Plugged In

#42 Currents: An Energy Update (Winter Storm Fern) Links: Winter Storm Wrecks Power Lines as Hundreds of Thousands are Still Without Power: https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/fossil-fuels/winter-storm-wrecks-power-lines-as-hundreds-of-thousands-are-still-without-power/

#41 Currents: An Energy Update (How Much Capacity Do We Really Have?) Links: Watt, Me Worry? Record-Setting "Capacity" Can't Keep the Lights On: https://energybadboys.substack.com/p/watt-me-worry-record-setting-capacity Money to ‘Decarbonize’ as Useless as Gym Memberships and Extended Warranties: https://www.realclearenergy.org/articles/2026/01/22/money_to_decarbonize_as_useless_as_gym_memberships_and_extended_warranties_1160361.html What Can Aid Do?: https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/serials/files/cato-journal/2009/11/cj29n3-2.pdf

Currents is a weekly show produced by the Institute for Energy Research (IER) that recaps the latest news from the world of energy and research from IER. On this episode the team is joined by Alex Stevens, IER's Manager of Policy and Communications, and Caleb Jasso, IER's Senior Policy Advisor, to discuss the recently published 2026 Environmental Quality Index. Links: https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/fossil-fuels/2026-environmental-quality-index/https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2026-Environmental-Quailty-Index-Report-IER-.pdf

#39 Currents: An Energy Update (Venezuela and Ivanpah) Links: Can Venezuela’s Broken Oil Industry Be Rebuilt?: https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/international-issues/trump-wants-to-rebuild-venezuelas-broken-oil-industry/ Ivanpah Solar Plant Remains Open, Despite Costing Ratepayers Money: https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/renewable/ivanpah-solar-plant-remains-open-despite-costing-ratepayers-money/

#38 Currents: An Energy Update (Year In Review) Thank you for listening to Currents this year. Happy holidays and we look forward to the new year!

#37 Currents: An Energy Update (12/15/25-12/19/25) Links: Greenwashing With Chinese Characteristics: https://www.breakthroughjournal.org/p/greenwashing-with-chinese-characteristics

#36 Currents: An Energy Update (12/8/25-12/12/25) Links: How a major DOE report hides the whole truth on climate change: https://www.politico.com/interactives/2025/chris-wright-doe-climate-change-report/?source=email Politico’s failed critique of DOE’s climate science report – who’s misleading on hurricanes?: https://cei.org/blog/politicos-failed-critique-of-does-climate-science-report-whos-misleading-on-hurricanes/ A Huge Retraction, the Usual Playbook, and Reason for Optimism: https://rogerpielkejr.substack.com/p/a-huge-retraction-the-usual-playbook

#35 Currents: An Energy Update (12/1/25-12/5/25) Links: Gasoline Prices Are Generally Lower in Red States: https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/fossil-fuels/gas-and-oil/gasoline-prices-are-generally-lower-in-red-states/ Giving Thanks for Freedom and Energy: https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/fossil-fuels/giving-thanks-for-freedom-and-energy/

#34 Currents: An Energy Update (11/24/25-11/28/25) Links: Rising Electricity Prices: The Missing Link: https://www.realclearenergy.org/articles/2025/11/20/rising_electricity_prices_the_missing_link_1148513.html SAMUEL PETERSON: Human Prosperity, Carbon Taxes, And The UN: https://dailycaller.com/2025/11/17/opinion-human-prosperity-carbon-taxes-and-the-un-samuel-peterson/

#33 Currents: An Energy Update: (11/17/25-11/21/25) Links: The IEA Makes a Major Change to Its World Energy Outlook: https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/fossil-fuels/the-iea-makes-a-major-change-to-its-world-energy-outlook/ EU conservatives vote with far right to approve cuts to green rules: https://www.politico.eu/article/epp-votes-with-far-right-to-approve-cuts-to-green-rules/

#32 Currents: An Energy Update (11/10/25-11/14/25) Links: Nuclear, Big and Small: https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/dispatch-energy/nuclear-energy-small-reactors-commercialization/ Only 3% of international climate aid going to transitioning communities, says NGO report: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/nov/03/international-climate-aid-just-transition Militarized climate planning: what is left?: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11138-024-00652-4

#31 Currents: An Energy Update (11/3/25-11/7/25) Links: Low-Energy Fridays: Why don’t we have electric airplanes?: https://www.rstreet.org/commentary/low-energy-fridays-why-dont-we-have-electric-airplanes/ As NW faces rolling blackouts, study says renewable energy may not be enough: https://www.opb.org/article/2025/10/30/renewable-energy-oregon-washington-power-electrical-grid/

#30 Currents: An Energy Update (10/27/25-10/31/25) Links: The Managerial Tyranny of Boomer Environmentalism: https://lawliberty.org/forum/the-managerial-tyranny-of-boomer-environmentalism/ Michigan yanks incentives for controversial EV battery plant: https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5569742-michigan-ev-battery-plant/

#29 Currents: An Energy Update (10/20/25-10/24/25) Links: Trump Administration Rejects the U.N. Global Shipping Carbon Tax: https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/international-issues/trump-administration-rejects-the-u-n-global-shipping-carbon-tax/ GM to take $1.6 billion charge related to EV pullback: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/14/gm-to-take-1point6-billion-charge-related-to-ev-pullback.html

#28 Currents: An Energy Update (10/13/25-10/17/25) Links: Trump’s Energy Department Invests 5% in Lithium Assets: https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/international-issues/trumps-energy-department-invests-5-in-lithium-assets/ In Debate Over Solar Energy, Don’t Cancel Property Rights for Farmers: https://www.realclearenergy.org/articles/2025/10/09/in_debate_over_solar_energy_dont_cancel_property_rights_for_farmers_1140021.html

#126: William Rampe on the Antiquities Act (10/14/25) Links: Policy Brief: Evaluating the Antiquities Act of 1906: https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/regulation/policy-brief-evaluating-the-antiquities-act-of-1906/ To Permanently Unleash our Federal Lands, Congress Must Reform the Antiquities Act: https://www.realclearenergy.org/articles/2025/09/30/to_permanently_unleash_our_federal_lands_congress_must_reform_the_antiquities_act_1138134.html

Currents is a weekly show produced by the Institute for Energy Research (IER) that recaps the latest news from the world of energy and research from IER. Policy Brief: Evaluating the Antiquities Act of 1906The Desert Southwest Pipeline Expansion: A Strategic Move for Energy Reliability and Economic Growth

#26 Currents: An Energy Update (9/29/25-10/3/25) Links: Saving Killer Whales Without Sinking Trade: https://perc.org/2025/09/25/saving-killer-whales-without-sinking-trade/ FULL SPEECH: Trump addresses United Nations General Assembly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLoxCqc3Tro

#25 Currents: An Energy Update (9/22/25-9/26/25) Links: Californian Lawmakers Issue Legislation to Control Energy Prices: https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/regulation/californian-lawmakers-issue-legislation-to-control-energy-prices/ California, the Energy Island: https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/fossil-fuels/california-the-energy-island/

#24 Currents: An Energy Updates (9/15/25-9/19/25) Links: Low-Energy Fridays: Should we care about permitting uncertainty?: https://www.rstreet.org/commentary/low-energy-fridays-should-we-care-about-permitting-uncertainty/?utm_campaign=Low-Energy Belgian Wind Project Vetoed; Global Total Of Renewable Rejections Hits 1,104: https://robertbryce.substack.com/p/belgian-wind-project-vetoed-global