Energy News Beat Podcast

We have an action-packed podcast lined up with Doomberg and Steven Wang, CEO of Jackery Americas. We will be covering the new executive order on the United States grid's transformers, supply chain, and key components. Some of these components have years-long resupply times in a disaster, and many people could be without power for considerable periods. The administration is recommending that people prepare and have safety supplies, and even short-term power supplies.

Check out Jackery Products: https://www.jackery.com/
Check out Doomberg's Substack: https://newsletter.doomberg.com/

Storms, and we have also seen 30 or more water companies attacked this year by cyber hackers. Being prepared is not just a Boy Scout motto; it is now a way of life. Many of our larger utilities are recommending that we get ready for any disaster.

1. Grid Reliability & Power Outages
The hosts emphasize that the U.S. power grid is becoming increasingly unreliable, with warnings of potential rolling blackouts. A critical incident in July 2022 in Northern Virginia affected 3% of PJM's peak load, and there are concerns about cyber attacks on utilities (Iran recently targeted 30 utilities). The grid is running with less margin for error than previously.

2. Exponential Demand Growth from Data Centers & AI
There's a dramatic shift from decades of stagnant demand to explosive growth driven by data centers and AI infrastructure. This "lumpy demand" is straining the grid in unexpected ways, requiring new solutions beyond traditional grid expansion.

3. Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) & Home Battery Systems
The discussion centers on how residential battery systems (like Jackery) can serve dual purposes: personal emergency backup and grid support. Plug-in solar and battery systems are becoming more accessible, lowering barriers to entry for consumers and apartments.

4. Battery Technology & Supply Chain
Topics include:

Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) as the current standard
Emerging sodium-ion batteries (safer, better cold performance, lower cost, but lower energy density)
Supply chain concentration and the need for cost reduction
Manufacturing localization in response to Trump's executive orders
5. Trump's Emergency Declaration & Manufacturing
The administration's focus on onshoring transformer and inverter manufacturing to address critical shortages. There's a 2-3 year wait for transformers and 5-year wait for large natural gas generators—creating vulnerability if major infrastructure fails.

6. Energy Independence & Personal Preparedness
Emphasis on individual preparedness through home battery systems, solar panels, and backup generators. The philosophy that grid reliability starts at home, with consumers taking agency over their own power supply.

7. Pricing & Grid Economics
Discussion about how current pricing structures favor wind and solar while penalizing natural gas and coal, without accounting for grid resiliency and storage costs. The need to shift from "Levelized Cost of Electricity" (LCOE) to metrics that value reliability.

8. Regional Differences: U.S. vs. EU Markets
European markets favor smaller, apartment-friendly systems (1-2 kWh), while U.S. demand is for larger capacity (3+ kWh) due to larger homes and greater energy needs.

At Energy News Beat, we Make Appendices Great Again.

At Energy News Beat, we Make Appendices Great Again.
Check out the World's Greatest Podcast Show Notes at EnergyNewsBeat.co or EnergyNewsBeat.com, and the Energy News Beat Substack at: https://theenergynewsbeat.substack.com/

A shout-out to Steve Reese and the Reese Energy Consulting group for sponsoring the Podcast https://reeseenergyconsulting.com/.

Data2 if you have any business systems, can you trust A? Well, they have the patent on validation. . https://data2.zoholandingpage.com/energy

And we have WellDatabase rolling, and we use their tools for the Energy News Beat weekly Rig Reports: https://welldatabase.com/

Also entering Sponsor Rey Trevino, Pecos Operating https://pecos.energy/

In this episode of the Energy News Beat Podcast, host Stu Turley sits down with Jon Brewton, CEO and Founder of Data2, and Kyle Koss, President of ATCO Ventures, to explore a critical challenge facing the AI revolution: infrastructure. As artificial intelligence demand skyrockets—with projections suggesting a 5,000% increase in compute requirements over the next five years—traditional mega data centers are hitting a wall.

