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May 24, 2022 · 23m · green-blueprint

Introducing Drilled: Bridge to Nowhere

Amy Westervelt · 11m spoken Heidi Harmon · 4m spoken Charlie Spatz · 58s spoken Lobbyist / Industry Strategist · 18s spoken News Anchor · 5s spoken
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This investigative episode of the Drilled podcast examines how the natural gas industry mobilized extreme tactics—ranging from COVID-19 protest threats to state preemption laws—to combat municipal building electrification in San Luis Obispo, California. Hosted by Amy Westervelt, the report documents Mayor Heidi Harmon's fight against fossil fuel utility intimidation to pass historic climate legislation.

How this conversation actually went

Every chapter scored 0–10 on four independent dynamics. Hover any point for the reasoning behind the score. How this is scored →

The hosts as informed peer 5.8 Guest teaching 1.4 Guest disagreement 0.0 The hosts pushing back 0.0
05100:0010:0020:001:18–4:34 · The hosts as informed peer 5/10 Pandemic Threats and San Luis Obispo's Gas Ban Amy Westervelt sets up the investigative narrative regarding the union intimidation tactics against San Luis Obispo's proposed gas ban during early COVID-19. The dynamic is purely documentary storytelling with no adversarial tension.4:45–9:34 · The hosts as informed peer 7/10 Heidi Harmon's Election and the Renewable Gas Pitch Amy Westervelt demonstrates strong subject expertise by breaking down SoCalGas's renewable natural gas claims, contextualizing IPCC maladaptation definitions, while guest Charlie Spatz provides background on biomethane sources.9:34–12:40 · The hosts as informed peer 6/10 Decarbonization Mandates and the Berkeley Gas Ban Precedent Heidi Harmon recounts rejecting the gas lobbyist's pitch, while Amy details how methane science undermined natural gas's 'bridge fuel' reputation and spurred building electrification policies.12:40–18:13 · The hosts as informed peer 5/10 Industry Retaliation, Harassment, and Petro-Masculinity in Action Amy breaks down industry front groups and debunked claims about gas grills, while Harmon describes enduring misogynistic harassment, union threats, and petro-masculinity.18:13–21:19 · The hosts as informed peer 6/10 Passing Building Electrification and the Preemption Law Backlash Amy and Charlie Spatz outline the macro industry reaction across the US, tracking how gas utilities pivoted to pushing state-level preemption laws to ban municipal gas bans.1:18–4:34 · Guest teaching 0/10 Pandemic Threats and San Luis Obispo's Gas Ban Amy Westervelt sets up the investigative narrative regarding the union intimidation tactics against San Luis Obispo's proposed gas ban during early COVID-19. The dynamic is purely documentary storytelling with no adversarial tension.4:45–9:34 · Guest teaching 2/10 Heidi Harmon's Election and the Renewable Gas Pitch Amy Westervelt demonstrates strong subject expertise by breaking down SoCalGas's renewable natural gas claims, contextualizing IPCC maladaptation definitions, while guest Charlie Spatz provides background on biomethane sources.9:34–12:40 · Guest teaching 1/10 Decarbonization Mandates and the Berkeley Gas Ban Precedent Heidi Harmon recounts rejecting the gas lobbyist's pitch, while Amy details how methane science undermined natural gas's 'bridge fuel' reputation and spurred building electrification policies.12:40–18:13 · Guest teaching 2/10 Industry Retaliation, Harassment, and Petro-Masculinity in Action Amy breaks down industry front groups and debunked claims about gas grills, while Harmon describes enduring misogynistic harassment, union threats, and petro-masculinity.18:13–21:19 · Guest teaching 2/10 Passing Building Electrification and the Preemption Law Backlash Amy and Charlie Spatz outline the macro industry reaction across the US, tracking how gas utilities pivoted to pushing state-level preemption laws to ban municipal gas bans.1:18–4:34 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Pandemic Threats and San Luis Obispo's Gas Ban Amy Westervelt sets up the investigative narrative regarding the union intimidation tactics against San Luis Obispo's proposed gas ban during early COVID-19. The dynamic is purely documentary storytelling with no adversarial tension.4:45–9:34 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Heidi Harmon's Election and the Renewable Gas Pitch Amy Westervelt demonstrates strong subject expertise by breaking down SoCalGas's renewable natural gas claims, contextualizing IPCC maladaptation definitions, while guest Charlie Spatz provides background on biomethane sources.9:34–12:40 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Decarbonization Mandates and the Berkeley Gas Ban Precedent Heidi Harmon recounts rejecting the gas lobbyist's pitch, while Amy details how methane science undermined natural gas's 'bridge fuel' reputation and spurred building electrification policies.12:40–18:13 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Industry Retaliation, Harassment, and Petro-Masculinity in Action Amy breaks down industry front groups and debunked claims about gas grills, while Harmon describes enduring misogynistic harassment, union threats, and petro-masculinity.18:13–21:19 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Passing Building Electrification and the Preemption Law Backlash Amy and Charlie Spatz outline the macro industry reaction across the US, tracking how gas utilities pivoted to pushing state-level preemption laws to ban municipal gas bans.1:18–4:34 · The hosts pushing back 0/10 Pandemic Threats and San Luis Obispo's Gas Ban Amy Westervelt sets up the investigative narrative regarding the union intimidation tactics against San Luis Obispo's proposed gas ban during early COVID-19. The dynamic is purely documentary storytelling with no adversarial tension.4:45–9:34 · The hosts pushing back 0/10 Heidi Harmon's Election and the Renewable Gas Pitch Amy Westervelt demonstrates strong subject expertise by breaking down SoCalGas's renewable natural gas claims, contextualizing IPCC maladaptation definitions, while guest Charlie Spatz provides background on biomethane sources.9:34–12:40 · The hosts pushing back 0/10 Decarbonization Mandates and the Berkeley Gas Ban Precedent Heidi Harmon recounts rejecting the gas lobbyist's pitch, while Amy details how methane science undermined natural gas's 'bridge fuel' reputation and spurred building electrification policies.12:40–18:13 · The hosts pushing back 0/10 Industry Retaliation, Harassment, and Petro-Masculinity in Action Amy breaks down industry front groups and debunked claims about gas grills, while Harmon describes enduring misogynistic harassment, union threats, and petro-masculinity.18:13–21:19 · The hosts pushing back 0/10 Passing Building Electrification and the Preemption Law Backlash Amy and Charlie Spatz outline the macro industry reaction across the US, tracking how gas utilities pivoted to pushing state-level preemption laws to ban municipal gas bans.

