The Energy Forum

This is Part 2 of our deep dive into the world of advanced recycling. In this episode, Rachel Meidl continues her conversation with Marco Castaldi, professor of chemical engineering at the City College of New York, to examine the science and policy landscape shaping the future of plastic waste management. They unpack the major categories of advanced recycling and explore why these technologies are...

Despite decades of effort, only about 9% of plastic waste is successfully recycled. The vast majority ends up in landfills or incinerators. In Part 1 of this two-part episode of “The Energy Forum,” Rachel Meidl is joined by Marco Castaldi, professor of chemical engineering at the City College of New York, to unpack the complex world of advanced recycling, also known as chemical or molecular recycl...

In this episode of “The Energy Forum,” we explore what’s shaping the global oil market as we head into the second half of 2025 and beyond. Center for Energy Studies nonresident fellows Abhi Rajendran and Skip York break down why oil demand surprised to the upside in early 2025, how OPEC+ is phasing out production cuts, and why non-OPEC supply growth is slowing. They examine the factors influencing...

The health care sector produces a significant amount of plastic waste, much of it non-contaminated and potentially recyclable. In this episode of “The Energy Forum,” Rachel Meidl , deputy director of the Center for Energy Studies and fellow in energy and sustainability, speaks with Peylina Chu , steering committee chair at the CPHI Sustainability Collective and former executive director of the Hea...

In this episode of “The Energy Forum,” Ken Medlock sits down with Julie Cohn , a Center for Energy Studies (CES) nonresident scholar and research historian, and Miaomiao Rimmer , CES research manager, to explore how the Texas electric grid is adapting to compounding risks from storms, demand growth, and new technologies. They trace the evolution of ERCOT, unpack the dynamics of solar inverters and...

Conflict in the Middle East is shaking the global oil market. In this episode of “The Energy Forum,” Abhi Rajendran , a nonresident fellow at the Baker Institute Center for Energy Studies and director of research and advisory at Energy Intelligence, speaks with Skip York , a Center for Energy Studies nonresident fellow and expert in global market dynamics and upstream strategy, about how escalatin...

This episode of “The Energy Forum” takes a deep dive into critical minerals and materials geoeconomics, a space where national security, industrial policy, and global competition intersect.   Featuring Michelle Michot Foss, Baker Institute fellow in energy, minerals, and materials; Gabriel Collins, the institute’s Baker Botts Fellow in Energy and Environmental Regulatory Affairs; and Vinod Veedu,...

Medical plastic waste is a growing environmental and public health concern, yet only a small percentage is recycled, with the majority ending up in landfills or incinerators. In this episode of “The Energy Forum,” Rachel Meidl, Center for Energy Studies deputy director and fellow in energy and sustainability at the Baker Institute, sits down with Linette Leadon, director of environmental health an...

Can ammonia be the next big fuel for transportation? In this episode of “The Energy Forum,”  Ed Emmett sits down with Joel Moser , chief executive officer of First Ammonia LLC, to explore the potential of ammonia as a scalable, low-carbon energy source. They discuss the technology behind ammonia fuel, its advantages over other alternatives, and the hurdles that must be overcome for widespread adop...

In Part 2 of their two-part discussion, Baker Institute Center for Energy Studies experts Jim Krane , Osamah Alsayegh , and  Salem Alhajraf continue to explore the evolving energy landscape of the Middle East. They further examine the region’s approach to balancing economic growth with environmental priorities, assess OPEC’s evolving role in global energy markets, and explore the long-term economi...

In this episode of “The Energy Forum,” Baker Institute  Center for Energy Studies experts Jim Krane , Osamah Alsayegh , and  Salem Alhajraf explore the dynamic energy landscape of the Middle East. Together, they examine how the region balances economic growth with environmental priorities, the influence of OPEC on global energy markets, and the economic impacts of Kuwait’s heavily subsidized elect...

In this episode of “The Energy Forum,” we delve into a pivotal report authored by Gabriel Collins, Baker Botts Fellow in Energy and Environmental Regulatory Affairs at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, and commissioned by Texas 2036. The study outlines the immense economic risks posed by prolonged droughts and emphasizes the critical need for strategic investments in water infra...

In this episode of The Energy Forum, we tackle the future of fuel in two essential sectors of the global economy: trucking and air transport. These industries are vital for moving goods and people worldwide but also have high fuel demands and significant emissions. As climate goals and regulatory pressures intensify, how are these sectors evolving to meet the demand for greener, more sustainable e...

In this episode, we dive into the world of mining, minerals, and materials and explore the critical role they play in the evolving energy system. With the rapid increase in demand for new energy technologies, such as solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicles, the need for essential minerals and materials is rising significantly. But with this growing demand comes a host of challenges — in...