” that proves America is “dealing with the right people” in Tehran — and that Iran “wants to make a deal… very badly.”

The timing could not be more explosive. The Strait of Hormuz has been largely shuttered since the U.S.-Israeli campaign began on February 28, sending global oil prices soaring and choking off roughly 20% of the world’s traded crude. Yet Trump’s cryptic “gift” comment has energy markets buzzing with speculation: Did Washington just secure de facto control — or at least a major concession — over Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island?

Why Kharg Island Changes EverythingKharg Island, a tiny coral outcrop 20 miles off Iran’s coast, handles nearly 90% of Iran’s crude exports — about 1.5–1.7 million barrels per day before the war. U.S. forces already struck military targets there earlier this month, but left the oil infrastructure largely intact. Trump has talked for decades about seizing it. Now, with Marines from the 31st MEU and additional amphibious assets en route, the island sits at the center of every war-gaming scenario.

  1. Global Refinery Attacks and DisruptionsThere’s extensive coverage of refinery attacks occurring worldwide, affecting fuel supply and production capacity. The discussion includes a country-by-country breakdown of impacts in major oil-producing nations like Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Australia, highlighting how these disruptions ripple through global energy markets.

  2. Shifting Oil Price NarrativesThe transcript examines how market expectations have fundamentally changed—from predictions of an oil glut and lower prices to forecasts of sustained higher prices. Analysis from major financial institutions like Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan is referenced to support these shifting outlooks.

  3. Global Fertilizer and Agriculture CrisisThe potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz is discussed as a trigger for LNG supply disruptions, which would severely impact fertilizer production. Combined with Russia’s halt on ammonium nitrate exports, this threatens global food supply chains.

  4. California’s Energy VulnerabilitiesThe transcript covers Chevron’s warnings about a potential fuel crisis in California, driven by the Iran conflict and the state’s dependence on imported fuels. Legal and regulatory challenges around refinery closures and offshore oil production are also discussed.

  5. Additional Energy ConcernsBrief mentions of refinery explosions (Valero Port Arthur) and emerging cybersecurity risks related to electric vehicle batteries.

1.Iranian War May Have an Off Ramp – Did The US Just Get Kharg Island?

2.Refineries Under Attack Globally

3.On Oil Prices, Ther Narrative Shifts to ‘Higher for Longer-David Blackmon –Forbes

4.Global Fertilizer Crisis Deepens: Strait of Hormuz Closure, Diesel Shortages, and LNG Disruptions Threaten Agriculture and Food Security

5.Iran Gas Flow to Turkey Said to Stop After South Pars Strike

6.Chevron to Buy Oil from Sable Offshore for Californians

7.Chevron Warns California Risks Fuel Crisis Unless Iran War Eases

8.Valero Port Arthur Refinery Explosion Shuts Down 435,000 b/d Refinery

9.America’s superpower is natural gas.

10.Security experts concerned on potential harm of EV batteries

A shout-out to Steve Reese and the Reese Energy Consulting group for sponsoring the Podcast

https://reeseenergyconsulting.com/.

A shout-out to our New Sponsor, Data2 - We will be running an AI Centered Series and have lots of data rolling out!. https://www.data2.ai/resources/the-decision-lag-report

View Details

What a wild day on the Energy News Beat Stand Up. We have a special guest, David Blackmon, Forbes, Daily Caller, and Substack Author, and we have a blast.

Key points:

“Secretary Scott Bessent: President Trump is talking about, and to be clear, he has focused on Karg Island since 1988, before the Shaw fell, that the U.S. Should be focused on that. He is laser focused on it. As I said, there was a bombing campaign last week. The military assets on Karg island were destroyed. And the other thing I can tell you, if you’re an oil worker, you don’t want to work there. So all the oil workers there are being coerced to stay there. And we will see what happens with whether that eventually becomes a U.S. Asset.” -

If the US takes control of Kharg Island, the Venezuelan-style controls will be placed on Iran, and this will help bring peace to the Middle East.

  1. U.S. Energy Policy & Oil Price StabilizationThe transcript covers Energy Secretary Granholm's efforts to manage oil prices through various policy tools, including sanctions enforcement, strategic energy reserves, and regulatory waivers on Russian and Iranian oil imports.

  2. Middle East Energy Infrastructure ConflictsA significant focus is on military actions affecting energy infrastructure:

  3. Iran's South Pars Gas Field: Discussion of drone attacks by U.S. and Israeli forces targeting Iran's critical gas production facility

  4. Qatar's Pearl GTL Complex: Qatar's retaliatory strike on this LNG export facility, leading to force majeure declarations on LNG contracts

  5. Global LNG Supply DisruptionsThe disruption to Qatar's liquefied natural gas exports is presented as a major concern for global energy markets, with the U.S. unable to quickly fill the supply gap in the short term.

  6. State-Level Energy Transitions* Hawaii's LNG Initiative: Efforts to transition away from fuel oil for power generation by importing LNG from Japan

  7. California Offshore Production: Discussion of restarting offshore oil production and the challenges posed by refinery closures

  8. Domestic Oil ProductionCoverage of new oil and gas lease bids in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve as a strategy to increase domestic oil production capacity.

  9. Global Energy Market DynamicsOverarching concerns about supply shortages, price volatility, and the geopolitical challenges of replacing disrupted Middle Eastern energy supplies.

1.Secretary Scott Bessent has levers he can still pull to keep oil prices stable for a few weeks – Key Points from his Interview on Fox

2.South Pars Gas Field Strike: US-Israeli Drones Hit Iran’s Energy Lifeline – Production Hit, Markets Spike, and Tehran Targets Gulf Facilities in Retaliation

3.QatarEnergy’s Pearl GTL Complex Hit in Iranian Strike: Fires Rage at Ras Laffan – Critical Air Separation Units Likely Destroyed, Multi-Year Outage Expected

4.QatarEnergy Declares Force Majeure on LNG Contracts to Italy, Belgium, South Korea, and China: Shockwaves for Global Markets and a Major Boost for U.S. LNG Producers

5.Hawaii’s Gas Bid Advances on Japan Plan for Power Plant, Imports – It’s about time

6.National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska Has New Bids Opened

7.Black gold gushes into California as offshore bill kicks into gear following Trump executive order – But what good will it do?

8.Gasoline and Diesel Prices Are Going Up — What Are Trump’s Options to Lower Prices?

Check out The Energy News Beat Substack: https://theenergynewsbeat.substack.com/

Check out David Blackmon on https://blackmon.substack.com/

If you are looking for a data center spot, give them a call.

A shout-out to our sponsor, Reese Energy Consulting:https://reeseenergyconsulting.com/

View Details

This is a fun discussion with John Calce, Founder and Chairman of Element Fuels and America First Refining. This podcast is hosted by Stu Turley, Energy News Beat Host, and David Blackmon is the host of the Energy Impacts Podcast. Don't kid yourself, with the geopolitical issues around the world right now, this story is HUGE. A new refinery in the United States was built to refine the light, sweet crude oil from the Permian Basin. This is a gigantic win for Energy Security.

As the title says, "Texas Gets A Refinery - Energy Security Starts at Home - Energy Dominance is displayed through your exports." John hit it out of the park while talking about how much planning and export capacity are being planned.

Thank you, John, for your efforts, hard work, and getting this across the finish line. We will be reporting on this all along the way to help keep the excitement up.1. America First Refining's Brownsville Refinery ProjectThe central focus is John Kelsey's development of a major new oil refinery in Brownsville, Texas. Key aspects include:

  • Background: Kelsey's extensive experience in upstream oil and gas, particularly during the shale oil boom
  • The Problem: A critical mismatch between the light shale oil produced in the Permian Basin and existing U.S. refining infrastructure
  • The Solution: Building a new refinery specifically designed to process light shale oil
  • Timeline: A challenging 7-year permitting and approval process
  • Partnership: Collaboration with Indian conglomerate Reliance for financing and operations
  • Future Plans: Potential expansions into ammonia and fertilizer production

  • U.S. Energy Infrastructure & Market DynamicsThe discussion places the refinery project within the broader energy landscape:

  • Declining refining capacity in the U.S., particularly on the West Coast

  • The paradox of exporting light shale oil from Texas while importing refined products back into California
  • The role of policy and government support in energy infrastructure development

  • Economic & Regional Development ImpactThe project's implications for the Brownsville/Rio Grande Valley region:

  • Job creation and economic growth opportunities

  • Workforce development through partnerships with local universities and technical colleges
  • Infrastructure and logistics challenges related to port expansion and regional growth

Check out the American First Refining Company site: https://americafirstrefining.com/

John Calce's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-calce-28577014b/

Check out The Energy News Beat Substack: https://theenergynewsbeat.substack.com/

Check out David Blackmon on https://blackmon.substack.com/

View Details

Doomberg stops by the Energy Impacts and Energy News Beat podcasts to talk about the Global Oil and Gas Markets Update. Hosted by David Blackmon and Stu Turley, they have a rich history of having way too much fun talking about the energy, oil, and gas markets.

  1. Geopolitical Tensions & Iran-US Conflict

The transcript extensively covers the tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and the broader Iran-US conflict, examining how these tensions could disrupt global oil and gas supplies and reshape international relations.

  1. Global Energy Markets & Supply Disruption

A significant focus is placed on the potential impact of the conflict on energy markets, including:

Risk of oil and gas supply disruptions

Potential market fragmentation and regional energy markets

Development of alternative energy infrastructure to bypass the Strait of Hormuz

  1. International Power Dynamics

The discussion explores the growing influence of China and Russia in the Middle East, their support for Iran, and how the conflict could shift global geopolitical power structures.

  1. Media, Propaganda & Information

The transcript addresses challenges in reporting on the conflict, including:

The role of media narratives and propaganda

Difficulty in separating fact from misinformation

How information shapes public understanding

  1. Energy Transition & Infrastructure

Commentary on how the crisis might affect the transition to renewable energy, with perspectives that the conflict could actually accelerate investment in traditional energy infrastructure rather than renewables.

  1. Policy & Strategic Decision-Making

Analysis of strategies and decisions by key players, including the US government, Trump administration, and energy industry figures.

Check out The Energy News Beat Substack: https://theenergynewsbeat.substack.com/

Check out Doomberg at https://newsletter.doomberg.com/

Check out David Blackmon on https://blackmon.substack.com/

View Details

Tim Stewart stops by the Energy News Beat and Energy Impacts Podcasts

David Blackmon kicks off this joint podcast with Tim Stewart, President of the US Oil & Gas Association, and we have a wild discussion.

  1. Oil and Gas Industry Volatility The speakers examine the current unstable state of the oil and gas sector, focusing on fluctuating oil prices and their impact on companies and workers. They note how the industry is adapting differently than it did during the 1970s oil crisis.

  2. Middle East Geopolitical Tensions A significant portion of the discussion centers on regional instability, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, attacks on oil infrastructure, and the U.S. response. Iran’s involvement and international sanctions are also key points of discussion.

  3. California’s Energy Crisis The speakers address specific challenges in California’s energy sector, including refinery closures, companies relocating out of state, and how state energy policies are affecting the broader national energy landscape.

" So To my point is that from the national energy policy perspective, it wouldn't surprise me over the next six months if the energy department and department chairs start to become involved in California energy policy. It's going to make federalism a really interesting argument because it's a counterpoint, but it's got to be done. "

Tim Stewart, President, US Oil & Gas Association

  1. Government and Policy Involvement There’s substantial discussion about the federal government’s role in addressing energy challenges, potential federal intervention in state policies, and the relationship between the administration and Congress on energy matters.

  2. U.S. Energy Dominance and Geopolitical Strategy The speakers explore how current events are reshaping global energy markets, potential shifts in international trading relationships, and America’s strategic positioning based on its energy resources and influence.

  3. Industry Perception and Policy Challenges The discussion includes the oil and gas industry’s efforts to engage with policymakers, changing Congressional dynamics around energy policy, and the need for improved public understanding of the industry’s role and challenges.

01:41 Tim Stewart discusses the "Goldilocks zone" for oil prices

21:01 Tim predicts federal intervention in California energy policy

30:32 Cool Energy things

32:18 New trading blocs based on Energy policies

35:30 Tim Tim Stewart makes a strategic point about competing with Lloyd's of London

Check out my Substack: https://blackmon.substack.com/

View Details

The Energy News Beat Stand up is on a roll, and we have David Blackmon stop by to cover more of the stories. This podcast is pushed out on both platforms.

What a day on the news desk, Qatar shuts down LNG, and it will take a minimum of 4 to 6 weeks to fire back up to volume. The other huge story today is that Ukraine may have been the one to hit a Russian LNG tanker in the Mediterranean. Yes, you read that right - Mediterranean.

  1. Cutter's LNG Shutdown and Global Energy Impact The transcript discusses a major disruption in the global LNG market following Cutter's complete shutdown of liquefied natural gas operations after a drone attack on critical infrastructure. This has created significant supply shortages and affected Europe's energy security, with implications for Russia's gas export strategy.

  2. Middle East Conflict and Energy Infrastructure Attacks There's substantial discussion about escalating tensions in the Middle East, including Iranian missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabian and Qatari oil refineries and LNG terminals. These attacks have disrupted global energy supplies and raised concerns about the vulnerability of critical energy infrastructure in the region.

  3. Trump's New Shipping Insurance System The transcript covers President Trump's announcement of a U.S.-backed marine insurance system, which is positioned as a potential challenge to London's traditional dominance in global shipping insurance through Lloyd's of London.

  4. California Refinery Regulations Chevron's warning to California's Governor Newsom about proposed regulations by the California Air Resources Board is discussed, with concerns that these regulations could effectively shut down the state's remaining refineries.

  5. Energy Sector Stock Performance and Investment Analysis The transcript includes analysis of various energy-related stocks, including refineries, LNG companies, and oil and gas producers like Valero, Cheniere Energy, Enbridge, and Exxon Mobil, examining their earnings potential and investment timing.

1.Qatar Shuts Down LNG: What Does This Mean for Global Markets? What should US Investors look for?

2.Gulf Refineries and Terminals Under Fire by Iran: Escalation in the Middle East and Its Ripple Effects on Global Energy Markets

3.First LNG Tanker Hit in the Mediterranean: Escalation in Shadow Fleet Warfare

4.Chevron Warns of Irreversible Harm to California’s Economy and Energy Security in Letter to gov. Newsom

5.Nationwide Gas Prices Jump 11 Cents; California Still Leads with the Highest Gas Prices

6.California will be a national security risk for the entire country!

Shout out to Reese Energy Consulting https://reeseenergyconsulting.com/

Check out David's Substack at https://blackmon.substack.com/

Get your CEO on the #1 Energy Podcast in the United States: https://sandstoneassetmgmt.com/media/

Is oil and gas right for your portfolio?https://energynewsbeat.co/invest/

View Details

This was a wild discussion of the current global oil and gas markets with David Blackmon and Stu Turley. We covered stories from Energy News Beat and David's Substack.

If you only have time for one podcast, this may be it, as we cover the markets and critical issues on how long this may last.

  1. Oil and natural gas prices:
  2. David and I discussed the recent spike in oil and diesel prices, with oil prices increasing by around 14-15% over two days. The hosts analyze the potential reasons and implications of these price increases.
  3. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East:
  4. The discussion focuses on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil and LNG trade, and the potential disruptions to shipping in the region due to tensions and conflicts.
  5. The transcript covers the involvement of various countries, such as Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, in the regional dynamics and their potential impact on energy markets.
  6. Energy security and dependence:
  7. We discuss the concept of “energy security starts at home, but energy dominance starts at your exports,” highlighting the energy dependence of the European Union on Russian oil and gas.
  8. We also touch on the energy crisis in California and the challenges faced due to the shutdown of refineries and pipelines. And I am interviewing Ronald Stein on Monday to cover the latest crisis in California.
  9. U.S. foreign policy and geopolitics:
  10. The transcript delves into the Trump administration’s foreign policy actions, particularly in relation to Iran and Venezuela, and their potential impact on global energy markets and China’s influence.
  11. The hosts also discuss the shifting geopolitical alliances and the potential for Russia to improve its relationship with the United States.
  12. U.S. domestic politics and energy policy:
  13. The discussion touches on the upcoming elections in the U.S., particularly the Republican primary race in Texas, and the potential implications for energy policy and regulation.
  14. The hosts also criticize the current Republican leadership in the Senate for not taking decisive action on energy-related legislation.
  15. Electricity pricing and grid resilience:
  16. The transcript delves into the issues surrounding the pricing of electricity, particularly the need to redefine the levelized cost of electricity for renewable energy sources to include the cost of storage and grid resilience.

Starmer to Trump: “You Have No Plan.” Trump Replies: “Have You Been Following Venezuela’s Story?”At What Price Will the EU Open Russian Gas and Oil Pipelines?The Price for Oil May Go Up If the Bypass Pipelines Are Hit, and If Ship Insurance Is Not ApprovedHow Long Can China Survive After Losing Venezuela and Iraq’s Discounted Oil Supplies?California will be a national security risk for the entire country!Qatar Halts LNG Production, and the European and Asia Markets RespondCheck out David's Substack at https://blackmon.substack.com/

Get your CEO on the #1 Energy Podcast in the United States: https://sandstoneassetmgmt.com/media/

Is oil and gas right for your portfolio?https://energynewsbeat.co/invest/

View Details

The repeal of the Climate Power Grab by the Trump Administration brings up a lot of questions, and we cover a lot of them today. This podcast went out live on X, YouTube, and LinkedIn on both the Energy News Beat and Energy Impacts Podcasts with Stu Turley and David Blackmon hosting.

Dr. Matthew Wielcki has a large X reach, and his substack is fantastic; we highly recommend subscribing.

The main topics discussed in this Podcast are:

Throughout the conversation, the overarching theme is the critique of the scientific and policy narratives surrounding climate change, with the guest arguing that the observational data and economic realities do not support the alarmist claims and the resulting policy responses.

1. The EPA Endangerment Finding

The conversation centers on the 2009 EPA Endangerment Finding that declared greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health. The guest argues this finding was "precooked" without proper review and has become the legal foundation for numerous climate regulations under the Obama and Biden administrations. The recent rescission of this finding could undermine the legal standing of these policies.

2. Global Temperature Record Reliability

There's significant discussion about concerns regarding the accuracy and transparency of global temperature data. The guest raises allegations about data manipulation and suppression of historical heat wave data, arguing this lack of trust in temperature records undermines the scientific basis for climate policies.

3. Observed vs. Predicted Climate Impacts

They talk about examining observational data on extreme weather, hurricanes, and sea level rise, with the guest arguing that actual observed impacts don't match the dire predictions made by climate models. This discrepancy is presented as evidence questioning the validity of the underlying climate projections.

4. Economic and Social Costs of Climate Policies

A major focus is the negative impacts of climate policies, including increased energy prices, reduced affordability, and harm to developing nations. The discussion also touches on the "climate industrial complex" and how perpetuating climate crisis narratives maintains funding and business opportunities.

5. Nuclear Power as a Solution

The guest advocates for nuclear power as a key solution for reliable, low-emission baseload electricity, contrasting this with the focus on intermittent renewables and discussing regulatory and political barriers to modern nuclear development.

The overarching theme is a critique of climate change narratives, arguing that observational data and economic realities don't support alarmist claims and resulting policies.

On X. @MatthewWielicki

Check out the Irrational Fear on Substack: https://irrationalfear.substack.com/

Check out David Blackmon's Substack https://blackmon.substack.com/

View Details

Doomberg stops by the Energy News Beat and Energy Impacts podcast with Stu Turley and David Blackmon. We are going to cover some of Doomberg's current articles, including the Energy Crisis in California, and the Global Oil and Gas market update. We will be live on X, YouTube, and LinkedIn

The main topics and themes discussed in this podcast are:

  1. The energy crisis in California:

  2. The transcript discusses the emerging energy crisis in California, particularly in Northern California. It highlights how the state's regulatory policies have led to the closure of major refineries, creating a fuel supply shortage.

  3. The discussion covers the potential consequences of this crisis, including the possibility of $10 per gallon gasoline and the impact on the broader West Coast region.

  4. The transcript also touches on the national security implications of California's energy dependence and the need for a more resilient energy infrastructure.

  5. Politics and policy:

  6. The transcript delves into the political dynamics surrounding energy policy, including the potential impact of the SAVE Act on voter ID requirements and the role of the Republican and Democratic parties in Washington.

  7. It also discusses the implications of the removal of the EPA's endangerment finding for CO2 and the potential for policy whiplash depending on the outcome of future elections.

  8. The discussion touches on the potential presidential ambitions of California Governor Gavin Newsom and the challenges he may face in the Democratic primary.

  9. Energy markets and geopolitics:

  10. The transcript explores the EU's "grid socialism" plan and its potential impact on energy prices and grid stability across Europe.

  11. It also discusses the potential implications of the EU's proposed carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) on US LNG exports and the geopolitical dynamics surrounding energy trade.

  12. The discussion includes an analysis of the Bloomberg article on a purported Russian memo seeking to rejoin the US dollar system, which the speaker dismisses as likely false.

  13. Doomberg and media analysis:

  14. The transcript provides insights into the Doomberg brand, its approach to analysis and publishing, and its plans for expansion, including a forthcoming book project.

  15. It also touches on the challenges of being a media guest and the importance of maintaining brand consistency, particularly in relation to thumbnail images and headlines.

Overall, we cover a wide range of energy-related topics, with a focus on the interplay between policy, geopolitics, and market dynamics, as well as the role of media analysis and commentary in shaping the energy discourse.

1. California's Energy Crisis

The transcript extensively covers an emerging energy crisis in Northern California, driven by regulatory policies that have led to refinery closures and fuel supply shortages. Key concerns include potential price spikes (up to $10 per gallon gasoline), regional impacts across the West Coast, and national security implications related to energy dependence and infrastructure resilience.

2. Energy Policy & Politics

The discussion examines the political landscape surrounding energy policy, including:

  • The SAVE Act and voter ID requirements

  • The EPA's endangerment finding for CO2 and its removal

  • Policy volatility depending on election outcomes

  • Governor Newsom's potential presidential ambitions and Democratic primary challenges

3. Energy Markets & Geopolitics

This section explores international energy dynamics:

  • The EU's "grid socialism" plan and its effects on energy prices and grid stability

  • The EU's carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) and its impact on US LNG exports

  • Geopolitical dimensions of energy trade

  • Analysis of claims about Russia and the US dollar system

4. Doomberg Brand & Media Analysis

The transcript discusses the Doomberg media brand, including:

  • Its analytical approach and publishing strategy

  • Expansion plans and upcoming book projects

  • Challenges of media appearances and maintaining brand consistency

  • The importance of visual presentation (thumbnails, headlines) in media

Chapters:

01:32 California Energy Crisis

10:21 Military Bases in California

12:57 filibuster and problems with elections

16:12 Endangerment of CO2 findings and its impact

21:12 EU grid interconnect problems and energy crisis

28:25 is the war with Ukraine about to end?

31:46 publications in the EU

36:00 Orban and his re-election

47:46 Upcoming topics around copper

Check out Doomberg on his Substack: https://newsletter.doomberg.com/

Check out for Stu Turley on The Energy News Beat Substack: https://theenergynewsbeat.substack.com/

For David Blackmon https://blackmon.substack.com/

View Details

You will not want to miss this episode of the Energy Impacts Podcast with David Blackmon and his special guest, Tom Holm, Executive Director for the Energy Defense Council. We will be covering significant changes underway in the nuclear industry and how they will be implemented.

The main topics discussed in this Podcast are:

  1. The role and work of the Energy Defense Council (EDC), an organization focused on improving energy resilience and energy dominance for the U.S. military. Tom Holm, the executive director of EDC, explains how the organization was founded and its key objectives.

  2. The challenges faced by military bases in terms of energy supply and reliability, including issues like rolling blackouts. Holm discusses how EDC is working to address these problems.

  3. The potential use of micro-nuclear reactors and small modular reactors (SMRs) to provide power for military bases. Holm explains the benefits of this technology and the efforts to accelerate its deployment on military installations.

  4. The need to rebuild and re-industrialize America's manufacturing capabilities, especially for critical components and materials required for energy technologies and national defense. Holm emphasizes the importance of reducing reliance on foreign suppliers.

  5. The changes in the current administration's approach, including executive orders and new funding mechanisms, that are enabling faster development and deployment of energy solutions for the military. Holm highlights the increased sense of urgency and willingness to take non-traditional approaches.

  6. The role of the Tevcon conference, organized by EDC, which brings together military leaders, government officials, and industry innovators to identify challenges and solutions related to energy, vehicles, and other technologies for the military.

Connect with Tom on his LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-holm-43a952263/

Check out David's Substack here: https://blackmon.substack.com/

View Details

You won't want to miss this episode of the Energy Impacts podcast with Jim Welty, President of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, as we gear up to talk about the global Natural Gas markets. We are covering the impact on the US consumers and manufacturing growth. We will be live on LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.

The main topics discussed in this Podcast are:

  1. The importance of natural gas in providing reliable energy during extreme winter weather conditions, particularly in the Marcellus Shale region and the PJM grid.

Jim Welty discusses how natural gas generation has been crucial in ensuring electricity and heating supply during recent cold snaps, with natural gas providing around 40% of the PJM grid's generation. He contrasts this with the issues faced in the ISO New England region, where fuel switching to oil was required due to insufficient natural gas supply.

  1. The challenges of building energy infrastructure, particularly pipelines, in the Northeastern United States.

The transcript discusses how policies and regulations have hindered the development of pipelines like the Constitution Pipeline, which would have helped supply natural gas from the Marcellus Shale to the Northeast. This has led to the region relying on more expensive and higher-emission energy sources.

  1. The growth of data centers and the role of natural gas in powering this new economy.

The discussion covers the significant investment and development of data centers and AI facilities in Pennsylvania, and how natural gas is well-positioned to meet the growing energy demands of this sector in a reliable and cost-effective manner.

  1. The clean credentials of natural gas from the Marcellus Shale region, especially in comparison to other global suppliers.

