Luke Menzel

OUT NOW: a super rapid, yet extended, Let Me Sum Up reaction to Australia’s 2035 emissions target and the päperdämmerung of accompanying advice, modelling, strategies and plans. Are we at home on the range from 62-70%? Saddle up and find out!
Podcast here: www.letmesumup.net/the-hi-lo-co...

OUT NOW: a double-epic LMSU episode covering NOT JUST the Productivity Commission’s timely climate and energy contribution to the looming Reformdämmerung, BUT ALSO the blockbuster draft report of the Nelson Review of the NEM! Phew!
Here’s the pod:
www.letmesumup.net/like-sands-t...

OUT NOW: what in the heck is a Sustainable Finance Taxonomy, and what is In (or Not In) Australia’s first one, and what should we do (or not do) with that? Let Me Sum Up is on the case!
Podcast here: www.letmesumup.net/frankie-my-d...

Read both and you'll have a good steer on what it all means: Victoria has put in place a big, bold suite of policies on household electrification that will deliver for households and industry. There is an always more to do – as we have noted! – but this week's announcements are a bloody good start.

Don’t believe the hype: Victorian government deserves credit for not buckling to aggressive pro-gas campaign Australia’s most gas-reliant state takes a significant step to move households and businesses away from fossil fuels and cut energy bills

Shout out too to @adammorton.bsky.social in The Guardian for his noble attempt to introduce some sanity to the mainstream media coverage of these changes

‘Nation-leading’ electrification reserves gas for industry Aussies will rely on gas for decades, just not in Victoria’s all-electric homes, with state supply to be prioritised for industry

This article from Marion Rae in The Energy is one of the few that properly gets under the hood of the gas appliance phase out regs announced by Victoria this week, and interactions with broader energy policy

The analysis and policy brief are being finalised. They’ll be released over the next couple of weeks, but @jaykayes.bsky.social has been finalising this work and can provide you with the right numbers for this one.

Hi Andrew. Excellent question. This is not correct, we are reaching out to Renew to make sure the figures are updated (hopefully tomorrow). Savings are big but not implausibly so!

I'm back on Let Me Sum Up this week, your fortnightly dose of energy wonkery! Listening link below or wherever you get your pods.

OUT NOW: a bold new idea for managing the financial side of an expected gas network death spiral! From past LMSU subject, regulatory superstar Ron Ben-David aka gansta RABer and guerrilla gorilla wrangler The Notorious RBD

podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/l...

Abundance: A Zippy 40 Year Ride On Procedural Liberalism’s Fast Train To Nowhere Podcast Episode · Let Me Sum Up · 05/06/2025 · 1h 30m

OUT NOW: an extra capacious Let Me Sum Up spectacular covers a series of anniversaries!

podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/l...

Abundance: A Zippy 40 Year Ride On Procedural Liberalism’s Fast Train To Nowhere Because three years in, we’re still not done talking about gas, climate politics, nimbyism, and... T-shirts!!!

There is also a new episode up today unpacking Abundance, the pro-growth, regulation sceptical treatise tearing apart the US progressive movement (and tearing through the Albanese Government we hear). Hear us debate the merits of regulating smarter not harder here: www.letmesumup.net/abundance-a-...

It's the Let Me Sum Up podcast's 3rd birthday, and we got ourselves (and all of you) some presents

- A shiny new website! Check out the video below – or just visit www.letmesumup.net

- T-shirts! Tote bags! Mugs! You've been hassling us for merch, we've delivered at www.letmesumup.net/p/merch/

So yes to sequestration but not through a market mechanism? If that is a yes, how would the sequestration be achieved? Genuinely interested in what lever you would use.

I think the reckoning on the integrity of carbon markets was overdue and much needed. And I agree we need to massively ramp up effort on onsite emissions reduction. But do you think there should be no market for carbon removals at all? 1.5 degrees requires significant sequestration…

Thanks, this is all interesting. Completely understand you are disappointed with his answers. I don't agree that the government's first term reforms are meaningless, but I do agree that we are a long way from a policy suite that would deliver an ambitious 2035 target.

