The growth of renewables and the fracking revolution has made for a lot of cheap energy in the U.S. and an energy landscape nearly unrecognizable from what it was a decade ago. This week, Switched On speaks with BloombergNEF's head of Americas, Ethan Zindler, about the changes we've seen in U.S. energy over the past decade, who is best positioned in the current market, and what to expect going forward.

This episode is based on a report titled Sustainable Energy in America Factbook 2020 done by BloombergNEF in collaboration with the Business Council for Sustainable Energy.

BNEF clients can access this report on bnef.com or BNEF Mobile, or at BNEF<GO> on the Bloomberg Terminal. This report is also available publicly at www.bcse.org.

Switched On is hosted this week by Mark Taylor.

The growth of renewables and the fracking revolution has made for a lot of cheap energy in the U.S. and an energy landscape nearly unrecognizable from what it was a decade ago. This week, Switched On speaks with BloombergNEF's head of Americas, Ethan Zindler, about the changes we've seen in U.S. energy over the past decade, who is best positioned in the current market, and what to expect going forward.This episode is based on a report titled Sustainable Energy in America Factbook 2020 done by BloombergNEF in collaboration with the Business Council for Sustainable Energy.BNEF clients can access this report on <a href="https://www.bnef.com/core/insights/22289">bnef.com</a> or BNEF Mobile, or at BNEF&lt;GO&gt; on the Bloomberg Terminal. This report is also available publicly at <a href="www.bcse.org">www.bcse.org</a>.Switched On is hosted this week by Mark Taylor.

The future of energy, transport, sustainability and more, as told by BNEF analysts. Each week, Dana Perkins and Tom Rowlands-Rees sit down with BloombergNEF (BNEF) analysts to uncover the key findings and stories behind their latest research.

The future of energy, transport, sustainability and more, as told by BNEF analysts. Each week, Dana Perkins and Tom Rowlands-Rees sit down with BloombergNEF (BNEF) analysts to uncover the key findings and stories behind their latest research.

The future of energy, transport, sustainability and more from Bloomberg analysts

Switched On

U.S. Energy: Same As It Ever Was? Not Even Close

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/21aa39d1-b889-4838-9d2e-ae3c0010420b/transcript

As power grids become more digital and interconnected, they are also becoming more exposed. Utilities are facing a growing mix of physical and cyber threats, from attacks on substations to increasingly sophisticated efforts to infiltrate the systems used to monitor and operate the grid. Smart meters, distributed energy resources and connected devices are creating new vulnerabilities, while AI has the potential to both strengthen defenses and lower the barrier to more complex attacks. Yet security spending remains difficult to prioritize, forcing utilities and regulators to weigh uncertain risks against other pressing investment needs. So how should the power sector think about grid security, and what does resilience look like in an increasingly connected energy system? On today’s show, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by Hayley Lai, an analyst from BNEF’s grids team, to discuss findings from her note “Physical and Cyber Threats Reshape US Grid Investment.”

Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF<GO> on the Bloomberg Terminal or on bnef.com

Links to research notes from this episode:

Physical and Cyber Threats Reshape US Grid Investment - https://www.bnef.com/insights/39285

As power grids become more digital and interconnected, they are also becoming more exposed. Utilities are facing a growing mix of physical and cyber threats, from attacks on substations to increasingly sophisticated efforts to infiltrate the systems used to monitor and operate the grid. Smart meters, distributed energy resources and connected devices are creating new vulnerabilities, while AI has the potential to both strengthen defenses and lower the barrier to more complex attacks. Yet security spending remains difficult to prioritize, forcing utilities and regulators to weigh uncertain risks against other pressing investment needs. So how should the power sector think about grid security, and what does resilience look like in an increasingly connected energy system? On today&rsquo;s show, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by Hayley Lai, an analyst from BNEF&rsquo;s grids team, to discuss findings from her note &ldquo;Physical and Cyber Threats Reshape US Grid Investment.&rdquo;
Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF&lt;GO&gt; on the Bloomberg Terminal or on <a href="https://www.bnef.com/">bnef.com</a>
Links to research notes from this episode:
Physical and Cyber Threats Reshape US Grid Investment - <a href="https://www.bnef.com/insights/39285">https://www.bnef.com/insights/39285</a>

Defending the Power Grid in an Age of Digital Threats

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/e82227e0-defc-4a10-8254-b46c01636cc1/transcript

El Niño has officially arrived, and there are concerns this time that the weather phenomenon might be more intense than most years, a so-called “super” event. With Pacific Ocean temperatures now exceeding the threshold for one of the strongest forms of the weather pattern, the risk of prolonged heat, drought, low wind and other disruptive weather events is rising across multiple regions at once. For commodity and power markets, that can mean greater volatility, from wind droughts in Europe and hydropower stress in the Nordics to shifting hurricane risks in the US. Yet El Niño can also ease pressure in some markets, influencing winter temperatures, rainfall patterns and energy demand in ways that are not always straightforward. So what does a super El Niño mean for commodities, power markets and energy systems, and where are the biggest risks likely to emerge? On today’s show, Kamala Schelling is joined by BloombergNEF’s weather analysts, Jess Hicks and Ryan Ward, to discuss some of their team’s notes, including “Weather and Commodities: Summer Outlook 2026 Marks El Niño” and “Atlantic Hurricane Outlook 2026: El Niño Lowers Count.”

Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF<GO> on the Bloomberg Terminal or on bnef.com

Links to research notes from this episode:

Atlantic Hurricane Outlook 2026: El Niño Lowers Count - https://www.bnef.com/insights/39663

Weather and Commodities: Summer Outlook 2026 Marks El Niño - https://www.bnef.com/insights/39615

AI Models Show Edge in Tropical Cyclone Prediction - https://www.bnef.com/insights/39679

El Ni&ntilde;o has officially arrived, and there are concerns this time that the weather phenomenon might be more intense than most years, a so-called &ldquo;super&rdquo; event. With Pacific Ocean temperatures now exceeding the threshold for one of the strongest forms of the weather pattern, the risk of prolonged heat, drought, low wind and other disruptive weather events is rising across multiple regions at once. For commodity and power markets, that can mean greater volatility, from wind droughts in Europe and hydropower stress in the Nordics to shifting hurricane risks in the US. Yet El Ni&ntilde;o can also ease pressure in some markets, influencing winter temperatures, rainfall patterns and energy demand in ways that are not always straightforward. So what does a super El Ni&ntilde;o mean for commodities, power markets and energy systems, and where are the biggest risks likely to emerge? On today&rsquo;s show, Kamala Schelling is joined by BloombergNEF&rsquo;s weather analysts, Jess Hicks and Ryan Ward, to discuss some of their team&rsquo;s notes, including &ldquo;Weather and Commodities: Summer Outlook 2026 Marks El Ni&ntilde;o&rdquo; and &ldquo;Atlantic Hurricane Outlook 2026: El Ni&ntilde;o Lowers Count.&rdquo;
Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF&lt;GO&gt; on the Bloomberg Terminal or on <a href="https://www.bnef.com/">bnef.com</a>
Links to research notes from this episode:
Atlantic Hurricane Outlook 2026: El Ni&ntilde;o Lowers Count - <a href="https://www.bnef.com/insights/39663">https://www.bnef.com/insights/39663</a>
Weather and Commodities: Summer Outlook 2026 Marks El Ni&ntilde;o - <a href="https://www.bnef.com/insights/39615">https://www.bnef.com/insights/39615</a>
AI Models Show Edge in Tropical Cyclone Prediction - <a href="https://www.bnef.com/insights/39679">https://www.bnef.com/insights/39679</a>
&nbsp;

 How Super El Niño Hits Power Markets: Analyst Reaction

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/af3be4db-13d3-456e-82d8-b46a00aabc3c/transcript

Heat pumps are at a crossroads. After a decade of growth, global sales fell in 2025 as weaker construction activity weighed on key markets. Yet the longer-term picture remains resilient. Heat pumps have continued to gain ground against fossil fuel heating in several regions, while Europe remains a focal point for adoption, shaped by a shifting mix of subsidies, energy prices and consumer demand. So what is driving heat pump uptake today, and what will determine whether electrified heating can move into the mainstream? On today’s show, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by Yara van Ingen, an associate from our building decarbonization team, to discuss her note “Heat Pump Market Outlook 2026: Blip, Not Bust.”

Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF<GO> on the Bloomberg Terminal or on bnef.com

Links to research notes from this episode:

Heat Pump Market Outlook 2026: Blip, Not Bust - https://www.bnef.com/insights/39389

Heat pumps are at a crossroads. After a decade of growth, global sales fell in 2025 as weaker construction activity weighed on key markets. Yet the longer-term picture remains resilient. Heat pumps have continued to gain ground against fossil fuel heating in several regions, while Europe remains a focal point for adoption, shaped by a shifting mix of subsidies, energy prices and consumer demand. So what is driving heat pump uptake today, and what will determine whether electrified heating can move into the mainstream? On today&rsquo;s show, Tom Rowlands-Rees is joined by Yara van Ingen, an associate from our building decarbonization team, to discuss her note &ldquo;Heat Pump Market Outlook 2026: Blip, Not Bust.&rdquo;
Complementary BNEF research on the trends driving the transition to a lower-carbon economy can be found at BNEF&lt;GO&gt; on the Bloomberg Terminal or on <a href="https://www.bnef.com/">bnef.com</a>
Links to research notes from this episode:
Heat Pump Market Outlook 2026: Blip, Not Bust - <a href="https://www.bnef.com/insights/39389">https://www.bnef.com/insights/39389</a>

Heat Pumps and the Economics of Clean Heating

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7404e3ec-27c3-484d-acc9-b466006447c4/transcript

U.S. Energy: Same As It Ever Was? Not Even Close

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