The transcript highlights how natural gas from the Marcellus Shale has the lowest methane intensity of any major gas-producing region, making it an attractive option for European and other international markets seeking to reduce emissions.

  1. The political and policy challenges faced by the natural gas industry, particularly in navigating the push for renewable energy sources.

The discussion touches on the tensions between the natural gas industry and policymakers who are promoting renewable energy, even when it may not be the most practical or reliable solution in certain regions and applications.

Check out Jim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-welty-336b77105/

Check out the articles on David Blackmon's Substack. https://blackmon.substack.com/

View Details

As we roll into the midterms, the Democrats are already rolling out "Affordability" as a key battle cry. Well, the facts show that the average blue state pays an estimated 37% more for electricity than the average red state.

This podcast went out on the Energy Impacts Podcast with David Blackmon and the Energy News Beat Podcast with Stu Turley. Tom Pyle, the CEO of the Institute for Energy Research, lays out the article linked below, and it is very clear. Energy Policies account for the greatest increases in energy costs.

The main topics discussed in this podcast are:

  1. Electricity and energy prices in the United States, particularly the higher costs in "blue" (Democratic-leaning) states compared to "red" (Republican-leaning) states. The transcript discusses a report by the Institute for Energy Research called "Blue States High Rates" that analyzes this trend.

  2. The impact of renewable energy policies and mandates, such as renewable portfolio standards, on electricity prices. The transcript argues that these policies, combined with the forced closure of traditional baseload power sources like coal and nuclear, have driven up costs in certain states.

  3. The challenges faced by states like California and New York in maintaining reliable and affordable energy supplies due to their aggressive climate and renewable energy policies. The transcript discusses issues like the closure of refineries, reliance on imported energy, and the difficulties in building new natural gas pipelines.

  4. The role of the federal government, particularly the Trump administration, in energy policy decisions and their impact on electricity prices. This includes topics like the EPA's endangerment finding and the potential benefits of rescinding it.

  5. The broader political and ideological divide between "red" and "blue" states on energy and climate policy, and how this translates into differences in electricity affordability for consumers.

Check out the Substack article https://blackmon.substack.com/

01:25 Intro to the main topic of Blue State and High Rates

02:23 Tom Pyle, breaks down the report

07:16 Wind and solar in Texas

08:43 Graphic on costs in blue vs. red states

14:25 transmission lines and costs

17:24 California and its Energy Crisis

21:02 Energy Policy defines electricity rates

26:54 Jones Act and LNG Tankers

37:33 Carbon Taxes and Net Zero

energynewsbeat #netzero #democrats

Connect with Tom on his LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasjpyle/

Check out the IER Institute for Energy Research https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/the-grid/blue-states-high-rates/

View Details

Time Stamps:

01:57 Doomberg: Where is the oil glut

06:05 China is buying oil, and are they preparing for war?

12:50 Venezuela and the oil impact

26:11 Canada and great subscribers

41:58 Doomberg's methodology

This was a fun podcast with our favorite Green Chicken, Doomberg, and we hit it out of the park. Buckle up and enjoy the show.

Doomberg does not hold anything back, and we have some real topics rolling out. I got really tickled by Doomberg and David Blackmon making a bet on whether President Trump would invade Greenland. I would enjoy paying for a steak dinner with Doomberg and David, so it does not matter to me.

Here are the key points we cover.

  1. The current state of the global oil and gas markets, including the “glut” or oversupply of oil and gas, and the factors contributing to this situation, such as the rise of shale production in the US.

  2. The potential impact of the political situation in Venezuela on the oil and gas industry, including the challenges of restoring production and the legal/financial claims against Venezuela’s oil assets.

  3. Speculation around potential geopolitical actions by the Trump administration, such as annexing Greenland or intervening in other countries in the Western Hemisphere to secure energy resources.

  4. Analysis of the political dynamics and power structures in Washington, with the discussion of the “uniparty” and the lack of meaningful ideological differences between Republicans and Democrats.

  5. Commentary on the energy policies and actions of political figures like Gavin Newsom and the potential impact on energy supply and prices. California poses a national security risk to the U.S., but don’t rule out Gavin, as he could be in the running if we don’t fix our elections and adopt same-day paper ballots.

Thanks again to our patrons, subscribers, and readers on all of our platforms.

Please reach out and subscribe to Doomberg at https://newsletter.doomberg.com/

A lateral-thinking approach to energy, finance, and geopolitics | Subscribe below for free previews of new articles | Click through to our About page for pricing and FAQ.

View Details

Wasif Latif, Co-Founder, President & Chief Investment Officer at Sarmaya Partners, stops by the Energy News Beat and Energy Impacts Podcasts - With Stu Turley, and David Blackmon for an in-depth look at the global oil and gas financial markets.

  1. The performance and investment strategy of the Sarmaya Partners ETF called "Lens". Wasif Latif, the co-founder and CIO of Sarmaya Partners, discusses how the Lens ETF has performed very well since its launch, up over 50%, by investing in stocks and commodities related to the "return to tangibles" investment theme.

  2. The outlook for the energy and commodities markets, including oil, natural gas, copper, and precious metals like gold and silver. Latif believes there is a looming supply deficit in these commodities due to underinvestment, which will lead to higher prices in the coming years.

  3. The challenges and limitations of the renewable energy transition, particularly the reliance on technologies like lithium-ion batteries that have significant constraints. Latif argues the transition to renewable energy will take much longer than commonly projected.

  4. The geopolitical tensions and supply disruptions impacting energy and commodity markets, such as the recent incidents involving tankers and oil platforms. Latif discusses how these short-term events are often "noise" that don't change the underlying supply and demand fundamentals.

  5. The broader macroeconomic and policy environment, including high inflation, rising interest rates, and increased government intervention, which Latif believes will be favorable for tangible assets and commodities over the long term.

00:00 Intro Return to Tangibles

01:11 ETF LENS is by Sarmaya Partners

03:35 Is the world oversupplied with oil

06:10 Geopolitical Risk to Oil

07:09 Shale Boom and Break-even for Oil

10:06 Companies looking for exploration locations

11:38 Policy impacting prices

16:58 Market Cycles

20:21 Markets like Copper

23:42 Global Markets and deindustrialization

27:15 Grid complexities of AC vs DC

28:56 Renewables impact on Energy

37:30 Investing and day trading

41:45 Recycling and Copper

48:20 Nuclear and AI

Follow Wasif on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/wasiflatif/

Check out https://sarmayapartners.com/

Check out the Substack: https://sarmayakar.substack.com/

Check everything David Blackmon on Blackmon.substack.com

View Details

Doomberg stops by the Energy News Beat and the Energy Impacts Podcast with Stu Turley and David Blackmon. Doomberg is a global leader in energy and finance, and we have had several wild, fun podcasts with Doomberg. You will want to ask questions if you are paying attention to the energy and finance markets.

0:00 Intro Doomberg

01:56 Doomberg on the UK and energy crisis

06:28 Doomberg on the Labor Party

12:01 Doomberg on the Russian-Ukrainian War

14:37 Zelensky won the election, but may not be viable in peace talks

25:39 California and Gov Newsom Energy Crisis

31:56 Doomberg says Gov. Newsom is a talented politician; don't underestimate him.

38:14 US Dollar financial system and the petro dollar

43:13 Global debt

45:54 Secretary Chris Wright

53:41 Doomberg on data centers sitting on top of power sources

A special thanks to Doomberg for stopping by and check out his substack on https://newsletter.doomberg.com/

View Details

In this episode of Energy Impacts, host David Blackmon sits down with David Malpass, former head of the World Bank Group, for an insightful discussion on U.S.–China trade relations, rare earth supply chains, and the global energy landscape. Malpass shares his perspective on rebuilding American manufacturing, the real costs of climate policies, and how energy independence will shape future economic growth. From Bill Gates’ shift on climate strategy to the critical role of nuclear power and data centers, this conversation dives deep into the policies and innovations driving the world’s energy future.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:01 - Introduction

01:54 - David Malpass’ Career Journey

04:18 - Trump-Xi Trade Agreement on Rare Earths

08:02 - Agricultural Trade and U.S. Competitiveness

10:54 - Contrasting the Trump and Biden Administrations

14:14 - The U.S. Rare Earth Supply Chain Challenge

19:41 - China’s Strategic Dominance in Manufacturing

23:19 - Bill Gates’ Shift on Climate Change

28:16 - The Real Cost of Climate Policies

32:53 - Electric Vehicle Industry Pitfalls

36:51 - Building U.S. Energy Independence

42:22 - Competing with China’s Scale and Control

45:28 - ESG Investing and Policy Shifts

46:34 - The Role of Nuclear Power in Energy Security

50:17 - Data Centers Driving Energy Demand

53:47 - Closing Thoughts

View Details

Doomberg stops by the Energy News Beat and Energy Impacts Podcast with Stu Turley and David Blackmon. Doomberg lays out the massive topic of trade wars with China, and the global impact on the fiancial markets. What are investors and consumers thinking?

Highlights of the Podcast

00:01 – Introduction

01:43 – China’s Rare Earth Monopoly and Trade War Signals

07:17 – U.S. Response and Administrative Inaction

10:40 – Reactions to Global Trade Developments

14:17 – U.S. Efforts to Break Rare Earth Dependence

15:53 – U.S. Manhattan Project for Supply Chains

20:13 – Regulatory Hurdles and Mining Challenges

22:40 – Global Bifurcation and Emerging Trade Blocks

25:24 – Russia, Ukraine, and the Changing Global Order

34:13 – Media Narratives and Propaganda

38:31 – Drone Warfare and Shifting Military Power

42:16 – Venezuela, the Monroe Doctrine, and U.S.-China Rivalry

46:08 – Europe’s Energy Crisis and Deindustrialization

53:17 – Alaska, Energy Development, and Infrastructure Delays

55:05 – Closing Thoughts and New Project Plug

View Details

Josh Young from Bision Interests stops by, and we discuss with David Blackmon and Stu Turley. Numerous changes are currently occurring in the energy markets, and we sit down to discuss the political, geopolitical, and other significant developments that the investment community needs to be aware of.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:01 – Introduction

00:44 – Josh introduces Bison Interests and Bison Insights

06:00 – Discussion on new oil sanctions and market effects

11:30 – Trade and tariffs – U.S., Canada, Japan relations

19:00 – Rare earths and China’s leverage

25:30 – Economic deregulation and energy demand

31:54 – OPEC, Saudi production, and spare capacity

37:00 – Russia, Venezuela, and Middle East relations

46:30 – U.S. defense, alliances, and America First debate

52:00 – Europe’s natural gas dilemma and net zero failure

59:30 – Japan’s JERA gas deal and corporate strategy

1:04:30 – Energy companies shifting away from renewables

1:07:00 – Canada, UK, and future of Western trade

1:15:30 – Tech firms buying into gas assets and energy security

1:35:33 – Episode wrap-up

View Details

Mike Umbro stops by the Energy News Beat Podcast and the Energy Impacts Podcasts with Stu Turley and David Blackmon co-hosting. This is a huge issue in California for National Security. Is opening Kern County going to be enough to keep gas prices down? Is the sudden turn from Gavin Newsom enough to save the California consumer?

Highlights of the Podcast

00:01 - Introduction

02:25 - California’s Policy Failures Under Newsom

03:41 - Drilling Permits and Production Challenges

05:16 - Regulatory Red Tape and Permitting Delays

07:10 - California’s Pipeline Crisis

09:28 - Oil Seeps and Environmental Misconceptions

11:37 - Refinery Closures and National Security Risks

15:38 - Import Dependence and Foreign Control

16:44 - The Best Rock, the Worst Policy

17:36 - Ignoring Science for Political Agendas

19:58 - Political Landscape

22:02 - Shutting Down Productive Oil Fields

24:58 - Hope for Change and Leadership

26:31 - Mike’s Encounter with Governor Doug Burgum

31:18 - The Root of California’s Crisis: Activist Control

33:44 - Reforming the System: IRS and Nonprofit Abuse

35:46 - The Need for Transparency and True Innovation

39:04 - America’s Energy Independence vs. China’s Influence

42:18 - California’s Solar Subsidy Myth

45:10 - Wind and Solar: Hidden Environmental Liabilities

45:59 - Lithium Battery Hazards and Waste Mismanagement

47:49 - Closing Thoughts and Call to Action

View Details

Josh Young, Portfolio Manager at Bison Interests, stops by the Energy News Beat and Energy Impacts Podcasts with Stu Turley and David Blackmon for an in-depth look at the global oil and gas financial markets. In this powerful discussion, the trio dives into the latest developments shaping the energy landscape, from OPEC+ production strategies and Russia’s role in global supply, to California’s refinery challenges and the growing demand for natural gas driven by AI and data centers.

Josh also shares valuable insights from his work at Bison Interests and Bison Insights Substack, exploring investment trends, ESG’s real impact on the energy sector, and what the future could hold for oil and gas prices. Whether you’re an investor, energy professional, or just someone wanting to understand the forces behind the markets, this episode offers a sharp, candid look at what’s next for the global energy economy.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:00 – Opening & Introductions

04:08 – Bison Interests & Building Bison Insights

08:04 – Global Oil Markets & Russia’s Influence

13:14 – OPEC+ Spare Capacity Debate

20:49 – California Energy Policy & Refinery Fires

33:08 – ESG, Corporate Governance & Oil Majors

41:35 – Layoffs at Imperial Oil & Corporate Culture

44:57 – U.S. Industry Leadership & Historical Parallels

47:17 – Methane Leakage, NGOs & Policy Critique

55:01 – AI, Data Centers & Natural Gas Demand

01:02:47 – Power Generation & Gas Turbine Shortages

01:05:26 – Government Shutdown Impacts

01:10:52 – Nuclear Energy Stocks & Market Bubble

01:15:34 – Market Rally & Economic Insights

View Details

This episode takes a closer look at what’s really behind today’s energy transition. David Blackmon talks with energy analyst Ronald Stein about why oil and refineries still matter so much from powering transportation and hospitals to producing the products we use every day. They discuss how wind and solar create electricity but can’t yet replace the thousands of items built from oil derivatives.

They also touch on California’s refinery closures, the shift of energy companies to other states, and what these changes could mean for the economy and national security. With a global perspective on refining and “net zero” goals, the conversation offers a grounded look at the challenges and trade-offs of moving to renewable energy.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:00 – Introduction & Background

01:30 – Energy Literacy & Products from Oil

05:40 – Refinery Closures & National Security Concerns

08:30 – Newsom Policies & Lack of Backup Plans

12:55 – Industry Migration & Economic Impact

17:30 – Aging Refineries & Offshoring

21:46 – Global Refining & Misunderstood Net Zero Goals

27:43 – Closing Thoughts & Call for Conversations

View Details

Dark Money of NGOs pouring millions into climate alarm propaganda, and how are they impacting energy policy? You will not want to miss this episode of Energy Impacts with David Blackmon, as he sits down with Jason Isaac, Founder and CEO of the American Energy Institute, to discuss the substantial amount of money and its impact on consumers.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:11 – Introduction

01:58 – Jason Isaac’s Background

05:30 – Industry Leadership & Chris Wright

07:02 – Dark Money in NGOs

09:15 – Ceres & Energy Foundation China

10:55 – Climate Judiciary Project

12:17 – Biased Lawsuits

12:51 – Media Propaganda Funding

14:05 – UN, World Bank, and Financial Controls

14:41 – Limits of Renewables & Battery Storage

16:56 – Texas Grid Concerns

20:51 – Industry Timidity

22:42 – Pushback Against Net Zero & ESG

26:15 – China Opposes Endangerment Finding Rescission

27:19 – Closing & Call to Action

View Details

David Blackmon sits down with Matt Whitlock, creator of The 10-Minute Drill, to talk about making sense of today’s fast-moving news cycle. They cover topics like dark money in politics, climate-related lawsuits, foreign influence on U.S. energy, and how the media often misreads Trump. The conversation also touches on Congress, Orrin Hatch’s legacy, and what Whitlock aims to do with his daily news updates.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:00 - Introduction

01:34 - Creating the 10-Minute Drill

04:22 - Trump, Media, and Misunderstanding

08:32 - The Web of Dark Money

11:45 - Climate Judiciary Project

16:43 - Honolulu Case & Lawfare Strategy

18:39 - Foreign Influence on U.S. Energy Policy

20:32 - Rumors About Trump’s Health

23:11 - Congress Back in Session

26:52 - Right Track/Wrong Track Numbers

29:09 - Closing & Where to Find 10-Minute Drill

View Details

Critical policy and legislative action in Oil and Gas from the Independent Petroleum Association of America stops by the Energy Impacts and the Energy News Beat Podcasts with David Blackmon and Stu Turley. We have Dan Naatz and Mallori Miller from the IPAA to cover everything that is going on in the oil and gas industry, and what they are seeing rolling out, impacting investors, operators, and consumers.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:10 - Introduction

01:35 - About IPAA

05:19 - Policy Shifts Under Trump Administration 2.0

07:50 - Methane Tax Fight

09:07 - New Leadership in Key Agencies

12:03 - Senate Gridlock & Appointments

14:44 - Permitting Council & Reform

19:06 - EPA & Regulatory Issues

21:36 - Federal vs. State Relations

24:43 - Possible Reconciliation Bill

26:33 - Budget Battles & Permitting Reform

27:34 - Gas vs. Oil Drilling Trends

29:16 - Denver Data Center Example

31:12 - Scale of the Energy Challenge

32:07 - Closing Remarks

View Details

In this episode of Energy Impacts, David Blackmon speaks with energy expert Robert Bryce and South Carolina resident Cheryl Lane, who is fighting a 4,300-acre solar project being built behind her home. Cheryl shares how she uncovered the project’s scope, challenged permits, and launched multiple legal battles to protect her land, community, and local wildlife from environmental harm. They discuss how large-scale solar developments often target low-income rural areas, bypass environmental reviews, strain infrastructure, and displace wildlife—all while being promoted as “green.”

Highlights of the Podcast

00:00 – Introduction

01:24 – Cheryl’s Battle Against a Massive Solar Farm

04:24 – Targeting Low-Income Rural Areas

06:56 – Avoiding Environmental Review

07:42 – Delaying the Project

09:26 – Parallel Stories Across the Country

13:47 – Legal Battles on Multiple Fronts

18:38 – Limited Financial Resources

20:03 – Wildlife & Environmental Concerns

25:09 – Cultural & Historical Preservation Issues

27:09 – Lessons from Fighting Other Projects

29:52 – Infrastructure Ill-Prepared for Construction Impact

31:43 – Destruction of Forest and Endangered Species

33:27 – Robert Confirms Developer’s Background

35:08 – Double Standards in Environmental Activism

37:18 – Hidden Project Components

39:54 – Final Encouragement & Advice

42:10 – Closing Remarks

View Details

In this episode of Energy Impacts, David Blackmon talks with Dustin Van Liew, Senior VP of Global Policy at Energeo Alliance, about how geoscience supports offshore energy projects and the policy hurdles that come with it. Van Liew explains the importance of seismic surveys for oil, gas, and offshore wind, addresses common misconceptions about their impact on marine life, and shares his thoughts on Representative Nick Begich’s effort to modernize the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The discussion centers on making the permitting process more efficient, cutting through overlapping regulations, and ensuring environmental safeguards are upheld while allowing responsible energy development to move forward.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:08 - Introduction

00:39 - About Energeo Alliance

02:00 - Membership Composition

03:24 - Offshore Wind & Geoscience

04:09 - Marine Mammal Concerns & Misinformation

05:17 - Modernizing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)

09:46 - Overly Broad “Harassment” Definition

11:20 - “Small Numbers” Clause

14:13 - Science-Based Decision Making

15:49 - MMPA & ESA Duplication

20:11 - Administrative vs. Legislative Fixes

22:53 - Next Steps for Begich’s Bill

27:35 - Closing

#OffshoreEnergy #EnergyPolicy #MarineConservation

View Details

Jim Welty, President of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, joins David Blackmon to explore how Appalachian natural gas is driving energy innovation, powering the AI revolution, and reshaping U.S. infrastructure and global exports. From pipeline challenges to record-breaking investments in Pennsylvania, they discuss the critical role of domestic energy in ensuring economic growth, environmental gains, and national security.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:01 - Introduction

02:03 - Jim Welty's Background

05:23 - Pipeline Infrastructure and Energy Costs

07:32 - $92 Billion AI & Energy Project in Pittsburgh

10:28 - In-Basin Energy Utilization vs Pipeline Challenges

12:04 - LNG Export Reality

13:45 - The Myth of “End of Cheap Gas”

15:31 - Vast Natural Gas Reserves

17:31 - Declining Rig Count ≠ Declining Production

19:30 - AI's Impact on Energy Sector

21:38 - U.S. Natural Gas: A Global Advantage

23:58 - Industry Leaders Taking the Mic

27:23 - Closing Remarks

View Details

You will not want to miss this interview with Michelle Manook, CEO of FutureCoal, who stops by the Energy Impacts podcast with David Blackmon. This is a significant interview, as there are major changes in the grid and energy demand underway, and Michelle will be able to break down how coal is poised to face the challenges ahead.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:01 – Introduction

01:26 – What is Future Coal?

03:49 – Governments, Industry, and Finance Must Unite

04:55 – Australian Coal Reality Check (Video Clip)

05:47 – The Reality of Coal Demand

09:16 – The Shift in Public and Media Tone

10:19 – Coal’s Reputation and Finance Industry Retreat

13:18 – Open Letter: Fund Fair, Fund Equal

16:59 – Sustainable Coal Stewardship

19:37 – Energy Poverty in Europe

22:46 – Repercussions of the Green Energy Rush

25:17 – Why Future Coal is Expanding in Southern Africa

29:19 – Will the U.S. Return to Coal Plants?

32:53 – Energy Mix: Focus on What Works

33:22 – Closing Remarks

View Details

John Shively, CEO of Pebble Partnership, and operator of the Alaska Pebble Mine Project. With a focus on Energy Dominance.

John Shively joins the Energy Impacts Podcast to talk about the decades-long effort to permit the Pebble Mine in Alaska. He shares insights on the mine's massive copper and mineral potential, environmental concerns around Bristol Bay’s salmon fishery, and how federal permitting delays and reliance on foreign processing especially from China impact U.S. energy security. Shively also discusses what makes Alaska so uniquely valuable and why permitting reform is key to unlocking its resources.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:01 - Intro and Background

03:10 - Why Pebble Mine Matters

05:57 - Mineral Resources at Pebble

09:14 - China’s Grip on Mineral Processing

14:08 - Environmental Concerns and Salmon

19:12 - Permitting, Courts, and Political Barriers

25:23 - Alaska’s Potential or Decline

28:26 - Closing Thoughts

View Details

You won't want to miss this special episode of the Energy Impacts podcast with David Blackmon. Emily Domeech is the Chairperson for the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council in the Trump Administration. With the push for the United States to become not energy independent, but rather Energy Dominant, her role is critical to the success of the United States energy system. And subsequently, a key factor in the success of the entire United States economy.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:01 - Introduction

01:21 - Emily Domenech’s Background

03:27 - Outdated Environmental Laws and Delays

05:45 - NEPA Reform Progress

08:01 - Competing with China through Domestic Energy Projects

10:33 - Revitalizing Nuclear Energy

13:22 - Environmental Laws Should Guide, Not Block

15:55 - Abuse of the Endangered Species Act

19:04 - Radical Activism vs. Practical Conservation

20:54 - Chevron Deference and Congressional Clarity

22:27 - Legislative Challenges to Reform

25:13 - State and Local Government Coordination

27:58 - Call to Action for Project Developers

View Details

Stu Turley, David Blackmon, Doomberg, and Mike Umbro break down how California’s energy policies are fueling a national crisis. From refinery shutdowns and permit restrictions to rising fuel costs and flawed EV mandates, they expose the political choices putting America’s energy security and economy at risk. With firsthand insights and hard-hitting facts, this episode delivers a clear warning: what starts in California won’t stay there.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:08 - Introduction of Panel

02:02 - California’s Policy Impact

05:38 - Permitting Crisis

09:21 - Refinery Closures

10:50 - Newsom’s Three-Point Plan

13:29 - Regulatory Blind Spots

16:50 - Fuel Inflation as a National Risk

19:25 - EV Mandates and Trucking Impact

21:04 - 2028 Election and Newsom’s Ambitions

25:59 - Lack of Pipelines Between NorCal and SoCal

29:15 - Chevron’s Position in California

31:10 - Final Thoughts

View Details

In this insightful episode of the Energy Impacts podcast, David Blackmon sits down with renowned energy expert and author Dan Yergin to explore the evolving landscape of global energy. Yergin’s best-selling books include “The New Map,” “The Quest,” and “The Prize.”

In the fast moving 30-minute interview, Daniel and David unpack key takeaways from the recent CERAWeek conference, including the rising demand for electricity driven by AI and data centers, the U.S.'s growing influence in global LNG markets, and the strategic implications of rare earth mineral supply chains dominated by China.

Yergin also discusses the urgent need for infrastructure reform, the long timelines for mining and nuclear deployment, and why the energy transition may be more of an “energy addition.” From geopolitical tensions to copper shortages, this conversation provides a comprehensive look at the forces reshaping energy policy, markets, and global power dynamics.

