The hottest Energy Policy Substack posts right now

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Top U.S. Politics Topics

Tale of Two Cities

The Crucial Years • 1743 implied HN points • 26 Nov 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Policy
  1. Extreme climate impacts are happening now and escalating — cities can face Day Zero water crises, Arctic "zombie" fires are releasing ancient carbon, and ecosystems are under growing stress.
  2. Economic and political levers matter a lot — what big investors, pension funds, and city officials do can speed up or slow down the fossil-fuel era, making divestment and policy choices powerful tools.
  3. The solution requires rapid, large-scale industrial action — massive clean energy buildout and material transitions are needed fast, while rollbacks, local opposition, and risky techno-fixes could derail progress.

In Praise of Chris Wright

Doomberg • 19853 implied HN points • 17 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Energy Policy
  1. Chris Wright is a strong nominee for Secretary of Energy, having a solid background in engineering and energy resource development. He aims to boost domestic energy production and support the energy industry.
  2. Wright believes that hydrocarbons are essential for global energy needs and improving living standards for many people. He argues that energy is key to wealth and health around the world.
  3. His policy focuses on reducing energy poverty as a priority. He suggests that rather than just focusing on climate change, we should also think about how to provide affordable energy for everyone.

Reading List 1/25/25

Construction Physics • 15032 implied HN points • 25 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Energy Policy
  1. Trump's executive orders are focusing heavily on deregulating energy projects, especially fossil fuels, which could speed up development but also pause other renewable projects like solar and wind.
  2. There is a renewed interest in restarting nuclear plants due to rising electricity demand, with several plants now being considered for revival in the U.S.
  3. Data centers are consuming more electricity now than ever, projected to account for a significant portion of U.S. electricity usage in the coming years.

Test Case

Doomberg • 7086 implied HN points • 01 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Energy Policy
  1. American wildcatters, known for oil and gas, are now turning to nuclear energy. This shift shows a big change in how the U.S. thinks about its energy sources.
  2. The new energy policies focus on nuclear power, marking a major change since the 1973 oil crisis. This push aims to reorganize America's entire energy system towards nuclear and away from renewables.
  3. Key players in promoting nuclear energy are experienced in the shale industry. Their background might help speed up the development of new nuclear technologies and reactors.

Chain Reaction

Doomberg • 6659 implied HN points • 10 Jun 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Policy
  1. Nuclear energy has produced a massive amount of clean electricity over the years, showcasing its potential as a stable and affordable energy source.
  2. Germany's decision to abandon its nuclear power plants is now seen as a mistake, and there's hope they will shift their stance to support nuclear energy in the future.
  3. Many countries in Europe are starting to rethink their approach to nuclear energy, which might lead to a resurgence in its use to help combat climate change.
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Permission Slips

Doomberg • 6214 implied HN points • 20 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Energy Policy
  1. California's strict regulations on oil and gas limit its production capacity, unlike Texas which fully develops its resources. This shows how politics can influence energy output more than natural resources.
  2. Many people are leaving California, resulting in a net loss of residents. This trend is changing the political landscape in other states, especially Colorado, where new arrivals are bringing their progressive views with them.
  3. The shift in population and politics from California to states like Colorado may impact national energy production. New laws in these areas could hinder the development of important energy resources.

Some consequences of solar on the electricity markets

GEM Energy Analytics • 899 implied HN points • 08 Jul 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Policy
  1. Solar energy is growing quickly and changing the electricity market. As solar power is cheaper to produce, it often leads to lower prices during sunny times.
  2. The value of solar energy isn’t highest when the sun is shining most. It’s more valuable during peak demand times like morning and evening.
  3. As more solar energy is used, the need for traditional power sources is decreasing, which is affecting imports, exports, and the costs of maintaining power reserves.

America is losing the physical technologies of the future

Noahpinion • 15294 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Energy Policy
  1. America is falling behind in key physical technologies like electric vehicles and renewable energy. This is a big deal for the country's future power and economic success.
  2. The shift in focus towards electrical technologies is often viewed through the lens of climate change rather than national power. This misunderstanding could hurt America's position in global technology.
  3. Countries like China are gaining an advantage in these technologies, which could impact America's leadership in the world. It's essential to prioritize these innovations beyond just climate talk.

