The Energy Realities Team drives it home - "Come On Man"

This was a fun podcast with Tammy Nemeth, Irina Slav, David Blackmon, and me! We had way too much fun and had some great comments from the live audience.

We also had some great insights from Dr. Graham Conway, Principal Engineer in the Automotive Division at Southwest Research Institute. A shout-out to Rodney, who found out who he was. I have included the full TED Talk clip below, along with the key bullet points.

Key Points for the Energy Realities Podcast this morning:

The main topics discussed in this transcript are:

1. The impact of Trump’s policies on the electric vehicle (EV) industry in the United States. The transcript discusses how Trump’s actions, such as rescinding California’s EV mandate and the CAFE standards, have negatively impacted the growth of the EV market in the US.

2. The challenges and limitations of EVs, including their high costs, limited range, battery fires, and lack of consumer demand. We provide detailed analysis on why EVs are not a viable or sustainable solution compared to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles.

3. The impact of government subsidies and incentives on the EV market. We discuss how the removal of subsidies, such as the $7,500 tax credit, has led to a significant drop in EV sales in the US.

4. The geopolitical and economic implications of the transition to EVs, including the impact on manufacturing, infrastructure, and energy security. We touch on how this transition is affecting countries like Canada and the European Union.

5. The broader context of the “green energy transition” agenda, criticizing it as an ideological and unsustainable approach that is harming economies and energy security.

Key Chapters:

00:00 Introduction - Irina Slav

03:18 David Blackmon’s view on how the Trump Administration’s impact on EVs

09:55 Dr. Tammy Nemeth covers Norway and the UK’s impact.

18:40 Dr. Graham Conway on his TED Talk and how EVs are not as environmentally friendly as advertised.

24:44 Irina Slav is pointing out that the EU wants smaller EVs and shorter ranges.

30:44 Dr. Tammy Nemeth Zelensky, Starmer, and Macron meeting to figure out the next action items.

32:48 Dr. Tammy Nemeth brings up that EU and Canada allowed deindustrialization to become a service economy, and may have caused harm to long-term manufacturing capabilities.

Dr. Graham Conway's TED Talk was outstanding; here is the TikTok video. I will be reaching out to him to get him on the podcast.

https://theenergynewsbeat.substack.com/p/did-trump-just-kill-joe-bidens-ev

Irina Slav

International Author writing about energy, mining, and geopolitical issues. Bulgaria

David Blackmon

Principal at DB Energy Advisors, energy author, and podcast host.Principal at DB Energy Advisors, energy author, and podcast host.

Tammy Nemeth

Energy Consulting Specialist

Stuart Turley

President and CEO, Sandstone Group, Podcast Host

The Energy Reality team from Bulgaria, the US, and the UK had a fun energy discussion at the expense of the COP30 participants. When you get Tammy Nemeth, David Blackmon, Stu Turley, and Irina Slav on a podcast, buckle up, as fun is around the corner.

The main topics The Energy Realities Team discussed in this podcast episode include:

1. The outcomes and implications of COP30, the recent UN climate change conference:

- The lack of significant progress or agreements made at the conference

- Discussions around censorship and information control efforts that emerged from COP30

- The role and influence of the US, particularly under the Trump administration, on the outcomes

2. The geopolitical and economic shifts happening globally related to energy and climate policies:

- The diverging paths and trading blocs forming between countries/regions pursuing net-zero policies versus those resisting them

- China's growing influence and the West's increasing reliance on China for manufacturing and energy

- Concerns about deindustrialization and the fiscal impacts of net-zero policies in Western countries

3. Specific energy and climate policy developments:

- The "memorandum of understanding" between the Canadian federal government and the province of Alberta on oil pipelines

- The UK's plans to tax electric vehicle drivers

- Germany's increasing gas usage and LNG import needs

4. Commentary and analysis on the media's coverage and portrayal of these energy and climate issues.

The podcast features in-depth discussion and differing perspectives from the co-hosts on these major topics shaping the global energy landscape.

Irina Slav

International Author writing about energy, mining, and geopolitical issues. Bulgaria

David Blackmon

Principal at DB Energy Advisors, energy author, and podcast host.Principal at DB Energy Advisors, energy author, and podcast host.

Tammy Nemeth

Energy Consulting Specialist

Stuart Turley

President and CEO, Sandstone Group, Podcast Host

If you want to get your story out, consider sponsoring the Podcast and reaching out to anyone on the team.

We have Brian Zinchuk, PipelineOnline.ca, Saskatchewan’s Energy News, stopping by the Energy Realities Podcast, and we’re ready to dive deep into Canada’s evolving energy markets. It’s always a great time having Brian on the show as he brings sharp insights and real-world perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing Canada’s energy future.

From the federal clean energy mandates to the realities of coal, gas, and nuclear development, this conversation explores how Saskatchewan is navigating the path to reliable, affordable power. Buckle up, some true energy realities are hitting the podcast as we uncover what’s shaping the future of Canadian energy.

This was a lot of fun, and Brian and I were able to catch up after the show and talk about his reporting and how we can help him out with more coverage.

Please follow Brian on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianzinchuk/

Check out his news site: Pipelineonline.ca

Highlights of the Podcast

00:00 – Introduction

01:42 – Saskatchewan’s Energy Reality

04:12 – Coal as a Bridge to Nuclear

10:26 – Challenges with Wind, Solar, and Gas

12:11 – Lessons from Europe and Maintenance Issues

22:18 – CO₂ Capture and Enhanced Oil Recovery

26:19 – Federal vs. Provincial Energy Conflict

29:09 – The Price of Unreliable Energy

35:51 – The Storage Mirage

39:33 – Saskatchewan Pushes Back

44:54 – Doubling the Grid is Unrealistic

53:25 – Nuclear’s Massive Future

55:56 – Preparing the Next Generation

58:31 – Closing Remarks