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Energy Explained
Get the latest as our experts share their insights on global energy policy.
Live Updates: US-Israeli Attacks on Iran and Global Energy Impacts
On February 28, the US and Israel launched new attacks on Iran targeting primarily the country's leadership, security forces, and missile program.
Blog
by Anne-Sophie Corbeau, Erica Downs, Ira Joseph, Richard Nephew, Daniel Sternoff, Karen E. Young, Robin Mills & Neelesh Nerurkar • June 15, 2026
Podcasts
Hear in-depth conversations with the world’s top energy and climate leaders from government, business, academia, and civil society.
Jessica Uhl on the Fractured Energy Transition: Why Speed Matters Now
The clean energy transition had real momentum at the end of 2024. It was buoyed by federal support, billions of dollars of investment in new technologies, and broad...
Events
Find out more about our upcoming and past events.
June 25, 2026
• 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
est
The Cost of Power: Rising Electricity Prices, AI, and the Grid
This event will take place in-person in Washington DC, at the Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2168 (Gold Room). Advance registration is required. Announcing New Columbia University Publications...
Event
• Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2168 (Gold Room)
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Podcast
Can U.S. Coal Make a Comeback?
August 28, 2017
Guest
Trevor Houser
Partner at Rhodium Group
Over the last six years coal prices have gone from record highs to plummeting lows, putting three of the four largest U.S. coal firms into bankruptcy. Although coal mining employment has been declining for decades, Donald Trump campaigned for the U.S. presidency on a platform that promised to reverse what he called his predecessor’s “war on coal.” Since taking office, the new administration has begun to reverse Obama-era environmental policies, and is fielding increasing calls from policymakers and industry alike to do more for coal firms and jobs. This month, West Virginia governor Jim Justice proposed that the federal government provide subsidies to revive the Appalachian coal industry, calling the issue a matter of national security. Yet the Trump Administration rejected a coal industry push to win a rarely used emergency order to protect coal-fired power plants, a decision that has angered some coal executives.
To put all of these recent developments into context, host Jason Bordoff sits down with Trevor Houser, a partner at the Rhodium Group, to discuss a report they co-authored together with Peter Marsters this year–Coal Make a Comeback?–about the U.S. coal industry, its decline, and prospects for its recovery.
More Episodes
Jessica Uhl on the Fractured Energy Transition: Why Speed Matters Now
The clean energy transition had real momentum at the end of 2024. It was buoyed by federal support, billions of dollars of investment in new technologies, and broad...
Ashley Finan and Amy Roma on Speed, Safety, and Reforming Nuclear Energy
For years, the energy transition was discussed as a shift that would happen in steady, predictable increments. But a massive surge in electricity demand in recent years—now colliding...
Columbia Energy Exchange Podcast
• June 2, 2026
Katie Auth on How the ‘Modern Energy Minimum’ Can Drive Economic Growth
Despite all the advancements we have achieved globally in recent decades, as many as 750 million people still lack access to electricity. Tackling energy poverty requires far more...
Speed to Power: Christian Bruch on Siemens Energy’s Turnaround
For years, the energy transition was discussed as a shift that would happen in steady, predictable increments. But the last 24 months have shattered that illusion. Energy providers...
Relevant
Publications
Are Bilateral and ‘Minilateral’ Treaties the Precursors to Multilateral Agreements?
The UNFCCC process is marred by gridlock in the COP multilateral framework, threatening joint efforts by countries to mitigate the climate crisis.
Guidelines for Decarbonizing Industry in Time to Meet Global Climate Goals
Reports
by Chris Bataille, Seton Stiebert, Dr. Francis Li + 1 more • April 09, 2026
New York’s Climate Law: Understanding the Trade-offs
On March 20, Governor Kathy Hochul proposed significant changes to New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), the landmark climate law passed in 2019.
New Environmental Intelligence Assessment Points to ‘Catastrophic’ Security Risks
In January 2026, the UK government publicly released an intelligence report analyzing the security implications of global environmental destruction.
