Energy News Beat Podcast

The good news that I told my wife is that we have enough money in the bank to make it to next year. Well, now that it is New Year's Eve, that joke can be funny for about 15 more minutes. Michael and I would love to give all of our listeners, watchers, patrons, and our 2025 Energy News Beat Stand-up sponsor, Steve Reese at Reese Energy Consulting. Without your support, we would not have achieved the significant numbers we reached this year.I would also like to thank all the great guests who have been on the podcast, both on the Stand Up, like David Blackmon, and in our Conversations in Energy group of industry leaders! We are working on a few projects and new things for next year to help improve and keep growing in knowledge and capabilities.It was also very cool to reach the number 3 spot in the world for Energy Podcasts on FeedSpot. Some Key Quotes From the Podcast1. “On average, blue states pay 37% more for electricity than red states. The disparity stems from differing energy policy approaches - net zero versus practicality.” - Stu Turley2. “Policies plus location, you can’t overcome either one of those.” - Michael Tanner3. “The Republicans cannot win the war of our articulation. We will lose in the midterms because the Democrats are going to go after affordability.” - Stu Turley4. “I think we have done the business a slight disservice by focusing not on true exploration and true growth of resources, but how to financially maximize the resources that we have in front of them.” - Michael Tanner5. “Someone is going to make a lot of money handling water specifically in the Permian Basin. The Bakken. There are two places where we’ve seen water-oil ratio skyrocket.” - Michael Tanner6. “If this becomes like the fiber build out of 2000, where we built all of this fiber and nobody used it for five years, natural gas is going to get absolutely pounded and is going to continue to be the widow maker until this stuff figures out.” - Michael TannerStories Covered On the Podcast1.What Should Consumers and Investors Look for in Energy in 2026? Trends will continue of people moving to Red States due to Affordability2.Five Energy Market Trends to Track in 2026: The Year of the So-Called Glut3.California State Auditor Uncovers $70 Billion in Lost Taxpayer Funds: Mismanagement Hits Energy, Social Programs, and Infrastructure4.Offshore pipeline closure risk: the hidden threat to GB energy security5.Saudi Arabia Taking 2026 Energy Leadership Seriously

In this episode of Energy Newsbeat – Conversations in Energy, host Stu Turley sits down with Adam Ferrari, CEO of Phoenix Energy, to talk about “American oil” in action—from drilling record-setting four-mile laterals in the Bakken and delivering strong well economics even at $60 oil, to Phoenix’s transparent, yield-focused model that lets everyday investors track real production and returns. Adam shares how Phoenix grew from a small, scrappy mineral-buying team into a 40,000 BOPD operator with ambitions to reach 100,000 BOPD, why long laterals and nimble engineering are key in a soft price environment, and how global capital increasingly sees U.S. barrels as the safest bet for energy security. The conversation also hits on U.S. energy dominance, the role of private mineral ownership, permitting and policy challenges in places like California, and Adam’s broader mission to change public perception of oil and gas as an essential, long-term partner in affordable, reliable energy.Check out Phoenix Energy here: https://phoenixenergy.com/Highlights of the Podcast 00:00 - Intro00:33 – Record 4-Mile Bakken Laterals02:11 – Economics of Longer Laterals04:06 – Bakken Oil vs Gas Mix04:38 – How Phoenix Energy Started07:51 – Foreign Capital & Energy Security10:00 – Oil & Gas vs Wind/Solar Returns12:07 – Peak Oil Demand Pushed Out14:35 – Oil Value & Phoenix at 40k BOPD16:24 – Phoenix’s Transparency Strategy18:36 – Path to 100k BOPD + Powder River21:18 – Engineering Innovations22:53 – North Slope & Global Supply23:58 – California Policy & Mike Umbro26:40 – Private Ownership & U.S. Advantage30:09 – Operating & Living in California35:19 – Politics & Blue-Collar Energy Jobs36:17 – Would Phoenix Drill in California?37:56 – 2025–2026 Outlook38:58 – Final Thoughts & MissionCheck out the ENB Substack https://theenergynewsbeat.substack.com/And the ENB Website: https://energynewsbeat.co/