Foreign Affairs “The Energy Transition Needs a Reality Check” op/ed by Yergin: https://www.ceraweek.com/en/news/press-releases/foreign-affairs-the-energy-transition-needs-a-reality-check

Books by Daniel Yergin: https://www.amazon.com/Prize-Daniel-Yergin/dp/1847376460?adgrpid=186996878628&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=748008426888&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14490381126824490089&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9191716&hvtargid=dsa-2414841787166&hydadcr=&mcid=&hvocijid=14490381126824490089--&hvexpln=67&tag=googhydr-20&hvsb=Healthmedia_d&hvcampaign=dsadesk

CERAWeek Home Page: https://www.ceraweek.com/en

S&P Global Study on The Future of Copper: https://cdn.ihsmarkit.com/www/pdf/0722/The-Future-of-Copper_Full-Report_14July2022.pdf

S&P Global Report on Chinese Control of Supply Chains: https://www.spglobal.com/market-intelligence/en/news-insights/research/critical-minerals-sourcing-rises-trade-troubles

Highlights of the Podcast

00:01 - Introduction

01:21 - CERAweek Themes

03:43 - U.S. LNG as a Geopolitical Power

05:20 - Pipeline Infrastructure & U.S. Gas Abundance

07:26 - Strait of Hormuz & Geopolitical Stakes

09:16 - U.S. Global Energy Role Post-WWII

11:14 - Rare Earths & Mineral Security

13:33 - Copper Shortage: “Copper in the Age of AI”

15:21 - U.S. Permitting Crisis

18:00 - Grid Strain & Nuclear Outlook

20:33 - Solar & Wind Investment Timeline

22:19 - Crypto and Industrial Power Demand

23:46 - Ukraine War & NATO Shifts

25:42 - Defense Spending vs. Energy Transition

27:07 - Energy Transition: Reality vs. Aspirations

29:15 - Looking Ahead

View Details

Dan Goodwin and Steve Everley of FTI Consulting authored an outstanding report on the Big Beautiful Bill and its impact on the energy sector. We had to get them involved in the joint production of the Energy Impacts and Energy News Beat podcasts with David Blackmon and Stu Turley. You won't want to miss this update and the impact on the energy markets.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:01 – Introductions and Overview

02:18 – FTI Consulting Roles and Background

05:10 – Modeling the Energy Impacts

08:50 – Natural Gas as a Big Winner

10:39 – Supply Chain Constraints

16:38 – Rise of Microgrids and Behind-the-Meter Power

19:31 – Wind and Solar Take a Hit

26:56 – Nuclear Outlook

29:19 – Battery Storage Growth

31:30 – Challenges with Battery and Solar Supply Chains

34:54 – Natural Gas: From ‘Bridge Fuel’ to Cornerstone

39:30 – Future Outlook and Closing Thoughts

View Details

Tim Stewart, President, US Oil & Gas Association, Stops by the Energy Impacts Podcast with David Blackmon, to unpack the sweeping effects of the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” From restoring federal lease sales and repealing burdensome methane fees, to spotlighting natural gas as the backbone of a growing AI-powered economy, the conversation explores how the bill resets U.S. energy policy, reshapes investment trends, and repositions oil and gas as essential to America’s future energy landscape.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:01 - Introduction

02:34 - A Return to Normal Energy Policy

04:31 - Stability Through Statutory Measures

05:38 - Permitting Reform & Renewable Pressure

08:19 - Capital Flight from Renewables?

10:57 - Natural Gas and AI Demand Surge

12:00 - VoltaGrid: Natural Gas Microgrid Innovation

14:35 - The Myth of Limited Gas Supply

17:19 - Repeal of Methane Fee from IRA

21:15 - Impact on Offshore Leasing and Investment Certainty

22:54 - Decline of ESG and Sustainability Reporting

25:59 - Rejection of Appeasement Strategy

28:52 - Looking Toward 2028 and Beyond

View Details

This will be a fascinating discussion of the global financial markets and energy, as the current geopolitical landscape influences commodities and energy. Wasif Latif, Co-Founder, President & Chief Investment Officer, at Sarmaya Partners, stops by the Energy Impacts live podcast. You won't want to miss this discussion.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:00 – Introduction

01:14 – Sarmaya Partners and the Commodity Supercycle

03:34 – Why Lithium and Rare Earths Are Not Prioritized

04:55 – The Nuclear Renaissance

10:28 – U.S. vs. Global Nuclear Expansion

12:29 – Natural Gas as the Interim Energy Solution

14:56 – Copper: The Foundation of Energy Transition

18:01 – India's Rising Energy Needs

22:16 – Africa's Future in the Energy Story

25:06 – Policy's Dominance in Investment Strategy

32:01 – Undervalued Energy Sector vs. Overvalued Tech

36:16 – The Coming Oil Supply Gap

39:54 – Price as the Ultimate Adjuster

41:29 – Final Thoughts & Where to Find More

View Details

In this episode of Energy Impacts, David Blackmon sits down with Chevron land manager Kelly Coppins to talk about the real-life role of a landman and how it compares to the version seen in the TV series Landman. Kelly shares insights into her work in the Permian Basin, from negotiating with landowners to managing complex surface and subsurface operations. They also discuss how much the industry has evolved, especially in safety and environmental practices, and how public perception often misses the full picture. It’s a down-to-earth conversation that sheds light on the people and processes behind America’s energy production.

Whether you’re in the oil and gas industry or just curious about how energy really works, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:01 – Introduction

01:10 – What a Real Landman Does

02:50 – Growth of the Permian Basin

03:45 – Comparing Reality vs. TV

05:38 – The Wild Opening Scene

07:07 – The Landman’s Son Theory

08:30 – Safety in the Permian

10:53 – Evolution of Safety Standards

13:38 – Profit Motive Behind Safety

15:47 – Honest Portrayal of West Texas Life

18:22 – Breaking Stereotypes

19:08 – Chevron's Presence in Midland

20:54 – Texas vs. New Mexico Land Work

22:54 – Policy Changes and Project Planning

24:44 – Importance of Regulatory Consistency

25:27 – Closing Remarks

View Details

Wayne Christian, Texas Railroad Commissioner, stops by the Energy Impacts podcast, and we will cover all of the critical oil, gas, and regulatory updates from the Texas Railroad Commissioner.

In this fast-paced and candid conversation, Commissioner Christian shares powerful insights on Texas’s dominant role in U.S. energy production, the fragile future of the electric grid, the real costs of wind and solar, and why misguided climate policies are putting reliability and taxpayers at risk. From the Permian Basin’s future to legislative battles over energy equity, this episode is a must-listen for anyone tracking the crossroads of policy, energy, and economics.

This is a critical time, and this update you won't want to miss.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:00 – Introduction and Commissioner Wayne Christian’s background

01:36 – History of the Railroad Commission as an environmental agency

04:54 – Importance of oil & gas to economy and modern life

07:02 – Grid stability post-Winter Storm Uri

08:16 – The risk of over-reliance on renewables in Texas

10:31 – IRA subsidies, failed legislation, and unfair energy market rules

13:36 – Commission funding and orphan well challenges

16:50 – Environmentalism as “religion” and conflicts with human benefit

18:36 – Wind/solar decommissioning costs and environmental damage

21:38 – Carbon capture criticism and taxpayer impact

26:08 – Deregulation, shareholder control, and lobby influence

29:47 – Consolidation in Permian Basin and economic disincentives

33:29 – Remaining reserves, oil efficiency, and regulatory contradiction

36:41 – Closing remarks and final thanks

View Details

Meghan Lapp is leading the charge to save the commercial fishing industry and bringing up a national security risk.

How, you might ask, are offshore wind farms a huge problem?

The Empire Wind Project, a controversial offshore wind farm near New York, has raised national security and environmental concerns due to its location near JFK flight paths, potential radar interference, and disruption of vital fishing grounds. Meghan Lapp, a fisheries expert, warns that the project—partly owned by Norway’s state was rushed through permitting without proper oversight, may obstruct air defense capabilities, and could endanger marine life and navigation. Despite a brief halt by the Trump administration, the project resumed amid speculation of a pipeline deal, drawing scrutiny over regulatory failures and political motivations.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:00 – Introduction

03:13 – Empire Wind Project Controversy

05:28 – Alleged Pipeline Deal & Foreign Ownership

08:15 – Radar Interference and JFK Airport Risks

11:19 – DOD and FAA Inter-agency Failures

14:24 – Deceptive Status Claims and Construction Reality

17:09 – Maritime Safety and Historic Collisions

20:01 – Tower Size and Ecological Blind Spots

23:26 – Vineyard Wind and Tax Loopholes

27:17 – Falsified Safety Data and National Security Concerns

30:44 – Trump Admin Review and Industry Hope

33:58 – Structural Governance Problems

36:41 – Disparity in Regulation Between Oil/Gas and Wind

39:20 – Microplastics and Blade Deterioration

42:05 – Reclamation Costs and Industry Burden

44:13 – Final Plea for Government Attention

46:36 – Conclusion and Call to Action

View Details

Make no mistake, Doomberg is a national treasure. I have thoroughly enjoyed my podcasts with him, and his Substack is worth every penny. The last time Doomberg was on the podcast, we had Chris Wright, our new Secretary of Energy, on the panel.

This podcast is also going out on David Blackmon’s Substack and podcast channels, and he had some fantastic points and questions for Doomberg.

Thank you both for your energy, leadership, and your time – Stu

Check out Doomberg on his Substack at https://newsletter.doomberg.com/

Check out the transcript on our Substack here: https://theenergynewsbeat.substack.com/p/doomberg-on-the-oil-and-gas-markets

Highlights of the Podcast

00:00 – Introduction

03:00 – California’s Refining Crisis

08:30 – California Politics & Oil

13:20 – Trump’s Energy Team

17:40 – OPEC’s Decline & Co-Product Economics

23:00 – Oil Price Volatility & Strategy

26:30 – NGLs & Changing Energy Definitions

33:00 – Permian, Consolidation & Costs

36:00 – Breakevens and Co-Product Economics

39:00 – LNG, Natural Gas, and Arbitrage

45:00 – LNG Tankers, Jones Act, and Energy Exports

49:00 – $50 Oil as Geopolitical Strategy

53:00 – Russia, NATO & War Risks

57:00 – Canada, Trump, and Final Thoughts

View Details

Join David Blackmon as he interviews Lewis Black, CEO of Almonty Resources, in a compelling discussion on the global importance of tungsten, the challenges of building critical mineral supply chains in democratic nations, and why Almonty is relocating to the U.S. to support national defense. From China's dominance in raw materials to the strategic future of Western industry, this short but powerful conversation explores the intersection of geopolitics, mining, and innovation.

Highlights of the Podcast

01:00 - Introduction & Almonty Overview

03:09 - Tungsten's Strategic Importance

04:39 - Move to the U.S. & National Security Considerations

09:11 - China's Role in the Tungsten Supply Chain

10:42 - Challenges of Developing the Korean Mine

13:15 - U.S.-China Tariffs & Global Trade Implications

18:04 - Western Withdrawal from Mining & Chinese Commercial Strategy

25:57 - Commodity Price Outlook & China's Market Tactics

28:31 - Timeline & Strategic Reasons for U.S. Relocation

View Details

In this episode of Energy Impacts with David Blackmon, David Blackmon speaks with Philip Goldberg of the Manufacturers Accountability Project about the growing wave of climate lawsuits against energy companies. They discuss the legal and economic implications, the role of federal vs. state regulations, and how these lawsuits could impact manufacturing, jobs, and consumer costs. Tune in to understand why both sides of the political aisle see fundamental flaws in this litigation strategy.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:14 – Podcast Relaunch & Guest Introduction

01:42 – The Rise of Climate Lawfare

02:18 – Background of the Manufacturers Accountability Project (MAP)

04:07 – Impact of Litigation on Businesses

05:46 – Are These Lawsuits Effective?

06:51 – The Real Goal of These Lawsuits

10:46 – History of Climate Lawsuits

13:27 – Shifting Legal Strategies

15:04 – Endgame: Will These Lawsuits Ever Stop?

19:27 – The Supreme Court & Legal Challenges

23:13 – Impact on the Manufacturing Sector

26:08 – Future of Climate Litigation & Public Involvement

27:25 – Closing Remarks & Acknowledgments

View Details

In a recent interview, David Blackmon spoke with Juan Arteaga, a senior analyst at Enverus Intelligence Research, about a pivotal report on future demand for generation capacity in the U.S. power grids. Arteaga discussed the discrepancy between Enverus's forecast and Ercot's projections, revealing that their analysis predicts a more modest increase in peak load demand compared to Ercot. Arteaga explained that their approach involves detailed modeling of various load drivers, including behind-the-meter solar and data centers, to provide a more accurate and transparent forecast.

The conversation also touched on the implications for Texas’s energy mix, highlighting a continued reliance on solar, batteries, and natural gas to meet future demand. Arteaga emphasized that their machine learning models forecast significant growth in solar and battery capacity but acknowledge that natural gas will still play a crucial role due to its reliability and dispatchability. The interview concluded with a discussion on the importance of these insights for policymakers and the potential for future engagement to ensure accurate planning and decision-making in the energy sector.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:16 – Juan Arteaga’s Background

01:01 – Overview of the Report

05:15 – Ercot's Demand Forecast vs. Enverus Analysis

08:47 – Explanation of Behind-the-Meter Solar

10:53 – Data Centers and Power Generation

13:30 – Future Energy Mix for Ercot

14:10 – Machine Learning Model for Project Viability

17:17 – Importance of the Report for Policymakers

21:41 – Closing Remarks

View Details

In this engaging discussion, David Blackmon, Stu Turley, and special guest Larry Schweikert delve into a variety of topics ranging from recent historical events to the intricacies of the 2024 election. The conversation begins with a nostalgic reunion between David and Larry, touching on their shared belief in Trump's 2016 victory. Larry, praised as "America's history teacher," provides insights into the X-30 hypersonic jet simulator, the dynamics of the Democratic Party, and the significance of voter registration trends. They also explore the potential implications of Kamala Harris’s vice presidential candidacy and the challenges of switching candidates.

As the discussion progresses, the focus shifts to more technical and political issues, including election logistics, media bias, and the financial impact of college sports on universities. Larry and David touch on the future of energy, with Larry expressing skepticism about green energy's immediate economic effects and predicting potential actions by Trump if re-elected. They conclude with a look at Europe's energy future, battery technology, and the impact of Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter on free speech. The conversation is rich with historical perspective, current affairs, and personal anecdotes, making for a thought-provoking dialogue.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:39 - Background on Larry Schweikert and his books.

01:38 - Historical context and recent events.

02:49 - Discussion on Joe Biden's presidency

04:40 - X-30 research plane experience.

06:02 - Electoral Insights and Predictions

08:44 - Shifting Electoral Dynamics

13:45 - Voter Registration Trends

19:12 - Challenges with printing ballots and logistical issues.

20:46 - Implications of early voting and deadlines.

21:50 - Hypothetical scenarios with Biden and Harris.

23:06 - Media and election structures.

28:07 - Impact of journalism schools.

29:50 - Journalistic standards over time.

32:02 - Media's role in historical events.

33:45 - University influence on media and society.

35:30 - Sports trivia and Larry's academic experiences at ASU.

37:39 - Issues faced by student-athletes and financial instability.

39:01 - Political predictions and energy policies.

44:15 - Elon Musk and the impact on free speech.

45:18 - Europe's energy future and green energy debates.

46:30 - Future of the automotive industry and fuel alternatives.

48:36 - Personal car stories and nostalgia for muscle cars.

50:55 - Closing remarks and plans for future discussions.

View Details

Angela Wilkinson, Secretary General of the World Energy Council, emphasized the importance of a systems thinking approach, noting that these transitions are multifaceted and involve significant societal changes. She highlighted the necessity of collaboration and practical action, pointing out the differing approaches between the U.S. and Europe in addressing energy challenges. Dr. Wilkinson stressed that energy transitions are not merely about replacing technologies but require a deep understanding of socio-economic contexts and overcoming social opposition to achieve progress.

Concerns were raised about the feasibility of energy transitions within democratic societies, with critiques of certain energy policies as authoritarian and calls for nuclear energy as a sustainable solution. Dr. Wilkinson responded by advocating for an inclusive approach considering diverse regional needs and the importance of managing energy transitions across generations. Using the metaphor of the "Energy Olympics," she illustrated the need for sustained, intergenerational effort and diverse capabilities to achieve successful energy transitions.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:47 - Purpose of the World Energy Council

04:01 - Challenges in Energy Transition

08:06 - Role of the International Energy Agency (IEA)

13:01 - System Costs and Social Challenges in Energy Transition

16:17 - Realism of Energy Transition

18:15 - Future Projections and Practical Action

19:04 - Oil and Gas Decarbonization

20:20 - Energy Transition Challenges in Democratic Societies

22:42 - Comparing US and European Approaches

24:20 - Licensing Delays and Property Rights

25:12 - Adapting to Climate Change Realities

28:03 - Energy Transition as an Olympic Pentathlon Relay

29:34 - Closing Remarks

View Details

A seasoned expert in the oil and gas industry, Armando Cavanha, discusses Brazil's energy landscape, the impact of political tensions on energy projects, and the challenges of attracting foreign investment. The conversation highlights Petrobras's pivotal role in offshore ventures and explores the complexities of the energy transition, emphasizing the indispensable role of oil alongside renewable energy sources.

The discussion extends to Brazil's natural gas needs, the significance of hydropower, and the burgeoning electric vehicle market influenced by Chinese imports. Armando also sheds light on Brazil's ethanol and biofuel programs, underscoring their importance in the nation's energy mix. The episode delves into the global trade implications, the environmental impact of exporting polluting industries, and the current political climate in the United States, revealing the critical intersection of energy policies and geopolitical developments. This thought-provoking dialogue offers a comprehensive look at the future of energy in Brazil and beyond.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:09 - Introduction and Guest Background

01:14 - Political Tensions Impacting Energy Projects

02:03 - Brazil's Natural Gas Needs and Sources

03:40 - Challenges of Investment in Brazil

06:21 - Success of Petrobras in Offshore Investments

08:25 - Energy Transition and Irreplaceable Oil

08:37 - Main Uses of Natural Gas in Brazil

12:35 - BRICs Alliance and China's Influence

15:28 - Electric Vehicle Market in Brazil

17:00 - Ethanol and Biofuels in Brazil

18:21 - Global Trade and Emissions

19:38 - US Political Climate and Energy Policies

26:12 - Conclusion and Future Discussions

View Details

In this episode of The Energy Question, David Blackmon talks with Iowa Congressman Zach Nunn about the state of play related to this year's elections, along with national security and energy policy in the nation's capital.

A sixth generation Iowan, Cong. Nunn was raised in a family of public school teachers, nurses, and farmers. While growing up, Zach helped out on his family’s Century family farm raising sheep, poultry and growing row crop. He was raised on Des Moines’ east side and went to Southeast Polk High School before attending Drake University. He went on to get master’s degrees from the Air Command and Staff College and the University of Cambridge.

Zach served our country for almost two decades in the United States Air Force. As an airborne intelligence officer, Zach flew recon missions off the coasts of Russia and China. After 9/11, he deployed three times to the Middle East and flew over 700 combat hours. He served as Director of Cybersecurity at the White House’s National Security Council combating cyber-attacks from foreign adversaries. Zach currently serves as a Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve.

Following his active duty military service, Zach served in the Iowa House of Representatives and the Iowa Senate. While working in the state legislature, he helped pass the state’s largest tax cuts three times over, growing Iowa’s economy and putting more money back into the pockets of Iowans.

In Congress, Zach continues to be a pragmatic problem-solver pushing common-sense policies to benefit Iowans in all 21 counties he has the honor of representing. He serves on the House Financial Services Committee and the House Agriculture Committee where he is bringing Iowa’s big voice in the insurance industry and agricultural industry to our nation’s capital. Nunn also serves on the General Farm Commodities, Risk Management and Credit subcommittee and the Commodity Markets, Digital Assets and Rural development subcommittee.

Zach is honored to call Bondurant his home and is happily married to wife Kelly and dad of six kids, two of which are adopted.

Enjoy!

Highlights of the Podcast

00:30 - Congressman's Background and Greeting

00:59 - Congressman's Roles and Responsibilities

02:18 - Cybersecurity Threats and National Defense

03:22 - Legislation and Bipartisan Support

05:31 - Daily Briefing at the White House

08:22 - Supply Chain and Critical Infrastructure

10:40 - China's Influence and Rare Earth Minerals

13:57 - Rare Earth Resource Discoveries

14:43 - China's Market Manipulation

16:38 - LNG Infrastructure and Russia

20:08 - Iowa's Political Landscape

23:10 - Impact of California and New York Residents Moving to Iowa

View Details

In this episode of The Energy Question, David Blackmon interviews the visionary former CEO of Burlington Resources, Bobby Shackouls. Bobby took over as CEO of BR in the mid-1990s, assuming command of a large independent producer that had struggled financially the previous two years.

By 2005, Shackouls and his team had built BR into a $32 billion enterprise whose management philosophy related to cost control and capital discipline remains one of the dominant models in the industry today. That list notably includes Travis Stice, the current CEO at Permian Basin giant Diamondback Energy.

David worked for Shackouls and BR through the duration of his time as CEO, until the company was bought by ConocoPhillips in a deal that closed in May, 2006.

Since retiring from BR, Shackouls has maintained a keen interest in current events and continues to advocate as a voice of sanity on energy policy and climate alarmism.

Enjoy this discussion.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:09 - Introduction and Background

02:15 - Transition to ConocoPhillips

04:03 - Leadership and Management Philosophy

06:36 - Challenges in the Energy Industry

09:40 - Capital Discipline and Industry Evolution

11:57 - Oil Industry Health

13:29 - Climate Change Concerns

14:56 - Global Energy Usage

17:18 - Vehicle Preferences

19:00 - Political Knowledge

21:48 - Regulatory Impact

23:25 - Generational Views

View Details

In Episode 103 of" The Energy Question" David Blackmon interviews Jerry Greenwich about the hidden mechanisms of innovation and their implications for the energy sector. They discuss how current advancements often involve refining old technologies rather than groundbreaking inventions, with examples like electric vehicles and renewable energy sources. Jerry emphasizes the need for deep, sustained thinking and experimentation—what he calls the forward plane—to achieve true innovation in energy generation, storage, and distribution.

Jerry also highlights the importance of recognizing the moral and ideological dimensions influencing energy policy and innovation. His book, "First Invisible, Then Obvious," offers a framework for fostering creativity and long-term investment to tackle complex problems in energy and beyond. This conversation sheds light on how we can cultivate these abilities to drive meaningful progress.

For a thought-provoking discussion on technology, energy, and policy, tune in to hear Jerry's insights and expertise.

Highlights of the Podcast

01:08 - Jerry Greenwich's background

03:46 - First invisible Then Obvious

08:07 - Little thing of fourth plane and generation

08:36 - Back Plane

09:50 - Creation of This Forward Plane Type Thing

10:42 - The experience in my own life

13:24 - The Forward Plane building activity

14:34 - Representation, Precedes, Comprehension

16:42 - The Hungry Don't Get Fed

17:35 - Creativity and Innovation

20:22 - What's going on in the energy space

24:45 - Dumb Data

28:26 - About Papyrus

31:16 - The writing system and the writing medium

33:54 - The initial premise of principle dynamic processes

35:35 - Social Message

37:16 - The emotional side of things

40:12 - The Civil Servants

43:02 - When you spend money like a Drunken Sailor

45:09 - The Overton Window

49:33 - The abiotic story of oil

52:02 - The ideas in the book

View Details

The Energy Question: Episode 102 - Kathleen Sgamma, President of Western Energy Alliance

In Episode 102 of " The Energy Question" The Kurdistan Workers' Party, commonly known as the PKK, is officially designated as a terrorist organization by several countries and international organizations. This includes the United States, the European Union, Turkey, and NATO, among others.

The PKK has been involved in an armed struggle against the Turkish government, seeking greater autonomy and rights for Kurds within Turkey. The designation is due to its history of violent activities, including attacks on civilian and military targets.

Highlights of the Podcast

01:00 - Little background on its history, membership, and its mission

02:47 - Federal issues

05:24 - Natural capital accounting

06:42 - The Department of Interior

08:52 - When President Trump came in 2017

10:57 - Joe Manchin

14:34 - Disproportionately impact to small producers

19:57 - Methane regulation

22:29 - The UK and Europe

23:57 - The White House, considering declaring a climate emergency

26:43 - Zero emissions

View Details

In Episode 101 of " The Energy Question" South African energy expert Hugo Kruger is back for a return engagement. In this episode David Blackmon interviews Hugo about current energy happenings in South Africa and across the Global South.

Enjoy!

Higlights of the Podcast

00:40 - A wealth of information

01:15 - The second largest circulation in the country

03:34 - The government is choosing who's going to win

05:06 - The flagship companies for these countries

08:14 - The insurance costs on to the poorest households

10:17 - The U.S. and all these gas

11:23 - The system is so complex

13:56 - The U.S. you still have the fluctuating rates

16:32 - The highest intensity of coal use in CO2

18:11 - The most flexible meter method

20:52 - The Cape of Good Hope

24:21 - A democracy that's doing the right decisions

25:23 - The Russian supply away from the Germans

27:03 - The message they sending to Europe

28:04 - The presidential elections

View Details

In Episode 100 of " The Energy Question" Michelle Manook, CEO of FutureCoal, discusses the organization's mission to represent all aspects of the coal value chain and the need for responsible energy policies. The conversation covers topics like the importance of baseload power, the impact of shipping disruptions on the coal industry, and the challenges of transitioning to renewable energy sources. Manook emphasizes the importance of factual, non-emotional discourse in shaping energy policy and invites engagement with FutureCoal through its website and LinkedIn page.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:48 - FutureCoal: Membership and mission

02:59 - Demand for coal being driven by developing nations

03:40 - Energy Security, reliability and affordability are critical

04:21 - The Energy Trilemma is not solved, contrary to popular belief

06:49 - The Global South is firmly focused on energy reliability, affordability and security

08:22 - The enormous cost of the transition

11:36 - What a new modern coal plant actually does in terms of emissions

14:49 - The conversation around energy in general

15:43 - Responsibility in the power generation space

18:14 - The energy debate lacks facts

20:48 - Shipping disruptions

23:02 - The nature of coal players

24:24 - The future coal platform

27:52 - Current technology

29:03 - Challenging the notion of what is responsible policy, investment, etc.: How do we define reposibility?

View Details

In Episode #99 of The Energy Question podcast, David Blackmon interviews the great Tom Nelson, one of the finest debunkers of climate-related disinformation working today, and co-producer of Climate: The Movie.

