Welcome to PetroNoia, the podcast that cuts through the noise of the energy debate. Hosted by Dan Romito, this show takes complex energy issues, strips away the agendas, and delivers clear, fact-based insights. Whether you’re an industry expert or simply looking for a balanced perspective, PetroNoia brings clarity to the conversation. Each episode, Dan breaks down key topics—from U.S. energy independence to global policy impacts—focusing on the facts rather than the rhetoric, helping listeners make sense of the energy landscape. This is PetroNoia
PetroNoia host Dan Romito sits down with Sean Kelly, CEO of Amperon, to explore how rapid load growth is reshaping power markets, forecasting, and the grid.
Kelly discusses his journey from power trading at Tenaska to building Amperon, an AI-powered energy forecasting company serving traders, utilities, and municipalities across 26 countries.
They unpack probabilistic forecasting, weather-driven risk, AI adoption in the utility sector, and the challenges facing power markets across the U.S., Europe, and Asia.
00:00 Podcast Introduction
00:38 Meet Sean Kelly
01:15 Trading Roots to Amperon
02:15 Power Goes Mainstream
03:21 Grid Reality Check
04:22 New York Aha Moment
06:02 Customer Led Building
08:50 What Amperon Does
09:25 Probabilistic Forecasting
10:42 Weather Data Secret Sauce
12:05 AI Changes Risk
13:46 AI Adoption and New API
15:18 Global Investors and Markets
17:37 Europe Heat and Old Grid
20:40 US Grid Load Growth
22:20 ERCOT Demand Explosion
23:39 Nuclear and SMR Outlook
24:43 Checks Balances Tradeoffs
25:16 Permit Reform Frustrations
25:51 Private Grid Campuses Debate
28:08 Solar Duck Curve Reality
29:01 Gas Peakers Geothermal
30:51 Transmission Permitting Bottleneck
31:42 Batteries Duration Sweet Spot
33:05 2030 Outlook Queue Reform
35:03 How The Interconnection Queue Works
37:30 Forecasting Uncertainty Analogy
38:38 Founding Story Ampron
44:26 Entrepreneur Advice Product Market Fit
47:00 Closing Thanks Next Time
27 Aug 2026
Ep.37 | The U.S. Grid Under Pressure with Travis Fisher
The U.S. power grid is under pressure and data centers are changing the game.
PetroNoia host Dan Romito sits down with Travis Fisher, Director of Energy Policy at the Cato Institute, to explore grid reliability, rising electricity demand, and the infrastructure needed to keep up.
They discuss the challenges facing U.S. transmission, the rise of privately financed power networks, and the future of nuclear, geothermal, and AI-driven energy innovation, along with the case for federal permitting reform.
00:00 Podcast Introduction
00:38 Meet Travis Fisher
01:21 Career Path in Energy
03:14 2017 Grid Reliability Report
05:10 Load Growth Changes Everything
07:28 New England Fuel Constraints
10:52 Senate Testimony Insights
13:31 Transmission Planning and Costs
15:54 Data Centers and Ratepayers
17:30 Virginia and Cost Allocation
18:51 Private Off Grid Power
23:13 Nuclear and SMR Outlook
24:35 Crazy Ideas Win
25:24 Geothermal Everywhere
27:52 Permitting Reform Fight
31:04 Clean Water Act Vetoes
32:40 Targeted Fixes Only
34:01 Writing and State Reforms
35:23 Data Center Backlash
38:09 Why Pro AI
42:28 Grid Outlook Ahead
45:30 Private Grids Gamechanger
46:32 Closing Thoughts
20 Aug 2026
Ep. 36 | From Old Oil Fields to Underground Energy with Mike Umbro
What if old oil fields could become the batteries of the future?
PetroNoia host Dan Romito sits down with Mike Umbro to unpack GeoTest, a new approach to long-duration energy storage that uses concentrated solar thermal to store energy underground.
They discuss Kern County’s demonstration project, the potential for multi-week energy storage, grid reliability, critical minerals, and what it will take to scale GeoTest.
Could California’s oil fields become a blueprint for the next generation of energy storage?
00:00 Podcast Intro
00:39 Meet Mike Umbro
02:00 Project Permits Update
03:12 Repurposing Oil Fields
03:58 Old Wells Reality Check
06:49 Geotest Versus Geothermal
09:31 Solar Heated Reservoirs
13:36 Grid Storage And Dispatch
16:53 Battery Benefits Explained
20:23 Politics And Permitting
22:52 Gigawatt Scale Potential
26:36 Cost Versus Natural Gas
28:44 Forecasts Versus Reality
29:37 Three Constraints On Price
31:30 DOE Partnership Origin Story
35:30 How Grants Really Work
38:33 Energy Tech Becomes Infrastructure
42:23 AI Hype And Market Risk
46:41 California Grid Needs Diversity
49:21 Scaling GeoTest To Commercial
52:24 Permits Capital And Fast Drilling
55:24 Wrap Up And Next Steps
Who has been a guest on PetroNoia
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Drew Bond
Mike Umbro
Maria Dreyfus
Deb Ryan
Ann Bluntzer
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.8 / 5
4 ratings
Spotify
4.6 / 5
9 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 24 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
35
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
Contact PetroNoia
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
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Questions about PetroNoia
Who hosts PetroNoia?
Dan Romito host the show. Published by Dan Romito.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes weekly, based on its RSS feed.
Does PetroNoia take guests?
The show does not typically feature guests, based on episode analyses.
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