The solution? ATCO Edgeworks, a groundbreaking modular edge computing platform that brings AI infrastructure closer to power sources rather than centralizing it in massive facilities. This conversation delves into how distributed, modular data centers can democratize AI access for mid-sized companies, solve environmental and community concerns, and create a more resilient computing landscape.

With insights into explainable AI, military applications, and real-world use cases from the energy sector, this episode reveals why the future of AI infrastructure isn't about building bigger—it's about building smarter and closer to home.

Connect with Kyle on his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-koss-3bbb1927/
Check out ATCO here: https://www.atco.com/en-ca.html

Connect with Jon on his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-brewton-datasquared/
Data 2 website: https://www.data2.ai/

1. Distributed Edge Computing InfrastructureThe core focus is on ATCO Edgeworks, a modular data center solution designed to bring compute closer to power sources rather than centralizing it. This addresses the massive infrastructure bottleneck created by AI demand, which requires enormous capital investments and long lead times (3-5 years) for traditional mega data centers.
2. AI Infrastructure Bottleneck & Power ConstraintsThe guests discuss how AI demand is exploding exponentially, with Goldman Sachs projecting a 5,000% increase in compute demand over the next half decade. The challenge isn't just computing power—it's the massive power requirements, capital commitments, and infrastructure constraints that only a handful of mega-companies can afford.
3. Democratizing AI AccessA key theme is making AI infrastructure accessible to mid-tier companies (the "mom and pop" oil and gas operators) who can't afford billion-dollar data center commitments. Edgeworks enables smaller organizations to deploy AI capabilities without massive upfront capital or 15-20 year power contracts.
4. Environmental & Community Impact (NIMBY Solutions)The discussion addresses concerns about data centers' environmental footprint—water usage, cooling requirements, power grid strain, and community opposition. Modular edge computing reduces these impacts by distributing load across smaller, localized units rather than massive centralized facilities.
5. Data2's Explainable AI & Trust LayerJon Brewton emphasizes the importance of AI validation and explainability. His company Data2 has patented technology that adds a "trust layer" to AI systems, making decisions auditable and trustworthy. They cite a real example where their platform discovered $98 million in hidden fraud risk.
6. Military & Defense ApplicationsThe guests discuss edge compute's critical role in defense—portable, distributed systems that can be deployed in the field, reducing vulnerability from centralized targets and enabling real-time AI decision-making for warfighters.
7. Flexible, Modular Design BenefitsThe Edgeworks solution is built entirely on modular architecture (hardware and software), allowing customers to:
Scale up or down based on demand
Use existing power sources (natural gas, solar, flared gas)
Avoid single points of failure
Reduce unnecessary data movement
8. Real-World Use CasesExamples discussed include:
Oil and gas companies monetizing flared natural gas to power compute
Bitcoin mining operations pivoting to AI workloads
Industrial sites leveraging existing infrastructure for edge compute
Military deployment scenarios
9. Market Timing & Competitive AdvantageThe guests argue this is the right moment for distributed edge computing because: AI demand is rising exponentially, power availability is constrained, and capital requirements for centralized infrastructure are prohibitive. This creates market demand for alternative architectures.
10. Data Sovereignty & SecurityPartnerships with encryption providers (like XQ) ensure quantum-encrypted, zero-trust security—critical for government and military applications, and for protecting sensitive data in distributed environments.
The overarching narrative: Traditional mega data centers are hitting infrastructure limits. Edgeworks offers a paradigm shift by bringing compute to where power exists, enabling broader participation in AI, reducing environmental impact, and creating a more resilient, distributed compute market.

At Energy News Beat, we Make Appendices Great Again.
Check out the World's Greatest Podcast Show Notes at EnergyNewsBeat.co or EnergyNewsBeat.com, and the Energy News Beat Substack at: https://theenergynewsbeat.substack.com/

A shout-out to Steve Reese and the Reese Energy Consulting group for sponsoring the Podcast https://reeseenergyconsulting.com/.

