Energy policy (E9)
In this episode, Front Running looks at the ‘ban fracking’ proposals for the US energy policy coming from some of the Democratic candidates.
Max and Stacy are joined by guests Dan Collins, a former auto executive in China, and Tyson Slocum, head of the energy program for Public Citizen. As the US becomes a major oil and gas producer thanks to the fracking policies pushed by former Democratic President Barack Obama, some candidates are now suggesting they would ban the oil and natural gas production method, which is wildly unpopular with most progressive voters. Is this even a remote possibility when billions of dollars are being spent on LNG terminals along the Gulf Coast? Also, does natural gas provide a ‘bridge fuel’ to a more sustainable energy future? And, if electric vehicles and smart grids are the future of energy provision, then will lithium become the new oil in terms of geopolitical unrest and conflict? With his background in automobile manufacturing, Dan Collins believes that the cost of mobility will collapse due to electric cars and autonomous vehicles. This could set in motion a huge boom in productivity and economic growth. So, how to unleash innovation in renewable energy, transport, and electrification? Tune in to hear what Front Running has to say about our electric future.