View Details

In Episode 98 of "The Energy Question" Gifford Briggs the Gulf Coast Regional Director for the American Petroleum Institute (API). David Blackmon discuss various topics including Briggs' role at API, the oil and gas industry in the Gulf Coast region, carbon capture and sequestration initiatives in Louisiana, offshore leasing challenges, state-specific issues, and hurricane preparedness. Briggs highlights API's coordination efforts with emergency management officials and the industry's commitment to safety and energy supply during hurricane season.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:45 - The American Petroleum Institute API

03:13 - The Louisiana oil and gas industry

04:43 - A tremendous cross-section of what's happening in the industry

07:06 - A tremendous service industry in south Louisiana that's worked offshore

13:53 - Oil and natural gas to other sources of energy

15:43 - The EPA in advance their regulatory and legislative frameworks

20:58 - The public was demanding electric vehicles right now

25:45 - The companies and the emergency management people

27:48 - The efforts of state associations

View Details

In Episode 97 of "The Energy Question" Chris Wright, CEO of Liberty Energy, discussing the role of energy in society, the challenges of the energy transition, and the implications of climate policies. Wright shares insights from his company's "Bettering Human Lives" report, challenging conventional narratives on climate change and advocating for a fact-based approach to energy discourse. The conversation touches on topics like the shale revolution, property rights, and the potential consequences of current energy policies. Wright encourages engagement in public dialogue and provides resources for further exploration of these complex issues.

Highlights of the Podcast

01:11 - Liberty Energy

03:28 - The shale revolution

05:56 - Great American gifts

08:07 - Report

11:03 - An achievable goal

13:13 - Germany's giant industrial powerhouse

14:36 - Major energy crisis

18:21 - The climate crisis

23:17 - Let's be honest

26:38 - The shrinkage in exploration spending

View Details

In Episode 96 of "The Energy Question" David and Doug delve into the future of nuclear energy, exploring its potential to meet growing power demands while addressing climate concerns. They discuss the industry's challenges and opportunities, emphasizing the need for policy support and public perception shifts to drive its adoption

Highlight of the Podcast

01:10 - Douglass Robinson's background

04:59 - The Nuclear Regulatory Commission

07:29 - Best in the nuclear world in the oil and gas

08:47 - First advanced nuclear reactor facility

10:16 - The reactor

13:17 - The safety record of the of the nuclear industry in the US

17:11 - A request for information

19:25 - ESG

22:07 - The Texas Energy Fund

23:53 - Clean air capture

25:15 - What would happen with nuclear if Trump wins this election in November?

30:17 - Three things happening

View Details

In Episode 95 of "The Energy Question" Interviews Rye Barcott Marine Captain and founder of With Honor Action, a group aiming to promote bipartisanship in Congress. They discuss the decline of veteran representation in politics, the impact of polarization on governance, and strategies for fostering cooperation across party lines. Barcott highlights the importance of trust-building activities and the need for bipartisan approaches to address critical issues facing the nation.

Highlights of the Podcast

01:29 - Bipartisanship in the US Congress

03:39 - For Country Caucus

05:01 - Background in military service

06:31 - About their organization

09:45 - Simple kind of fact in human nature

10:44 - One of the things that has happened in Congress

11:26 - One of the reasons why we focus on veterans

14:05 - Real impact in the ability of members of the Congress

16:42 - Major world issues

19:21 - The Ukrainian frontline units

21:38 - The right type of people in office

View Details

In Episode 94 of "The Energy Question" podcasts the oil and gas industry, featuring guests like Karr Ingham from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers. In a recent episode, they explored the Texas Petro Index, economic impacts, and technology advancements. They emphasized the industry's significance in Texas, and discussed regulatory challenges, government policies, and concerns about initiatives like the Green New Deal.

Highlights of the Podcast

01:18 - The purpose of the Texas Petro Index

04:59 - State revenue taxes from the oil and gas industry

08:22 - The global LNG powers

08:48 - Where the index stands right now

09:52 - The all time high of the Texas Petro

11:35 - Ne all time production records

13:38 - T benefit of the American people

15:37 - One of the key reasons for Texas success

17:22 - What's happening at the Alliance

20:30 - The Eagle Ford

22:21 - One of the very most effective voices for our industry in Texas

23:23 - The only Texans organization that directly plays in DC.

27:19 - Pieces of legislation from decades ago

29:23 - About the extraordinary economic impact of the industry in Texas

34:53 - The Texas Alliance of Energy Producers

35:53 - The great doctor Walter Williams

37:26 - The essence of trade and free trade and energy trade

38:47 - The Green New Deal

View Details

In Episode 93 of "The Energy Question" podcast, David Blackmon interviews Dan Naatz, the Chief Operating Officer of the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA), and Mallori Miller, the Vice President of Government Relations at BP. They discuss the challenges faced by the domestic oil and natural gas industry, including regulatory issues, the impact of federal policies on small producers, and the importance of advocacy. Knotts and Miller emphasize the need for regulatory certainty and encourage energy voters to stay informed about industry-related issues.

Highlights of the Podcast

02:13 - The big independent producers in the United States

03:19 - About the fact that IPAA is in a large way

05:30 - Part of the challenge in Washington

07:01 - The industry in Washington

09:57 - A big piece of the advocacy in IPAA

11:31 - The mature in Wyoming

14:08 - How many legislative days are left on the congressional calendar as it is today?

16:09 - The industry's independent producers

18:19 - The Washington Post Editorial

19:29 - The administration that's a frustration

21:23 - The impact on local economies

View Details

In episode 92 of "The Energy Question," Stuart Turley and Doug Sandridge discuss the importance of nuclear energy in addressing global energy needs and climate change. They highlight the support from oil and gas executives for nuclear energy and share experiences advocating for it. The conversation emphasizes the necessity of diverse energy sources to meet growing demand and ensure sustainability. The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to engage politically and financially in supporting energy solutions like nuclear power.

Highlights of the Podcast

02:29 -The Declaration of Oil and Gas executives

03:14 - The policy positions of all of the Democrat candidates for president

04:12 - The hurdles to net zero carbon emissions

05:07 - The Indian Point nuclear power plant in New York

06:01 - One of the foremost nuclear advocates in the country

07:44 - Spain just announced they're going to shut down the rest of their nuclear power plants

08:05 - Interviewed Grace Stanke

10:46 - The biggest funders of the Democratic Party

10:55 - The good news

11:39 - Nuclear folks in California

13:13 - The Wall Street Journal

16:06 - Germany to protest nuclear war

17:07 - Oil and gas executives

20:27 - Texas nuclear is a solid

22:34 - The EV charging hospital

23:35 - The United States

View Details

In Episode 91 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon talks with Dr. Robert Brooks, the CEO of RBAC.

RBAC is the market leading supplier of global and regional gas and LNG market simulation systems. These systems provide industry analysts powerful tools for supporting investment and M&A strategy, environmental and sustainability goals, credible risk analysis, trading strategy and policy development and assessment. RBAC's products and expertise help companies go beyond the narratives and hype to identify the opportunities and define the risks inherent in the uncertainties of energy transition using reality and fact-based fundamentals and analysis.

Enjoy.

RBAC Website: www.rbac.com

Highlights of the Podcast

02:34 - Energy market simulation systems

05:14 - The company provides software products to the energy industry

07:47 - G2M2 Global gas market model

09:19 - The global LNG markets

15:22 - The transit agreement on Russian gas pipelines across Ukraine

18:35 - The resilience of the market

20:58 - Real major impact on the industry

24:07 - Southeast Asia could grow

27:39 - The U.S. domestic delivery system for natural gas

View Details

In episode 90 of The Energy Question Podcast, David Blackmon catches up with Genevieve Collins, Texas State Director at Americans for Prosperity.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:55 - The Texas legislative session

03:25 - Americans for prosperity

05:06 - Unleashing American Energy

07:34 - The permitting process

11:27 - Real opportunity for innovation

15:06 - The problem for nuclear

17:23 - When Texas is energy dominant, America's energy abundant

17:42 - Genevieve Collins' outlook on this election this year?

22:52 - The illegal immigration situation at the border

27:47 - The story in the promise of Texas

In this episode, Genevieve gives us an update on her organization's current activities, including a new initiative it calls "Unleashing American Energy."

Enjoy.

View Details

In Episode 89 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon talks with S&P Global Vice Chairman Daniel Yergin, author of "The New Map," "The Quest," and "The Prize."

Highlights of the Podcast

01:06 - Ceraweek this year

01:27 - The energy industry

03:50 - The Return of Energy Security

06:13 - Russia's invasion of Ukraine

07:15 - The world's largest exporter of LNG

09:37 - Russian gas had a competitor

11:29 - Prime Minister Modi of India

14:17 - EVs in the United States

15:20 - The whole energy transition question

16:34 - The American automobile makers other than Tesla

19:10 - Tesla might never have happened

21:16 - Disadvantage Chinese cars

23:09 - The Houthi rebels in Yemen

24:09 - The amount of Atlantic Ocean

26:08 - Guyana and Suriname developments

27:04 - A multi-dimensional energy transition

In this episode, Dan provides a preview of the upcoming CERAWeek conference in Houston, and also gives us his views on the following major topics of the day:

  • The vital importance of the maintenance of energy security in the US and globally;

  • Reasons why developing nations insist on continued, growing reliance on fossil fuels;

  • The status of the energy transition;

  • The importance of US LNG, and the potential impacts from the Biden decision to "pause" permitting of new export facilities;

  • The situation in the Middle East and its impacts on oil supplies, trade routes and prices;

  • And more.

Enjoy!

Books by Daniel Yergin: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Daniel-Yergin/author/B000APBBPI?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Dan's piece on Energy Security: https://www.spglobal.com/en/research-insights/featured/special-editorial/look-forward/the-return-of-energy-security

CERAWeek Home Page: https://ceraweek.com/about/index.html

View Details

In Episode 88 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon interviews energy expert Dr. Tammy Nemeth, who writes and talks about energy issues from her dual homes in Canada and the UK. Tammy and David are also podcasting partners on the Energy Realities Podcast, along with Stu Turley and Irina Slav.

Highlights of the Podcast

3:00 - the Wind Industry's ongoing grift in the UK

6:00 - the UK Labor Party's plans to nationalize the power grid

7:30 - David goes on a rant about the Texas grid

8:30 - Tammy discusses the problems heavy EVs pose to guardrails, roads and bridges

11:00 - Total global price tag of the energy transition

15:00 - Siemens demand for more subsidies from governments for Big Wind

16:00 - Solar producers also making similar demands

16:40 - Are wind and solar really "cheap"?

18:00 - How free and fair elections are incompatible with a planned, subsidized energy transition

21:00 - Are we headed towards a society based on 'corporate socialism'?

24:20 - Impacts of climate policies on farming;

27:00 - Why is UK trending to the Labor Party when the rest of Europe is trending conservative?

32:30 - Trudeau's relationship with John Podesta

Tammy's website: www.thenemethreport.com

Tammy at X: @thenemethreport8187

Tammy at LinkedIN: T Nemeth

View Details

In Episode 87 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon is joined by Stu Turley in a live interview from the floor of the NAPE conference with the great green chicken we all know and love as Doomberg for discussion about current events in the energy space.

Highlights of the Podcast

2:00 - Cogent Analysis review. Doomberg looks back at reasons why the US hasn't entered into a recession.

5:30 - Doomberg talks about the importance of regulatory and legal certainty for energy investors.

7:30 - US has set production records for oil, gas, and refining runs during the Biden years.

9:00 - How new Biden regulatory actions will impact the US business climate - will carbon emissions go down?

12:50 - China's role in energy markets and coal/oil consumption and use.

14:00 - Doomberg discusses the P7 - the largest population countries outside the G7.

15:10 - Malthusian thinking in the climate movement.

16:50 - Unintended consequences from bad public policy moves.

18:20 - Why Peak cheap oil is a myth.

20:00 - A "sea of cheap hydrocarbons" have saved the US from recession.

21:40 - Germany going back to natural gas after retiring all its nuclear.

22:30 - Prospects for hydrogen.

24:30 - Carbon tax unlikely for the US.

25:30 - Wind industry teetering on the brink?

28:00 - Renewable/EV policies are luxuries of the wealthy.

32:15 - Doomberg views on low rig count/record production phenomenon.

Enjoy!

Doomberg on Substack: Doomberg.Substack.com

View Details

In Episode #86 of The Energy Question Podcast, David Blackmon interviews acerbic, brilliant energy analyst and writer Irina Slav.

In this episode, David and Irina talk about the current state of the ESG movement and relate that to its impacts on the progress of the energy transition.

Irina's Substack: irinaslav.substack.com

Irina at OilPrice.com: https://oilprice.com/search/tab/artic...

Enjoy!

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 85 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon interviews Todd Snitchler, President and CEO of the Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA).

David and Todd cover the landscape of what is happening with the US power grid this winter, including a discussion about the ability of the Texas grid to get through the sever cold snap that hit the state in mid-January. They also discuss the need for more dispatchable thermal capacity to enhance grid reliability, and why an expansion of nuclear capacity will be needed to achieve net-zero climate goals.

You can contact Todd at the association's website, www.EPSA.org.

David also published a piece at Forbes following this interview here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidbla...

Enjoy!

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

The Energy Question Episode 84 Hugo KrugerIn Episode 84 of the Energy Question Podcast, David Blackmon interviews energy analyst Hugo Kruger, one of the foremost experts writing and commenting on the energy situation in South Africa today.

Enjoy.

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

The Energy Question Episode 83 Christopher Messina, CEO of TanbreezIn Episode 83 of The Energy Question, Christopher Messina, CEO of rare earth metals mining company Tanbreez, returns for an update on the status of the company's project at the Tanbreez mine in Southwest Greenland.

Enjoy.

Tanbreez Website: www.tanbreez.com

Thank you to USOGA for Sponsoring the Energy Question!

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

The Energy Question Episode 82 - Energy Writer and Expert Robert BryceIn Episode 82 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon spends half an hour with Robert Bryce, one of the finest energy writers and analysts working today.

Enjoy.

Robert Bryce Substack: robertbryce.substack.com

Books by Robert Bryce: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=robert+bryce&crid=2IGHHJ5J3E73J&sprefix=robert+bryce%2Caps%2C129&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

Thank you to USOGA for Sponsoring the Energy Question!

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

The Energy Question Episode 81 - Meghan LappIn Episode 81 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon talks with our friend, Meghan Lapp, Fisheries Liaison for Seafreeze Shoreside, about the impacts of offshore wind on the commercial fishing industry and sea mammals, including whales.

Links to articles/issues discussed in the podcast:

TPPF lawsuit info: TPPF: https://www.texaspolicy.com/press/tpp...

TPPF videos on our lawsuit: A Heavy Wind (Trailer): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlFwR...

RODA website: Home — https://rodafisheries.org/

Cape May County wind Info: https://capemaycountynj.gov/1601/Cape...

Green Oceans wind info: Green Oceans - https://green-oceans.org/

Enjoy!

Thank you to USOGA for Sponsoring the Energy Question!

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

The Energy Question Episode 80 - Tom Pyle, President of the Institute for Energy Research

In Episode #80 of The Energy Question, our good friend Tom Pyle, President of the Institute for Energy Research, joins us again to cover the energy policy landscape in Washington, DC.

Enjoy.

Institute for Energy Research Home Page: https://www.instituteforenergyresearc...

American Energy Alliance Home Page: https://www.americanenergyalliance.org/

Thank you to USOGA for Sponsoring the Energy Question!

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 79 of The Energy Question Podcast, David Blackmon interviews Emily Head, Senior Geology Associate on the Permian Asset Intelligence team at Enverus.

Emily gives us all the details on a recent report titled "The Barnett Bonanza is Coming," a report issued recently by Enverus about the promise of the Barnett Shale becoming the next big target formation in the amazing Permian Basin. Enjoy.

Link to press release: https://www.enverus.com/newsroom/the-barnett-bonanza-is-coming/

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

The Energy Question Episode 78, Paul Hickin, Editor in Chief Petroleum EconomistIn Episode 78 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon interviews Paul Hickin, Editor in Chief at the Petroleum Economist, one of the longest standing publications focused on the oil and gas industry.

In this episode, Paul and David cover current events in the oil and gas industry, along with the halting progress of the ongoing energy transition and what that means for the future of the industry and the global energy mix.

Enjoy.

Link to the Petroleum Economist: https://pemedianetwork.com/

Thank you to USOGA for Sponsoring the Energy Question!

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 77 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon talks to Toddy Royal, an energy expert analyst and consultant, who has authored several books on the subject, including co-writing the excellent "Clean Energy Exploitations" with previous guest Ronald Stein.

In this episode, Todd talks about his views on various topics, including:

  • His views on the progress of this sputtering energy transition;

  • The likelihood of a future energy crisis caused by government policies;

  • The prospects for a future expansion of nuclear energy as the best means of lowering emissions; and

  • His views on the most effective ways to communicate about all of this.

Enjoy.

Link to Books by Todd Royal: https://www.amazon.com/Books-Todd-Royal/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ATodd%40UCGXGTJt7GOgX0fyj2OPq1JQ

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 76 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon interviews Jacki Daily, host of the terrific Jacki Daily show at Blaze TV.

David and Jacki focus their discussion on Jacki's views about the threat to all Americans' rights to a fair trial that the recent secretive impeachment of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton presents. Paxton was impeached in the final days of the regular legislative session in May, following a weeks-long investigation held behind closed doors in which the defendant had no opportunity to present evidence or argue his case.

This process went against all state precedent and constitutional requirements governing impeachment processes. Jacki points out that if this can be done to a sitting Attorney General, it can be done to any of us, too.

The second half of the interview focuses in on the presidential campaign by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and Jacki's analysis that his independent candidacy is likely to take more votes away from Donald Trump or another GOP nominee than he would from Joe Biden or another Democrat nominee in 2024.

Enjoy.

Home page for the Jacki Daily Show: https://www.jackidaily.com/

You can find the Jacki Daily Show on all the popular podcast apps.

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

If you want to know what's happening in the nation's capital related to energy and climate policy, no one has their finger more firmly on the pulse than Tim Stewart, President of the U.S. Oil & Gas Assocation, the nation's longest-standing oil and gas trade group. Tim has been generous enough to agree to record monthly updates with The Energy Question, starting with this Episode 75.

In this episode, recorded one year before Election Day 2024, David and Tim talk about new Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana and the impacts he could have on energy policy, the importance of returning to regular order in the budgeting process, election dynamics leading into 2024 and how the industry is dealing with all the negative impacts of the Biden regulatory agenda.

Enjoy.

Follow USOGA on Twitter/X at "@US_OGA"

USOGA Home Page: www.usoga.org

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 73 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon interviews Dave Callahan, the President of the Marcellus Shale Coaltion (MSC).

The MSC works with exploration and production, midstream, and supply chain partners in the Appalachian Basin and across the country to address issues regarding the production of clean, job-creating, American natural gas from the Marcellus and Utica Shale plays.

The Coalition provides in-depth information to policymakers, regulators, media, and other public stakeholders on the positive impacts responsible natural gas production is having on families, businesses, and communities across the region.

In this discussion, Dave provides a detailed download about the current status of development in the Marcellus and Utica basin, and talks about how public policy impacts everything that's happening there. Enjoy.

Link to the MSC: https://marcelluscoalition.org/

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 72 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon interviews Rusty Hutson, the founder and CEO of Diversified Energy.

Diversified Energy is the operator of more oil and gas wells than any other U.S. company today, with a business plan focused on the acquisition of existing, late-life wells and improving their performance to increase recoveries from them. With operations in 9 states now, Diversified proves you don't have to be a big horizontal driller in U.S. shale plays to be successful in the upstream sector.

Enjoy.

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

The Energy Question Episode 71 Energy Analyst and Writer Ronald Stein

In Episode 71 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon interviews Ronald Stein, engineer, senior policy advisor on energy literacy for the Heartland Institute and CFACT, and co-author of the Pulitzer Prize-nominated book “Clean Energy Exploitations.”

In this 30-minute discussion, Ronald talks about his efforts to bring a higher level of energy literacy to the public, and why he has made that his primary mission in life.

Enjoy.

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

The Energy Question Episode 70 Lars Carlstrom, CEO of Statevolt and Italvolt

In Episode 70 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon interviews Lars Carlstrom, founder and CEO of Statevolt and Italvolt. Statvolt and Italvolt are startup companies dedicated to the manufacture of both stationary and transportation batteries.

Carlstrom compares and contrasts the challenges of starting up companies in both the U.S. and Italy in terms of permitting, supply chains, resource availability and employee sourcing and retention. He also discusses how both the U.S. and Europe are addressing the challenges in this space presented by China and its dominance in the electric vehicles and energy minerals space.

Enjoy.

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 69 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon interviews Congressman Andy Ogles, who represents the 5th District of the great state of Tennessee.

In this episode, the Congressman talks about his views on the federal budget situation, and the many reasons why he supports a return to normal order on the process. Normal order would mean that congress would abandon its 26-year habit of funding the government with enormous, multi-trillion-dollar omnibus continuing resolutions, a process that has bloated the federal budget beyond all reason, and return to the constitutional vision of passing a dozen single-subject bills to fund each major federal department.

Cong. Ogles also talks about his advocacy for energy independence, and how energy policy is impacting the budget debate.

Enjoy.

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 68 of The Energy Transition Podcast, David Blackmon talks with Doug Robison, CEO of Natura Resources.

Doug is the driving force behind the project to develop Texas's first molten salt nuclear reactor, working in a partnership with three universities: Abilene Christian University, The University of Texas, Texas A&M University, and the Georgia Institute of Technology. The reactor itself is roughly the size of a common refrigerator, and will be housed in a facility on the ACU campus in Abilene.

In this podcast, Doug walks David through the concept, the technology, the progress of the project and the very fast timeline towards initial startup in 2025.

Enjoy.

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 66 of The Energy Question Podcast, David Blackmon interviews James Kennedy, President at Three Consulting, on America's looming national security crisis related to production and control of rare earth minerals.

This is one you don't want to miss.

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 65 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon talks with Meghan Lapp, Fisheries Liaison for Seafreeze Shoreside, about the impacts of offshore wind on the commercial fishing industry and sea mammals, including whales.

Run of show:

1:30 - Intro to Meghan and her various assignments

4:30 - Meghan describes offshore wind's impacts on the commercial fishing industry in the northeast. Issues include potential net entanglements, wind farm interference with radar, lack of awareness by regulators, Coast Guard.

7:40 - Government's failure to exercise precautionary principle required by law.

9:30 - BOEM skirting of NEPA requirements. Refusal to conduct required environmental impact studies.

13:30 - Overall lack of enforcement vis a vis offshore wind by regulators.

15:00 - Population-level impacts on Atlantic Cod by NE offshore wind farms.

16:00 - Huge difference between wind's nameplate capacity and actual power delivery.

17:30 - BOEM itself admits offshore wind will have no beneficial impact on global climate change.

19:00 - Offshore Wind impacts on whales. Meghan reviews recent congressional testimony at a legislative briefing.

20:30 - Heavy correlation between whale deaths and conduct of offshore wind seismic surveys. Many of these whales are endangered species. These surveys are largely unregulated.

22:00 - Meghan explains that the East Coast is a "migratory superhighway" for a large number of whale species. BOEM admits the surveys will cause "temporary deafness" in these whales, placing them in mortal danger, since whales detect ship traffic with their sense of hearing.

24:50 - Meghan describes U.S. agency experiments on Baleen whales being conducted in Norway, because in Norway, they eat whales. The experiments are unimaginably cruel.

Link to article about cruel whale experiments conducted by the U.S. government in Norway:

https://www.voanews.com/a/experiment-halted-in-norway-after-whale-drowns/7126928.html#:~:text=Minke%20whales%20are%20the%20second,or%208%20meters%20in%20length.&text=A%20controversial%20research%20project%20in,%22cruel%20and%20pointless%22%20experiments.

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 63 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon interviews Rick Perry, the longest serving Governor of the great State of Texas, who also served as Secretary of Energy during the Donald Trump administration.

David and Governor Perry cover a variety of topics in this interview, including:

  • What the Governor has been doing to stay busy since leaving office;

  • The state of the Texas power grid;

  • The bright future for nuclear power in Texas, nationally and globally;

  • What the next U.S. president will need to do to restore U.S. energy security following the disastrous policies of the Biden administration;

And much more. Enjoy.

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

You’ve received the following order from Philip Yankauskas:

[Order #5434] (September 25, 2023)

In Episode 62 of The Energy Question, Daniel Yergin, Vice Chairman of S&P Global and author of best-sellers like "The New Map," "The Quest," and "The Prize," makes his first appearance since February. Much has changed in the intervening 6 months, including the publication of a new study co-moderated by Dan, “Shaping a Living Roadmap for Energy Transition.”

The study, which assesses the current and future possible paths of the "energy transition," is a joint project of S&P Global and the International Energy Forum.

In this episode, Dan and David use the study as the jumping-off point for a wide-ranging, 42-minute talk about the energy transition, its progress today, and whether it is a real "transition," or more of an addition and diversification of a wide array of energy sources, both new and old.

Enjoy.