Renewable Energy Won

Erik Explores • 737 implied HN points • 21 Dec 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Policy
  1. Wind and solar paired with batteries are now cheaper than coal and can deliver reliable 24/7 power. The economics mean the energy debate over renewables versus fossil fuels is effectively over.
  2. Practical challenges remain, like upgrading grids, training installers, and storing energy across seasons, but these are solvable with investment and various solutions. Options include overbuilding renewables, heat pumps, hydrogen or ammonia, pumped hydro, and novel carriers like rechargeable metal powders.
  3. Political and expert skeptics who said renewables couldn’t scale or would need permanent subsidies were proven wrong as costs fell and deployment surged globally. Nuclear remains expensive and slower to replace aging plants, so renewables are expanding even in traditionally nuclear countries.

Exxon Presents: Regime Change™

The Rubesletter by Matt Ruby (of Vooza) | Sent every Tuesday • 427 implied HN points • 05 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Energy Policy
  1. U.S. moves on Venezuela are mostly about oil and profit, with big oil companies and military contractors standing to gain from regime change.
  2. Toppling a dictator can feel like a win, but forced regime change risks major instability and harm to ordinary Venezuelans even if some people celebrate.
  3. Political leaders are likely to wrap resource grabs in patriotic or populist language, normalizing militarized actions and ignoring the hypocrisy of criticizing 'socialism' while seizing foreign assets.

Out of Gas

Doomberg • 7896 implied HN points • 03 Feb 25
🌍 World Politics Energy Policy
  1. Britain has faced a major decline in its global power and status over the years, driven by poor decisions by its leaders. This decline shows that just having a historic role doesn't mean a country is still significant today.
  2. Currently, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is trying to boost Britain's image by aiming to make it an AI superpower. However, investors are uncertain because of the country's bigger issues, especially in energy.
  3. The UK is struggling with low gas storage and high demand for energy, which makes its ambition for AI seem unrealistic. Without reliable and cheap energy, the goal to succeed in technology will be hard to achieve.

Trump is shockingly dumb about (electric) power

The Crucial Years • 2541 implied HN points • 19 Aug 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Energy Policy
  1. Electric bills are becoming a key issue in politics, as rising costs may affect how people vote. Many believe that Trump's energy policies are making these costs worse.
  2. The shift towards clean energy sources like solar and wind is being hindered by political decisions, particularly under Trump's administration. Many countries are successfully moving to cheaper, renewable energy solutions, while the U.S. is lagging behind.
  3. Democrats have a chance to make the rising electricity costs a campaign issue against Trump. They need to effectively communicate how his policies are impacting household bills and advocate for cleaner, more affordable energy.

Top Links 950 America's short-lived green boom. China's labour costs. West African coups & the Republican rogue elephant.

Chartbook • 515 implied HN points • 13 Dec 25
🌍 World Politics Energy Policy
  1. A recent surge in U.S. green manufacturing investment was short-lived and has already faded, showing limits to policy-driven industrial shifts.
  2. Rising labour costs in China are changing global manufacturing decisions and weakening its position as the go-to low-cost producer.
  3. Coups in West Africa are fuelling regional instability, while a disruptive faction within the U.S. Republican Party is creating political unpredictability at home.

Radiophobia

Gordian Knot News • 271 implied HN points • 17 Jan 26
🔬 Science Energy Policy
  1. Regulatory overreach and strict radiation rules helped create and amplify public fear of radiation, rather than public fear being the original cause.
  2. Energy market changes in the late 1960s and early 1970s made nuclear much more expensive and removed market limits on how hard regulators could push, contributing to the collapse of new nuclear orders.
  3. A large ecosystem of regulators, labs, health-physics professionals, cleanup contractors, and parts of industry benefited from strict rules and had incentives to perpetuate radiophobia.

Whiplash

Doomberg • 6597 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Energy Policy
  1. Trump has signed many executive orders that impact energy policy, and there are concerns about the long-term effects on the industry. Any decisions made now could shape the future of energy production for years.
  2. The recent orders have put a halt to wind energy leasing in many areas offshore, which might affect the growth of the wind sector. This means companies focused on wind energy could struggle moving forward.
  3. The orders also focus on exploring resources in Alaska, which may become a major point of attention. If successful, this could show how effective Trump's new policies could be for energy resources.