Data2 if you have any business systems, can you trust A? Well, they have the patent on validation. . https://data2.zoholandingpage.com/energy

And we have WellDatabase rolling, and we use their tools for the Energy News Beat weekly Rig Reports: https://welldatabase.com/

Also entering Sponsor Rey Trevino, Pecos Operating https://pecos.energy/

The Jones Act: America's Self-Inflicted Economic WoundIn this episode of the Energy Newsbeat Podcast, hosts Stu Turley and David Blackmon sit down with Colin Grabow, Associate Director of the Cato Institute's Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies, to examine one of America's most counterintuitive and costly laws: the Jones Act. Enacted in 1920 as the Merchant Marine Act, this legislation requires all goods transported by water within U.S. borders to use American-flagged, American-built, and American-crewed vessels. What was intended as a national security measure has instead become an economic anchor, artificially inflating shipping costs and forcing states to import energy from overseas rather than from nearby domestic sources. With the Trump administration's recent suspension of the Jones Act, Grabow presents compelling data showing that in just six months, more energy has been shipped domestically than in any single year over the past 25 years—a real-world experiment that validates decades of economic arguments against the law. The conversation reveals a troubling paradox: while the U.S. claims the Jones Act protects national security, American ships are regularly sent to Chinese shipyards for repairs, and the law has shrunk the merchant marine fleet from 257 ships in 1980 to just 92 today. Through concrete examples ranging from California's refinery crisis to Puerto Rico's energy shortages, this episode exposes how protectionist policies meant to help American workers and shipyards have instead harmed consumers, reduced economic efficiency, and undermined the very security they claim to protect.

Check out the Cato Institute Jones Act Tracker: https://www.cato.org/jones-act-waiver-tracker#key-findings

Connect with Colin Grabow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colingrabow/

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

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

1. The Jones Act: Definition & OverviewThe podcast opens by explaining the Jones Act (Section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920), which requires that goods transported by water within the U.S. must use vessels that are U.S.-flagged, U.S.-built, at least 75% American-owned, and crewed by Americans. This foundational explanation sets up the entire discussion.
2. Impact of the Jones Act Waiver on Energy SupplyA major focus is the Trump administration's suspension of the Jones Act, which has dramatically increased domestic energy shipments:
California's refinery crisis: With refineries shutting down, the waiver enabled tankers to transport crude oil from Gulf Coast refineries through the Panama Canal to California—preventing a major supply crisis
Record-breaking shipments: In just 6 months, more crude oil, gasoline, and jet fuel were shipped than in any single year over the past 25 years
Cost savings: The waiver has saved consumers millions by enabling efficient domestic shipping
3. Economic Inefficiency & Cost to ConsumersThe hosts discuss how the Jones Act artificially inflates shipping costs:
U.S.-built tankers cost $210-240 million vs. $52-53 million in Asia
Operating costs for U.S. ships are $8.5 million more per year than foreign-flagged vessels
This forces states like California and New England to import energy from overseas rather than from nearby U.S. sources
4. National Security ParadoxesThe conversation highlights contradictions in the national security argument:
The U.S. exports LNG globally but can't ship it domestically to states like New York and Massachusetts
Puerto Rico and Hawaii are forced to import energy from foreign sources despite U.S. production capacity
U.S. military builds warships in allied countries (Turkey, Japan, South Korea, Finland), yet commercial ships must be U.S.-built
American ships are regularly sent to Chinese shipyards for repairs and maintenance
5. Merchant Marine Fleet DeclineColin Grabow presents data showing the Jones Act has failed to maintain a robust U.S. shipping fleet:
The fleet has shrunk from 257 ships in 1980 to just 92 today
U.S. shipyards produce only 2.6 ships per year on average vs. 40+ per year in South Korea
The law hasn't created jobs—it's reduced them
6. Regional Energy Crises & SolutionsThe waiver has addressed multiple regional energy shortages:
California: 8+ million barrels of crude, 2.4 million barrels of diesel, 1.8 million barrels of jet fuel
Puerto Rico: Record propane shipments (2.89 million barrels in 6 months vs. historical averages)
New England: LNG and propane imports that were previously impossible
Mid-Atlantic: 12 million barrels of crude shipped to refineries
7. Political & Lobbying ObstaclesThe hosts discuss why the Jones Act persists despite its costs:
Concentrated benefits vs. dispersed costs: Shipyard owners and operators lobby heavily to maintain the law, while consumers bear the costs
Congressional gridlock: Previous reform efforts (2006-2007) failed despite support from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and API
State interests: Louisiana opposes changes due to port economy dependence
8. Hypocrisy & ContradictionsThe podcast highlights the absurdity of current policy:
Refineries in New York were buying Russian oil because it was cheaper than Texas oil due to Jones Act shipping costs
The U.S. is the world's leading LNG exporter but can't ship it domestically
Companies advocating for the Jones Act for "national security" send their ships to China for repairs
9. Potential Solutions & ReformColin Grabow proposes incremental reforms:
Allow Americans to buy foreign-built ships (aligning with policy for airlines and trucking)
Restrict to allied shipyards (NATO countries, Japan, South Korea)
Implement a second registry (like Norway's international registry)
Use direct subsidies instead of protectionism for national security needs
10. Data-Driven Evidence & Future ResearchThe Cato Institute's Jones Act Waiver Tracker provides concrete evidence:
241 voyages, 190 unique vessels, 65 million barrels shipped
Plans to update 2018 and 2019 research papers on the Jones Act's economic and national security impacts
The waiver serves as a real-world experiment validating free-market predictions
Overall Theme: The podcast argues that the Jones Act is a self-inflicted economic wound that harms consumers, reduces shipping efficiency, contradicts national security claims, and fails to maintain a competitive merchant marine—and that the current waiver proves reform is both necessary and beneficial.

