Volts Life as a clean energy journalist in an age of madness
Apr 20, 2026
Robinson Meyer, executive editor and co-founder of Heatmap News and former climate reporter at The Atlantic, brings sharp investigative reporting chops. He unpacks the energy fallout from the Iran war, the politics of permitting reform, corporate moves on carbon removal, shifting climate movement strategies, and the market realities behind oil price shocks.
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How Heatmap Actually Runs
- Robinson Meyer recounted Heatmap's 2023 launch and credited colleagues Jillian Goodman and Nico Loricella for day-to-day operations.
- He explained he supervises but Jillian does far more of the actual work keeping the site running, highlighting newsroom collaboration.
Why 2015 Made Meyer A Climate Reporter
- Meyer traced his climate beat start to 2015 after the Xi-Obama bilateral and Paris Agreement created coverage gaps at The Atlantic.
- He used archival New York Times reporting to learn 1970s environmental law history and its enduring institutional power.
The 1970s Laws Still Drive Environmental Progress
- Meyer highlighted that major US environmental progress flowed from 1970s laws, whose ongoing implementation produced decades of gains.
- He noted Reagan-era assaults largely failed yet produced legal fights (Chevron) whose effects twisted over time.