Freighthopping

Doomberg • 7015 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Energy Policy
  1. Colorado has shifted from a swing state leaning Republican to strongly Democratic in recent elections. This change reflects a broader trend of leftward political movement in the state.
  2. Governor Jared Polis is promoting renewable energy, especially wind power, which now generates a significant portion of Colorado's electricity. He seems to be inspired by policies from other progressive leaders.
  3. An interesting proposal called SunTrain aims to transport renewable energy using trains instead of traditional power lines. This could provide a new way to move excess energy while utilizing existing rail infrastructure.

Misreading the Room

Doomberg • 6365 implied HN points • 20 Jan 25
🌍 World Politics Energy Policy
  1. Venezuela used to be one of the world's top oil producers but has seen its production decline by over 80% due to mismanagement and political issues. This has made the country really poor compared to its past.
  2. Maduro, the current president, has taken provocative actions as his power weakens, including making bold statements about 'liberating' Puerto Rico with military help.
  3. Venezuela has huge oil reserves and could be an important energy supply for the U.S., creating a potential interest in the country from U.S. leaders.

Power Down Blunder

Doomberg • 7469 implied HN points • 03 Dec 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Policy
  1. Australia has great potential for renewable energy like solar and wind, but things aren't going as smoothly as planned.
  2. As they keep adding more renewable energy sources, the country is facing rising electricity prices and shortages, especially during peak demand times.
  3. The government is now asking people to cut back on using appliances like dishwashers to help the struggling energy grid.

Seventh Plan’s the Charm

Doomberg • 6232 implied HN points • 11 Jan 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Policy
  1. Japan relies heavily on imports for its energy needs, which makes having a strong energy plan very important for the country. They need reliable and cheap energy to stay competitive in the global economy.
  2. After the Fukushima disaster in 2011, Japan's use of nuclear energy dropped significantly, but there are now efforts to reopen some reactors. This shift back to nuclear energy is seen as crucial for Japan's energy strategy.
  3. The upcoming Seventh Strategic Energy Plan will outline Japan’s energy goals for the next few years. This plan will impact investments and the country's approach to energy efficiency and renewable sources.

Where Marty Weitzman Went Wrong

Gordian Knot News • 124 implied HN points • 04 Feb 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Policy
  1. Fat-tailed uncertainty about climate damages does not make cost-benefit analysis pointless; if your probability distribution for the social cost of carbon has a finite mean, you can minimize expected total cost by using that mean as the weight for CO2.
  2. Electricity systems lie on a cost-versus-CO2 trade-off curve, and the slope at the chosen point is the society's effective social cost of carbon, so publishing the curve and choosing a median public preference gives a consistent grid choice and SCC.
  3. Fat-tailed SCC distributions can have means far above their most likely value, which implies much higher justified carbon prices; those revenues can be used to replace or rebate other taxes so the policy is progressive.

Ctrl+Alt+Delete

Doomberg • 6570 implied HN points • 20 Dec 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Policy
  1. Wind and solar energy can't always provide power, especially during winter when the weather is less favorable. So, relying solely on these sources can leave countries without enough electricity.
  2. Germany's decision to phase out nuclear energy is causing problems not just for itself but for neighboring countries too. This has resulted in rising energy prices and political tension in regions like Norway and Sweden.
  3. A debate is happening in Germany about potentially bringing back nuclear energy as a reliable power source. It involves looking at the technical, political, and financial challenges of restarting their nuclear reactors.

This Week in Canada: We Changed Our Minds About Climate Change

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 459 implied HN points • 09 Dec 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Policy
  1. Canadians have quietly shifted from seeing climate change as an existential crisis to backing new pipelines and energy projects, with support rising from about 37% to roughly 60%.
  2. That public U‑turn gives federal leaders much more political room to fast‑track big energy and infrastructure deals, and it prompted several senior climate advisers to resign in protest.
  3. The reversal builds on past fights like the cancelled Northern Gateway and shows a move toward energy independence and economic priorities that now clash with earlier net‑zero commitments.

Germany Is Being Served Up on a Platter to the Far Right

Persuasion • 2240 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Energy Policy
  1. Germany's energy policies are leading to a decrease in electricity generation, impacting the economy and potentially fueling support for the far right.
  2. The transition to renewable energy sources like wind and solar in Germany has not kept up with energy demand, causing reliance on fossil fuels.
  3. The shift away from nuclear power in Germany has resulted in challenges balancing the energy grid and economic consequences, contributing to dissatisfaction and political shifts.

