Energy Gang
Wood Mackenzie
Covering breaking news in clean tech, going deep on global energy policy, and debating the levers that need to move to accelerate the energy transition. Energy Gang is the podcast covering clean energy technology, renewable energy, and the environment. The world of clean energy moves fast, and you need a reliable source to stay on top of the news that matters. You’ll find it on Wood Mackenzie’s Energy Gang.How will changes to the US government affect decarbonisation and energy security? When will hydrogen, nuclear and carbon capture deploy at scale? Where’s the money for the energy transition green finance coming from and how much more is needed? What’s the outlook for EVs? What are the energy predictions for solar energy? What's the latest on climate change?Get answers to questions like these, bi-weekly on Tuesdays at 7am ET. Plus, get special live episodes recorded at the biggest climate and energy events throughout the year, like COP30 and Climate Week NYC. Don’t worry if you can’t make it in person, Energy Gang brings you all the updates on energy policy, energy finance and energy innovation you need to hear.Energy Gang is presented by Wood Mackenzie and hosted by Ed Crooks, Vice-Chairman of Energy at Wood Mackenzie and a former Financial Times and BBC News journalist. Regular guests are Amy Myers-Jaffe (Director of NYU’s Energy, Climate Justice and Sustainability Lab), and Dr Melissa Lott (Partner at Microsoft) – plus a roster of industry leaders and policy influencers, like Jigar Shah (Industry figurehead and former director of the Loan Programs Office in the US Department of Energy), Caroline Golin (Head of North America, Global Energy Market Development and Policy at Google) and Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt (Former Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources).If you like The Energy Transition Show, Catalyst with Shayle Kann, The Big Switch from Columbia University, Open Circuit with Stephen Lacey or The Green Blueprint, you’ll enjoy Energy Gang.Want to get involved with the show? Reach out to podcasts@woodmac.com to:Bring Energy Gang to your eventBe a guest on the showSponsor an episodeAsk a question to Ed Crooks or one of our guestsCheck out another leading clean tech global podcast by Wood Mackenzie, Interchange Recharged: https://www.woodmac.com/podcasts/the-interchange-recharged/Wood Mackenzie is the leading global data and analytics solutions provider for renewables, energy and natural resources. Learn more about Wood Mackenzie on the official website: https://www.woodmac.com/
Episodes
Mentioned books
14 snips
Mar 17, 2026 • 1h 11min
A power producer’s view of keeping the lights on. What does rising electricity demand from data centers mean for the US grid?
Paul Siegel, CEO of LS Power, a builder/operator of generation and transmission. Melissa Lott, Microsoft energy lead and researcher on electricity demand and policy. They discuss rising data center loads and strained grids in PJM. They talk markets and capacity signals, who should pay for upgrades, the role of batteries, demand response, transmission planning, and long lead times for new power infrastructure.
Mar 10, 2026 • 1h 11min
The war with Iran: what does the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz mean for global energy?
Chris Aversano, maritime partnerships director and former seafarer, explains shipping disruptions, crew risks, and vessel tracking challenges. Amy Myers-Jaffe, energy security and geopolitics expert, frames Strait of Hormuz vulnerabilities and market reactions. They discuss price spikes, drone and asymmetric threats to shipping, collapsed tanker traffic, trapped seafarers, rerouting limits, and implications for LNG and global commodity flows.
Mar 3, 2026 • 58min
Are VPPs really a viable solution for easing strain on the grid? Tesla say yes, and they have big plans
Amy Myers-Jaffe, energy policy expert at NYU, and Colby Hastings, Tesla’s residential energy lead, discuss virtual power plants. They compare storage VPPs with demand response. They explore market and regulatory barriers, Tesla’s customer-focused VPP model, opt-outs and app transparency. They also cover vehicle-to-grid pilots and Puerto Rico’s large Powerwall deployment as a real-world test.