In this episode of Energy Newsbeat – Conversations in Energy, host Stu Turley sits down with Dr. Gene Nelson of Californians for Green Nuclear Power and the “Green Nuke” Substack to unpack how anti-nuclear ideology and California’s Public Utilities Commission are ignoring basic physics and economics. Dr. Nelson explains why overreliance on solar, wind, and batteries makes grids brittle—citing the April 28 blackout in Spain and idle nuclear plants taxed to prop up renewables—while nuclear delivers cheap, reliable, 24/7 power with strong safety records and massive “synchronous inertia” for heavy loads like California’s water system.They dig into Diablo Canyon’s real-world performance and safety culture, debunk nuclear fearmongering, highlight the hidden costs, land use, waste, and subsidies behind wind and solar, and connect these policies to deindustrialization in places like Germany and California. Throughout, Dr. Nelson shares his on-the-ground advocacy, from farmers’ markets to PUC hearings, arguing that embracing nuclear is essential for energy reliability, national security, and an honest path forward on emissions.Due to Gavin Newsom’s energy policies, California and the entire West Coast of the United States are facing one of the most significant national security threats you can experience. And that is an energy crisis on a self-imposed path of Net Zero and the elimination of nuclear and fossil fuels. Well, they wanted to take atomic power down with those same policies, and it just does not make sense to shut down the other nuclear reactors in the name of clean energy.As for the war on fossil fuels, they executed that war too well, and they got what they wanted, only to see the oil companies go out of business or leave the West Coast. Now Californians will have to import more than 70% of their oil, including gasoline and diesel. And there will be more tankers off the California coast, causing ecological damage and potential accidents.Dr. Gene Nelson brings up some critical points about wind and solar power. It is based upon facts and physics. When driving on the highway vs. stop-and-go traffic, you use less gasoline and emit less. Well, the same thing applies to wind and solar on the grid: trying to put DC power from wind and solar into AC systems.Thank you, Dr. Nelson, for your dedication to nuclear and clean power for California and the United States. I truly appreciate your efforts and your insights on this critical topic for California. - Stu Highlights of the Podcast00:00 - Intro1:24 – CPUC Issues and Bureaucratic Problems4:24 – “We Don’t Need No Stinking Physics” Moment6:50 – Spain–Portugal Blackout Explained7:52 – Why Spain Idled Its Nuclear Plants8:53 – Germany’s Nuclear Exit & Economic Decline9:53 – Three Mile Island Reality vs Fear10:49 – Nuclear Training, Simulators & Safety Culture13:22 – Diablo Canyon Outage & Operator Preparedness15:07 – Dr. Nelson’s Car Accident Story16:40 – The Origin of the Green Headband19:27 – Net Zero Myths & Real Grid Costs21:57 – Solar, Wind & True LCOE+ Costs22:59 – China’s Nuclear Expansion & Global Energy Shift23:25 – Understanding Grid Inertia & Reliability25:11 – California’s Massive Water Pumps & Power Needs27:24 – How Renewables Raise Emissions & Wear Out Engines29:18 – Inside Diablo Canyon: Turbines & Control Room31:15 – Earthquake Simulation & Real-World Plant Response32:27 – Why Diablo Canyon Is Built Like a Fortress34:15 – Microreactors, New Fuel & Nuclear Innovation37:32 – Nuclear Safety Compared to Wind Turbine Risks39:03 – Land Use Problems: Solar & Wind Footprint41:22 – Subsidies, Repowering & Hidden Costs43:13 – Solar Waste, Toxic Panels & Recycling Issues45:59 – EVs Powered Mostly by Fossil Fuels47:22 – Imported Jet Fuel & “Green” Policy Contradictions48:55 – Sinopec Dependence & Energy Security50:03 – PUC Regulatory Capture & High Power Costs52:04 – Media Narratives vs Energy Reality53:21 – How to Contact Dr. Nelson & Support CGNP57:42 – California’s Energy Crisis & National Security58:56 – Final Thoughts, Thanks & OutroWe recommend subscribing to Dr. Nelson's GreenNuke Substack. https://greennuke.substack.com/Full transcript on https://energynewsbeat.co/Check out other discussions on https://theenergynewsbeat.substack.com/