At Energy News Beat, we Make Appendices Great Again.
Check out the World's Greatest Podcast Show Notes at EnergyNewsBeat.co or EnergyNewsBeat.com, and the Energy News Beat Substack at: https://theenergynewsbeat.substack.com/

A shout-out to Steve Reese and the Reese Energy Consulting group for sponsoring the Podcast https://reeseenergyconsulting.com/.

Data2 if you have any business systems, can you trust A? Well, they have the patent on validation. . https://data2.zoholandingpage.com/energy

And we have WellDatabase rolling, and we use their tools for the Energy News Beat weekly Rig Reports: https://welldatabase.com/

Also entering Sponsor Rey Trevino, Pecos Operating https://pecos.energy/

In a wide-ranging discussion that cuts through the noise of energy policy debates, three industry experts—Joe Leather (HSE Professional and Offshore Wind & Oil Podcast Host), Mark LaCour (Oil and Gas Expert and OGGN Editor-in-Chief), and Stu Turley (Energy News Beat Podcast Host)—tackle the contradictions, crises, and misconceptions shaping global energy markets. From record-breaking diesel prices in Scotland to California's paradoxical reliance on Russian crude despite abundant local reserves, this conversation exposes how political ideology disconnected from scientific reality is creating energy poverty, environmental hypocrisy, and geopolitical vulnerability. Rather than debating whether the world needs an energy transition, these experts argue for an "energy addition"—acknowledging that global demand will only grow while infrastructure, grid capacity, and rational policy lag dangerously behind. Their discussion reveals uncomfortable truths about net-zero politics, the aging infrastructure crisis, and why the solutions being implemented often make problems worse, not better. Yet amid the frustration, there's cautious optimism: technology is advancing rapidly, younger generations view energy differently, and the world may finally be waking up to what pragmatism demands.

