Robert Bryce

After two decades of scant growth, power demand in the US is suddenly soaring. The surge in electricity needed for AI, along with increased industrial demand and ongoing population growth, has resulted in a scramble to build new power plants all across the country. In this presentation, author and film producer Robert Bryce will spotlight the land-use, supply chain, and labor challenges that must be addressed to handle that new demand. He will also highlight the grid’s heavy reliance on natural gas and the challenges facing the rollout of new nuclear reactors. Bryce will conclude by looking ahead and explain why, despite the near-term challenges, the US will continue to have significant energy advantages over the rest of the world for decades to come.

Over the past three decades, China has spent hundreds of billions of dollars on its mining and processing sectors. The result is that it now has a near-monopoly on dozens of key elements, including rare earths like neodymium, terbium, and dysprosium. In this presentation, reporter, author, and film producer Robert Bryce will assess the supply of key metals, including copper, antimony, cobalt, and lithium, and spotlight the geopolitical issues that could limit their production. He will also explain how the US can counter China’s dominance of rare earth elements and other critical minerals. Finally, he will discuss the slow pace of energy transitions and explain why the US must accelerate the permitting of new mines and processing facilities.

Politicians, climate activists, and major media outlets frequently claim that an energy transition is underway and that one day soon, our economy will be fueled solely by alternative sources like wind and solar. In this compelling presentation, author and film producer Robert Bryce will provide a sober look at the future of American energy. Bryce will put particular focus on soaring electricity demand, AI, supply chains, and the looming shortage of skilled labor. He will also discuss the rules being made by the Trump administration and how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will impact the utility sector and the future of oil and gas development. Bryce will conclude by underscoring America’s energy advantages over the rest of the world and explain why N2N, natural gas to nuclear, is the best no-regret strategy for the future.

The myths of “green” energy and the real fuels of the future.