More Power To You

This episode is a graduate-level course on tracking renewable energy from generation to the end user, and the complexities of how policies, processes and markets all interact. My guest is Ben Gerber, the Executive Director of M-RETS, the Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System based in Minneapolis. And this episode is a first for this podcast as I invite a guest co-host to join me—Tanuj Deora, Vice President of Market Development at Simple Energy. Tanuj is well known in clean energy circles – among his many previous roles he’s served as the Director of the Colorado Energy Office and more recently as EVP at SEPA, the Smart Electric Power Alliance, a role in which he’s been a guest on this podcast before. Ben, Tanuj and I start our conversation with the basics – what is MRETS and what does it do, and how do Renewable Energy Certificates, or RECs, work? We look at how the REC market landscape has been changing for both buyers and sellers, and we get into the debate that’s been happening within the REC community about the value of RECs and if they’ve outlived their usefulness. Tanuj and Ben square off about questions of additionality and look at the extent to which REC policies provide a necessary market incentive to build new renewable generation or whether they can serve as a disincentive in some scenarios. From there we look at the applicability of tracking systems to other sectors such as energy efficiency and energy storage. Then we look more broadly at the implications of RECs for decarbonization, and specifically at how advances in the technology and different market and policy approaches can support meaningful climate action. And we close our conversation with a look at renewable natural gas. We recorded this episode in back in February when Ben was in DC to speak at NARUC’s annual Winter Policy Conference. Though the conversation is a couple months old now, it has aged well aside from Tanuj’s gloating about the Patriots winning the Super Bowl. Show references include: Orange Button Budweiser super bowl ad EPA Webinar: Renewable Natural Gas from Landfill Gas and Sustainability at L’Oréal Recorded February 10, 2019. Published April 29, 2019. Sign up for email news and updates from More Power To You.  Sponsor message: Is the climate crisis stressing you out?  You have a choice in what you do about it. Option 1: Scream into a pillow, or option 2: Drive sustainable corporate behavior through your investments. If you’re like most of us, you probably don’t know what your investment funds are supporting, and there’s a good chance they invest in fossil fuels. Change Finance is a woman-owned and operated Public Benefit Corporation that builds investment funds to change the world. The investments are fossil fuel free, and align with your values without sacrificing returns. Go to change-finance.net/mpty to learn more and start investing today.  Change Finance is a registered investment advisor. This is not an offer to buy or sell any product.

This is a special episode of More Power to You, in which I bring you an episode of Offshore Wind Insider, a podcast I launched a few months ago for the Business Network for Offshore Wind, which in full disclosure is a client of mine. My guest is Liz Burdock, President and CEO of the Network. Our conversation covers both strengths and challenges facing the US offshore wind industry today. We begin by looking at where the market stands today in terms of its potential capacity, current state commitments and the project development pipeline. We discuss recent lease activity, the entry of major international companies into the US market, what that says about investor confidence and what it may mean for the industry’s growth. We obviously talk about the IPF, the Network’s International Partnering Forum which is just a few weeks away in New York, as well as other activities the Network has planned later this year. Liz shares how the industry’s rapid growth also poses significant supply chain challenges, and she wraps up by looking West and discussing the possibilities for offshore wind in the Pacific. At least I thought she was wrapping up, but then she turns the tables on me and starts asking me questions. So, I share some of what I’ve seen and learned as someone who’s still relatively new to the industry. References: US Offshore Wind Market Update and Insights report 2019 International Partnering Forum Recorded March 12, 2019. Published March 25, 2019. Sign up for email news and updates from More Power To You.  Is the climate crisis stressing you out?  You have a choice in what you do about it. Option 1: Scream into a pillow, or option 2: Drive sustainable corporate behavior through your investments. If you’re like most of us, you probably don’t know what your investment funds are supporting, and there’s a good chance they invest in fossil fuels. Change Finance is a woman-owned and operated Public Benefit Corporation that builds investment funds to change the world. The investments are fossil fuel free, and align with your values without sacrificing returns. Go to change-finance.net/mpty to learn more and start investing today.  Change Finance is a registered investment advisor. This is not an offer to buy or sell any product.

My guest this episode is climate advocate Will Hackman. Will hails from America’s heartland, spent three seasons as a commercial fisherman in Alaska, has attended the past three UN climate conferences, and works in DC advancing climate and clean energy policy in the NGO community. We start our conversation by discussing the need for climate action. Why do we need to keep global warming within 2° C, and what will that look like if we’re to take the steps needed to meet that target? Will then sets the record straight on a number of common misconceptions people have about the climate debate. And we close by looking at the federal Administration and at Congress – what impacts have current policies and laws been having, and what are the prospects for more impactful change? Resources mentioned: Three articles written by Will: The Business Case for U.S. Policy Leadership in Combating Climate Change: Part One The Business Case for U.S. Policy Leadership in Combating Climate Change: Part Two The Rise of Cities and States in Fighting Climate Change: Key Takeaways from the 2017 United Nations Climate Conference Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Renewable Energy: A Key Climate Solution (IRENA, 2017) We Are Still In Recorded January 10, 2019. Published January 16, 2019. Sign up for email news and updates from More Power To You.  Dedicated to covering America’s transition to a clean energy economy, the Energy News Network features both original reporting and daily aggregated content. You can subscribe for free to any of its regional services covering the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest and West, or to its national service—US Energy News—at energynews.us.  