speaking balance: gold is the hosts, purple is the guest (3 minute bins)

0:00 · the hosts 0% · guest 100%0:00 · the hosts 0% · guest 100%3:00 · the hosts 0% · guest 100%3:00 · the hosts 0% · guest 100%6:00 · the hosts 0% · guest 100%6:00 · the hosts 0% · guest 100%9:00 · the hosts 0% · guest 100%9:00 · the hosts 0% · guest 100%12:00 · the hosts 0% · guest 100%12:00 · the hosts 0% · guest 100%15:00 · the hosts 0% · guest 100%15:00 · the hosts 0% · guest 100%18:00 · the hosts 0% · guest 100%18:00 · the hosts 0% · guest 100%21:00 · the hosts 0% · guest 100%21:00 · the hosts 0% · guest 100%
Sharpest disagreement ▶ 17:35 Harmon defies union intimidation tactics

Harmon forcefully rejects the intimidation of the union boss's COVID-superspreader threat, declaring 'bring it on' to protect future generations.

 Hardest push from the hosts ▶ 13:54 Amy calls out the barbecue grill scare tactic

Westervelt rejects the industry lobbyist advertisement's claim that gas bans take away barbecue grills, noting that almost all grills use portable tanks rather than piped utility gas.

 Biggest teaching moment ▶ 6:22 Charlie Spatz defines biomethane marketing

Spatz educates listeners on how renewable natural gas is an industry marketing term primarily capturing biomethane from landfills and CAFOs.