What Americans Really Think About Energy and Climate

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 2208 implied HN points • 09 Jul 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Policy
  1. Many Americans want a balanced approach to energy, supporting both fossil fuels and renewable sources instead of cutting fossil fuels quickly.
  2. People care more about the cost, reliability, and convenience of energy than making big changes for climate change, and they don't want to spend too much more money on it.
  3. Despite worries about climate change seen in media, many Americans stay calm about extreme weather and want to find practical energy solutions rather than being scared into change.

Biden should run on a message of abundance

Noahpinion • 16764 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Energy Policy
  1. Biden should focus on a message of abundance in his campaign, highlighting the positive state of America and his policies that have contributed to it.
  2. Biden's energy policies, including embracing cheap solar and batteries, have brought abundance and climate stability, making them a crucial part of his message.
  3. Biden should run on his economic record, emphasizing the success of Bidenomics and the booming economy during his presidency compared to historical data.

Energy Policy | Lunch Money with Paul Krugman and Heather Cox Richardson

Letters from an American • 8 implied HN points • 11 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Energy Policy
  1. Economics and politics used to be closely connected and were openly debated by politicians, editors, and everyday people.
  2. Since World War II, politicians have often disguised or misdescribed the real economic effects of policies, which has made it harder for the public to see how politics affects the economy.
  3. Clear, expert conversations can help untangle big-picture policy changes and make economic debates easier for ordinary people to follow.

Indefensible

Doomberg • 7229 implied HN points • 20 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Energy Policy
  1. Taiwan has become a key player in the global semiconductor industry, producing a significant portion of the world's chips. This makes its technology sector very important to the global economy.
  2. Taiwan struggles with energy supply, having faced numerous power outages in recent years. This energy crunch raises concerns about its ability to support its semiconductor manufacturing.
  3. The island's history and political situation with China create additional stress. If tensions rise, Taiwan's energy vulnerabilities could be exploited, impacting its manufacturing capabilities.

A demonstration at Shippingport

The Works in Progress Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 05 Mar 26
💾 History Energy Policy
  1. Admiral Hyman Rickover was the driving force behind America’s entry into nuclear power, pushing pressurized-water reactors for submarines and leading the Shippingport civilian reactor project.
  2. Shippingport was the first full-scale U.S. civilian nuclear plant built as a government-industry demonstration; it proved the technology but was costly and not yet economical, while creating much of the industrial know‑how for later reactors.
  3. Nuclear power grew out of wartime weapons programs and Cold War politics, and policy choices—like Eisenhower’s Atoms for Peace and the 1954 Atomic Energy Act—shifted development toward private industry even as concerns about safety, cost, and proliferation persisted.

Top Links 946 Gas price shock in America. Russia's Congo pipeline. High-voltage & FIFA's peace prize.

Chartbook • 357 implied HN points • 09 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Energy Policy
  1. Gas prices in the US are rising sharply, creating challenges for many people. This situation is partly due to high exports of natural gas from the country.
  2. The increased gas prices are creating pressure on political leaders, especially affecting Trump's position. Rising costs of living can lead to public dissatisfaction.
  3. Overall, the issue of soaring gas prices highlights broader global energy dynamics. It's important to understand how local prices can be influenced by international markets.

Gas Gobbler

Doomberg • 5947 implied HN points • 24 Nov 24
🌍 World Politics Energy Policy
  1. Turkey is trying to become the main hub for natural gas in Europe. They want to take advantage of the energy crisis and their strategic location.
  2. The recent election in Georgia shows a struggle between pro-Russian and pro-European forces. The results have raised questions about interference and democracy.
  3. The energy routes in this region are very important. They connect different countries and are crucial for Turkey's goals and influence over Europe's energy supply.

✨😨 How AI anxiety threatens a new age of progress

Faster, Please! • 548 implied HN points • 18 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Energy Policy
  1. AI and other technologies need public support to succeed. If people feel anxious about these innovations, they might resist them even if they could bring benefits.
  2. When problems arise with technology, a culture that embraces progress will see them as opportunities to improve instead of reasons to pull back.
  3. It's important for society to have a positive view of the future. If we focus too much on fears, we might miss out on the benefits of new advancements.

