Renewable Energy and Electric Cars: The Reality For Wyoming and Beyond - Episode 79

In this episode of Eye on the Issues, we are joined by Kenny Stein, Vice President of Policy at the Institute for Energy Research, who talks about the challenges facing America's energy future, focusing on the issues surrounding wind and solar energy. While we touch on electric vehicles and the government's push for EV mandates, the conversation centers on the real-world difficulties of relying on wind and solar power to meet the country's energy needs. 

Kenny discusses why wind and solar are not as reliable as proponents suggest, the hidden infrastructure costs, and the challenges rural states like Wyoming face as they balance energy production with reliability. He also draws lessons from Europe's renewable energy push, highlighting the economic and energy reliability risks the U.S. could face if it follows the same path. 

Key discussion points include: 

• Why are wind and solar energy unreliable and require massive infrastructure investments? 

• The cost of building backup systems to support intermittent renewable energy. 

• Lessons from Europe's failed experiment with over-reliance on renewables. 

• The importance of maintaining energy reliability in rural states like Wyoming. 

• A brief look at the electric vehicle market and why rural America is resisting the push.