Check out Mark LaCour on The Great Oil Network OGGN https://oggn.com/

Check out Joe Leather on his Great podcast https://windwavesandwells.com/

1. Global Diesel Shortage CrisisThe hosts discuss the worldwide diesel shortage affecting prices dramatically—Joe paid £1.84 per liter (approximately $12.77/gallon) in Scotland. They explain this is caused by:
Refinery turnaround season in the US
Increased global demand for diesel
Limited crude oil supply due to Strait of Hormuz tensions
Refineries prioritizing jet fuel production over diesel due to higher profit margins
2. UK Refinery Capacity CollapseThe UK is losing refinery capacity due to political and net-zero policies. The hosts explain the paradox: the UK fleet switched from petrol to diesel vehicles, but environmental politics prevented refineries from retrofitting to produce more diesel, creating an oversupply of petrol and shortage of diesel.
3. Energy Politics vs. RealityA central theme is how political decisions disconnected from scientific understanding are harming energy security:
California importing Russian crude while refusing to use its own local oil reserves
New York importing LNG from the Caribbean (sourced from Russia) instead of using abundant Pennsylvania natural gas
Germany's failed renewable transition and subsequent energy poverty
4. Energy Transition vs. Energy AdditionThe hosts argue the world needs an "energy addition" (more total energy), not a transition away from hydrocarbons. They emphasize:
Growing global energy demand
The need for a diversified energy mix
Renewable infrastructure inadequacy (grid capacity, decommissioning liability)
5. Infrastructure & Grid ChallengesUK and US electrical grids are aging and insufficient for renewable integration
Data centers (Microsoft, Amazon, Meta) are driving private infrastructure investment
Interconnection projects like Canada's $6 billion line to New York are underperforming
6. Geopolitical Energy SecurityRussia using energy as a weapon (Germany's dependency on Russian gas)
Strait of Hormuz disruptions and alternative shipping routes
Ghost fleets (unseaworthy tankers) moving sanctioned Russian oil
The Jones Act limiting US domestic shipping efficiency
7. Environmental HypocrisyExamples of contradictory policies:
Burning wood pellets shipped from the US as "net-zero" fuel in the UK
Scottish wind farms requiring diesel generators to operate
Importing refined Russian oil while claiming environmental leadership
8. Technology & InnovationAI discovering missed oil reserves in mature North Sea fields
Automation reducing rig crew sizes and improving safety
New small, efficient "teapot refineries" being built at crude sources
9. Political Polarization & HopeThe hosts discuss how extreme politics on both sides harm energy policy, but express cautious optimism that moderates are finding common ground and that "the world is healing."
10. Generational Shift in PerceptionGeneration Alpha views the oil and gas industry positively—seeing it as innovative, well-paying, and cool—contrasting with their parents' anti-oil sentiment.
The overarching message: Energy security requires pragmatic, science-based policy disconnected from political ideology.

At Energy News Beat, we Make Appendices Great Again.
Check out the World's Greatest Podcast Show Notes at EnergyNewsBeat.co or EnergyNewsBeat.com, and the Energy News Beat Substack at: https://theenergynewsbeat.substack.com/

A shout-out to Steve Reese and the Reese Energy Consulting group for sponsoring the Podcast https://reeseenergyconsulting.com/.

Data2 if you have any business systems, can you trust A? Well, they have the patent on validation. . https://data2.zoholandingpage.com/energy

And we have WellDatabase rolling, and we use their tools for the Energy News Beat weekly Rig Reports: https://welldatabase.com/

Also entering Sponsor Rey Trevino, Pecos Operating https://pecos.energy/

Jack Pandelli, The Merchant’s News Substack Author and commodities trader, stops by.

The world is short of nearly everything. Shipping routes are under attack, refineries are maxed out, and energy policies have backfired. In this episode, commodities expert Jack Prandelli breaks down the "everything shortage"—the interconnected crises in oil, gas, food, and critical minerals that are reshaping geopolitics and creating the next commodity super-cycle. Discover why diesel is more valuable than crude oil, how drone warfare changed energy markets forever, and where smart investors should be looking.

