Tariffs, rollbacks, and drill baby drill: Unpacking Trump 2.0 for energy leaders
A new presidency always shakes up the energy world — but what happens when it’s not new at all?
With the return of Donald Trump to the White House, energy leaders continue to brace for impact. But unlike a traditional administration transition, this one is informed by a prior term — and yet may bring surprises all its own.
In this episode of Power Perspectives, we examine what Trump 2.0 really means for the power sector. What has the administration signaled so far? Which executive orders are more smoke than fire? And how might the next few years shape utilities, grid operators, and clean energy stakeholders?
To help us cut through the noise and get to the policy signals that matter, we’re joined by Andrea Clabough, Associate at Goldwyn Global Strategies and Nonresident Fellow at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center. With Andrea’s background advising energy companies on U.S. policy, energy security, and geopolitical risk, she’s the perfect guest to address questions like: What should energy companies really take away from the first 100 days? How will the tug of war between federal and state policy play out in energy governance? And what surprises might still lie ahead in the Trump playbook?
Key Links:
Energy Central Post with Episode Transcript: TBD
Video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8qBGaQGolvg
Andrea Clabough on Energy Central: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/andrea-clabough
Ask a Question to Our Future Guests: Do you have a burning question for the utility executives and energy industry thought leaders that we feature each week on Power Perspectives? Leave us a message here for your chance to be featured in an upcoming episode: www.speakpipe.com/EnergyCentralPodcast
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The most innovative people in energy
Presenting: The 2025 Energy Central Innovation Awards, a moment to celebrate forward-thinkers, risk-takers, and the big ideas kind of people who are building the future of the energy industry.
We’re in a moment of unprecedented change, but one constant remains: smart people who think about where we are *and* where we’re going are giving us a shot at a better future. And this year’s winners—chosen from a record number of Energy Central community nominations for our annual Innovation Awards—are exactly those kind of people.
Hear from…
Yuval Lubowich, CTO and co-founder of HData (HData.com)
Stephanie Gossman, Manager of Grid Transformation for Georgia Power (https://www.southerncompany.com/innovation.html)
Pranav Gupta, Manager of Data Science at ICF
David Sypnieski, CEO and Founder of Athena Intelligence
And get ready to think big. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy.
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The next grid isn’t on Earth
Our latest episode leaves the grid behind—literally—to head into orbit.
As the number of satellites and spacecraft in space grows, one fundamental limitation persists: power. These systems are smaller, smarter, and more capable than ever—but they’re energy-starved. That’s where today’s guest, Andrew Rush, steps in.
Andrew is the Co-Founder and CEO of Star Catcher, a cutting-edge startup developing the first power grid for space, in space. Instead of sending energy from orbit to Earth like traditional space-based solar concepts, Star Catcher’s revolutionary tech beams energy between spacecraft, enabling new capabilities and unlocking a new era of in-space infrastructure.
Whether you're an energy engineer, a space-tech nerd, or a grid operator wondering what lessons in orbit can teach us about Earth’s energy transition, this conversation offers a fascinating peek into the future of power.
Key Links:
Energy Central Post with Episode Transcript: TBD
Video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/IwOnM583itI
Andrew Rush on Energy Central: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/andrew-rush
Ask a Question to Our Future Guests: Do you have a burning question for the utility executives and energy industry thought leaders that we feature each week on Power Perspectives? Leave us a message here for your chance to be featured in an upcoming episode: www.speakpipe.com/EnergyCentralPodcast
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The real impacts of Trump 2.0 on energy finance
What does a change in U.S. presidential administrations have to do with stalled solar farms in Sub-Saharan Africa or wind projects in Southeast Asia? As it turns out, quite a lot.
On this episode of Power Perspectives, we explore how U.S. policy shifts are sending ripples through the global financial system—impacting everything from renewable investments in developing countries to grid upgrades on Main Street USA. We’re joined by Gautam Jain, Senior Research Scholar at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy and Adjunct Professor at SIPA, to dig into the high-stakes intersection of climate finance, currency risk, and energy geopolitics.
Gautam walks us through why the international green finance system is under pressure as the U.S. government scales back funding commitments under the Trump administration. With global investors growing increasingly wary of geopolitical instability, what’s next for the energy transition? And how should utility leaders, policymakers, and financial stakeholders respond?
Note: The news in this space is moving fast, so to set context this conversation was recorded on April 4.
Key Links:
Energy Central Post with Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/real-impacts-trump-20-energy-finance
Video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/I2VqXraG2Ps
Gautam Jain on Energy Central: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/gautam-jain
Ask a Question to Our Future Guests: Do you have a burning question for the utility executives and energy industry thought leaders that we feature each week on Power Perspectives? Leave us a message here for your chance to be featured in an upcoming episode: www.speakpipe.com/EnergyCentralPodcast
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Inside this DOE nuclear research facility, 50 years in the making
The U.S. nuclear industry is entering a new era—one that demands cutting-edge research, advanced reactor technologies, and stronger collaboration across the energy ecosystem. And now, that future has a new launchpad: the Sample Preparation Laboratory (SPL) at the Idaho National Laboratory.
As the first hot cell facility built by the U.S. Department of Energy in nearly half a century, the SPL is designed to push the boundaries of nuclear materials science. From its autonomous robotic systems to its modular infrastructure, this lab promises to accelerate the pace of discovery while opening doors to collaboration among utilities, researchers, and policymakers. Listen in as Power Perspectives sits down with Colin Judge, Division Director for Nuclear Materials Performance at INL and a key leader behind this groundbreaking initiative, as he shares how this new lab will serve as a critical tool for understanding how materials perform in extreme environments—an essential piece of the puzzle as the energy industry looks to next-generation nuclear technologies.
Key Links:
Energy Central Post with Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/inside-doe-nuclear-research-facility-50-years-making
Video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0cRJR4xKR0o
Idaho National Lab on Energy Central: https://energycentral.com/o/idaho-national-labs
Ask a Question to Our Future Guests: Do you have a burning question for the utility executives and energy industry thought leaders that we feature each week on Power Perspectives? Leave us a message here for your chance to be featured in an upcoming episode: www.speakpipe.com/EnergyCentralPodcast
Welcome to the Energy Central Podcast Network—your ultimate resource for the biggest ideas, boldest perspectives, and best insights from across the electric power industry.
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