El Podcast

E20: Green Illusions: How Renewable Energy Is Hurting the Planet

Episode Summary

Robert Bryce explains why wind and solar energy aren't as green or reliable as people think. He argues that nuclear and natural gas are better options for affordable, stable power. The episode also covers energy politics, environmental myths, and the real-world costs of going "green."

Episode Notes

Robert Bryce joins El Podcast to challenge the green energy narrative and argue for nuclear and natural gas as the only realistic path to reliable, low-emission power.

Guest Bio: Robert Bryce is an energy journalist, author, podcaster, and documentary filmmaker. He’s the author of Power Hungry and A Question of Power, and host of the Power Hungry Podcast, where he explores energy policy, environmental issues, and political influence over global power systems.

Topics Discussed:

• Why marijuana cultivation is one of the most electricity-intensive crops
• The environmental and economic downsides of offshore wind projects
• Wind and solar subsidies vs. nuclear energy
• The "grifter economy" and financial incentives behind renewables
• Political illiteracy around energy policy
• Power density and the inefficiency of renewables
• The decline of nuclear and hydro power in the U.S.
• Energy elitism and its impact on working-class Americans
• Electric vehicles and battery limitations
• Fossil fuel vilification vs. societal dependence on hydrocarbons
• Puerto Rico’s power infrastructure and governance issues

Top 3 Quotes:

• "The only thing more expensive than producing electricity with offshore wind is burning American currency in a furnace."
• "If we didn’t have oil, we’d have to invent it—it’s a miracle substance."
• "Nuclear is beyond green—it contains all its waste and requires the least land and material inputs of any energy source."

📺Watch the full pod on YouTube➡️https://youtu.be/TKTb8QdNWuA?si=w4EJSEuPVWCTiWNi