Rephonic
Artwork for Volts
Renewable Energy
Climate Change
Clean Energy
Inflation Reduction Act
Electric Vehicles
Solar Energy
Data Centers
California
Energy Efficiency
Energy Storage
Batteries
Clean Energy Transition
Decarbonization
Geothermal Energy
Hydrogen
Distributed Energy Resources
Environmental Justice
Carbon Emissions
China
Wind Energy

Volts is a podcast about leaving fossil fuels behind. I've been reporting on and explaining clean-energy topics for almost 20 years, and I love talking to politicians, analysts, innovators, and activists about the latest progress in the world's most important fight. (Volts is entirely subscriber-supported. Sign up!) www.volts.wtf

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes413Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Tech NewsPoliticsNews

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Artwork for Volts

Latest Episodes

The think tank Ember just released its yearly Global Electricity Review. In this episode, I chat with co-authors Nicolas Fulghum & Kostantsa Rangelova about the biggest stories in the global power sector in 2025. We geek out over the record-breaking ... more

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.volts.wtf

Heatmap’s Robinson Meyer joins me to unpack the sheer madness of the current news landscape. We discuss the energy implications of the Iran war, the vexed politics of permit... more

Beth Bafford spent years designing Climate United, a revolving fund meant to push out $7 billion of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund money to underserved communities. She had barely begun sending out grants when Trump shut the program down and rescinded... more

In this episode, I welcome back my old friend Jigar Shah to discuss the current hullabaloo around explosive electricity demand from new data centers. We dig into why its stupid for tech companies to build their own behind-the-meter natural gas plants... more

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Recent Guests

Kostantsa Rangelova
Ember veteran, energy analyst
Ember
Episode: The big stories from the last year in electricity
Robinson Meyer
Executive Editor, Heatmap News
Heatmap News
Episode: Life as a clean energy journalist in an age of madness
Beth Bafford
CEO of Climate United, coalition that won a large portion of GGRF funding
Climate United
Episode: Climate finance, interrupted
Jigar Shah
Executive with Multiplier, Deploy Action chair, energy policy commentator
Multiplier; Deploy Action
Episode: Doing data centers the not-dumb way
Lauren Flanagan
Founder of Sesame Solar, focused on rugged, mobile solar-powered nanogrids
Sesame Solar
Episode: Ruggedized solar power for the hard places
Ben Holland
Researcher on climate funders' perspectives on urbanism and housing policy; affiliated with WRI's New Urban Mobility Alliance
World Resources Institute, New Urban Mobility Alliance
Episode: Why climate funders don't fund housing policy, and why they oughtta
Hannah Safford
Co-lead of the Center for Regulatory Ingenuity, Federation of American Scientists
Federation of American Scientists
Episode: Rethinking climate regulation from the ground up
Loren Schulman
Co-lead of the Center for Regulatory Ingenuity, Federation of American Scientists
Federation of American Scientists
Episode: Rethinking climate regulation from the ground up
Ian Magruder
Head of the Utilize Coalition, coalition including Google, Tesla, and other major players
Utilize Coalition
Episode: Using more of the grid we’ve already built

Host

David Roberts
Host of the show and an experienced journalist focused on energy, climate, and policy analysis. He engages with a wide variety of guests to explore in-depth discussions on the clean energy transition and related themes.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.3k ratings
  • Something’s Changing

    About 5 years ago, I remember living with a conservation mindset. Don’t forget to turn the lights off. Monitor you home’s electricity usage (and read those letters from PG&E telling you your performance relative to your neighbors!) And then something changed. Maybe it was buying an EV, or installing solar on our roof. But this mindset of “don’t use the precious electricity!” is disappearing . Sure, data centers have ripped open the reality of how much electricity we need, but maybe they came abo... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LauraSJ
    United States20 days ago
  • Love this podcast

    I loved your latest podcast interview with climate activist Pete Sikora. I am from NY and losing my patience with Gov Hochul regarding clean energy matters

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sunnycreek
    United Statesa month ago
  • Superb Podcast

    I always look forward to the volts podcast. It’s quite informative, entertaining and straightforward. The recent two part episode on the proposed new city in California was just excellent and quite informative. I am very happy to financially support the show great value for dollar.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JTHSan Diego
    United Statesa month ago
  • Great, in depth info!