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

The Energy Question Episode 61 Jason Modglin, President of the Texas Alliance of Energy ProducersIn Episode 61 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon interviews Jason Modglin for a monthly recap of key issues impacting the oil and gas industry in Austin and Washington, DC.Enjoy. Thank you to USOGA for Sponsoring the Energy Question!Highlights of the Podcast 00:00 - Intro

01:52 - Discussion about new federal Methane Regulations and their impacts

07:39 - U.S. Fish and Wildlife proposed Endangered Species classification of the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard

15:47 - Renewed threat from the EPA to hold the Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico in non-attainment status on federal ozone standards

19:03 - Jason details the legislature's final compromise on property tax reductions

24:04 - ERCOT's successful management of the Texas power grid through this hot summer

29:25 - Outro

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media. David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

Enjoy. Thank you to USOGA for Sponsoring the Energy Question!Highlights of the Podcast 00:00 - Intro

01:04 - Origins and mission of Doomberg

03:57 - Doomberg's exit from Twitter: Doomberg gives the lowdown on the reasons behind that strategic move

10:00 - Doomberg discusses the Disease of "More"

14:01 - Doomberg explains what he means by his motto, "Energy is Life"

16:52 - Doomberg's View on the trajectory and challenges of the Energy Transition

25:17 - Doomberg's views on BRICS and its rising influence

30:20 - Outro

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media. David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

The Energy Question Episode 59 Stanley Ridgley, Author of the Best Seller, "Brutal Minds"In Episode 59 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon interviews Dr. Stanley Ridgley about his best-selling book, "Brutal Minds." "Brutal Minds" is a devastating critique of leftwing brainwashing of students taking place on our university campuses today. The book describes how an entire class of unqualified non-faculty administrators running Student Affairs departments on most college campuses in the U.S. implement have been using Maoist brainwashing techniques to indoctrinate unsuspecting students with Critical Race Theory propaganda in this century. This reality was the motivating reason why Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered all state universities to eliminate DEI departments and programs recently, but Dr. Ridgley explains that that move will not resolve the issue unless further steps are taken to root out the ideologues who push this agenda through Student Affairs departments. This is one of the most frightening books I've read in recent years. It is an important read for anyone who has children or grandchildren who will be entering college in the coming years. Dr. Ridgley's bio: https://www.lebow.drexel.edu/people/stanleyridgleyBrutal Minds website: https://brutalminds.com/ Enjoy. Thank you to USOGA for Sponsoring the Energy Question!Highlights of the Podcast 00:00 - Intro

02:24 - Knowing Dr. Stanley Ridgeley and his background

03:09 - Talk about the reasons why you felt really obligated to write this book based on real experiences you've had on campus firsthand observations

07:05 - Most, if not all, Universities run through what we call the Student Affairs Department, correct?

08:49 - Talks about the Maoist Playbook

12:45 - Talks about Paolo Frier a Brazillian Educator

15:10 - Talks about the Critical Race Theory

17:01 - Transformative Multicultural Initiatives

19:14 - Governor and our Legislature to force publicly funded universities to eliminate their DEI Departments But that's not really addressing this problem, is it? That's kind of a tangential thing, isn't it?

21:15 - Talks about a Canadian guy name William Kurtz who committed suicide after being subjected to a required seminar

24:53 - How do we explain the fact that the Administration at these Universities does put up with it? Does sanction it apparently, and allow it to exist on their campuses, knowing they have to be aware of what is happening in these student affairs departments, And why don't they do anything to root it out and get rid of it?

30:05 - Talks about the two Primary Organizations ACPA and NASPA

32:18 - What do you tell parents about how to protect their own kids from this, you know, falling prey to this kind of Maoist indoctrination on the campus they're about to attend?

42:43 - Outro

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media. David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

The Energy Question Episode #58: Josh Young, CEO Of Bison InterestsIn Episode #58 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon gets the low down on the current investment environment in energy markets, Josh Young, founder, and CEO of Bison InterestsEnjoy. Thank you to USOGA for Sponsoring the Energy Question!Highlights of the Podcast 00:00 - Intro

02:36 - Josh summarizes the goals and objectives of his company, Bison Interests.

03:53 - Josh's opinions about recent news stories indicating Warren Buffet is looking to increase his investments in U.S. shale companies - what that means for markets, investors, and the future of U.S. shale.

08:20 - Josh and David discuss the current relative health of the domestic oil and gas industry.

13:40 - Josh's views on the current unsettled state of the U.S. regulatory environment.

17:17 - Discussion about DOE's recent decision to cancel a planned buyback of 6 million barrels of oil to begin refilling the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

21:18 - Recent rise in oil prices - is the market undersupplied?

27:22 - Discussion about Saudi Arabia and Matt Simmons's "Twilight in the Desert" theory.

31:00 - Impacts of Fitch downgrade of U.S. debt credit rating.

35:32 - Outro

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media. David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

The Energy Question Episode 56 Andrew Dittmar, Director at EnverusEnjoy. Thank you to USOGA for Sponsoring the Energy Question!Highlights of the Podcast 00:00 - Intro

00:54 - Andrew, just remind our viewers what your role is and Enverus and Talk about your background a little bit

02:12 - Talk about what happened in the Second Quarter here in the upstream sector

03:40 - What are the factors beyond that? Is it just the attractiveness of the assets or is there more at play there?

06:28 - I just wonder, is that kind of business model with these large independents? has that played itself out or do we should we still think of them as potential takeover targets in the future?

09:24 - Chevron had a big preexisting position and has always been one of the big players up there in the DJ Basin. But are those really Tier One drilling opportunities up there in Colorado?

10:51 - Could we see the Permian assets suddenly start being discounted due to federal regulatory risk that hasn't been the case in the past? If the Biden administration keeps moving in that direction.

15:30 - Civitas just, you know, moves into the Permian Basin now, talk about the two acquisitions they did

17:39 - As technology improves, fracking techniques improve. You can turn tier two drilling locations into Tier one recoveries, right?

20:03 - The existence of half a dozen big shale formations that companies can explore as time goes along so that's a big factor in why these Permian assets are so sought after, right?

22:46 - Does it play a big, big role, though, in determining whether or not the company is going to ultimately move forward with an attempt to buy out another company in these deals?

23:48 - Permian being somewhat constrained from takeaway capacity, particularly related to Natural Gas and I guess liquids, too. is it no longer a significant concern out there?

25:23 - Is Enverus anticipating continued rig count declines for the rest of the year?

25:49 - Thoughts of Andrew on Exxon Mobil's acquisition of Denbury

29:49 - If Enverus and you think that the industry is going to be able to maintain access to the capital needed to continue executing these kinds of deals going forward, to continue consolidating the U.S. shale space

33:05 - Talks about Eastern Eagle Ford

34:24 - What's your forecast for the rest of the year on M&A?

35:57 - Outro

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media. David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

The Energy Question Episode 57: Innovative Decarbonization Solutions for FPSOsIn Episode 57 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon interviews Matt Mohajer with SLB and Greg Trostel with Rockwell about efforts by their companies and two other technology firms to develop innovative technologies designed to decarbonize Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessels (FPSOs). FPSOs are massive and complex vessels used to facilitate to the development and production of oil and gas resources in offshore provinces all over the world. I like to compare them and their complexity to onshore gas processing and refining facilities. With the global offshore in a renewed boom state in places like Guyana, Suriname, West Africa, the North Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, the number of FPSOs in operation is expanding, heightening the priority of decarbonization efforts like this one. Matt and Greg detail the formation of a consortium between their companies, along with Sensia, LLP and Cognite, to jointly develop digital solutions to facilitate the decarbonization of these facilities.SLB Home Page: www.slb.com Rockwell

Home Page: www.rockwellautomation.com

Sensia Home Page: www.sensiaglobal.com

Cognite Home Page: www.cognite.com

Project Press Release: https://www.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/news/press-releases/FPSO-Coalition.html

Enjoy. Thank you to USOGA for Sponsoring the Energy Question!Highlights of the Podcast 00:00 - Intro

02:03 - Introduction of Matt for their partnership for the project

06:24 - Global Integration

11:00 - Big Major Project to lower emissions form a pretty discrete set.

18:16 - Floating Facility

21:13 - SLB awarded a contract with Petrobras and FFPO's coalition

25:54 - How to find SLB and Rockwell

27:13 - Outro

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media. David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 55 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon interviews Christopher Messina, the dynamic CEO of Tanbreez, the company that owns the rights to develop the Tanbreez mine on the southern coast of Greenland.The Tanbreez mine was recently cited by Mining.com as the largest reserve of rare earth elements on the planet. In this interview, Mr. Messina details the promising status of the project and his efforts to secure both private and public funding to move the project forward.Tanbreez home page: www.Tanbreez.com Link to Christopher's podcast, Messy Times: www.messytimes.showLink to Mining.com rankings: https://www.mining.com/featured-article/ranked-worlds-top-10-rare-earth-projects/ Enjoy. Thank you to USOGA for Sponsoring the Energy Question!Run of Show Intro:

00:00 - Intro

01:38 - Introduction of Christopher Messina

03:48 - The government of Greenland is all in favor of moving forward with this project

04:53 - Ranking at mining.com and its elements

09:51 - critical for the U.S. in this energy transition

14:51 - roadblocks to getting this thing kicked off and moving toward production

17:55 - accessing some of those stimulus resources

24:16 - Potential outcome from the elements

27:59 - Chinese development

30:59 - reprocess any of these kinds of elements

33:15 - Outro

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media. David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode #55 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon talks with Texas Congressman August Pfluger about the proposed endangered species listing for the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard.Cong. Pfluger recently introduced a bill that would prevent that listing, which could have a major detrimental impact to oil and gas activity in the Permian Basin, much of which is contained in his congressional district.Enjoy. Thank you to USOGA for Sponsoring the Energy Question!Run of Show Intro:

00:00 - Intro

00:23 - Congressman August Pflunger Introduction

04:58 - Discussion about Cong. Pfluger's new bill, THE LIZARD ACT

09:06 - U.S. Fish & Wildlife rationale for the listing: Diminishing Habitat and Climate Change.

09:44 - Is the use of Climate Change really just a power grab on the part of Fish and Wildlife?

15:01 - Discussion about possible impacts on the West Texas frac sand business.

18:45 - Is this lizard listing consistent with the congressional intent when it actually passed the Endangered Species Act?

21:09 - Discussion on another threat to the Permian: EPA's threat to hold the region in non-attainment on ozone standards.

23:54 - Back to the Lizard Act. Where do we go from here?

26:01 - Anything else you would like our audience to know before we wrap this up?

30:00 - Outro

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media. David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 54 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon interviews Michelle Bloodworth, the CEO of America's Power.America's Power is a Washington, DC-based trade association that represents the interests of the U.S. fleet of coal-fired power generation units.Enjoy. Thank you to USOGA for Sponsoring the Energy Question!Run of Show Intro:

00:00 - Intro

01:40 - Michelle talks about America's Power, its members, and its mission.

03:59 - Review of America's current coal fleet.

05:09 - Discussion about the importance of the coal fleet to grid stability and review of units scheduled for retirement in the coming years.

10:28 - Limitations of the ability for renewables to displace 24/7 coal generation.

13:42 - Impacts of government subsidies on high power bills.

15:46 - Michelle talks about new video from America's Power.

17:06 - Review of North American Electric Reliability Corporation's 2023 Summer Reliability Assessment

19:09 - Discussion about transformer shortages and supply chain issues.

21:10 - Emissions reductions achieved by U.S. coal fleet in this century.

23:07 - The feasibility of using carbon capture in conjunction with coal generation.

25:58 - China is actually pretty dramatically expanding its own fleet.

27:58 - Where do we go from here?

30:51 - Outro

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media. David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 51 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon spends 30 minutes with his podcasting partner for The Energy Transition Podcast, Irina Slav. Irina is one of the wittiest and most astute energy writers working today. She is a regular contributor at OilPrice.com and runs a must-read newsletter, Irina Slav on Energy, at Substack. Irina has that rare gift: She can make you laugh and make you think simultaneously. Enjoy. Irina Slav on Energy: www.irinaslav.substack.com Irina Slav at OilPrice: https://oilprice.com/search/tab/artic...Irina on Twitter: @IrinaSlav1Thank you to USOGA for Sponsoring the Energy Question!Run of Show Intro:

00:00 - Intro

01:08 - Tell people where they can find you and read what you write

03:06 - Talks about how the climate alarmist movement, as I like to call them, is using children as a weapon in these lawsuits.

07:26 - Talks about Religion

09:12 - Talks about the latest outburst from Secretary Gutierrez

12:55 - Talks about a story this week about Chattanooga, Tennessee

15:22 - Talks about Chargers situation in Texas

17:13 - How is Bulgaria kind of avoiding all these bad outcomes that the other EU countries seem to be having?

20:54 - Do you see that kind of a trend continuing to expand into other countries in Europe? Because it looks like the UK is about to go back to the Labor Party now.

22:57 - Talks about Reducing Pollution / Carbon Pollution

24:15 - Do you think you feel like we're starting to actually get some traction and people starting, you know, helping people understand the connection between what their governments are doing and all these bad outcomes that are happening.

26:43 - I wonder if doing that other kind of writing, that other style of writing if you think it actually helps enhance the creativity of your energy writing do you see one influencing the other?

32:08 - Outro

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media. David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 50 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon talks with Kip Eideberg, Senior VP at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) about issues impacting America's manufacturing sector.

Run of Show

Intro: Thank you to USOGA for Sponsoring the Energy Question!

01:00 - Kip Eideberg takes a few moments to talk about AEM and its mission.

04:40 - The heavy Texas footprint of AEM members.

05:50 - AEM's Midwestern origins, and how it has evolved. How has policy driven that?

08:30 - Recent Economic Impact study published by AEM. A story of strength, resilience and a return to a "new normal."

11:00 - Challenges for manufacturers in sourcing qualified workers. Currently 85,000 job openings across the industries AEM supports.

13:05 - AEM's highly-successful "I make America" campaign. Just generated over 80,000 letters to congress in support of Farm Bill, policies to incentivize domestic energy production, and permitting reform.

15:50 - The lack of any sense of urgency on the permitting issue - what can be done to change it?

19:00 - How the failures of the permitting system is negatively impacting the public, business and the environment. Even national security.

21:50 - Almost all permitting delays are the outgrowth of major environmental and safety laws, along with stakeholder rights protections. Presents a real conundrum from a public policy standpoint.

24:00 - Why energy costs are key to U.S. manufacturing.

26:15 - Supply chain challenges in the manufacturing sector. Have things improved in the last 2 years?

30:00 - Where you can find Kip and AEM.

AEM Website: www.aem.org

I Make America Campaign: www.imakeamerica.org

USOGA Website: www.USOGA.org

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media. David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 49 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon interviews Karr Ingham, EVP at the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, about his creation and maintenance of the Texas Petro Index.

00:00 - Intro

01:06 - Karr talks about his background and how he came up with the concept of the Texas Petro Index

05:29 - How the TPI is broken down by region

07:01 - Why the TPI is a good measure of the general health of the industry. Right. Historically?

10:50 - We had over 2000 rigs active at one point - what happened?

13:10 - How the Texas industry is reaching record new production for crude oil and natural gas without a record rig count, and thus without record employment

17:24 - Why demands for higher returns on investments do not represent souring of investors on U.S. oil and gas or the shale industry

22:14 - In 2010, the state of Texas produced about 20% of all of the nation's crude oil. Today, it produces almost half.

26:28 - Why the Energy Transition stands in defiance of the laws of supply and demand.

31:25 - The still-growing energy crisis that started in Europe is likely to go global

34:54 - Where viewers can find Karr, the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, and the TPI

36:54 - Outro

You can find The Energy Question With David Blackmon podcast on Spotify, Spreaker, Apple Podcasts, and other regular podcasting platforms.

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media. David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

00:00 - Intro

01:05 - Talk about your background and the mission and the business objectives

for, Sage Geo System

02:13 - Energy storage. What are the mechanics of that related to a geothermal

project?

04:28 - The factors that have prevented geothermal from scaling up in a

significant way over the past decade

06:06 - The mechanics of Geothermal - How deep underground heat is harvested

and cost-effectively converted into electricity.

10:04 - Discussion about Infrastructure requirements and other operational

challenges

12:33 - The potential for geothermal region-specific microgrids

15:19 - Does geothermal qualify for the investment tax credit and other federal

incentives?

16:51 - The potential to repurpose coal plants with geothermal

20:01 - The carbon footprint and other ESG concerns of a geothermal operation

21:16 - Are you to the point as a company producing an annual sustainability

report?

24:38 - Discussion about energy storage and its application for renewables

backup

26:18 - The challenges of educating policymakers and the public

32:08 - Outro

View Details

In Episode 47 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon interviews his podcasting partner, Armando Cavahna, about the oil and gas situation in Brazil.

00:00 - Intro

01:05 - Armando Cavanha's background and career

05:29 - President Lula's energy policies - how are they stacking

up compared to Bolsonaro?

09:59 - Positive prospects for more development in Brazil

12:53 - BRICS - Brazil's involvement and possible expansion this

year

19:27 - Petrobras developing the offshore; involvement by

international companies

24:54 - Is there any prospect to increase natural gas production

to an extent where you would no longer have to import LNG from overseas?

26:35 - Significant Lithium Reserves

31:08 - Outro

You can find The Energy Question With David Blackmon podcast at Spotify, Spreaker, Apple Podcasts and other regular podcasting platforms.

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media. David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 46 of the Energy Question, David Blackmon interviews Meredith Angwin, Author of "Shorting the Grid," about issues impacting the New England, Texas and national power grids.

00:00 - Intro

00:56 - Where you can Find Meredith Angwin and "Shorting the

Grid"

03:46 - Still burning a lot of oil on the New England grid,

especially in winter months - Lack of natural gas pipelines

05:05 - Discussion of domestic natural gas vs. LNG prices

06:27 - Lawsuit against New York State for its refusal to allow

interstate natural gas pipelines - interference with commerce clause

07:20 - Chevron Doctrine under reconsideration by Supreme Court -

could have an impact on pipeline question and other infrastructure across state

lines

08:00 - Impacts of the Jones Act on New England power grid

11:18 - Offshore Wind Projects and Whale impacts

15:20 - Biden administration's abandonment of the cautionary

principle

16:10 - Anything goes where renewables are concerned, especially

wind

20:04 - Inconsistencies among and between federal regulators

23:34 - Grid security concerns - transformer shortage, EMP,

attacks on substations, etc.

30:00 - Apocalyptic thinking taking over the energy transition

movement

32:51 - Outro

You can find The Energy Question With David Blackmon podcast at Spotify, Spreaker, Apple Podcasts and other regular podcasting platforms.

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media. David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 45 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon interviews Dr. Tammy Nemeth, who co-hosts The Energy Transition Podcast along with David, Armando Cavanha and Irina Slav.

In this 33 minute discussion, David and Tammy cover the

landscape of energy-related issues impacting Canada and the UK.

Run of Show:

00:00 -Intro

02:05 - LNG exports in Canada

07:45 - Efforts by the Trudeau government to displace coal-fired power plants in Canada

without using natural gas to do it - why it's a pipe dream

10:48 - Separation of powers issues facing the country - is Canada moving towards

authoritarian form of government?

12:00 - Canadian hydropower - status of exports of electricity into the U.S.

15:30 - Environmental groups opposition to new hydro dams

16:30 - Rising opposition from communities to new Wind Farms and Solar arrays

18:20 - Wind farms contributing to drought, deaths of whales

20:13 - Abusive management of the Canadian Pension Plan fund - Octopus Energy

investments

23:00 - Issues surrounding the energy transition in the UK

28:00 - How the media fails to report honestly on energy issues, especially nuclear

29:00 - Where to find and follow Tammy online

30:18 - more info about nuclear

32:04 - Outro

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media. David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 19 of the Texas Legislative Podcast, David Blackmon and Texas Alliance of Energy Producers President Jason Modglin review the final days of the 2023 Regular Session of the Texas Legislature, along with the first few days of the special session that began immediately after.

[Follow us on Twitter at @JasonModglin, @TexasAllianceEP and @EnergyAbsurdity]

Run of Show:

Episode 19: Session Review/Special Session Preview

  • Standoff on property tax cuts – special session to resolve it underway – how does Gov. Abbott’s endorsement of the House plan impact the debate?

  • HB5, the Section 313 replacement bill, passed.

  • SB 2627, the bill to incentivize more thermal reserve capacity also passed, along with SJR 93

  • Attorney General Ken Paxton impeachment - Jason explains the process and anticipated timeline

  • Sunset Bills for PUC and TCEQ passed, include important reforms

  • Jason reviews several big events he never thought he would see in any session.

End

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media. David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 18 of the Texas Legislative Podcast, David Blackmon and Texas Alliance of Energy Producers President Jason Modglin cover the events of the week ending May 26 for the 2023 Session of the Texas Legislature.

Run of Show:

Episode 18: Week ended 5.26.2023

Only 3 days remaining in the 2023 legislative session

  • We appear to have a budget deal – $321.3 billion over 2 years, including a $17.6 billion cut in property taxes and many billions in new spending

  • Big movement on grid reliability bills – House approves SB 2627, SJR 93, SB 7 – Now moves to a conference committee

  • Texas press bemoans state “moving away” from renewables. But is that really the case here?

  • HB 5, the Section 313 replacement bill, passes the senate and goes to conference

  • Non-energy, but notable: House Ethics Committee publishes articles of impeachment against AG Ken Paxton

  • Big Supreme Court decision in Waters of the United States case - why it's important

  • We will be back next week with a session recap.

End

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 44 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon engages in a somewhat prescient discussion about upstream mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity during the first quarter of the year with Andrew Dittmar, Director at Enverus. Andrew talks about the business, policy and market factors impacting the M&A space during 2023, and ends up identifying Chevron as one of the big potential buyers just weeks before Chevron announced its $7.6 billion buyout of PDC Energy on May 22.

Run of Show:

0:00 - Intro

01:36 - Discussion about Q1 2023 M&A activity, and its focus on Eagle Ford Shale assets

07:53 - Factors impacting deal making in other basins, and the potential for deals involving buyouts of small-to-midsize upstream companies during the rest of the year

14:48 - Why ExxonMobil and Chevron are notable potential buyers

19:19 - How takeaway capacity in Appalachia are impacting dealmaking

23:33 - Which larger independents are potential takeover targets?

25:51 - Outlook for the rest of the year and beyond

28:28 - End

Enverus Home Page: www.Enverus.com

You can find The Energy Question With David Blackmon podcast at Spotify, Spreaker, Apple Podcasts and other regular podcasting platforms.

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 43 of The Energy Question, Host David Blackmon interviews Chuck McConnell, Executive Director at the University of Houston's Center for Carbon Management in Energy, about the huge potential for hydrogen hub development along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast.

Run of Show:

00:00 - Intro

01:11 - Chuck talks about his work at UH and the opportunity for carbon reduction projects like carbon capture and hydrogen development in Texas and Louisiana.

06:04 - What do we even mean when we talk about a hydrogen hub in this context?

08:10 - How low-carbon hydrogen is produced

17:45 - The hydrogen hub concept

20:08 - Where will the funding come from?

22:56 - Infrastructure issues related to hydrogen/hydrogen hub development

26:46 - Is there a role for the state legislatures to play in encouraging this kind of hydrogen-based activity?

31:07 - Emissions being the focus, that's the centerpiece for our Center for Carbon Management at the University of Houston

32:21 - Talk about the online course that you're about to kick off related to hydrogen question and let people know where they can go sign up for it if they're interested in doing it

35:51 - Exit

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 17 of the Texas Legislative Podcast, David Blackmon and Jason Modglin, President of the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers recap the progress made by the 2023 session of the Texas Legislature for the week ended May 19, 2023.

[Follow us on Twitter at @JasonModglin @TexasAlliance EP @EnergyAbsurdity]

Run of Show:

Episode 17: Week ended 5.19.2023

Only 10 days remaining in the 2023 legislative session.

  • Property taxes – House agrees to homestead exemption expansion. But the bill would also tighten up the appraisal cap, which the Senate may not like. Give us the details.

  • Budget status – where are we?

  • Possible $1 billion in Ike Dike funding

  • Possible $1 billion increase in Texas parks funding

  • Chapter 313 replacement bill, HB 5. Revisions made in the Senate to include 313 reforms, tighten up which projects qualify

  • Grid reform – SB 2627, SJR 93 were passed out of State Affairs along with SB 7, the PCM guardrails bill. All electricity bills up in the House Saturday.

  • SB 624 – retirement of solar/wind installations cleared the Senate by a 21-9 vote still sitting in House State Affairs. Do you think it will move any further in this session?

  • Non-energy aside: Casino gambling dies yet again. Rep. Charlie Guerin says he’s postponed reconsideration of the proposal to the 2027 session. Can he really do that?

End

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 16 of the Texas Legislative Update, David Blackmon and Jason Modglin review the energy-related events for the week ended May 12, 2023.

Run of Show:

  • This is Episode 16: Week ended 5.12.2023

  • Just 19 days remain in the 2023 legislative session. It’s crunch time.

  • Non-Austin update: Voters in El Paso soundly rejected Proposition K, a terrible proposal that would have saddled the city with enormous debt and destabilized its power generation, all in the name of climate alarmism. That’s a big win not just for El Paso, but really for Texas, isn’t it?

  • Property taxes and the budget: Where are we on these two crucial issues?

  • What about grid reform? SB 2627 still alive, along with SJR 93? What about a PCM guardrails bill?

  • Chapter 313 replacement bill – the version that passed the House would exclude renewable energy projects. Now goes to the Senate for consideration.

  • SB 624 – retirement of solar/wind installations cleared the Senate by a 21-9 vote – where does it stand in the house?

  • Preview of next week.

End

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 41 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon interviews Genevieve Collins, State Director for the Texas Chapter of Americans for Prosperity.

00:00 - Intro

00:56 - Genevieve discusses her background and the mission of AFP Texas

03:02 - Talks about Americans for Prosperity and how it started

04:51 - Discussion of AFP's legislative agenda in Texas

06:01 - The importance of property tax cuts

09:18 - AFP's efforts related to charter schools

11:47 - Discussion on Education savings accounts

14:46 - Recap of recent House Public Education Committee hearing on school choice

18:26 - Where you can find AFP Texas and get involved

19:19 - Discussion of Proposition K in El Paso

25:00 - End

AFP Texas Home Page: https://americansforprosperity.org/state/texas/

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

00:00 - Intro

01:11 - Take a few moments and tell us how Kayrros came about and the reasons why you went down the road of creating this company

06:24 - Kayrros method for obtaining the satellite information?

08:20 - Insights on what's going to happen in the future. How does that part of your business work?

11:17 - You mentioned ERCOT. Do you also do or are you also engaged in some of the other regional grids around the United States? Are you in other countries now or are you strictly in the U.S. right now?

13:04 - Incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act, Business opportunities for an information provider like Kairos

14:39 - Can you help companies identify those super emitters sites where the big emissions are taking place?

16:21 - Is there an opportunity for Kayrros to work cooperatively with those kinds of ratings companies

19:12 - Talks about Carbon Capture Project

21:18 - Is there an opportunity for Kayrros to partner in any way with those kinds of of government kinds of entities?

