He helped Uruguay decarbonize. Can he help other countries do the same?
About this episode
The episode discusses Ramón Méndez Galain's efforts to replicate Uruguay's successful decarbonization model in other countries.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.volts.wtf/subscribe Ramón Méndez Galain helped Uruguay decarbonize its grid (today it’s 98% fossil-free) while keeping the utility public and letting private capital foot the bill. Now he’s trying to export the same playbook across the global South. We talk through how Uruguay pulled it off — the hydro “battery” for wind & solar “baseload,” the cross-party political deal, the market redesign — and what actually transfers to countries without the same advantages. We also discuss why, seven years on, no other country has followed Uruguay’s path. Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 03:09 – From particle physics to a nuclear proposal 05:46 – Taking the job as energy secretary 07:00 – The 2008 crisis: drought, expensive oil, blackouts 09:26 – Getting every party to sign the same plan 12:51 – Why climate was not the lead argument 15:42 – Attracting private capital without privatizing 20:22 – What a public utility made possible 23:06 – Planning a grid where wind and solar are the base load 29:26 – Thermal plants as insurance, and the last 2 percent 32:36 – EVs, smart…
People in this episode
Host: David Roberts
Guest: Ramón Méndez Galain
Topics covered
- decarbonization
- energy policy
- public utilities
- private capital
- global South
- climate change
- political agreements
Keywords
- decarbonization
- Uruguay
- energy policy
- public utility
- private investment
- climate strategy
- global South
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Volts, www.volts.wtf
Places: Uruguay, Colombia, Haiti
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