I highly recommend subscribing to The Merchant's News Substack.https://themerchantsnews.substack.com/

1. Global Supply Chain Disruptions & Shipping CrisesThe podcast opens with a comprehensive discussion of how critical shipping routes and infrastructure are breaking down simultaneously. Key choke points under threat include:
Strait of Hormuz – targeted by drones
Suez Canal – Saudi vessels avoiding drone attacks
Black Sea – ports and vessels targeted by drones
Rhine River – water levels critically low due to heat, disrupting European logistics
Panama Canal – reduced traffic due to El Niño and low water levels
This creates what Jack calls an "everything shortage" affecting global commerce.
2. Oil Market Dynamics & Refinery BottlenecksWhile crude oil prices remain below $100/barrel, the real issue is in refined products. The podcast highlights:
Record-breaking diesel crack spreads (refining margins)
Diesel prices now higher than crude oil prices
Global refinery shortage (16 Russian refineries damaged, others under maintenance)
This creates inflation pressure on the broader economy
3. Energy Transition Policy FailuresJack criticizes aggressive ESG and net-zero policies in Western countries (Europe, US, UK) for:
Pushing energy transition too fast without viable alternatives
Creating energy cost disparities (California diesel at $7.80 vs. Texas at $5.05)
Leaving economies still dependent on fossil fuels while discouraging investment
Europe's particular vulnerability without Russian gas supplies
4. Geopolitical Oil & Gas CompetitionThe discussion covers strategic energy moves:
Saudi Arabia successfully pivoting to sell oil to China via alternative routes
Iran losing market share to Saudi competition
Qatar damaged (LNG facility attacked in February) and now a loser in the energy game
UAE protecting infrastructure with protective cages against drone attacks
Iraq emerging as a potential winner with US investment in pipelines
5. Canada-US Energy Relations & TariffsJack analyzes Trump's tariff strategy:
20% of Canadian goods hit with 50% tariffs, but oil and gas exempted
This shows where real power lies – the US needs Canadian heavy oil for refineries
9 out of 10 Canadian oil barrels go to the US
Canada now exploring Chinese markets but facing low volumes and unfavorable pricing
Most Canadian oil/gas infrastructure is US-owned, limiting Canadian control
6. Commodity Inflation & Investment OpportunitiesThe podcast identifies interconnected commodity pressures:
Copper shortage – data centers need metals; demand exceeds production
Diesel scarcity – affects mining, farming, and all transportation
Food crisis – Ukraine/Russia supply disruptions + El Niño in South America
Investment thesis: Companies at supply chain bottlenecks (refineries, pipeline builders, copper producers) will see gains
7. Defense & AI Sector DemandEmerging demand drivers:
Defense spending increasing due to fragmented global conflicts
AI data centers requiring massive energy (US focusing on gas, not renewables)
Both sectors driving metals and energy demand simultaneously
8. Europe's Declining PositionConcerns about Europe's future:
De-industrialization and closer ties to China
Weak energy independence without Russian gas
Slower reshoring of critical minerals compared to the US
Political instability preventing coherent energy policy
Bottom Line: The podcast paints a picture of a world facing simultaneous supply chain breakdowns, geopolitical energy competition, policy-driven energy shortages, and emerging commodity super-cycles—all creating both risks and investment opportunities for those who understand the interconnected nature of global energy and commodities markets.

A shout-out to Steve Reese and the Reese Energy Consulting group for sponsoring the Podcast https://reeseenergyconsulting.com/.

Data2 if you have any business systems, can you trust A? Well, they have the patent on validation. . https://data2.zoholandingpage.com/energy

And we have WellDatabase rolling, and we use their tools for the Energy News Beat weekly Rig Reports: https://welldatabase.com/

Also entering Sponsor Rey Trevino, Pecos Operating https://pecos.energy/