24:24 - Are you working with anyone in China yet, for example, or making inroads there? / Discussion on Climate

28:44 - End

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 15 of the Texas Legislative Update, David Blackmon and Texas Alliance of Energy Producers President Jason Modglin cover energy-related events in Austin for the Week ended May 5, 2023.

[Follow us on Twitter at @JasonModglin @TexasAllianceEP and @EnergyAbsurdity]

Run of Show:

Happy Cinco de Mayo, Texas!

Just 26 days remain in the legislative session for 2023

Ted Cruz attracted another formal challenger, congressman Colin Allred, who represents the 32nd district, where I live. Allred joins State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, from District 19 in San Antonio in announcing a bid for the U.S. Senate seat. It should be a vigorous Democratic primary if nothing else, right?

The Capitol was shut down for awhile Tuesday due to a rowdy transgender protest. Did it impact what you were doing?

Chapter 313 Replacement – we talked about this last week. A replacement bill overwhelmingly passed HB 5 this week. Is it a good bill?

Where does the property tax cut battle stand?

Any movement on grid-related bills? – SB 2627, SJR 93 by Sen. Charles Schwertner were fast-tracked in the Senate this week, will likely come up in the House next week. The new proposed legislation would incent the building of new dispatchable reserve thermal capacity through property tax incentives and completion bonuses.

Preview of Next Week

End

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 39 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon interviews Tom Pyle, the President of the American Energy Alliance. Tom is one of the smartest advocates for real energy in the nation's capital, and brings an extensive knowledge of any and all related topics to the table.

In this episode, David and Tom discuss the state of federal public policy in DC, and all the damage to our energy future being done by the Biden administration.

Run of Show:

01:00 Tom gives a download about the AEA and what it does.

02:30 EPA's new auto mileage standards and how they will raise costs for all Americans.

03:20 Tom explains why EVs are a luxury item for the wealthy on the coasts, and maybe in Austin.

04:15 The real agenda: Force Americans to buy stuff we can't afford and don't want, and ultimately, to force us to not drive cars at all.

08:30 How forcing EVs will force buyers even out of the used car market.

10:00 What kind of new load will recharging all these EVs put on the power grid?

14:00 How the Biden/Green New Deal policies impact the lower income earners the hardest.

17:00 Chinese control of supply chains for critical energy minerals.

18:30 How fossil fuels help to diversify the energy supply - imagine the carnage on the roads when 2/3rds of the cars during a hurricane evacuations are EVs.

22:10 How climate is being used as the rationale to implement socialist/progressive principles in the western world.

23:30 None of this is better for the environment - all energy sources have benefits and trade-offs.

26:20 It's all about control.

28:00 Biden gas stove ban. Yes, they are coming for your stove, folks.

30:50 People need to know they're coming for your car, too.

32:00 Why Jennifer Granholm and Stacy Abrams should voluntarily give up their gas stoves, and Joe Biden should sell his Corvette.

34:00 Energy impacts everything.

End

Link to the American Energy Alliance: www.americanenergyalliance.org

Link to the Institute for Energy Research: www.instituteforenergyresearch.org

Link to IER's Environmental Quality Index: https://www.instituteforenergyresearc...

Twitter: @AEA @IerEnergy @TomJPyle

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 14 of the Texas Legislative Update, David Blackmon and Texas Alliance of Energy Producers President Jason Modglin cover the energy-related events of the week ended April 28, 2023.

Topics Covered Include:

  • Only 33 days remain in the 2023 Session

  • Growing conflict between house, senate on taxes, education, grid, etc.

  • Lt. Gov. Patrick says he can force a special session – how would that work?

  • Will SB 6, SB 7 receive hearings in the House? Where has Gov. Abbott gone on this? David vents his frustrations about the specious arguments against SB 6 being advanced by power generators, renewables advocates.

  • Any progress on CCUS legislation?

  • What about the proposed re-frac incentive?

  • SB 624 - Lois Kolkhorst bill mandating regulations governing the retirement of wind farms/solar arrays.

  • Status of the GROW and STRONG bills, both of which would allocate a percentage of oil and gas severance tax revenues to help counties shore up infrastructure.

  • Preview for next week.

End.

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 38 of The Energy Question, host David Blackmon interviews former Texas Democratic Congressman Martin Frost. Mr. Frost currently serves on the Board of Advisors for the Council for a Secure America, the focus of this discussion.

CSA was founded on the premise that American energy independence through the production of liquid fuels served as the underpinning for U.S. security. This energy independence, and the strategic alliance with Israel, strengthen America’s mutual security and global standing.

CSA Home Page: https://councilforsecureamerica.org/

Run of Show:

00:00 - Intro

01:40 - Martin Frost talks about the Council for a Secure America and how it works

08:03 - The importance of maintaining Energy Security

11:17 - Is the U.S. losing influence in the Middle East? Is that a dangerous thing for the Country?

13:20 - Challenges related to the relationship between United States and Saudi Arabia

15:11 - Does the Council have similar concerns about this growing relationship between Russia and India?

21:02 - When we see China moving into South America in such a big way. Is that something we should be concerned about?

22:45 - Do you see the BRICS alliance also helping to facilitate the growth of China's influence globally?

24:57 - Is it possible for America, really any other country to have what we like to refer to as a true sense of national security without having energy security at the time?

28:37 - Outro

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

28 views Apr 25, 2023

In Episode 37 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon interviews Todd Snitchler, President of the Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA) about issues currently impacting the independent power producers in the United States.

EPSA Website: www.epsa.org

EPSA on Twitter: @EPSA_CEO

Run of Show:

01:00 - Description of EPSA's mission and membership.

02:10 - Todd describes the current state of grid reliability and resilience.

03:30 - Are we in an energy transition or an energy expansion?

04:40 - EPA regulations designed to increase load on the power grid - will power providers be able to meet the new demand with renewables only?

06:40 - "Americans want 3 things: Lights on, Beer cold and Water warm."

07:10 - EPSA's views on Texas proposals to incent dispatchable reserve capacity.

10:20 - China doubling-down on coal - is it now essentially impossible to build new coal-fired generation in the U.S.? What about nuclear power?

13:20 - Transmission - need big expansion in new transmission - is the industry prepared in terms of investment and public policy to meet the needs?

15:40 - Supply chain issues - Transformers in short supply going into 2023 hurricane season.

18:00 - Series of attacks on power facilities, mainly on transmission substations.

20:50 - Discussion cybersecurity measures being taken by power generators.

23:45 - Energy transition: How what we're doing increases the challenges for grid managers to maintain reliability and stability.

End

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 13 of the Texas Legislative Update, David Blackmon and Texas Alliance of Energy Producers President Jason Modglin cover the key energy-related events in Austin for the week ended 4.21.2023.

Run of Show:

  • Today is San Jacinto Day! God Bless Texas!

  • Ted Cruz picks up a “very likely” challenger in State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, from District 19 in San Antonio. Should Cruz be worried?

  • The Senate passed its $308 billion budget plan, which is somewhat less than the plan passed by the House. What are the big differences between the two houses?

  • Both the GROW and STRONG Bills pass out of committee in the House.

  • House State Affairs: Long hearing on PCM guardrails. Power generators now appear to oppose the same language on the matter they supported in the Senate. Go figure.

  • Grid Reform: Both SB 6 and 7 were referred on Monday to State Affairs.

  • Rhetoric over property tax cuts heated up this week. Is compromise coming?

  • HB 2127 passed the House. Would limit the ability of cities to regulate business, something the industry has generally supported in the past.

End

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

It's a fast-moving half-hour with one of the real experts on the subject.

Run of show:

00:00 - Intro

01:50 - Peak Oil Supply or Peak Oil Demand - Is either theory valid?

06:23 - Discussion about the Book Twilight in the Desert: The Coming Saudi Oil Shock and the World Economy. Book by Matthew Simmons

12:18 - Kenya ditches the dollar and buys oil from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in their own currency, the Kenya shillings.

14:07 - CNOOC, a Chinese Company and French Company Total Energies signed a Deal in Yuan on the Shanghai Stock Exchange

15:27 - China and Brazil signed a deal to deal in national currencies

16:24 - Implications of strengthening the relationship between China and Saudi Arabia

18:04 - Anas explains why the U.S. Dollar is still King in international trade and the Petrodollar will continue to be the reserve currency for energy trades

25:42 - Discussion about the Saudi and United States Relationship and its possible impact on the Petrodollar

31:21 - Exit

Enjoy.

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 12 of the Texas Legislative Update, David Blackmon and Jason Modglin, President of the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, discuss the energy-related events of the week ended April 14, 2023.

It was a week during which the House passed its version of major, $12 billion cut in property taxes, controversy arose over legislation designed clarify the rules of the road for carbon capture and storage, and the House passed a mandating the end to the bi-annual switching to and from Daylight Savings Time that everyone knows Congress will not approve.

We cover all that and more in 30 short minutes.

Topics Discussed:

  • Key stat: Only 46 days remain in this 88th session of the Texas Legislature. Once again, the time has flown by.

  • House passes $12 billion property tax cut using appraisal caps rather than the senate approach of expanding the homestead exemption

  • Carbon capture legislation

  • Incentive bill for refracs

  • Electric grid reforms

  • Key hearings/testimony

  • Next week preview

  • Non-energy topic: House approves bill to stay permanently on Daylight Savings Time –

o must have congressional approval

o Congress has NEVER approved such a request

o Is this just cynical window dressing?

End

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

The Energy Question Episode 35 Adrienne Lotto, Senior Vice President of Grid Security APPA

In Episode 35 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon and Adrienne Lotto talk about the crucial nature of the security and resilience on the U.S. power grid. Adrienne is a delightful and eloquent spokesperson for the power utility sector, and provides a wealth of great, usable information in this half-hour interview.

Run of Show:

01:00 - Adrienne describes the membership and role of APPA

02:30 - Why do policymakers tend to give the issues of grid security and resilience such a low priority?

04:30 - Adrienne explains what we mean when we use the term "resilience"

06:00 - Recent attacks on electric substations - a signal of a rising problem?

10:00 - Measures APPA and member companies take to protect against cyber-attacks

12:20 - The growing cost of cyber-defenses

14:40 - Is the threat of Geo-magnetic Disturbance or EMPs real, or mainly fear mongering?

16:20 - BIG issue: Supply chains - the industry is suffering severe supply chain constraints, especially where transformers are concerned, and has great concerns about adequate supply for the upcoming hurricane season.

19:00 - How federal "green new deal" policies are worsening the supply chain problems

20:40 - Has China's reopening helped with the supply chain issue?

21:40 - Any positive impacts coming from HR 1 (GOP energy bill)?

22:45 - What can the states do to help with these issues?

24:45 - BIG issue: How can the industry possibly account for growth needs on the grid coming from EV charging and other Biden green new deal policies?

29:00 - Sum Up, when Dave gets tongue-tied as usual.

Enjoy!

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 34 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon sits down with Dr. Ulric Trotz, Deputy Director & Science Adviser | Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, to discuss the potential climate benefits that the development of Guyana's massive offshore oil reserves can bring to that country and the surrounding region.

Enjoy.

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 11 of the Texas Legislative Update, David Blackmon and Jason Modglin, President of the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, detail the significant energy-related events of 2023 legislative session for the week ended April 7, 2023.

Topics Discussed:

  • House approves 302.6 billion biennial budget

  • Conflict on property tax cuts – where’s the compromise?

  • Senate approves SB 6 and SB 7

  • Re-stimulation bill status

  • Key Hearings/Testimony

  • Preview for next week

  • Non-Energy topic: House State Affairs votes 9-3 to give voters the choice on casino gambling, and online sports betting bills. Wow.

And we cover it all in just 28 minutes.

Enjoy.

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 10 of the Texas Legislative Update, David Blackmon and Jason Modglin, President of the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, review the energy-related events in Austin for the week ending March 31, 2023.

Topics covered:

  • Status report on federal HR 1, the House of Representatives omnibus energy bill;

Back in Austin:

  • Movement on carbon legislation and why it is important;

  • Machinations in the Texas House and Senate on property taxes;

  • Hearing in the House State Affairs Committee on electric grid reforms;

  • Preview of next week, which promises to be fast and furious.

Enjoy.

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 33 of The Energy Question Podcast, David Blackmon interviews Chuck McConnell, Energy Center Officer for the University of Houston Center for Carbon Management.

David and McConnell conduct a wide-ranging discussion related to Chuck's work at the University of Houston, the potential for carbon capture and storage along the Gulf Coasts of Texas and Louisiana, and Chuck's involvement in and leadership efforts with the Carbon Neutral Coalition.

Run of Show:

01:30 - Chuck's role at the UH Center for Carbon Management, and the importance of the work there

05:30 - How CCS helps improve the sustainability of the oil and gas industry through synergies in staffing and other factors

10:00 - How the business community is increasingly recognizing CCS as not just an environmental opportunity, but a business opportunity

11:10 - Chuck's work at the Carbon Neutral Coalition - Workforce of the Future

14:30 - The magnitude of the CCS opportunity for Texas

18:40 - Why acceptance and adoption of CCU by the business community is so important

20:00 - What Texas has done and is continuing to from a policy standpoint

23:30 - The potential for the "U" part of CCUS - Utilization

26:40 - Is knee-jerk opposition to CCS diminishing over time?

29:30 - How 45Q tax credit enables commercialization of CCS projects

31:00 - Why the energy transition is not going to be cheaper in any way

33:00 - Close

Link to the UH Center for Carbon Management: https://uh.edu/uh-energy/wpc/mcconnell.php

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 9 of the Texas Legislative Update, David Blackmon and Jason Modglin, President of the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, discuss the major events in Austin for the week ended March 24, 2023.

Topics discussed include:

  • Jason's two days in Washington, DC on March 21 and 22;

  • HB 1500, the Sunset bill related to the Public Utilities Commission;

  • The unanimous vote in the Senate to approve its a $16.5 billion property tax reduction bill;

  • The House also advanced its own version of property tax reform;

  • Movement on Senate Bill 28, which would set up a ballot resolution to approve an updated Texas Water Fund dedicating billions to funding new sources of fresh water supplies for the state in the coming decades;

  • Progress was also made on bills by Senator Robert Nichols and Rep. Greg Bonnen that are designed to promote and enable carbon capture projects in Texas;

March 24 represents the halfway point in the 140-day legislative session. Things will only heat up from here, so stay tuned and join David and Jason again on Friday, March 31.

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 32 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon interviews Amir Adnani, the CEO of Uranium Energy Corp. UEC is the largest, diversified, United States-focused uranium company. UEC is a pure-play uranium company and is advancing the next generation of low-cost, environmentally friendly In-Situ Recovery (ISR) mining uranium projects. The Company has two production ready ISR hub and spoke platforms in South Texas and Wyoming, anchored by fully licensed and operational processing capacity at the Hobson and Irigaray plants. UEC also has seven U.S. ISR uranium projects with all of their major permits in place.

In this episode, David and Mr. Adnani talk about UEC's business endeavors, the opportunity for uranium production in Texas and other areas of the United States, and why a renaissance of nuclear energy will be necessary of the world is to meet its net-zero goals.

Run of Show:

00:00 - Intro

01:08 - History of Amir Adnani's Company (history of uranium mining)

07:41 - Talks about energy transition debate (nuclear energy, developments due to energy bills)

15:01 - Talks about Fukushima Daiichi reactors

17:29 - Zero carbon emission source or a heavy polluting source like coal

20:52 - Jobs domestically in uranium exploration mining

24:08 - Outro

The Energy Question Episode 32 - Amir Adnani - Urainum Energy Corp

David Blackmon [00:00:10] Hello, welcome to the energy question with David Blackmon. I'm your host, David Blackman. My very special guest today is Amir Adnani, the founder and CEO of Uranium Energy, which is America's leading fastest growing uranium mining company in the United States. And I. Amir, thank you so much for your time today. I really appreciate it.

Amir Adnani [00:00:31] Pleasure's all mine. Thanks for having me.

David Blackmon [00:00:33] You bet. I'm an old oil and gas guy, but I'm also been a long time fan of nuclear energy. And I realized that I understand the need for more of it in the United States as a zero carbon energy source.

David Blackmon [00:00:48] And so I'm really glad to talk to you because we haven't focused enough on the need and the future for this key energy source here on my podcast. But before we get into the Q&A, I want to give you a couple of minutes to talk about the history of your company, you know, where it started, where it's going in, and how you plan to get there.

Amir Adnani [00:01:08] I'm an entrepreneur by background and have been involved and focused on energy-related and commodity-related businesses for the last 20 years. In 2004, 2005 timeframe, I looked at what was happening in nuclear energy and we were certainly experiencing the early innings of a nuclear renaissance. I looked at what was happening in the US and in the US. Back then we were importing 90% of our uranium requirements and I thought this doesn't make sense.

Amir Adnani [00:01:37] And I really started to take a deeper look at the history of uranium mining in the US and was fascinated by the fact that not only was the civilian nuclear energy program to generate electricity, it started in the US,.

Amir Adnani [00:01:50] But we had the largest fleet of nuclear reactors anywhere in the world and the history of uranium mining was written by US oil and gas companies in the sixties, seventies and eighties. Companies like Exxon, Chevron, Texaco, ConocoPhillips were the pioneers of uranium mining and particularly a very unique extraction of uranium called In-Situ recovery, which is much more familiar, similar to oil and gas recovery than actual mining. And these all disappeared.

Amir Adnani [00:02:19] Why did these companies disappear? Why did the uranium mining industry disappear in the United States? Because when the Cold War ended, the US decided to sign a treaty with the Russian government to dismantle Soviet era warheads that the Russians had too many of.

Amir Adnani [00:02:35] To take highly enriched uranium out of doors warheads blended down to low enriched uranium and sell it into the market. This became the equivalent of the world's largest uranium mine and destroyed the domestic industry in the US. The positive end of it is that it did, over the course of 20 years, helped dismantle and wait for this 23,000 Soviet era nuclear warheads.

Amir Adnani [00:02:58] And so it did a lot in terms of security and the stockpiling the Soviet missiles, but it destroyed our industry. So fast forward to really the company's background in Genesis. I became quite fascinated by the productive history of uranium in South Texas.

Amir Adnani [00:03:17] South Texas, according to the US Geological Survey, contains the largest potential deposits for uranium in the United States that are untapped and unexplored. Much of this potential happens alongside oil and gas basins like the Eagle Ford Shale and the Barnett Shale.

Amir Adnani [00:03:33] These areas that have been very productive for oil and gas over geologic time have also helped uranium deposits get formed in the same regions. We set up shop originally in Austin, Texas, as a company Uranium Energy Corp, before moving our offices to Corpus Christi to be closer to our South Texas business that we were building brick by brick. We expanded from 25 odd business plan.

Amir Adnani [00:03:56] We got into production in 2010 at our Hopson facility down in Karnes County. That's the four behind me right? There is a lot of supply, and that's the largest uranium recovery plant in Texas and one of the largest in the country today.

Amir Adnani [00:04:10] And so our view was that longer term nuclear power played an integral role in providing electricity in the US. One in every five home in America is powered by nuclear energy. Over 50% of carbon free electricity generation in the country is nuclear.

Amir Adnani [00:04:26] And so this made no sense that there wouldn't ultimately be a bigger domestic industry. So we focused we got into production in 2010, hired many people. We were one of the only new uranium mines in the world in 2010 in South Texas. Then we had the nuclear problems in Japan that happened in 2011 with their Fukushima Daiichi reactors.

Amir Adnani [00:04:45] So we entered their market for nuclear energy and uranium that basically lasted about a decade. Unfortunately, during this bear market, we continue to rely as an industry in the US on Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan for our uranium needs. And so during this period, domestic uranium mining basically vanished.

Amir Adnani [00:05:04] And so when I started in 05. When we were importing 90% of our required. Today we import 100% of our requirements. My company was able to survive the bear market and we took on a very counter-cyclical strategy and we thought, you know what, let's take advantage of the bear market to make acquisitions.

Amir Adnani [00:05:21] Sort of the old saying, you know, you want to buy your Christmas decorations in January. So we got really worried. We were able to roll up assets and not only in Texas where we expanded into Wyoming, we expanded into Canada, we were able to really, again, go bargain hunting.

Amir Adnani [00:05:36] And then Russia's invasion of Ukraine occurred, which, as terrible as it is, and as much as it's a humanitarian crisis, it has really brought attention to energy supply chains. And now I think there's a realization that, holy crap, we can depend on Russia. Okay. Well, I mean, a lot of people kind of knew that before Russia had to get that way. But now finally, the realization is there. Governments, utilities, everyone is trying as fast as possible to move away from Russian supplies. So we're a US based company. We're a Texas based company.

Amir Adnani [00:06:11] Today we have operations not just in Texas, but, as I mentioned, Texas, Wyoming and Canada's Saskatchewan Province, which is home to some of the highest grade uranium deposits. We believe North American supplies and US supplies can provide energy security moving forward and energy security in a world that wants to decarbonize as fast as it's trying to electrify, but needs to do all of that while actually having access to the energy supply chain.

David Blackmon [00:06:38] Yeah, I it's so interesting to hear you go through this history of development of the industry in South Texas. I grew up down there in Bellville, Texas, just 30 miles from we have a facility.

Amir Adnani [00:06:50] We have a project in the county nearby. Yes. Yeah, we're very active there. Yeah.

David Blackmon [00:06:55] Yeah. I had some cousins in Live Oak County who got very rich in the 1970s on uranium. It was either Dow or DuPont had a big plant just outside of Georgia, West Texas.

Amir Adnani [00:07:06] You're right. So we have a few of our a few of our team members worked at that operation. And the US Steel. US Steel had that project in Louisville County as well. And it was a really successful project, the one you're referring to. But absolutely.

David Blackmon [00:07:19] Yeah, Minerals and gold, the Ed County. And unfortunately we never got a lease there, but maybe sometime in the future.

Amir Adnani [00:07:25] We're we're in Gold County as well.

David Blackmon [00:07:28] Are you really? Oh, my gosh. I need to call your business development guy. Anyway, sorry I'm not trying to sell a lease here, so I. You know what? What is so perplexing to me in this whole energy transition debate is watching is the same people, the same groups, climate change lobby groups, do you know, advocate for wind and solar and zero carbon energy, Turn right around in their next breath.

David Blackmon [00:07:54] Breath and slammed the nuclear energy. How do we ever get past that? Because it's becoming I think everyone is realizing as time goes on that the limits of the real utility of wind and solar is going to be fairly limited and we're going to have a renaissance in the nuclear industry. So how do we ever get past that? You know, that opposition that seems more emotionally based and fact based to me.

Amir Adnani [00:08:22] I would say out of necessity, unfortunately. I mean, for good, the right answer would have been science and facts and information, because the science of nuclear energy is one that shows it is the safest form of an electricity generation. It has zero carbon emissions, it has baseload power. So that's 24 seven 365, and it has over a 95% capacity factor for those data points. For for the science of it all, you would want to enjoy nuclear energy.

Amir Adnani [00:08:52] But let's take a look at Japan and what's driving interest in nuclear energy there. And that's a really important country to look at, because in Japan there was a problem with the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactors in 2011. It did create, excuse me about that. It did create fear. And that concern made the country shut down all of its nuclear reactors.

Amir Adnani [00:09:14] In the last few months, we've seen some very profound developments due to energy bills. Every person's monthly energy bills going up 3 to 4 times, in some cases ten times. In some cases, people are paying more for their monthly energy bills and their mortgage or rent.

Amir Adnani [00:09:31] There is now the largest public support seen in public opinion polls in Japan for nuclear energy since the Fukushima incident in 2011. And the government, as a result has pivoted and stated it wants to go back to nuclear energy and to restart their idled nuclear reactors, extend their lives and even build more.

Amir Adnani [00:09:51] We've had the benefit of hydrocarbons in the United States and the shale revolution and all those developments over the last ten or 15 years that gave us so much more energy capacity in the US that we weren't hit as hard as Western European countries as Japan was as a result of Russia or, you know, the average person hasn't yet felt that in their energy bill. We felt it at the pump and we've seen that sort of go up and down.

Amir Adnani [00:10:17] But I think when we start to feel it in our pocketbook is when we start to say, how do we get the cost of living down? How do we make sure that energy cost doesn't become the single biggest cost item to live? This is again, where nuclear really shines. This is where we are in fact, seeing today, for what it's worth. And I think it's worth a lot.

Amir Adnani [00:10:35] The highest public opinion polls in favor of nuclear energy also in the United States. And that is why you're seeing bipartisan support for nuclear energy in Washington, where there's not bipartisan support for anything, as we both know. I mean, there's nothing that they agree on. And of all things, nuclear energy is enjoying bipartisan support. Do we have 100% of folks on board with nuclear energy? Of course not. But as we as as the facts and information and costs become better understood.

Amir Adnani [00:11:03] The biggest fact about renewables is that the capacity factor is 25 to 30%. Yeah, well you can't you can rely on something that works only 25 to 30% of the time. People want to be able to charge their electric devices at any given point they run out of battery or run out of juice. You want you want to be able to charge an electric vehicle if you drive one.

Amir Adnani [00:11:23] These things require electricity around the clock. So it's just so common sense of it is there now. Let's go a step further. There's some really cool stuff going on with nuclear energy. Really amazing because you. Nassau has announced a number of missions and at various sort of launches, whether it's to the International Space Station, whether it's to Mars, what Space X wants to do, what Elon Musk's.

Amir Adnani [00:11:49] Space travel going forward and for the last number of decades has been powered by nuclear energy. People don't realize that. But some of the coolest things you can do out there and all these micro reactors that are able to provide the fuel needed to travel space.

Amir Adnani [00:12:03] You look at the nuclear navy, the 108 submarines and aircraft carriers are all run on micro reactors that provide electricity. Bill Gates and a number of other Silicon Valley entrepreneurs are now getting behind small modular and advanced reactors, smaller reactors that you can build in areas where you don't have a big population.

