The Energy Forum

Small modular reactors, or SMRs, are attracting growing interest as a potential source of reliable, lower-carbon electricity for industries, data centers, and countries that may not need, or be able to finance, a large conventional nuclear plant. Turning that potential into real-world projects, however, requires more than innovative reactor designs—it depends on financing, manufacturing, regulation, workforce training, and public confidence.
A new agreement between the United States, South Korea, and Japan aims to strengthen cooperation on deploying SMRs internationally. The partnership could offer countries another option alongside emerging Chinese and Russian nuclear-export models. In this episode of “The Energy Forum,” Gabriel Collins and Henry Haggard discuss what it would take for  SMRs to become a practical, competitive option for countries seeking reliable power and long-term energy security.
Featured:
Gabriel Collins, https://www.bakerinstitute.org/expert/gabriel-collins
Henry Haggard, https://www.bakerinstitute.org/expert/henry-haggard
 
This episode was recorded on Aug. 11, 2026. 
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Oil markets have experienced significant volatility across much of July, particularly after the dissolution  of a ceasefire between Iran and the U.S., which temporarily reopened the Strait of Hormuz. The resumption of conflict — Iranian strikes on vessels transiting the strait, Houthi threats to vessels attempting to transit the Bab el-Mandeb Strait from the Red Sea, the reimposition of the U.S. blockade, and 13 consecutive days of U.S. strikes on Iran — saw oil prices climb over $100 per barrel, only to settle back again as tensions abated. 
In this episode of “The Energy Forum,” Abhi Rajendran and Skip York examine why the market seems increasingly able to absorb geopolitical shocks.
 
Featured:
Abhi Rajendran, https://www.bakerinstitute.org/expert/abhi-rajendran. 
Skip York, Ph.D., https://www.bakerinstitute.org/expert/harold-skip-york.
You can follow @BakerInstitute and @CES_Baker_Inst on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Learn more about our data-driven, nonpartisan policy research and analysis at bakerinstitute.org.

The Center for Energy Studies recently hosted its second annual sustainability summit, bringing together experts to examine sustainability challenges from a systems-level perspective.
In this episode of “The Energy Forum,”  Rachel A. Meidl is joined by two speakers from the summit: Marco Castaldi, professor at City College of New York and cochair of the Recycling Science Council, and Katherine Hofman, sustainability strategic initiatives manager at Eastman.
Together, they unpack the growing confusion around plastics recycling, particularly the terminology and taxonomy surrounding advanced recycling. They discuss how mechanical recycling differs from advanced, molecule‑level processes; why oversimplified narratives about recycling can mislead policymakers and the public; and how clearer definitions can shape more informed  regulations, investments, and waste‑reduction strategies.
Featured:
Dr. Marco Castaldi: http://ccny.cuny.edu/profiles/marco-castaldi.
Dr. Katherine Hofman: greenseal.org/team/katherine-hofmann/.
You can follow @BakerInstitute and @CES_Baker_Inst on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Learn more about our data-driven, nonpartisan policy research and analysis at bakerinstitute.org.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz led to months of volatility in the oil market, but a new memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran offered the first signs of a path toward stability. However, short-term risks for the oil market remain as a broader peace deal is discussed, and long-term questions are emerging as global suppliers and consumers seek to prevent a similar shock in the future.
In this episode of “The Energy Forum,” Abhi Rajendran and Skip York explore what the market’s response reveals about the shifting foundations of global oil.
 
Featured:
Abhi Rajendran, https://www.bakerinstitute.org/expert/abhi-rajendran 
Skip York, Ph.D., https://www.bakerinstitute.org/expert/harold-skip-york
 
Editor’s note: This episode was recorded on July 2, 2026, when the U.S.-Iran ceasefire was still in place, and oil prices were easing; since then, on July 8, President Donald Trump has declared the ceasefire “over,” and oil markets have repriced renewed geopolitical risk.
You can follow @BakerInstitute and @CES_Baker_Inst on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Learn more about our data-driven, nonpartisan policy research and analysis at bakerinstitute.org.

In this episode, Rachel A. Meidl is joined by Natalie Messer Betts, vice president of sustainability at the Recycled Materials Association (REMA), to discuss the growing challenge of discarded electronics — from phones and laptops to data center equipment and medical devices. They explore why the term “e-waste” can be misleading, how reuse and refurbishment can provide greater environmental benefits than recycling alone, and why only a small share of discarded electronics enters formal recovery systems.
The conversation follows electronics across their full life cycle — from mining and critical minerals to trade, standards, and informal recycling — and examines how improved design, policy, measurement, and certified recycling practices can support more circular and globally connected supply chains.
Featured guests: 
Natalie Messer Betts
This conversation was recorded on June 5, 2026.
Follow Rachel A. Meidl, LP.D., CHMM on X (@MeidlRachel) and LinkedIn.
You can follow @BakerInstitute and @CES_Baker_Inst on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Learn more about our data-driven, nonpartisan policy research and analysis at bakerinstitute.org.