    I found this podcast researching balcony solar. A gem of a podcast. I recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mindfully Healing
    United States2 months ago
  • One of my favorites

    One of the best podcasts on climate and energy I’ve found. David Roberts explains complicated topics — utilities, electrification, heat pumps, grid policy — in a way that’s clear without oversimplifying. The conversations are thoughtful and genuinely educational, and I always come away understanding why things work the way they do, not just the headlines.

    It’s informative, realistic, and surprisingly reassuring about the clean-energy transition.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Love it !!$!!
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the podcast for its clear explanations of complex energy topics.
The host is recognized for being engaging and making technical subjects relatable.
Many appreciate the thoughtful conversations featuring knowledgeable guests from various sectors.
Occasional criticisms suggest a focus on political themes that some find excessive.
Some reviews highlight the effectiveness of the content in deepening understanding of energy issues.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#114
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#168
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#219
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#32
Israel/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#33
China/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#56
Philippines/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ruggedized solar power for the hard places
Q: How do you see costs evolving as you scale?
Costs should come down with volume, modular designs, and new buying models like energy-as-a-service; while hydrogen adds cost, economies of scale and rental/utility partnerships should make these solutions affordable for larger buyers and public entities.
Ruggedized solar power for the hard places
Q: Why hydrogen, and how safe is the storage system?
Hydrogen provides higher endurance and year-round operation in challenging climates; storage uses a low-pressure solid-state metal hydride system, ensuring safety and eliminating the need for high-pressure hydrogen handling.
Ruggedized solar power for the hard places
Q: What is in the box and how big are the units you're selling?
We offer nanogrid containers in multiple sizes, from 20-foot connex to 40-foot trailers, designed for rapid 15-minute setup and complete self-sufficiency, with solar, batteries, and optional hydrogen storage.
Doing data centers the not-dumb way
Q: What is the fundamental reason utilities resist adopting distributed-capacity approaches, and can this be overcome?
The core resistance is rooted in legacy incentive structures: utilities make money by building and owning infrastructure. Overcoming this requires a coherent policy framework (e.g., grid-utilization standards), financial incentives aligned with non-build alternatives, and credible demonstrations that distributed capacity can meet reliability and rate goals, supported by Wall Street where capital prefers lower-risk, higher-value options.
Doing data centers the not-dumb way
Q: Is the lever you pull to pressure utilities to adopt grid-utilization strategies mainly through state laws, PUC mandates, or persuasive white papers?
Utilization policies require a mix: law can enforce minimums (e.g., utilization portfolio standards), but much of the push comes from a narrative and incentives that align utility economics with reduced capex, plus regulated programs and pilot projects that demonstrate value. The most effective moves combine policy signals with proven pilot outcomes to shift utility business models.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Volts

What is Volts about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast focuses on the transition from fossil fuels to cleaner energy solutions, featuring discussions on various related topics, including the intricacies of energy policies, innovative technologies, and the role of political advocacy in promoting sustainability. It invites a diverse range of guests who are involved in fields such as energy efficiency, electric utilities, and climate advocacy, providing listeners with expert insights and thought-provoking conversations on contemporary energy issues. With a commitment to clear communication, the host strives to make complex subjects accessible and engaging for listeners, offering a blend of education and inspiration surrounding the urgent matter of energy transition.

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How many listeners does Volts get?

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What are the audience demographics for Volts?

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How many subscribers and views does Volts have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Volts?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Volts:

1. Shift Key with Robinson Meyer
2. Catalyst with Shayle Kann
3. Open Circuit
4. Energy Gang
5. Energy Empire

How many episodes of Volts are there?

Volts launched 5 years ago and published 413 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Volts?

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What guests have appeared on Volts?

Recent guests on Volts include:

1. Kostantsa Rangelova
2. Robinson Meyer
3. Beth Bafford
4. Jigar Shah
5. Lauren Flanagan
6. Ben Holland
7. Hannah Safford
8. Loren Schulman

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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