In this episode we focus on energy efficiency in rural America. My guest is Mary Shoemaker, State Policy Analyst at ACEEE, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. Our conversation focuses on both challenges and solutions, and we cover a broad range of issues, starting with what makes rural America unique in terms of energy efficiency and its overall energy burden.  We discuss a number of topics including what ACEEE has been doing to address the rural space; the importance of broadband; different financing solutions; data and customer engagement, and economic development and job creation. Mary offers a number of specific examples where these programs are being implemented, and we also spend some time talking about Appalachia in particular because Mary is part of a team developing policy recommendations for the Central Appalachian Network. Show references include: ACEEE publications:  Reaching Rural Communities with Energy Efficiency(report) Rural Energy Burdens(report) + accompanying fact sheet State Energy Efficiency Scorecard(report) + accompanying fact sheet Rural Energy Conference(conference page and presentation PDFs) Other references:  Ameren Missouri proposal offers customers fast-charge electric vehicle stations, improved air quality and new choices(Cision PR Newswire) Oncor’s MainStreet Efficiency program Southern Virginia Higher Education Center Efficiency Vermont Co-Mo builds on Connect to launch SmartHub (Co-Mo Electric Cooperative blog post) USDA’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program (EECLP) USDA’s Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP) Mountain Association for Community Economic Development (MACED)’s How$martKY Minnesota’s Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) Clean Energy Leadership Institute (CELI) Central Appalachian Network (CAN) Natural Capital Investment Fund Rural Support Partners Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia   Recorded December 11, 2018. Published December 17, 2018.  Sign up for email news and updates from More Power To You.  Dedicated to covering America’s transition to a clean energy economy, the Energy News Network features both original reporting and daily aggregated content. You can subscribe for free to any of its regional services covering the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest and West, or to its national service—US Energy News—at energynews.us.  

In this episode we focus on carbon pricing and its prospects both federally and in the states. My guests are Andres Jimenez, Senior Director of Government Affairs, and Jamie DeMarco, State-Level Carbon Pricing Coordinator, for Citizens' Climate Lobby. In a purely coincidental bit of good timing, the morning that our interview was scheduled, a bipartisan group of Congressmembers introduced a major new federal carbon price bill. We start the interview by discussing the bill, what it does and what its prospects are, and then we shift gears and discuss the state landscape for carbon pricing. References include: Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act (HR 7173) Bill summary from Rep. Ted Deutch's office  CCL's webpage on the bill Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report 15 Fourth National Climate Assessment Articles: Bipartisan group of lawmakers propose landmark carbon tax (Timothy Cama and Miranda Green, The Hill, Nov. 28) House lawmakers introduce first bipartisan carbon tax bill in a decade (Josh Siegel, Washington Examiner, Nov. 28) A hopeless carbon tax bill that's still worth watching (Ben Geman, Axios, Nov. 28)   Recorded: November 28, 2018. Published: November 29, 2018. Sign up for email news and updates from More Power To You.  More Power To You is sponsored by the Energy News Network. With original reporting on clean energy and daily digests of timely aggregated content, the Energy News Network is dedicated to covering America's transition to a clean energy economy. Subscribe for free to its regional services covering the West, Midwest, Northeast and Southeast, or to its national service—US Energy News—at energynews.us.  

In this episode we put on our energy geek hats to focus on demand response, and explore how utilities are implementing demand response programs across the US. My guest is Brenda Chew, an analyst at SEPA – the Smart Electric Power Alliance, and lead author of SEPA’s 2018 Utility Demand Response Market Snapshot report which serves as the basis for our conversation. We begin by discussing how SEPA defines demand response and what it covers for purposes of the report. We look at some big-picture numbers, then go sector by sector, looking at different types of demand response programs and some specific utility case studies. For me, the really intriguing aspect of demand response is how it relates to the broader transition to a smarter, cleaner and more renewable electric grid. And in that vein we discuss some of the customer behavior aspects of demand response, and explore its applications to the energy storage and electric vehicles sectors. We close by looking ahead at how the demand response ecosystem may continue to evolve in the years ahead. Show references include: SEPA's 2018 Utility Demand Response Market Snapshot Stem wins big with 85MW of energy storage in SCE procurement (Greentech Media, Nov. 5, 2014) Maui Electric's EV charging time of use rates information page SDG&E 'Power Your Drive" EV charging time of use information page Arizona utility will use 'reverse demand response' to avoid renewables curtailment, (Utility Dive, Sept. 27, 2017) Recorded October 9, 2018. Published November 12, 2018. Sign up for email news and updates from More Power To You. 

