About this episode

The episode discusses the challenges and barriers to building large energy infrastructure projects, particularly in the US, and explores potential solutions.

Whoever you ask, you are likely find broad agreement that the world needs more energy infrastructure. Whether you are worried about ensuring secure supplies, powering new data centres, or cutting greenhouse gas emissions, the answer is most often going to be investing in new assets: power plants, transmission lines, factories, pipelines, ports… the list goes on. But all too often, getting big projects built is painfully slow, expensive and unpredictable. It is particularly difficult in high-income countries, and perhaps in the US most of all. For this episode, host Ed Crooks and regular guest Dr. Melissa Lott are joined by Craig Albert, the President and COO of Bechtel, one of the world’s biggest engineering and construction companies. Together, they discuss the critical problems that get in the way of infrastructure projects, and what businesses and governments can do to get past them. First off, Craig acknowledges that the problems in the system all reflect good intentions. Communities, safety, the environment and local impacts all deserve scrutiny. The problem, especially in the US, is that the process used to take all those factors into account when approving large projects…

People in this episode

Host: Ed Crooks

Guests: Dr. Melissa Lott, Craig Albert

Topics covered

• energy infrastructure
• project development
• construction challenges
• government policy
• environmental impact

Keywords

• energy infrastructure
• construction
• project delays
• government policy
• environmental scrutiny

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Bechtel

Places: US

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