As conflict and instability in the Middle East continue to shape global energy markets, Americans are beginning to feel the effects far beyond the gas pump. Host David M. Satterfield speaks with energy experts Kenneth B. Medlock III and Mark Finley about why oil prices react so sharply to geopolitical shocks. They discuss how those shifts ripple through airline fares, travel costs, inflation, and household budgets, and what could transpire in the months ahead as conflict in the Middle East continues.
This conversation was recorded on May 13, 2026.
Featured:
Mark Finley
Kenneth B. Medlock III
Listen and subscribe to “Baker Briefing” on Apple, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform.
 
You can follow @BakerInstitute on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Learn more about our data-driven, nonpartisan policy research and analysis at bakerinstitute.org.

Guyana sits at the center of one of the fastest energy expansions in the world — at a moment when geopolitical tensions, supply disruptions, and market volatility are reshaping global energy systems in real time. But rapid growth brings difficult questions: What are the risks, tradeoffs, and strategies behind turning a historic resource boom into lasting national development?
During a visit to Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy on May 4, 2026, His Excellency Mohamed Irfaan Ali shared his perspective on the country’s rise as a global energy player. Since oil production began in 2019, Guyana has rapidly emerged as a major force in global energy markets — making its policy choices increasingly relevant far beyond its borders.
This episode is the second part of this conversation. Building on his earlier remarks, Ali sits down with Francisco J. Monaldi for a candid armchair discussion on what comes next. Together, they explore the practical realities of execution — from managing hydrocarbon expansion and attracting investment to building the infrastructure needed to sustain long-term growth.
This conversation was recorded in front of a live audience on May 4, 2026. Learn about future live recordings of the “Baker Briefing” podcast by subscribing to our “Events Digest” newsletter at https://www.bakerinstitute.org/newsletter.
 
Listen and subscribe to “Baker Briefing” on Apple, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform.
 
You can follow @BakerInstitute on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Learn more about our data-driven, nonpartisan policy research and analysis at bakerinstitute.org.

Guyana, on the northern coast of South America, has become one of the fastest-growing energy producers in the world. Since oil production began in 2019, the country has quickly emerged as a major force in global energy markets, at a time when geopolitical tensions and market volatility are reshaping the global energy landscape.
During a visit to Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy on May 4, 2026, His Excellency Mohamed Irfaan Ali shared his perspective on Guyana’s rise as a global energy player. Speaking before a live audience, Ali outlined his administration’s strategy for balancing rapid energy development with economic diversification while navigating an increasingly uncertain global environment and rising expectations around sustainability.
This is the first of two episodes featuring remarks from that event. In this episode, Ali delivers prepared remarks outlining his broader vision for Guyana’s future — from energy and infrastructure to human capital and environmental stewardship. The second episode features an armchair discussion with Baker Institute Fellow Francisco J. Monaldi on the practical challenges of implementing that vision.
This conversation was recorded in front of a live audience on May 4, 2026. Learn about future live recordings of the “Baker Briefing” podcast by subscribing to our “Events Digest” newsletter at https://www.bakerinstitute.org/newsletter.
 
Listen and subscribe to “Baker Briefing” on Apple, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform.
 
You can follow @BakerInstitute on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Learn more about our data-driven, nonpartisan policy research and analysis at bakerinstitute.org.

Recorded live at CERAWeek in Houston, this episode of The Energy Forum features Kenneth B. Medlock III in conversation with Francisco J. Monaldi on the forces reshaping oil markets across Latin America. They examine Venezuela’s changing outlook after Maduro’s capture, the investment prospects ahead, and how countries like Brazil, Guyana, Argentina, and Bolivia are redefining the region’s role in global energy.
 
This episode was recorded on March 25, 2026 on-site at CERAWeek.

Tensions in the Middle East are reshaping global energy markets, and the impacts are already being felt.
In this episode of The Energy Forum, Abhi Rajendran, Skip York, and Kristian Coates Ulrichsen break down the latest developments around the Strait of Hormuz and what they mean for oil supply, global trade, and energy security. As supply chains tighten and demand rises heading into summer, this episode explains why global energy markets may face continued pressure and what to watch for next.This episode was recorded on April 1, 2026.