Michael and I would like to take a moment and thank all of our great Subscribers and patrons this year. It has been a wildly successful growth year in listens, watches, and articles read, and we are truly blessed to see it. We are striving to improve and keep growing with some different things rolling out next year.While the cancellation is under review with the Department of War for national security risks, I think that if science is applied, it will be an easy ruling. So after reading about these cancellations, I wanted to see who would be impacted by the company and how consumers would be impacted. This will be an ongoing story as it unfolds, but the high utility costs will be passed on to consumers. And make no mistake, the Democrats will use this to their advantage, and Republicans won’t do anything.President Trump and Secretaries Doug Burgum and Chris Wright are running down the road trying to do the right thing for the American People. The costs associated with the project are going to be huge, and when the Democrats start ripping President Trump over this, remember the Billions of dollars and the crippling of the economy that Obama, Biden, and the governors of Democratic states cost the US citizens by their overreach and Net Zero enforcement of horrific policies. The main topics discussed1. The Trump administration's cancellation of several major offshore wind projects in the U.S. due to national security concerns. The projects mentioned include Vineyard Wind One, Revolution Wind, Sunrise Wind, Coastal Virginia Wind Offshore, and Empire Wind.2. The potential impact of these project cancellations on companies involved, such as Dominion Energy, GE Vernova, Orsted, and Equinor. The transcript discusses the financial performance and stock price movements of these companies.3. The debate around the definition of "green energy" and the challenges of integrating renewable energy sources like wind and solar into the power grid, including issues around transmission, costs, and reliability.4. The delay or cancellation of the retirement of some fossil fuel power plants in the U.S. in response to increasing electricity demand, particularly from the growth of AI and data centers.5. The global oil market dynamics, including the "oil glut" with a large number of oil tankers at sea, the impact of sanctions on major producers like Russia and Venezuela, and discussions around OPEC's role in oil price determination.6. The overall commentary on the state of the energy industry, policy debates, and Stu's perspectives on the various topics covered.1.All Large Scale Offshore Wind Projects Under Construction Suspended Due to National Security Concerns2.Virginia-based Utility Dominion Energy May Be Hit as Investors Eye This Week’s Offshore Wind Cancellations3.GE Vernova Inc: Supplier to Vineyard Wind, Looking at Its Books After This Week’s Trump Administration Cancellation of Projects4.U.S. Fossil-Fuel Power Plants Delay Retirement as AI Power Demand Soars5.Oil Glut and Surging Barrels at Sea Have Spooked Oil Traders and the Market, but Is This Market Dysfunction Rather Than a Glut?6.U.S. Department of Energy to Return $13 Billion to the Treasury and a clear definition of green energy is needed.Feel Free to use this as an excuse to not hang out with your in-laws if you need to over the holidays. We may be more fun. Check out the Energy News Beat Substack: https://theenergynewsbeat.substack.com/Check out the Energy News Beat Website: https://energynewsbeat.co/Also, if you need to calculate your tax burden, check out the tax calculator here https://energynewsbeat.co/invest/Merry Christmas to all, and thank you to all of our great followers, subscribers, and patrons.Check out Reese Energy Consulting, Sponsor of the Energy News Beat, Stand Up https://reeseenergyconsulting.com/

Gavin Newsom's California is a travesty for energy policies, and we can see yet another hit to consumers. The Utility companies are now limited in the profits they can make to rebuild the grid. That will SQUASH investment and get more companies to leave California, and take the jobs with them out of the State. As companies shut down and cut jobs, they also cut tax revenue, and that is going to make the financial crisis brought on by Gavin even worse.His Energy Policies have now become a complete national security risk for the western half of the United States. When you consider the corruption, graft, and greed exemplified during Gavin Newsom's Governorship, it won't be easy to rebuild California after he leaves office.1. The energy policies and challenges in California, particularly the regulation of utility profits and the impact on energy reliability.Michael Tanner and Stuart Turley discuss how California's approach to regulating energy providers like PG&E and Edison differs from other states, leading to issues with grid investment and energy reliability. They contrast California's "top-down" policies with a more collaborative approach in different states.2. The geopolitical tensions and sanctions related to Venezuela and Russia.The hosts discuss the Trump administration's actions to intercept oil tankers related to Venezuela, and the potential motivations behind these moves, such as regime change, protecting Gulf Coast refinery interests, and impacting Russia's war in Ukraine.3. The potential of nuclear fusion as an energy source, and its connection to Trump's media company.Stuart Turley discusses the promise of nuclear fusion technology and how Trump's media company, Truth Social, may be involved in developing or licensing fusion-related patents.4. The outlook for the oil and gas industry based on the Dallas Fed survey.Time Stamps00:16 California Cuts PG&E and Edison's profits for grid improvement.03:47 California's Corruption exposed by Katy Grimes at the California Globe08:17 Oil and Venezuela's impact on global markets11:06 Sanctions through Drone strikes13:31 Fusion and President Trump may be a great investment for humanityWe cover key insights from the Dallas Fed's survey of oil and gas executives, including their price expectations, activity levels, and concerns about a potential market oversupply. Is there a glut, or is the glut simply misunderstood, or is the market recalibrating to a new method? You will want to see our Doomberg interview in January.1.California Cuts PG&E’s and Edison’s Profits for Grid Investments: Gavin Newsom’s California Poses a National Security Risk Due to Flawed Energy Policies2.San Francisco Crippled by Widespread Power Outages on Busy Holiday Shopping Weekend3.Trump Administration Intercepts a Second Tanker in Venezuela Oil Tanker Blockade4.Sanctions through Drone Strikes now in the Mediterranean5.Why Fusion Is Considered Energy’s Holy Grail, and how President Trump’s media company is betting on a breakthrough6.Lingering pessimism, uncertainty further weigh on oil and gas activity – Dallas Fed7.US Oil Drillers Drop 6 Rigs This Week According to Baker Hughes: What Is the Impact to Consumers and Investors?Check out our sponsor, Reese Energy Consulting https://reeseenergyconsulting.com/Check out our website https://energynewsbeat.co/Check out the Energy News Beat Substack https://theenergynewsbeat.substack.com/Questions on Investing in Oil https://energynewsbeat.co/invest/