Hi Christine. Have you listened to the episode?

Luke Menzel and Chris Bowen having an armchair conversation on stage at an energy conference.

New First Fuel podcast is out, with an armchair chat @chrisbowenmp.bsky.social

We talk COP31, Australia’s 2035 emissions target, and why efficiency and electrification has a big role in his second term agenda.

Apple: podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/f...

Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6lGK...

OUT NOW: how can Australia be a clean energy superpower when China can do cheap solar themselves? A meticulous paper by Reuben Finighan finds that without trade, sky-high future 🇨🇳🇮🇳🇩🇪🇯🇵🇰🇷electricity demand becomes horribly expensive to meet. Enter 🇦🇺! (And/or 🇧🇷 🇨🇱 🇲🇦 🇵🇪 🇸🇦)
podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/l...

Labor does diplomatic dance on climate targets Australia needs an ambitious 2035 emissions reduction target, and soon, if it is to have any hope of hosting COP next year, experts say.

Post-election, focus is turning to Australia's COP31 bid and the ambition of our 2035 emissions reduction target. I had a good chat with Ryan Cropp in the AFR about the role of ambition in securing the bid, and keeping faith with Pacific Island partners.

www.afr.com/policy/energ...

There Is Too Much: The Federal Election's Impact On Climate And Energy Policy Podcast Episode · Let Me Sum Up · 09/05/2025 · Bonus · 35m

OUT NOW: special bonus LMSU episode covers the climate and energy policy decisions in front of the reelected Federal Government. There’s a lot! Ordinarily available only to Patreon backers and Apple Podcast subscribers, we’ve waived the paywall - come get it! podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/l...

It was quite the episode! The only question is, have we levelled up or jumped the shark?

Pearls And Kidney Stones, Fresh And Steaming From The Bloody Guts Of The 2025 Election Podcast Episode · Let Me Sum Up · 04/05/2025 · 1h 8m

OUT NOW: A super-rapid response Let Me Sum Up covers the 2025 Federal Election outcome - what happened, arguments about why, what role climate played, and where next for Australian Democracy and the re-elected Govt. podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/l...

Labor won the election. It was a mighty victory. Now it is time to win the future Labor has once in a generation opportunity to lock in an economic transformation that would dwarf the achievements of Hawke and Keating in the 1980s.

Some thoughts from me in Renew Economy.

Labor has a once in a generation opportunity to lock in an economic transformation that would dwarf the achievements of Hawke and Keating in the 1980s. Or they could play it safe and miss the moment.

Game on.

reneweconomy.com.au/labor-won-th...

Careful, with sort of feedback hammy American movie trailer voice may become a feature

OUT NOW: what should climate people do next given rapid regress on 1.5, rapid progress on cleantech, and Global Political Headwinds? A new paper from @systemiq.bsky.social packs many ideas (and few details) into 15 pages. LMSU assesses!
podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/l...

OUT NOW: should Victoria go all-out on residential electrification, or step more cautiously? The Government is consulting; a new IEEFA report offers independent, interesting, incomplete modelling of the options; LMSU digs in to the fine print!

podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/l...

Thanks! You inspired me to post this properly over here (busy day) bsky.app/profile/luke...

Cutting The Cost Of Insulation And Slashing Energy Bills The Allan Labor Government is cutting the cost of installing insulation in Victorian homes, which will help families slash their energy bills by around $400 a year.Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister f...

For more info see:

The Government's media release: www.premier.vic.gov.au/cutting-cost...
The EEC's media release: www.eec.org.au/news/eec-new...
The Affiliated Insulation Industry Coalition media release: insulationcoalition.org/wp-content/u...

Big news today at a press conference with Jacinta Allan and Lily D'Ambrosio – from 2026 the Victorian Energy Upgrades program will support installation of ceiling insulation!

Insulation is critical energy infrastructure, supporting health, comfort and affordability. Good on Vic for leading on this