How to Close Europe’s 15-Million Heat Pump Gap - One 1m² Borehole at a Time

The Green Techpreneur • 24 implied HN points • 20 Feb 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Policy
  1. An ultra‑compact hydraulic impact drill with a 1 m² footprint can replace heavy rigs and leave the drill pipe in place to act as the heat‑exchange casing, making residential geothermal installs far less disruptive.
  2. By cutting cost, site damage and specialised crew needs, this approach can make ground‑source heat pumps affordable for dense cities and single‑family retrofits, addressing a projected 15‑million unit gap in Europe.
  3. The company already holds patents, has early LOIs, is at TRL 5 and is raising €500K to finish full‑scale prototypes and pilots, with a sales plus leasing plan to scale adoption.

Hebei’s Villages Are Freezing

Pekingnology • 211 implied HN points • 09 Jan 26
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Policy
  1. Many rural households near Beijing are cutting or avoiding gas and electric heating because government subsidies have fallen, making bills unaffordable and leaving people cold.
  2. Strict bans and enforcement on burning dispersed coal prevent an easy return to cheaper fuel, so villagers rely on quilts, sun-warming, firewood, or secretly bought coal to get by, highlighting a clash between pollution control and basic needs.
  3. Experts say the sustainable solution is better-targeted subsidies, timely payments, stronger home insulation, and wider use of heat pumps or mixed clean-energy options, but high upfront costs and local fiscal limits make implementation difficult.

February 18, 2026

Letters from an American • 40 implied HN points • 19 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Energy Policy
  1. Federal actions have directly hurt Illinois residents and the state budget. Money was withheld, tariffs and cuts raised costs for families and farmers, and unaccountable federal agents created chaos in Chicago.
  2. The state has countered with steady, progressive policies to help people and grow the economy. Illinois balanced its budget, erased $1 billion in medical debt, and plans to lower housing, electricity, and healthcare costs.
  3. Community love and everyday acts of courage are framed as the best defense against authoritarianism. Neighbors protecting immigrants, supporting small vendors, and standing up for one another show that empathy and civic action matter more than slogans.

Nuclear Power Needs Realism And Freedom

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 23 implied HN points • 01 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Energy Policy
  1. Nuclear power in the U.S. has relied on heavy federal support and strict regulation, which helped cause uncompleted projects, big cost overruns, and made it an expensive way to produce electricity without subsidies.
  2. New reactor promises, including Small Modular Reactors, are getting a lot of hype but carry unclear risks and contractual fine print, so their timeliness and cost performance should be questioned.
  3. The proposed policy approach is to end federal subsidies and insurance, shift to private insurance and industry best practices, and make plant owners responsible for waste and decommissioning so the market can decide competitiveness.

Breaking the Global Warming Gridlock

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1540 implied HN points • 15 Jul 25
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Policy
  1. Focusing only on reducing greenhouse gas emissions isn't enough to tackle climate issues. We need to look at other ways to manage and adapt to environmental changes.
  2. A clear division in how climate change is viewed causes political gridlock. Different groups have opposing views which makes finding common ground hard.
  3. Helping people adapt to the effects of climate change can actually support efforts to reduce emissions. We should aim to do both, rather than just one or the other.

Cheerleading is Dumb Energy Policy

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1668 implied HN points • 01 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Energy Policy
  1. Most Americans care more about energy costs and availability than cheerleading for specific energy types. They prefer practical approaches to energy policy.
  2. A majority of Americans support an 'all of the above' energy strategy. This means they want a mix of energy sources instead of choosing only one type.
  3. Solar energy is the most popular among energy sources, but people have mixed feelings about coal, wind, and nuclear. There’s strong bipartisan support for a balanced energy policy.

On Democracy, Liberated Energy, and the Perfect Moment

The Crucial Years • 1863 implied HN points • 13 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Energy Policy
  1. Now is a key moment to push back against authoritarianism. Protests like No Kings Day give people a chance to stand up for their rights peacefully.
  2. Clean energy is essential for reducing reliance on fossil fuels, which often lead to concentrated wealth and power. Harnessing solar energy can be a more democratic and accessible option.
  3. Big corporations are pulling back on climate promises, highlighting that we can't rely on them to save the planet. Communities need to take action and build sustainable solutions themselves.