Energy Trends

On this episode of Energy Trends, we shine a light on recent stories in the renewable energy space.  We start by covering offshore wind leasing in the United States, as well as Scotland, then move to New York City's law requiring electrification of new buildings.  These stories highlight the range of recent developments in renewable energy. For further information on the New York Bight offshore lease sale, check the U.S. Department of the Interior's announcement of the February 2022 lease results: Click Here And for the New York City announcement of the law on electrification of new buildings, Click here:

On this episode of Energy Trends, Fred is joined by Heidi Harmon, the Mayor of San Luis Obispo, California.  Earlier this year the city adopted a Clean Energy Choice program for new buildings in the city, as part of the drive toward all-electric buildings.   Fred talks with Heidi about the program, obstacles to its adoption, and the city's multi-faceted program to address energy usage and climate change. For further information, check out the city's website at this link: Clean Energy Choice for New Buildings

On this episode of Energy Trends, Fred is joined by Eric Gimon, a Senior Fellow at Energy Innovation.  Eric is a primary author of a key report on the “coal crossover,” which is the point where the combined costs of existing coal plants are more expensive than the all-in costs of new wind or solar projects.   We'll talk with Eric about the report, as well as the recent 2035 Report on the feasibility of achieving 90% clean (carbon free) electricity in America by the year 2035.      For further information, check out Energy Innovation's website: energyinnovation.org

On this episode of Energy Trends, Fred is joined by Amy Scarton, the Assistant Secretary at the Washington State Department of Transportation who directs the Washington State Ferries.  Under Amy's leadership, the ferry system is undergoing a move to electrification.  The transition involves building all new ferries as hybrid-electric ferries, and converting the system's largest existing diesel ferries into hybrid-electric ferries.   We'll talk with Amy about that transition and the benefits it provides.    For further information, check the ferry system's website 

On this episode of Energy Trends, Fred is joined by Pete May, the President and co-founder of GreenBiz Group.  GreenBiz is a media and events company that works at the intersection of business, technology, and sustainability.  It has a great website, with strong content in different areas, including energy, transportation, and circularity.  It also puts on multiple events and produces research.   We'll talk with Pete about that, and the trends he's seeing from his position in the energy and sustainability areas.

On this episode of Energy Trends, Fred is joined by Eileen White, Director of Wastewater at the East Bay Municipal Utility District in the San Francisco Bay Area. Fred talks with Eileen about resource recovery, an evolving area of renewable energy that includes the generation of renewable energy from the biogas that is a natural byproduct of the treatment process, as well as the production of recycled water. For further information, check out the District's website at: https://www.ebmud.com/wastewater/recycling-water-and-energy/

On this episode of Energy Trends, host Fred Etheridge is joined by Nick Chaset, the CEO of East Bay Community Energy, to discuss what community choice energy is and how it offers customers a choice in their sources of energy. Nick outlines some of the solar, wind and storage agreements EBCE has recently entered to bring clean energy to the East San Francisco Bay Area. Check out East Bay Community Energy's primary website at: https://ebce.org For further information on their three residential programs: https://ebce.org/residents/