Amir Adnani [00:12:24] You don't have a large city, which is historically where reactors have been built. So there's now a proposed reactor to be built in Wyoming, where there used to be a coal fired power plant. So the jobs are retained, the infrastructure is there.

Amir Adnani [00:12:36] These coal fired plants are already connected to the grid. And in most cases there's infrastructure that you can tap into. There was a very fascinating study by the Department of Energy talking about retrofitting coal fired power plant sites into small modular or nuclear reactor sites, depending on what the site size requirements were.

Amir Adnani [00:12:55] So these are really cutting edge areas of technological development on energy that nuclear is involved with. And it helps us every day we build another nuclear reactor. Help makes us that much more energy independence and it adds towards national security because you control your own destiny with nuclear energy.

Amir Adnani [00:13:14] And the biggest part of it is how little fuel is needed in a nuclear power plant compared to oil. Did you know, for example, that three barrels of uranium can produce the same amount of energy as 300,000 barrels of oil? So when you start to think about how powerful it can be, the power density of uranium.

David Blackmon [00:13:32] Yeah, the energy density is.

Amir Adnani [00:13:35] That is phenomenal. And that again, is, I think, the common sense of why, you know, anyone would be supportive of it.

David Blackmon [00:13:42] So, you know, so much of the opposition, unfortunately, and I think really irrationally continues to be based on Fukushima, on Chernobyl, on even Three Mile Island 43 years ago, 44 years ago now. I mean, isn't you know, it's so important, I think for people to understand how much the technology has evolved. You know, all of those are older generation power plants and they had had flaws, obviously. And just like some so much of our other technology nuclear has advanced tremendously over the last 15, 20 years, hasn't it?

Amir Adnani [00:14:21] If you go out there today and drive around in a vehicle that was built in the sixties or seventies, or if you go get on an airplane that was built in the sixties or seventies, naturally you might be less comfortable, less safe.

Amir Adnani [00:14:33] I mean, everything has, to your point, advanced so much more on fourth generation technology and nuclear reactors today. Surely these are far safer and their ability to deal with issues and concerns and have learned from those episodes that you refer to with Chernobyl and Three Mile Island and Fukushima.

Amir Adnani [00:14:54] But Fukushima being the most recent one, is a fascinating one to look at because no one died as a result of the shut down of the Fukushima Daiichi reactors. Thousands of people died because of an earthquake and tsunami and earthquake that wiped. Out. Just cleared that, cleared the area and everything was cleared except those nuclear reactors were left standing,.

Amir Adnani [00:15:14] In a way speaks and is a testament to how solid the engineering is of these reactors that every infrastructure site you would have had in that region was wiped clean and these reactors were left standing. And while there was concern initially about making sure the cooling units that had gone offline would come back online fast enough to keep everything cooled, they got it under control and it was safe.

Amir Adnani [00:15:36] And again, there is no evidence today. That shows there was any fatalities as a result of those reactors coolants malfunctioning before it got under control. That's a fact. And that is also a fact that is most evidence, again, I think in what the public opinion polls in Japan are saying to you today,.

Amir Adnani [00:15:54] It's easy for people to sit here in North America debating this stuff. But people in Japan have been pulled recently and they've got a democratically elected government who looks at these polls and their conclusion is it's safe to go back to nuclear energy.

Amir Adnani [00:16:07] And we far rather have access to power that is, that makes life possible rather than having our costs go up, our emissions go up, the environment and the air and the pollution and all those issues that go with the alternatives of not having the power or just not having power at all. Really a hot summer in Japan where they didn't have access to their AC units, they're going to have a cold winter and all this stuff seasonally starts to add up.

David Blackmon [00:16:33] And so I'm sorry, go ahead.

Amir Adnani [00:16:34] No, no, that's it. So I think this is I think it's instructive to look at Japan, because I think Japan in 11 years has given us a case study, a case study that is more recent than Chernobyl and Three Mile Island, because it involves, you know, the last decade where it again is just a per and data data point. We saw what happened there and that we see where we are now. And the end result is that there was there was no harm done by these nuclear reactors and now everyone wants them back.

David Blackmon [00:16:59] Well, and the other thing about Japan, when you look at Japan as an object lesson in a test case, it's not the landscape in Japan is not favorable for either wind or solar, but a lot of wide open spaces for big solar and wind farms, not a lot of flat spaces with a lot of wind blowing for the wind.

David Blackmon [00:17:16] And then the alternative, as the government made very clear here just a week ago, is the alternative to more nuclear is is more coal for Japan. And so they've got to keep the lights on somehow. What would you rather have a zero carbon emission source or a heavy polluting source like coal? It seems like a pretty obvious decision point, doesn't it?

Amir Adnani [00:17:37] Again, I think the decision point that you laid out is exactly would not just the Japanese government, but the European governments, the US government, many governments and policymakers are arriving at the exact same point.

Amir Adnani [00:17:49] And the one thing I would say is there isn't an energy focused, let's say, modeling person, these people that model different energy sources and then they provide a report to government people. There isn't a single one today who has been asked,.

Amir Adnani [00:18:02] Hey, how do we try to be decarbonized? How do we reduce the carbon emissions and give us a plan that involves, you know, getting to net zero or whatever you want to call it, but some kind of decarbonization by 2035 or 2050, there isn't a single person that has looked at the data and modeled it and hasn't come up with the conclusion, including nuclear energy.

Amir Adnani [00:18:23] That is the reason why, for the first time last summer, the European Union changed this taxonomy to include both nuclear and natural gas and natural gas should be. And that is why, again, we're seeing unprecedented support and interest in Washington on a bipartisan basis where they've allocated billions of dollars towards providing basically a financial incentive for these nuclear reactors to stay on because of all the financial attributes they bring, they bring grid stability, they provide national security, and it's 100% emission free. And on top of that, you're seeing unprecedented action by the government.

Amir Adnani [00:18:56] Not since the 1950s and the Eisenhower administration did we have the US government step up and purchase uranium for what is now being called the Strategic Uranium Reserve, modeled after the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Amir Adnani [00:19:09] I'm very honored that our company was in fact one of the companies that was selected and was awarded by the Department of Energy, and they purchased uranium from us and this completed just a few weeks ago. But it was history in the making.

Amir Adnani [00:19:21] It was history in the making that we have not seen action like this being taken by governments and policy makers in our 20 years as a company. We haven't seen this. And individuals that work at our company that have been in uranium for 40 years, they go back a long time before you have to find these types of issues.

Amir Adnani [00:19:37] So this all speaks to something. This all speaks to the fact that, again, when you look at the hard, bare facts around what is the benefit of nuclear energy, what are the pros and cons of every power source?

Amir Adnani [00:19:48] Every power source today has pros and cons. We don't, unfortunately, as a species, as a civilization, we don't have the perfect solution for our energy needs yet. Maybe we'll find it 100 years from now. But every form of power generation has its pros and cons. Hence you need an energy mix and then an energy mix.

Amir Adnani [00:20:04] You want to make sure you have nuclear and. And how lucky are we in the US that 94 reactors are already built and operating, that we're leading the world in the science and technology behind small modular reactors, and that we have the expertise and we have the knowhow and we have more than anything the gold standard of safety regulation, which is the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Amir Adnani [00:20:28] All of this should really make people, I think, both feel safe but also proud. And I think if you're if you're in your twenties, if you're like kind of just coming out of college, what better area for for growth and development than to get involved with this small, you know, small modular reactors and the emerging nuclear industry in this country?

Amir Adnani [00:20:45] It used to be that at its peak in the seventies and eighties, when the US was the world's number one uranium producer, we had almost 30,000 jobs domestically in uranium exploration mining. This is data by the Department of Energy today.

Amir Adnani [00:20:59] There are collectively in the US, including me on this call 300 people involved in domestic uranium exploration mining. So that may seem like, oh my God, we're in trouble. Only 300. It used to be 30,000. Or you can look at it as glass half full and say it is 300 and it's got to go to 30,000 because this industry has to get bigger. And with that means tremendous job growth and economic growth and opportunity. That's the way we're looking at it.

David Blackmon [00:21:22] And these are not these are not minimum wage jobs, these very high paid professional positions, correct? Absolutely.

Amir Adnani [00:21:30] And the thing with mining is that once you build a mine, these are ten year, 15 year, 20 year commitment. So the jobs are also long lasting jobs. There's stable jobs. They they are as long and stable as the duration of the mine lives and assets.

Amir Adnani [00:21:44] So unlike oil and gas, in fact, where it could be more sporadic, where you're moving from location to location to drill and break, once you have a uranium mine up and running, that location will remain active for a long time. So, again, it's just it's the job creation, the amount of their high paying jobs, but they're also long lasting jobs.

David Blackmon [00:22:01] Well, thank you so much. You are an incredible spokesperson for your not just your company, but for your industry. And what a great advocate. I really appreciate your time. We're running up against it here. And any time we can do anything for you, you ever want to come back and talk to us again? Please just reach out and let me know. We'd love to do this again.

Amir Adnani [00:22:21] It would be my honor and I really appreciate that. We I've been at this for 18 years now, and I really believe with everything in me about the merits of what we're doing and believed in when it was dark, it was quiet for ten years.

David Blackmon [00:22:34] It wasn't easy, right?

Amir Adnani [00:22:35] It was not easy. We believed in it. So you can appreciate it. You know, Now we feel this is easy to believe in now, but our resolve was tested during the very kind of dark depths of the bear market that the industry was in for a decade. That's a long time, obviously.

Amir Adnani [00:22:51] But it goes to show you the level of commitment that we have and truly how we feel about the prospects of the industry and that ultimately it's providing something necessary and good and something that is going to be energy is life and to be the provider of that and to genuinely believe that you have the supply chain and the fuel that allows for life to move forward and to be progressive and to be continuous, I think is very important.

Amir Adnani [00:23:16] And I think also, again, where we're very grounded in the convictions we have and really appreciate this opportunity to connect with you and tell our story and look forward to coming back and doing it again.

David Blackmon [00:23:26] And that's our lesson for the show, folks. Energy security is national security. If we're going to have energy security, we're going to need more nuclear. That's the way it's going to be. And so so please talk to your local representatives, your folks and in government and tell them you're in favor of more nuclear energy in the United States.

David Blackmon [00:23:46] It's important for our future and our kids futures and our grandkids futures with that. Thank you again, Adani. I really appreciate it and look forward to talking to you again in the future.

Amir Adnani [00:23:56] Likewise. Thank you. Take care. Bye bye,

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 31 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon interviews Teague Egan, the CEO of EnergyX. Teague was the first interview guest on The Energy Question last August, and it was time for an update on the progress his company has made in the past 6 months.

EnergyX (energyx.com) is a developer of a group of innovative lithium extraction technologies, with headquarters in Puerto Rico and offices and labs in Austin, Texas. In this episode, Teague discusses new tech developments and efforts to scale up rapidly in South America's Lithium Triangle and in the U.S.

Enjoy.

View Details

In Episode 8 of the Texas Legislative Update, David Blackmon and Jason Modglin, President of the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, discuss key legislation impacting Texas energy that was introduced during the week of March 13-17 in both Austin and Washington, DC.

In Austin, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and several leading senators rolled out a series of Senate Bill that would enact further reforms to the Texas electric grid. The goal of the bills is to ensure the installation of significant new dispatchable thermal generation capacity and improve the management of the state's expanding fleet of renewable energy.

In Washington, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana is working with a group of key members to move legislation designed to streamline federal permitting processes for energy projects, including both fossil fuel energy and renewables.

Watch and listen as David and Jason assess the prospects for these key bills and others to move through the legislative processes in both capitals.

Enjoy.

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 30, David Blackmon interviews Josh Young, the founder and chief investment officer at Bison Interests.

01:00 - Timeline of Josh's career and creation of Bison Interests

02:30 - Oil & Gas sector performance the last 2 years and its impact on Bison

04:10 - Is ESG having a big impact on energy investments?

06:00 - Have ESG funds underperformed non-ESG funds?

09:30 - Why Dave follows Josh on Twitter, and why you should, too

10:00 - Josh explains the 'small cap vs. large cap divide' in energy stocks

14:00 - Josh sees an uptick of m&a activity coming to the oil sector

16:10 - EIA/IEA raise projections for global oil demand - what Josh thinks it means

18:30 - Josh's interesting means of tracking China's reopening and where he thinks China is going

23:40 - Josh gives us his crystal ball view on the future direction of oil prices

26:50 - Josh's view on the future for natural gas

30:30 - Remarks on the amazing people and technology in the oil and gas industry

Please subscribe and give us a like wherever you watch or listen to the podcast. Positive reviews are also welcome and appreciated!

Bison Interests URL: www.bisoninterests.com

Josh Young on Twitter: @Josh_Young_1

Enjoy!

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 29 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon hosts energy analyst/writer David Ramsden Wood in a wide-ranging discussion about the global energy situation.

Much of the discussion centers on the need to deal with energy issues from a standpoint of facts and science rather than just acceding to the popular propaganda narrative pushed by western governments and the media.

Run of Show:

00:00 - Intro

00:41 - Biden's efforts to ban Gas Stoves

01:38 - Propaganda and misinformation around the "Climate Emergency"

02:00 - The similarities between Climate and COVID propaganda

03:53 - Why hybrids are preferable to EVs

06:23 - DRW's take on where we are in this energy transition

08:33 - Germany and its Industrial Infrastructure

09:04 - Inflation Reduction Act

10:26 - Comparing the way we're dealing with climate now to the way we dealt with COVID in 2020

17:58 - Relationships with other countries (China, India, others) going on different direction

19:47 - Energy transition

28:42 - Outro

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 28 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon talks with Susan Combs about efforts to maximize Texas's massive potential for carbon capture and storage.

Combs is a long-time public servant in Texas and at the Department of Interior in Washington who currently serves on the Board of Advisors for the Carbon Neutral Coalition (https://carbonneutralcoalition.com/) . The mission of the Coalition is to promote policies that will help the state maximize the opportunity to be a global leader in the CCS space in the years to come.

Give it a watch. You'll be glad you did.

00:00 - Intro

01:38 - Board of Advisors for Carbon Neutral Coalition

03:10 - The Coalition and Principle

04:58 - Carbon Coalition for Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast

07:57 - Carbon Capture and the Future of the Market

10:12 - Unpopular Truth

12:48 - House bill 1158 and Property tax exemption

14:48 - Energy Security

19:57 - Carbon Capture Storage(CCS)

21:20 - Texas produce more than half the oil and gas, the crude oil produced in the whole country

22:15 - Willow project of Conoco Phillips

24:52 - Outro

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

Energy Transition Absurdities Substack

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 7 of the Texas Legislative Update, David Blackmon and Texas Alliance of Energy Producers President Jason Modglin discuss key events that took place in Austin during the week of March 6-10.

Key items include:

- Last week for Bill Filing;

- Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and senators roll out plans for further improvements to the Texas power grid and electricity market;

- Energy Day at the Capitol;

- Legislation to incentivize carbon capture and storage in Texas;

- Legislation to incentivize secondary recovery in shale wells;

Enjoy.

View Details

00:00 - Intro

01:13 - Yemi Akinkugbe Mission and Vision

03:06 - Appalachian first plan

10:51 - CNX recovering natural gas from a coal mine, what is their involvement?

15:05 - About Alternative fuels -Partnership with the Pittsburgh International Airport

19:28 - Job and Opportunities

21:13 - Appalachia as a region doesn't have any distinct advantage where wind and solar energy are concerned. Talking Points

24:24 - The Reliability of the Grid

29:05 - Outro

In Episode 27 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon interviews Yemi Akinkugbe, the Chief Excellence Officer at big Appalachia Basin natural gas producer CNX Resources.

Please watch as David and Yemi go into detail on CNX's innovative Appalachia First plan, which focuses on using the natural gas produced in the region locally to improve the economy, environment, and education.

It's a real one-of-a-kind program that could serve as a model for an industry-wide effort.

Enjoy.

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

David Blackmon LinkedIn

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 26 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon interviews Armand Paradis, the founder, and CEO of energy technology and intelligence firm ComboCurve.

In just 3 years since its founding, ComboCurve has grown to over 170 employees serving over 250 companies. The company's goal is to every energy professional’s life easier and more transparent by using and refining data from a broad variety of sources into forecasting tools that enable them to identify and deal with risks before they happen.

Armand is a brilliant and very entertaining guest who brings a wealth of real information to the table.

Enjoy.

The Energy Question Episode 22 - Armand Pradis

David Blackman [00:00:03] And. And hey, welcome to the energy question with David Blackman. I'm your host, David Blackman. And my very special guest today is Armand Paradise, the CEO and founder of Combo Curve, an energy analytics, that analytics firm based in Houston, correct?

Armand Pradis [00:00:26] Yes, sir.

David Blackman [00:00:27] Yeah. Well, thank you so much for doing the show. I really appreciate it. Before we get started with the Q&A about your business, just tell me a little bit about your background and how you came to, you know, have the idea of creating this company.

Armand Pradis [00:00:45] Absolutely. So, David, thank you so much for having me and I really appreciate your time. So, yeah, all my career has been in the energy industry. All my education has been in the energy industry as well. So, um, I graduated from the University of Louisiana and then I started to work for a small operator for five years or so and, and I learned all aspects of running an oil company from studying all the logs and the subsurface and the reservoir and, well, data and all the way to go into the field during the operations and working with the rec hands and the designing drilling and workover programs.

Armand Pradis [00:01:27] So, um, so I did that for roughly five years and, and then I decided to move to Houston and basically working for larger operators and learning how they run in their business. And I started to work for Statoil back then or Equinor right now. This is 2014.

David Blackman [00:01:49] Yeah.

Armand Pradis [00:01:50] So, um, so, and, and then, so I started to work for and Marcellus and Utica. So then we had roughly 3000 wells and operated and non-operated and, and in what I realize is the sheer amount of capital that we are spending every day on the, on the lot of non-op wells and a lot of operated wells. And, and this was happening during the like. This was the only shale boom. So every operators were spending money like crazy just keep drilling.

Armand Pradis [00:02:23] And what I realize is like we are spending capital but we don't have enough analysis behind it in a lot of cases. And the back then was very justifiable because the operators were learning they had access to a lot of capital and it was good times always roughly 100 and that's your gas was roughly around four bucks three or four bucks.

Armand Pradis [00:02:50] So they were making money and even immediate cash. Well, wasn't it was able to pay for itself and make some additional return. And but what I saw was something that is not sustainable in the long run. And a lot of it was due to using a lot of outdated and archaic software.

Armand Pradis [00:03:11] And so running an energy company is very complicated so you're making very big decisions every day, very expensive decisions, very CapEx, heavy decisions, and that you're dealing with and a lot of decisions that is not tangible. You drill and well 10,000 feet below the ground dealing with high-pressure environment depleted. Well, interference, fracking, you know, it just it was just complicated.

Armand Pradis [00:03:42] So and that was when I saw those, uh, when I saw those, the way that we were making a lot of these capital decisions, it just gave me an idea that this process needs to be materially improved to make better decisions longer. So yeah, that was the whole idea. That's why the whole idea behind Comicon started back then.

David Blackman [00:04:03] So tell me, tell me what the concept behind Combo Curve is for our readers, our readers, our viewers. Sorry, I'm used to writing stuff. You know, just tell us what the basic concept behind combo curve is.

Armand Pradis [00:04:19] Combo Curve. So any company, any companies involved in the energy space, they need to figure out how much reserves they have, how much production to have. So an oil company makes oil and gas and they sell oil and gas and that's how they make money, obviously. So.

Armand Pradis [00:04:37] So to predict how much oil and gas they're going to produce next month, next year, next year's next 50 years, and figuring out the cash flow associated with those volumes, you need to do forecasting and economics. So production forecasting and economics.

Armand Pradis [00:04:57] So that's what Comcast sells at its core. And but it requires a lot of bells and whistles around the to have a comprehensive solution. So so that's what Combo Curve allows you to do, basically forecasting your oil and gas production and performing detailed economics. And recently we advance to GSI or carbon forecasting as well. Just another way of forecasting and make that integrated with the rest of the forecasting to make a more comprehensive asset valuation.

David Blackman [00:05:31] Yeah. And this is becoming, you know, as, as you say, the the industry itself, as time moves ahead in not just the industry itself, but the whole environment around it with regulations and ESG and energy transition and, you know, all these other considerations, everything is becoming increasingly complex, really almost every day. Every day.

David Blackman [00:05:57] And when you're running these companies, it becomes so critical, even more important, right, to have up-to-date data, up to up to date analytical tools to to to use that data properly. Right. I mean, I you know, I was just talking with a fellow I knew way back in the 1990 who told me an anecdote about Exxon Mobil down in South Texas.

David Blackman [00:06:25] Another company had drilled a very prolific natural gas well on acreage adjacent to their acreage. And six months went by before Exxon even knew that well had been drilling completed. And the company estimated that that lack of knowledge about that cost them almost a quarter of $1,000,000,000 before they realized what was happening right next door. And so it's stories like that. I mean, that's a that's a real outlier kind of story. But, you know, it's there's a thousand anecdotes like that in the oil patch.

Armand Pradis [00:07:02] Absolutely. And, you know, again, every day we're drilling a sheer number of wells and very expensive wells, and the amount of data only increases exponentially. And however, a lot of software that we're using to make a lot of financial decisions, it was designed 30, 40 years ago. Right. And they cannot even handle that amount of data. And they are not designed for that detailed analysis.

Armand Pradis [00:07:28] So it just tells you that technology vividly lacks. And like from when I opened up some of those offers and the first day and I figured, man, I might traveling back in time. So this just doesn't make sense. And I guess it was it was that big of a shock to me that why are we even using this? It just is so difficult.

David Blackman [00:07:52] Yeah,.

Armand Pradis [00:07:52] So, so combo stone. And into this day and age, this is not appropriate to keep using these tools. So especially when you're making multimillion-dollar, multibillion-dollar decisions and you need to have access to best and top technology to make those decisions.

Armand Pradis [00:08:09] So yeah, I'm 100% and I'm not surprised and this is not a lot of those anecdotes exist every day because of the lack of technology. The technologies are very behind and is very hard evidence. There's plenty of room to build in the energy space.

David Blackman [00:08:28] Yeah. And your company has grown pretty rapidly, right? I didn't. I read that you have 170 employees now. Is that is that the number I saw?

[00:08:37] 150 getting we have roughly we have roughly ten or 15 positions open, so we are not too far from under 70. So so yeah, we are officially the fastest growing energy technology company in the world. And there we grew to 250, 450 personnel in just two years and have just released in our product and we released that in May 2020 during the height of the COVID.

Armand Pradis [00:09:04] So and then of yeah, it was the craziest time to release any product and the negative oil prices and everything.

David Blackman [00:09:13] Yeah.

Armand Pradis [00:09:15] Yeah it was tough times but in the course of a. One-half years brought roughly 300 companies using our products. And if some companies from one match up to two companies like Exxon level, so very large. Operator.

Armand Pradis [00:09:30] So we have the full spectrum and, and all types of clients within the energy space and the subsectors like from banks or banks, auditors and operators, mental shops and consultants and all using complex.

David Blackman [00:09:48] That's amazing. You also have this data integration tool that I'm very interested in learning about. Combo sync.

Armand Pradis [00:09:55] Yeah,.

David Blackman [00:09:56] That and you're able to build connections into companies like Enverus and IHS and Mongo and Oracle to also integrate data from those platforms into your tool. How does that tell me how that works? Do you have to I mean, I assume you have to have license contracts with all these other companies to be able to do that, right?

Armand Pradis [00:10:20] So when we when we build combo curve, so you started to figured we all need data to run the analysis. So we give the capability of uploading electricity as the upload and. And then we soon realized we need to be able to make that data pipeline more automated. So being able to connect companies data and pull data.

Armand Pradis [00:10:43] And so we build the rest API layer, they call us. So it just enables interacting with Combo Curve through the backend side of the platform. So we build that layer and then and then we realized soon after the maturity of the companies, they have trouble managing that data and then building those connections and that and the figure two, To enable this data transfer, we need to have a data team in-house.

Armand Pradis [00:11:11] So we put a data team together, we put a team of roughly 25 people together. We brought the top experts. So we spent almost a year and a half building a lot of data connections so we can pull data from your internal databases and then bring it in to Combo Curve and run the analysis and send the analysis back to your database.

Armand Pradis [00:11:34] So so yeah, it was a very, very comprehensive big project and we're constantly improving it, constantly adding more and more data connections. But it's pretty cool. You know, we had cases that we made a connection happens live and like in 10 minutes. So we were able to send and receive data, which is, which is pretty cool. Like those types of connections before Complicated Thing was taken like months to build sometimes.

David Blackman [00:12:01] Oh my gosh.

Armand Pradis [00:12:02] Yeah. So we made that process a lot more automated.

David Blackman [00:12:06] And this is something obviously that was not even would not have been even possible to do even a decade ago. Right.

Armand Pradis [00:12:15] Yes.

David Blackman [00:12:16] With the yeah. With the amount of data and upload and download speeds, you would have to have to accomplish all this. The advanced technology is really been pretty amazing in this century.

Armand Pradis [00:12:29] Yep. I mean, the advancement in data technologies is just mind-boggling. And, and, and the thing is, like a lot of internal companies, teams, they can literally catch up because.

David Blackman [00:12:43] Right.

Armand Pradis [00:12:44] It was in super fast so. So that's why we see a lot of companies run into data management issues, you know, So it's not an easy problem to solve and it's not going to be easy. Problem solved is only going to get more and more complicated.

David Blackman [00:12:59] Right. So so in with the pace that everything's advancing for a company like yours, that means you can never stand still. Right. You always have to be evolving your own product offering, right?

Armand Pradis [00:13:12] Absolutely. Like, you know, two years ago, we had 20 developers. Right now we have 75 developers. So and we have to constantly maintain our product, constantly adding features and capabilities again and making oil. You know, it gets easier. So you always dealing with, you know, it easier.

Armand Pradis [00:13:33] So you dealing with a lot more infill drilling and you industry lost more than 50% of its personnel. There are not that many new students going to petroleum measures. And it means the only way they can keep to keep growing your production at the same pace or keep in a flat, you need to have access to the top technologies, you know,.

