In this episode of Energy News Beat - Conversation in Energy, Stuart Turley and guest Mike Umbro break down California's mounting energy crisis, highlighting how the state's overreliance on imported oil and flawed renewable policies—compounded by a cumbersome permitting process—are driving up costs and destabilizing the grid. They advocate for innovative, local solutions, such as transforming mature oil fields into synthetic geothermal power plants, to secure affordable energy, boost economic growth, and address the broader national energy emergency.

I have always loved having Mike on my podcasts; he is a real friend of the show. Please reach out to him on his LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeumbro/

Thank you, Mike, and I loved your comment about how President Trump needs to help fix California. As it is the largest economy, it will make a significant impact on the total numbers for inflation and lower prices. I was in the camp of let's just let California slide off into the ocean, but Mike is right: California is worth fighting for. It will just take a lot of hard work.

Highlights of the Podcast

00:00 - Intro

00:52 – Washington, D.C. Encounter & DOE Project Discussion 

03:35 – Trump’s National Energy Emergency Declaration 

04:29 – Critique of California’s Energy Policies and Oil Imports 

06:32 – Grid Reliability and the Promise of Geologic Thermal Energy Storage 15:54 – Economic Impact and the Importance of Local Energy Production 

21:49 – Regulatory & Permitting Hurdles in California 

27:16 – Educational Outreach and Shaping the Energy Narrative

31:18 – Broader National Energy Security & Critique of “All Electric” Mandates 41:03 – Future Projects and the Path Forward