 The host holds their own ▶ 7:55 Amy dissects SoCalGas RNG advertisement

Westervelt provides an in-depth technical rebuttal to SoCalGas's PR campaign, explaining life-cycle emissions, transport leaks, and IPCC maladaptation.
the scores for every segment, with the reasoning behind each
ChapterTopicThe hosts as informed peerGuest teachingGuest disagreementThe hosts pushing backWhy
Pandemic Threats and San Luis Obispo's Gas Ban 5000 Amy Westervelt sets up the investigative narrative regarding the union intimidation tactics against San Luis Obispo's proposed gas ban during early COVID-19. The dynamic is purely documentary storytelling with no adversarial tension.
Heidi Harmon's Election and the Renewable Gas Pitch 7200 Amy Westervelt demonstrates strong subject expertise by breaking down SoCalGas's renewable natural gas claims, contextualizing IPCC maladaptation definitions, while guest Charlie Spatz provides background on biomethane sources.
Decarbonization Mandates and the Berkeley Gas Ban Precedent 6100 Heidi Harmon recounts rejecting the gas lobbyist's pitch, while Amy details how methane science undermined natural gas's 'bridge fuel' reputation and spurred building electrification policies.
Industry Retaliation, Harassment, and Petro-Masculinity in Action 5200 Amy breaks down industry front groups and debunked claims about gas grills, while Harmon describes enduring misogynistic harassment, union threats, and petro-masculinity.
Passing Building Electrification and the Preemption Law Backlash 6200 Amy and Charlie Spatz outline the macro industry reaction across the US, tracking how gas utilities pivoted to pushing state-level preemption laws to ban municipal gas bans.

Statements from this episode (9)

Assertion Supported
San Luis Obispo postponed its natural gas ban vote after union intimidation
“And ultimately, the scare tactic worked. They postponed their vote on a bill that would have banned gas in new buildings.”
Amy Westervelt May 24, 2022 ▶ 3:13
Opinion
Spatz: Renewable natural gas is a gas industry marketing term
“Yeah, I mean, renewable natural gas it's a brilliant marketing term that the gas industry has created.”
Charlie Spatz May 24, 2022 ▶ 6:23
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Westervelt: Solar and wind intermittency issues are largely addressed
“In fact, the intermittency and storage issues associated with renewables like solar and wind have largely been addressed in recent years.”
Amy Westervelt May 24, 2022 ▶ 8:32
Assertion Supported
Westervelt: Renewable gas can cover at most 16% of current usage
“But by even the most optimistic estimate, RNG could only cover about 16% of current gas use.”
Amy Westervelt May 24, 2022 ▶ 9:21
Assertion Supported
Westervelt: Berkeley became the first US city to pass a gas ban in 2019
“Then in 2019, the city of Berkeley, California, became the first U.S. City to pass what's called a gas ban.”
Amy Westervelt May 24, 2022 ▶ 11:50
Assertion Supported
Westervelt: Consumer Energy Alliance is operated by lobbying firm HBW Resources
“Called the Consumer Energy Alliance, which claims to be a citizen group, but is run out of HBW Resources, an industry lobbying firm.”
Amy Westervelt May 24, 2022 ▶ 13:20
Assertion Not publicly verifiable
Utility union president directed extreme misogynistic slurs at female city council members
“At a city council meeting, after it was clear that things were not going to go in their direction, the president of the union himself said, I'm not resting till that fucking red flower, Corella de Vil cunt, and all those other fucking bitches are voted off tha…”
Heidi Harmon May 24, 2022 ▶ 16:16
Assertion Contradicted
Westervelt: Over 50 California cities passed gas bans by end of 2020
“By the end of twenty-twenty, there were more than 50 gas bans in California alone.”
Amy Westervelt May 24, 2022 ▶ 19:19
Assertion Supported
Westervelt: 19 states passed laws preempting local gas bans by 2022
“As of early twenty-twenty-two, 19 states have passed preemptive laws banning gas bans.”
Amy Westervelt May 24, 2022 ▶ 20:31
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