Armand Pradis [00:13:55] And then also meet new requirements from government around reporting a lot of them requires you to report actual measured data for measuring them. Is the amount of data that is going to be generated is going to go up exponentially because you have so many devices in the field that you need to capture data from.

Armand Pradis [00:14:17] So it's just a lot of things are for the better, like it forces companies to be more advanced and then looking into their data a lot more carefully and to make better decisions. So yeah.

David Blackman [00:14:31] Yeah. So that brings me to the combo carbon aspect of what you do this greenhouse gas emissions forecasting too. I know, I know. There are a wide range variety of sensors that companies are using now to try to monitor their emissions on each of their well sites and other facilities. And I assume that that combo of carbon enables them to integrate the data created by all of those into a single database, you know, to facilitate the analysis. Correct.

Armand Pradis [00:15:09] Yep. So that is one of the offerings. And again, it will be done through complicated things similar to all the other data that we are capturing for running production, and forecasting economics. We have to capture a lot of data related to emissions so companies can do their emission forecasting combo. So.

David Blackman [00:15:26] Right.

Armand Pradis [00:15:27] So similar to reserve forecasting, we have to do our carbon forecasting, meaning how much emission I have now and how much emission I'm going to have a year from now, two years from now, ten years from now. So, so, so a lot of promises that the companies make to their investors in terms of reducing their emissions and getting to net zero. You have to substantiate those goals with some real analysis.

Armand Pradis [00:15:56] So what Combo Curve allows you to do combo carbon allows you to do is take taking all the data from so many disparate data sources into one nice, clean, unified place integrated with the rest of your data. For example, your production forecasting, the day type curve, a schedule and planning and economic data so you can make more comprehensive decisions. And so and you can substantiate those promises better.

Armand Pradis [00:16:24] So you can run so many scenarios of carbon reduction, the bottoms up. We can build a mockup of your facility diagrams and the network models of your field, and then you can model things like if I change these separated from this type to this type, how is it going to impact my emission from my field.

Armand Pradis [00:16:48] Or if I if I go ahead and instead of flaring gas at these locations and instead of that just capture that methane and just sell it? How's it going to impact my emissions in five years down the road? And how and what's the economic impact?

Armand Pradis [00:17:05] And a lot of those cases, the economic impact can be very positive. But complicated is the only tool that integrates the emission forecasting with the economics. And so you can really figure out those scenarios of the it gives you positive economic return and at the same time reducing your emission.

David Blackman [00:17:25] So you talked about the challenges that the industry serving with, you know, sourcing talent these days, kids not majoring in petroleum engineering. Couple questions along that lines. Your company is probably seeing the same challenges.

David Blackman [00:17:42] I mean, you have to have. Scientists, you know, I mean, engineers and geoscientists on your staff too, right. So I assume you're having seeing the same kinds of challenging challenges that the industry is seeing.

Armand Pradis [00:17:59] Yeah. I mean, the good thing is we hard at a time that nobody were hiring, so we hired in 2020, 20, 21, 2022, and we hired we have staffed up our personnel, you know, for for at least a year. So this year we're not going to have a ton of hiring left.

Armand Pradis [00:18:17] But and our strategy was we were looking because, you know, we were so pro technology and so and so caring about about the industry. So a lot of people we joined us. They came they came from the industry, their parents that were in the industry.

Armand Pradis [00:18:36] And they took a lot of pride in making the industry better. So so yeah, so for us, honestly, it wasn't a challenge to get talent even from outside the industry wasn't, it wasn't a challenge because our goal is to make energy industry more efficient.

Armand Pradis [00:18:54] So and, and efficiency means and cleaner productions and, and, and more economic like you're not going to make bad decisions. And bad decision means it means basically, literally that translate to more emission longer and less cleaner fuel for the for the industry in total. So a lot of people who cared about these things joined us to just to help the industry to make better decisions and that produce cheaper and cleaner energy.

David Blackman [00:19:31] So our discussion today, what wait, first second, the second question I had related to workforce. When you see this generation of college students avoiding petroleum engineering, avoiding these oil and gas-specific professions, do you look at that as kind of a missed opportunity for those folks? I mean, I when I look at the landscape facing us, I see the oil and gas industry being around for quite some time in a pretty healthy state, don't you?

Armand Pradis [00:20:08] Absolutely. Yep.

David Blackman [00:20:10] Yeah. And so it just feels like a missed opportunity to me for these kids.

Armand Pradis [00:20:15] Yeah, I mean, definitely. I mean, but, but and this is, this is the problem, in my opinion. Um, we have a part in it too, as industries. So yeah, strictly energy companies weren't able to plan very well because of the same issues that I mentioned,.

Armand Pradis [00:20:33] Like at the time that oil price was high. Getting super excited. Let's go hire a ton of people that go drill a ton of wells. Right. And then, and then the moment the oil price drops by $20 and $10 and let's go fire 30% of the personnel. So there's just overall.

David Blackman [00:20:50] Exactly.

Armand Pradis [00:20:51] Not a lot of great planning and that the bad image. You know so and and and so that's one of the key factors. The other factor is like overall, we haven't done a good job of marketing ourselves very well. Like, oh my God, a lot of a lot of oil and gas companies do a lot of great initiatives around being just conserving the planet and doing a lot of great things and emission reductions and making sure we're producing cleaner fuel.

Armand Pradis [00:21:23] Oil and gas in the US is is one of the cleanest oil and gas in the world. So like you mentioned, we need oil and gas for the foreseeable future is a transition or let's say is expansion in some cases.

Armand Pradis [00:21:37] So, um, we haven't done a good job of marketing ourselves. We stayed quiet for quite a long time and we still stay quiet. And there is a massive propaganda against oil and gas industry as well. So all these things combined, it means less and less people are willing to go to petroleum majors, which I honestly and if you if you think about is isn't to me is not a crazy problem because at the end of the day, we can train a lot of engineers to learn how to work in the energy space back in 2000 nineties and a lot of those we had roughly the same issues, but at that time it was because of low commodity environment. It wasn't because of the all these propaganda was against oil and gas.

Armand Pradis [00:22:26] So back then a lot of chemical partners, chemical engineering department and petrol engine department was in one departmfewerent or mining or they were under mining department. So and so the point is, at the end when you graduate from the school in majority of the engineering major with like six months training, you can be a reservoir engineer, drilling engineer.

Armand Pradis [00:22:48] Fundamentally, we don't have tremendous amount of difference. And in the schools that teach you a lot of theory anyway, the majority of it, honestly, you don't even use the day to day stuff anyway. So. So that's why to me, it's not a massive, massive problem, but it's a bigger problem is less tendency to work for oil companies. So yeah, again, oil companies have a solution for it. They offer big salaries.

David Blackman [00:23:16] They do, Yes.

Armand Pradis [00:23:18] So yeah, long run. Long run and long run. I'm it is a challenge, but there are some solutions that can mitigate it. Yeah.

David Blackman [00:23:28] Yeah. You hit on my pet peeve about the industry not doing a good job of marketing itself and, and really telling the good stories that it has to tell. Right. Yeah. It's just so frustrating to me. You see all these great things that they do and you want to, you want to see them brag about it a little bit and.

Armand Pradis [00:23:47] Yeah.

David Blackman [00:23:47] And then I see last night or night before last, the newest ad that API is running. And honestly, I didn't even know what it was they were advertising. They're spending like $80 million on that campaign. It's just crazy to me. But, you know,.

Armand Pradis [00:24:03] I wanted of us.

David Blackman [00:24:04] Yeah, yeah. And the other point you made about companies, the boom and bust cycle and the layoffs and the hirings and the layoffs and the hirings that just disenchanted so many people with, you know, going back to work in the industry when the time comes. And anyway, anyway.

Armand Pradis [00:24:24] And honestly, David, a lot of those can be mitigated with better planning, you know, so.

David Blackman [00:24:28] Right.

Armand Pradis [00:24:29] And doing more comprehensive analysis, you know, so running more of a probabilistic analysis, running around in ten, 15, 20, 30, 100 scenarios instead of just one deterministic scenario and plan based on that. You know,.

Armand Pradis [00:24:42] So that is to me the core problem. You know, we don't do a great amount of planning and we making rash decisions and just go hire a bunch of people because oil prices high right six months down the road drops $20 less by 30%. You know, so we have to minimize those decisions.

David Blackman [00:25:03] And that's that's what I see companies like you're the service or the tools that you're offered. And the things you're doing with this data is what I see really helping to smooth out the boom and bust cycles because it just makes it easier to do that advanced planning that really in the past, management teams not only didn't focus on it, but they really didn't have a firm ability to do it even if they wanted to. Right. In certain circumstances. So.

Armand Pradis [00:25:35] Absolutely. Yeah.

David Blackman [00:25:37] Yeah. Well, listen, man, we are running up against time. These things go so fast. It always feels like we just touch the surface. But I'd like to touch base with you again sometime down the road here, where, you know, at a key point in time for your company. That's okay.

Armand Pradis [00:25:54] Absolutely. Definitely. David, thank you. Thank you so much for having me on your show. So it was definitely great conversations and definitely looking forward to our future conversations.

David Blackman [00:26:05] Absolutely. Well, thank you so much. It's been great meeting you and we'll talk to you again soon. And thanks to everybody for joining us for this episode of The Energy Question. I'm David Blackmon. And that's all for now.

Follow Armand Paradis on Linkedin

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

David Blackmon LinkedIn

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 6 of the Texas Legislative Update, David Blackmon and Texas Alliance of Energy Producers President Jason Modglin discuss the major events of the 7th week of the current session of the Texas State Legislature as they relate to energy.

Topics discussed include:

- Recap of hearings on House and Senate budget bills;

- Disagreements between Speaker Dade Phelan and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on several key issues, including property tax relief;

- The various ways oil and gas production and reserves are subjected to the state's property tax laws;

- Prospects for further reforms to the grid;

- Possible legislative replacement for Section 313, a provision that has enabled local taxing districts to attract major businesses by offering tax abatements. Section 313 expired at the end of 2022;

And much more. Enjoy.

View Details

In Episode 26 of The Energy Transition podcast, David Blackmon and Syed Muhammad Osama Rizvi Energy Analyst | Economic and Geopolitical Analyst | ExFounder U&I Global | Consultant, Advisor | Commonwealth Scholar

Follow Osama Rizvi on Linkedin

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

David Blackmon LinkedIn

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 24 of The Energy Transition podcast, David Blackmon and Meredith Angwin Author and Energy Analyst

Follow Meredith Angwin on Linkedin

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

David Blackmon LinkedIn

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 5 of the Texas Legislative Update, David Blackmon and Texas Alliance of Energy Producers President Jason Modglin cover the events at the Texas Capital for the week ended February 17, 2023.

Among the topic discussed:

- Governor Greg Abbott's State of the State Speech, and the 7 emergency items he laid out in it.

- Why further action on the Texas Electricity Grid was not included among those 7 items.

- Action on the grid, including the need to ensure more natural gas generation capacity is built, was part of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's priority items that were laid out earlier in the week.

- Industry comments filings on the EPA's proposed new Quad O methane emissions regulations.

- Hearing activity impacting the oil and gas industry.

- Status of the PUC Sunset process, and PUC budget proposals.

View Details

ENERGY TRANSITION EPISODE #50 - Evolution of climate alarmism - Part 1

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav, International Author for Oil Price, Substack, and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

David Blackmon LinkedIn

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

Texas Legislative Update With David Blackmon and Jason Modglin, Episode 4

[Follow us on Twitter at @JasonModglin and @EnergyAbsurdity]

In Episode 4 of the Texas Legislative Update, David Blackmon and Jason Modglin, President of the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, review the week of February 6-10 in the Texas Legislative session. 

David and Jason begin this week's episode with a discussion of the week of Jan. 31-Feb. 4, when a winter ice storm invaded the state and shut down most activity in Austin and the Texas Capitol Building. 

This week's focus centers on: 

  • The appointment of committee chairs in the House of Representatives; 

  • How the solid performance of the Texas electric grid during the prior week's winter weather might impact efforts for further reform; 

  • President Biden's odd comments about energy and oil and gas during his state of the union speech; 

  • Governor Abbott's upcoming state of the state speech is scheduled for February 16; 

  • New legislation Jason and the Alliance are tracking in the current session. 

Enjoy.

View Details

Texas Legislative Update With David Blackmon and Jason Modglin, Episode 4

[Follow us on Twitter at @JasonModglin and @EnergyAbsurdity]

In Episode 4 of the Texas Legislative Update, David Blackmon and Jason Modglin, President of the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, review the week of February 6-10 in the Texas Legislative session. 

David and Jason begin this week's episode with a discussion of the week of Jan. 31-Feb. 4, when a winter ice storm invaded the state and shut down most activity in Austin and the Texas Capitol Building. 

This week's focus centers on: 

  • The appointment of committee chairs in the House of Representatives; 

  • How the solid performance of the Texas electric grid during the prior week's winter weather might impact efforts for further reform; 

  • President Biden's odd comments about energy and oil and gas during his state of the union speech; 

  • Governor Abbott's upcoming state of the state speech scheduled for February 16; 

  • New legislation Jason and the Alliance are tracking in the current session. 

Enjoy.

View Details

The Energy Question With David Blackmon, Episode 23: David chats With Tammy Nemeth About This 'Energy Transition'In Episode 23 of The Energy Transition podcast, David Blackmon and Dr. Tammy Nemeth talk about the progress, or lack thereof, being made related to the so-called 'energy transition.' Among other sub-topics, David and Tammy address are the following: The major impact of public policy on how and where we get our energy. Keystone XL – has Biden’s cancellation reduced oil sands production? BP Earnings and strategy shift and the factors that led to it. Issues with ESG and related reporting mandates. Why the principles of accounting are a potential impediment to ESG. What is the real pace of progress in the “energy transition?” Are high energy/food prices a feature rather than a bug in the energy transition? Will the production of lithium-ion batteries really rise by a factor of 700% by 2027? Dave has brain lock about which Lithium Triangle country just made a big deal with China to develop its resources. Hint: It’s Bolivia. The problem isn’t limited to Lithium: It’s Copper, Cobalt, Antimony, Nickel and on and on and on. Siemens Gamesa’s big loss on wind energy, and how ESG investors like Vanguard and BlackRock shared in it. Canada pension plan’s investments in something called Octopus Energy, a company that boasts about never having made a profit. Why India, Indonesia and other Asian nations continue to increase coal usage. Tammy has a cooler head than Dave about the ultimate outcome of all of this boiling of the frog on energy in the western world. Enjoy.

Link to the Tammy Nemeth: Here

[Follow us on Twitter at @EnergyAbsurdity and @IPAAaccess]

IPAA is one of the industry's oldest and most effective national trade associations, representing mainly the interests of small to mid-size independent producers.

Sponsorships are available or get your own corporate brand produced by Sandstone Media.David Blackmon LinkedIn

DB Energy Questions

The Crude Truth with Rey Trevino

Rey Trevino LinkedIn

Energy Transition Weekly Conversation

David Blackmon LinkedIn

Irina Slav LinkedIn

Armando Cavanha LinkedIn

ENB Top News

ENB

Energy Dashboard

ENB Podcast

ENB Substack

View Details

In Episode 22 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon talks with S&P Global Vice Chairman and author of "The New Map" Daniel Yergin about his views on the progress of the "energy transition."

Topics addressed in this Episode include:

- Are we really having an "energy transition," or is it better described as an "energy addition"?

- How has Russia's war on Ukraine impacted the progress of this transition?

- Did discussions at the recent WEF conference in Davos help to advance transition plans?

- How are developing nations dealing with transitions of their own?

- Will Western countries be able to source the critical minerals needed to power electric vehicles and renewables?

- Will the U.S. and Europe be able to solve their issues related to permitting?

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

In episode 21 of The Energy Question Podcast, David Blackmon interviews Jason Modglin, the President of the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers. 

It's a wide-ranging discussion centered on the following topics:

- The history of TAEP, one of the biggest and oldest associations in the state;

- Issues impacting the oil and gas industry in Texas, including employment challenges, supply chains, inflation, and pipeline capacity constraints;

- The difficulty of dealing with the Biden administration and its frequent attacks on the industry;

- Regulatory activities at the Texas Railroad Commission, the Public Utilities Commission, and the Texas Council on Environmental Quality;

- The future outlook for the Texas industry.

Enjoy.

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

In Episode 20 of The Energy Question With David Blackmon, David talks with Jacki of the Jacki Daily show about the impacts of ESG investing philosophy and mandates on the energy industry, and why some aspects of it are likely illegal.

Jacki recently worked with former Bush Advisor C. Boyden Gray and the Texas Public Policy Foundation to produce a seminal study on the issue. The report, titled "LIABILITY RISKS FOR THE ESG AGENDA TO CHARGE HIGHER FEES AND RIG THE MARKET was published in June, 2021 and has played a key role in the development of the Texas government's anti-discrimination policy that has penalized major ESG investor groups for their efforts to deny capital to the Texas oil and gas industry.

It's a fast-paced 30-minute discussion of one of the major issues impacting energy today.

Jacki hosts The Jacki Daily Show, a weekly show and podcast airing on BlazeMedia, on the dial in Texas, and podcast on iHeartRadio, iTunes, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Previously, Jacki worked for an engineering firm specializing in energy production, national security, and environmental cleanup. She served as legal counsel on Capitol Hill to the Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Constitution and the former Ranking Member of the Commercial and Administrative Law Subcommittee, advising on the oversight of federal agencies. Prior to her career in Washington, she worked as a corporate litigator, and as an Assistant Vice President for a national bank.

Link to the Jacki Daily Show: https://www.jackidaily.com/

Link to the TPPF ESG Study: https://www.texaspolicy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-06-RR-Gray-LP-Corporate-Collusion.pdf

View Details

David Blackmon and Jason Modglin, President of the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, recap this week's energy-related events in the 2023 session of the Texas Legislature.

View Details

David Blackmon talks oil and gas-related issues facing the 2023 Session of the Texas Legislature with Jason Modglin, President of the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers.

This the first of a weekly series that David and Jason will record on Friday's for the duration of the 140-day session.

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

In Episode 19 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon interviews Dan Naatz, Sr. Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at IPAA, in a wide-ranging discussion about federal policy matters impacting the oil and natural gas industry.

[Follow us on Twitter at @EnergyAbsurdity and @IPAAaccess]

IPAA is one of the industry's oldest and most effective national trade associations, representing mainly the interests of small to mid-size independent producers.

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

In Episode 19 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon interviews Allen Gilmer, one of the founders of Drilling Info, the company that is now Enverus. Allen is currently the Managing Partner of AHUEVO Films, where has produced a series of documentaries and theatrical movies over the last half-decade.

After a brief review of the founding of Enverus and its development, David uses the rest of this episode to explore Allen's growing portfolio of film projects and the reasons why he decided to move in this direction after he retired from leading Enverus.

View Details

In Episode 18 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon interviews Tom Pyle, President of the Institute for Energy Research.

David and Tom spend 30 minutes covering the landscape of energy issues impacting the United States, and the direction of energy policy we can expect to see out of Washington, DC in the wake of the recent mid-term elections.

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

In Episode 17 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon interviews Tom Jensen, CEO of Freyr. Freyr is a Norwegian-based producer of an innovative kind of lithium-ion batteries that has recently announced it will make a multi-billion dollar entry into the United States.

View Details

In Episode 16 of the Energy Question, David Blackmon interviews Anne Bradbury, the President of the American Exploration and Production Council, which represents the interests of the large independent producers of oil and gas in Washington, DC.

Anne provides a detailed download of her views about the just-completed mid-term elections and what they are likely to mean related to energy policy in the United States.

Enjoy.

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

In Episode 15 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon talks with Sean Strawbridge, the dynamic CEO of the Port of Corpus Christi, where he has led one of the great under-told economic development stories in the history of Texas in recent years.

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

In Episode 14 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon talks with Dane Gregoris, Managing Director at Enverus Intelligence Research, about the firm's recent report documenting a full inventory of the resource extent in North America's various shale plays. 

The magnitude of the resource remaining in those various basin is unprecedented, and rich with more than 125,000 potential undrilled locations with a potential break-even price of just $40/barrel WTI.

View Details

In Episode 13 of The Energy Question, David interviews the dynamic CEO of Talos Energy, with a focus on his company's efforts to mount a set of Carbon Capture and Sequestration projects along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast. It's a fast-paced 30 minutes in which Duncan covers the CCS landscape in the U.S. Enjoy.

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

In Episode 12 of The Energy Question, David Blackmon talks with Tim Stewart, President of the U.S. Oil & Gas Association, about the results of the recent mid-term elections and their implications for the oil and gas industry.

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

In Episode 11 of The Energy Question, David interviews S&P Global Vice Chairman Dan Yergin, author of the incredible series of books about oil and energy: "The Prize," "The Quest," and his most recent, "The New Map."

In this episode, David and Dan discuss world events surrounding energy and energy policy, with a focus on the fact that Dan foresaw so much of what is happening today in "The New Map." 

Sub-topics include:

- the origins of Europe's energy crisis;

- how that crisis is spreading globally;

- the impacts of Putin's war on Ukraine on global energy markets;

- Europe's heavy reliance on U.S. LNG and whether that is wise;

- the destruction of the relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia;

- how Russia is moving steadily into becoming a client state of China;

- the growing power and influence of the BRICS countries;

- why a move by the Biden administration to limit U.S. oil and LNG exports would be incredibly damaging.

It's a fast-paced half hour that will leave the viewer wanting more. Enjoy.

View Details

In Episode 10 of The Energy Question With David Blackmon, David's special guest is Michael Cembalest, Chief Investment Officer at JP Morgan Asset Management. 

Every year, Michael creates and publishes a comprehensive report on the global energy space as a service to investors. This year's report is titled "The Elephants in the Room," a 49-page opus that provides an excellent overview of that is happening related to energy and the energy transition across the globe. 

The report is also publicly available and can be found at this link: 

https://assets.jpmprivatebank.com/con...

We were only able to scratch the surface of the report's content during our half-hour interview. Enjoy.

View Details

Want to know what's happening in the world's most active and prolific oil and gas production area, the Permian Basin? Here you go.

In this episode of The Energy Question, David Blackmon interviews Ben Shepperd, President of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association. Created in the early 1960s, PBPA represents the interests of the oil and gas industry in the huge region, which spans most of West Texas and a big swath of Southeastern New Mexico.

During the course of this interview, Ben discusses how reforms being made to the Texas power grid are impacting his members, New Mexico's ongoing irrational assault on an industry that funds 40% of its state budget, operational challenges currently happening in the Oil Patch, and an array of other topics.

It's a fast-paced and informative half-hour with one of the real leaders in the Texas oil business.

View Details

In Episode 8 of The Energy Question, David interviews Krishna Sapkota, Energy Associate, Energy at Enverus. 

The focus is on a recent report by Enverus authored by Krishna, which finds the potential for parts of Europe running out of natural gas by late winter unless drastic conservation measures currently being undertaken across the continent are successful.

View Details

In Episode 7 of The Energy Question with David Blackmon, David interviews the great fossil fuel energy advocate Alex Epstein, author of "Fossil Future" and "The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels," both of which can be found and purchased at Amazon and at AlexEpstein.com

View Details

In Episode 6 of The Energy Question with David Blackmon, David interviews Craig Jones, the CEO of Forever Energy. 

Forever Energy is a startup company that has plans to manufacture Vanadium Flow Batteries in the U.S. VFBs have tremendous potential to displace less-efficient and reliable lithium-ion batteries in the electric vehicles and renewable energy space in the years to come. The technology is already being made and distributed at scale in China, and Forever Energy plans to lead the way to similar outcomes in the United States.

View Details

Today, David interviews Jack Belcher, Principal with the Cornerstone Group, a diverse advisory firm with a dozen offices around the country. Jack leads the advisory group based in Houston, and has expertise in all phases of the energy sector.

View Details

I was thrilled to be able to spend half an hour recently with one of the finest energy writers working today, Bulgaria-based Irina Slav. Irina writes for OilPrice.com, Shale Magazine, where I recruited her while serving as editor, and also maintains her own newsletter here at Substack. Along with the great Armando Cavanha, she also partners with me at The Energy Transition podcast, where we have great fun covering the faltering landscape of this energy transition each Monday. 

In this episode of The Energy Question, I question Irina about her views on the energy crisis currently impacting Europe. We talk about what led to the crisis in the first place, how it has expanded over the past year, and about her views on where it is all likely to head in the weeks and months to come.

And we do it all in a very compact and fact-filled 30 minutes, out of respect for your own busy schedules.

Please give it a look. I think you’ll be glad you did.

View Details

In Episode 3 of The Energy Question with David Blackmon, David and Stu Turley interview Sarp Ozkan, Vice President of Commercial Product at Enverus and Tim Stewart, President of the U.S. Oil & Gas Association, for their respective takes on the "Inflation Reduction Act" passed by the Democratic Party and signed into law by president Joe Biden.

View Details

EnergyX is developing a direct lithium extraction technology that holds the promise of dramatically increasing rates of recovery from brine-based lithium in a fraction of the time required and environmental impacts of traditional evaporative processes. 

In this episode, Teague gives viewers an update on the company's progress and describes where we go from here.

Given the IEA's projection of demand for lithium rising by 900% by 2030 and by 4,000% by 2040, this is the kind of technological advancement that must take place very quickly of the energy transition is going to reach any sort of critical mass.

View Details

In this episode, David Blackmon welcomes viewers and provides a preview of his plans for his new weekly podcast interview show.

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about Energy, Mining, and Geopolitical Issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing Author for Forbes, and Podcast Host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity

View Details

Armando Cavanha, Energy Thought Leader, Podcast Host, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil Contact on Twitter @cavanha

Irina Slav , International Author for Oil Price, Substack and others, Writing about energy, Mining, and Geopolitical issues. Bulgaria Contact on Twitter @SlavEnergy

David Blackmon, Principal at DB Energy Advisors, Energy Author, Contributing author for Forbes, and Podcast host. Contact on Twitter @EnergyAbsurdity