#388 - Kathryn Porter: The UK Energy Crisis

In this episode of Chatter, Josh Hamilton is joined by Kathryn Porter to ask why the UK is paying the highest energy costs in the developed world? Why isn't the cost of electric falling when the price of gas falls? Why aren't renewables making our energy cheaper? Are wind and solar cheaper than fossil fuels? Is net zero a bad idea? We cover all this and more including:  - The hidden (and not-so-hidden) costs of wind and solar  - How decades of energy mismanagement have left our grid vulnerable  - Why nuclear might be the only sensible path forward  - The reality of where your green energy really comes from Kathryn Porter is an energy consultant and the founder of Watt-Logic, a UK-based consultancy focused on energy markets, regulation, and strategy. She’s widely regarded for her sharp, data-driven insights and for being an outspoken critic of poorly designed energy policy—particularly in the UK. She’s best known for challenging the mainstream energy narrative, particularly around renewables, carbon pricing, and the economics of net zero—often arguing that current policies are driving up costs and risking the stability of the energy system. https://x.com/kathrynporter26  https://watt-logic.com/  **Timestamps** 00:00 - Intro 00:50 – "Challenges of the Polluter Pays Doctrine" 06:05 – Renewable Energy Infrastructure Costs 13:10 – "Challenges of Weather-Dependent Renewables" 17:31 – Offshore Wind's Hidden Environmental Costs 24:23 – Graphite, Earthquakes, and Reactor Safety 32:47 – Aging Energy Infrastructure Concerns 36:10 – Legacy Project Specification Bias 40:26 – Gas Generation Necessity and Delays 44:38 – Government Support Needed for Turbines 49:42 – "Last House on the Grid" 58:35 – French Energy Policy Missteps 01:04:29 – "Streamlining Nuclear Regulations Proposed" 01:06:40 – Balancing Safety and Practicality 01:11:14 – Links Provided in Description ----------------------------------------------------- Cast-Magic: The World's Most Powerful Content Tool (30% off with code Casting30) - https://get.castmagic.io/4ktvtch68y67  Make Professional Looking Clips In Seconds With Opus - https://www.opus.pro/?via=ee2b04  Buy Brexit: The Establishment Civil War - https://amzn.to/39XXVjq    ----------------------------------------------------- You can listen to the show on Spotify, Apple, and all major platforms - https://open.spotify.com/show/76UxJtSxGEUg4ZCF0TKLpB?si=769245621e5c4cb2  Watch Us On Odysee.com - https://odysee.com/$/invite/@TheJist:4    Join My Mailing List - https://stats.sender.net/forms/dNZK8d/view  Follow Me On Twitter - https://twitter.com/Give_Me_TheJist  ----------------------------------------------------- Website - https://thejist.co.uk/    Music from Just Jim – https://soundcloud.com/justjim