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Energy Empire

Energy Empire

Written by: Energy Empire
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Welcome to the Age of Energy Abundance

A once-in-a-generation shift is underway in how the world is powered. Across the United States, clean energy now makes up more than 90% of new electricity added to the grid — not because of politics or ideology, but because these technologies simply work better. They’re cheaper to build, faster to deploy, and easier to scale than anything that came before.

The technology is ready. Now the race is on to build it…everywhere.

Energy Empire is a podcast about the people and ideas driving this transformation. We explore how abundant, affordable energy is reshaping the global economy, creating new industries, and unlocking what may be the greatest wealth-creation opportunity of our generation.

Hosted by Jigar Shah — TIME100 honoree, serial entrepreneur, investor, and former U.S. Department of Energy leader — the show pulls back the curtain on the decisions, innovations, and power struggles shaping the future of energy.


Whether you’re curious about where the economy is headed, how energy affects your daily life, or who’s really building the future behind the scenes, Energy Empire is your guide to what comes next.

© 2026 Energy Empire Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Politics & Government
Episodes
  • A Decade as Solar’s Top Lobbyist with Abby Hopper

    A Decade as Solar’s Top Lobbyist with Abby Hopper
    Feb 19 2026

    Abby Hopper spent nearly a decade as CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), representing one of the fastest-growing industries in the U.S. economy at the center of Washington’s biggest political fights.

    In this episode of Energy Empire, she joins Jigar Shah and Jamie Nolan to talk about what it’s really like to lead solar through culture wars, trade battles, and rising scrutiny from policymakers — even as it becomes the dominant source of new electricity.

    They discuss the reputational risks facing rooftop solar, why the industry still struggles to build political power, and what the next CEO of SEIA will need to do differently as energy demand surges and projects stall.

    Energy Empire is a weekly podcast about the people, capital, and billion-dollar decisions shaping the future of energy.

    Learn more at EnergyEmpire.fm
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    1 hr
  • Why Wars No Longer Move Oil Markets with Kevin Book

    Why Wars No Longer Move Oil Markets with Kevin Book
    Feb 19 2026

    Oil shocks once defined the global economy. But even as conflict returns to major energy regions, prices remain relatively stable.

    In this episode, Jigar Shah and Jamie Nolan speak with Kevin Book about how electrification, energy efficiency, and avoided oil demand are reshaping global markets — and what it means for energy security in a world less dependent on the barrel.

    Energy Empire is a weekly podcast about the people, capital, and billion-dollar decisions shaping the future of energy.

    Learn more at EnergyEmpire.fm
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    58 mins
  • The American-Made Solar Billionaire with Dean Solon

    The American-Made Solar Billionaire with Dean Solon
    Feb 19 2026

    Dean Solon went from carrying his dad’s HVAC toolbox as a kid to building Shoals—and becoming one of solar’s rare self-made billionaires.

    Dean breaks down how he thinks, how he sells, and why he’s allergic to corporate nonsense. We talk tariffs, solar factories, microgrids, Disney, and the hard truth about what it takes to make clean energy in the U.S. without getting crushed.

    Energy Empire is a weekly podcast about the people, capital, and billion-dollar decisions shaping the future of energy.

    Learn more at EnergyEmpire.fm
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 2 mins
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