7 snips
Feb 27, 2026 • 52min
Data centers are adding an extra 220 gigawatts of electricity demand in the US. How can the grid cope? A second special episode from the ACORE Policy Forum
Ray Long, ACORE CEO, on policy hurdles slowing energy infrastructure. Arthur Haubenstock, senior counsel at Equinix, on data center reliability, backup limits, and local grid impacts. Anna Shpitsberg, Wood Mackenzie power head, with data-driven forecasts of a 183–220 GW data center surge and its supply implications. They discuss supply sources, timing bottlenecks, and permitting, trade, and regulatory roadblocks.
Feb 26, 2026 • 49min
How are energy supply chains changing as electricity demand surges? A special episode from the ACORE Policy Forum in Washington
Alice Lin, senior tax advisor at NRDC who helped shape clean energy tax rules. Peter Toomey, Chief Development Officer at Cypress Creek Renewables, an experienced solar and storage developer. Dr Sarah Kapnick, JPMorgan climate advisory lead on climate risk and clean energy investment. They discuss surging electricity demand, strained supply chains, policy cliffs and domestic manufacturing trade-offs. Tensions between affordability, security, and scaling arise.
Feb 17, 2026 • 41min
A solution to the problem of paying for data centre power? Unpacking AWS’s recent 3 gigawatt deal with NIPSCO
Vince Parisi, President & COO of NIPSCO, a utility leader focused on grid planning and community protection. Brandon Oyer, Head of Americas Power & Water at AWS, an expert in data center power strategy. They unpack a 3 GW ring-fenced GenCo deal that funds generation for data centers, how a 15-year commercial term and performance incentives aim to avoid cost-shifting, and why grid connection was chosen over behind‑the‑meter solutions.
Feb 10, 2026 • 1h 1min
Energy storage steps up: the growing role of batteries on the grid, and the challenge from winter storms
Julian Nebreda, CEO and president of Fluence, leads a grid-scale battery storage company. He discusses how batteries act as fast-response system optimizers that boost grid resilience. Conversations cover cold-weather performance, rapid deployment for AI data centers, supply-chain and U.S. manufacturing challenges, and the balance between distributed and centralized storage designs.
Jan 27, 2026 • 45min
How a Texas electric co-op rebuilt for reliability | Sponsored content from Rayburn Electric
Chris Anderson, General Counsel at Rayburn Electric Cooperative, helped overhaul legal and risk practices after Winter Storm Uri. David Naylor, President & CEO, led securitization and buying generation to boost reliability. They discuss the shock of Uri, spreading costs with bonds, buying the Rayburn Energy Station, plans for RES2, and rebuilding internal risk and operations to serve members better.
16 snips
Jan 8, 2026 • 52min
Venezuela and what to expect from energy in 2026
Join energy experts Amy Myers-Jaffe, Director at NYU’s Energy, Climate Justice and Sustainability Lab, and Melissa Lott, Microsoft’s Energy Technologies Partner, as they explore Venezuela's complex energy landscape post-Maduro's capture. Amy highlights the dire state of Venezuela’s oil sector, comparing it to Iraq's struggles after 2003. Melissa discusses the potential impacts on energy transition and the future of global energy markets amidst rising US LNG exports and geopolitical tensions. This insightful conversation delves into the interplay of oil politics and technology.
Jan 6, 2026 • 54min
Electric vehicles create problems for the grid. Could they also help solve them? The plan to turn EVs into reliable grid infrastructure
Apoorv Bhargava, CEO of WeaveGrid and an engineer focused on turning EVs into reliable grid assets, joins Amy Myers-Jaffe, energy policy expert at NYU, for a riveting discussion. They highlight the duality of electric vehicles: while they can strain electricity grids, with proper management, they also offer significant flexibility. Apoorv explains how WeaveGrid aims to transform EVs from liabilities to dependable resources, emphasizing the crucial role of trust and planning in achieving grid benefits. Together, they explore the future of distributed energy resources and the intersection of technology, trust, and policy.
