Episode 195 - Disrupting the Green Narrative: Energy Lessons from Ronald Stein

Disruptive Successor Podcast

Ronald Stein is a professional engineer, energy literacy advocate, and the Pulitzer Prize-nominated co-author of Clean Energy Exploitations. With decades of experience designing and building refineries for major corporations like Bechtel and Fluor, Ron possesses a deep, nuanced understanding of the energy sector. Thirty years ago, he and his wife, June, founded PTS Advance, a staffing and workforce solutions firm specializing in complex industries like energy and life sciences. After successfully growing the company, they transitioned ownership to their two sons 15 years ago. Now, Ron dedicates his time to educating policymakers, business leaders, and the public, serving as a columnist for America Out Loud News and an advisor to the Heartland Institute on energy policy.

SHOW SUMMARY

In this eye-opening episode of the Disruptive Successor Podcast, host Jonathan Goldhill sits down with Ronald Stein to challenge everything you think you know about energy. Ron explains the dangerous lack of "energy literacy" plaguing our leaders and policies. He draws a critical distinction: renewables like wind and solar only generate electricity, whereas fossil fuels are the foundation for the petrochemicals that create over 6,000 essential products, from iPhones and medical devices to the very components of EVs and solar panels. The conversation delves into the successful generational transition of Ron's family business, PTS Advance, and unpacks the severe economic and national security risks of misguided energy policies, revealing the hidden truths behind the global push for a "green" transition.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Energy vs. Electricity: A Critical Misunderstanding: Ron clarifies that "energy" and "electricity" are not interchangeable. Wind and solar generate electricity, but they cannot create the physical products derived from the petrochemicals in fossil fuels that our modern world is built on.
• Everything is Made from Oil: Our materialistic society, including "green" technologies like EVs, wind turbines, and solar panels, is fundamentally dependent on the 6,000+ products derived from oil. Getting rid of oil means getting rid of the building blocks of modern life.
• A Family Business Success Story: Ron shares how he and his wife built PTS Advance from the ground up, successfully transitioned it to their sons, and strategically hired a non-family CEO, leading to massive growth and an eventual acquisition.
• The Perils of Poor Policy: California's push to eliminate in-state oil production has ironically made the state over 70% dependent on foreign oil imports, creating a significant national security risk and driving up costs for consumers.
• The Hidden Costs of EVs: Transitioning to electric vehicles eliminates the gas tax revenue that maintains roads, while the heavier weight of EVs causes more road damage, creating a future funding crisis.
• The Unethical Side of "Clean" Energy: Ron argues that mandating EVs financially incentivizes the exploitation of labor (including child labor) and environmental degradation in countries like China and in Africa, where the raw materials for batteries are mined.
• The Nuclear Resurgence: As a reliable, emissions-free, and continuous power source, nuclear energy is gaining worldwide momentum as a practical solution for our electricity needs, requiring far less land and materials than wind and solar.

QUOTES

• "Wind and solar only generates electricity. They make no powers, no insulation, no asphalt, et cetera, et cetera. Whereas oil, all the products we have today didn't exist 200 years ago."
• "If you get rid of oil, you get rid of electricity, you get rid of EVs. The EV is a hundred percent made with oil."
• "Instead of being 5% dependent on foreign imports for crude oil, we're now more than 70% dependent... And that is a national security risk for America."
• "My passion is to stimulate conversations about energy literacy because most of our policy makers are misunderstanding the word energy."
• "I think it's unethical and immoral to provide those financial incentives for those countries to continue to [exploit people and the environment]."
• "There's a worldwide movement toward nuclear 'cause we want affordable, reliable, continuous electricity, also emissions free electricity and nuclear is providing that."

Connect and learn more about Ronald Stein and his work:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronaldstein/
Email: [email protected]
Book: Clean Energy Exploitations on Amazon
Company: PTS Advance: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pts-advance/

If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe, review, and share with a friend who would benefit from the message. If you’re interested in picking up a copy of Jonathan Goldhill’s book, Disruptive Successor, go to the website at www.DisruptiveSuccessor.com