Conversations with Peter Boghossian The Impending Energy Crisis and What to Do About It | Jesse Peltan
Nov 4, 2025
Jesse Peltan, an energy expert often dubbed Elon Musk's energy consigliere, brings his encyclopedic knowledge to discuss urgent energy issues. He emphasizes the U.S. must ramp up solar and battery storage to stay competitive globally. Jesse critiques current energy policies, advocates for distributed solar, and highlights the importance of energy independence. He also explores innovations like parking lot solar and the potential of AI in energy demand. With a mix of technical insight and policy recommendations, Jesse outlines a future where energy freedom empowers consumers.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Battery Storage Multiplies Grid Capacity
- Battery storage is vital because demand on the grid varies widely and reserves sit idle most of the time.
- Two hours of batteries could add ~100 GW capacity, boosting U.S. generation by ~20%.
China's Rapid Energy Lead
- China now produces ~10,000 TWh/year versus the U.S. ~4,400 TWh and is still accelerating.
- Their largest recent growth is solar, not just coal, showing rapid scaling of scalable sources.
Slash Red Tape And Fix Price Signals
- Cut red tape, reform permitting, and improve price signals to unlock generation and distributed resources.
- Restructure monopoly utilities to enable competition, faster interconnection, and innovation.