This is a special episode of More Power To You, the first episode recorded in front of a live audience. Earlier this month the Maryland Clean Energy Center hosted its annual Maryland Clean Energy Summit in College Park, and I moderated a panel titled The Mechanics of Offshore Wind: Moving to the Grid of the Future. The four panelists were: Jason Folsom, Offshore Wind Representative for the Americas for Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Prem Pereira, Project Construction Director for Deepwater Wind Markian Melnyk, President of Atlantic Grid Development, and Belton Zeigler, Partner and Co-Leader of the Energy and Natural Resources Team at the law firm Womble Bond Dickinson This wide-ranging conversation touches on a broad range of issues that all relate to offshore wind, including the economics of offshore wind, different approaches to building the offshore transmission infrastructure, grid integration, load balancing and much more. Presenters' slide decks: Prem Pereira: Deepwater Wind Markian Melnyk: Atlantic Grid Development Recorded October 9, 2018. Published October 29, 2018.

  Welcome to the sixth and final episode in a special series of More Power To You, produced in partnership with the Maryland Clean Energy Center for National Clean Energy Week 2018. Each episode spotlights a different clean energy technology, and features some of the people and companies leading the way in Maryland.  In this episode, we focus on bioenergy. My guests are Shawn Kreloff, CEO of the Americas for BTS BioEnergy, and Andy Moss, Technical Director for Planet Found Energy Development. It's a two-part episode as each interview was recorded separately. As you'll hear, bioenergy is a really interesting sector because it has a lot of overlap with the agriculture sector. It poses some interesting challenges but also offers some neat opportunities. Special Offer for MPTY listeners: Next month, the Maryland Clean Energy Center is hosting its annual Maryland Clean Energy Summit, a three-day conference from October 8-10 in College Park. The conference focuses on cutting-edge technologies, modern business models, and innovative regulations and financing solutions to ensure a secure, resilient and transactive power grid. More Power To You listeners will get a 10 percent discount on registration if you enter the coupon code MPTY at checkout.  Recorded September 14 and 17, 2018. Published September 27, 2018.

  Welcome to Part Five in a special six-part series of More Power To You, produced in partnership with the Maryland Clean Energy Center for National Clean Energy Week 2018. Each episode spotlights a different clean energy technology, and features some of the people and companies leading the way in Maryland.  This week’s focus is electric transportation. My guests are:  Genevieve Cullen, President of the Electric Drive Transportation Association Mahi Reddy, CEO of SemaConnect, which in full disclosure is a client of mine, and David Clamage, consultant to Generate Capital where he oversees day-to-day operations of customer finance offerings for BYD, the world’s largest electric bus maker  For the interview I sat down in person with Genevieve and Mahi, and recorded David separately. The conversations collectively touch on a range of topics including with the rapid growth of electric transportation, and the evolution of policy, technology and customer awareness. We look at the critical role of EV charging infrastructure, how the paradigm is shifting in terms of how drivers fuel up, and how smart, managed charging can help mitigate the need for new generation capacity. We disuss Electrify America’s massive charging infrastructure investment plan and the job and economic development implications of electrification. In the segment with David Clamage we look at buses and fleets, and touch on financing, public policy and more. Special Offer for MPTY listeners: Next month, the Maryland Clean Energy Center is hosting its annual Maryland Clean Energy Summit, a three-day conference from October 8-10 in College Park. The conference focuses on cutting-edge technologies, modern business models, and innovative regulations and financing solutions to ensure a secure, resilient and transactive power grid. More Power To You listeners will get a 10 percent discount on registration if you enter the coupon code MPTY at checkout.  Recorded July 20 and August 2, 2018. Published September 27, 2018.

  Welcome to Part Four in a special six-part series of More Power To You, produced in partnership with the Maryland Clean Energy Center for National Clean Energy Week 2018. Each episode spotlights a different clean energy technology, and features some of the people and companies leading the way in Maryland.  This week’s focus is offshore wind energy, and my guest is someone who’ll be familiar to regular listeners: Liz Burdock, President and CEO of the Business Network for Offshore Wind. Our conversation begins with a review of some major state developments over the past few months. We discuss the importance of scale in developing the offshore wind supply chain, the role of smaller projects in growing the industry, and the importance of state policy and legislation, particularly in Maryland. Liz recounts the history of the Network which she co-founded in Maryland several years ago, and we close by discussing some new Network initiatives including the new Offshore Wind Insider podcast, and look ahead to next year’s IPF, the Network’s signature event. In full disclosure, the Network is a client of mine, and I’m an unabashed supporter not just of offshore wind as a clean energy source, but of the Network. And as an example of just how fast the offshore wind industry is advancing, we recorded this show exactly two weeks ago. As you’ll hear in the interview, we were discussing how New Jersey would be releasing a solicitation some time in the future. Just last week New Jersey issued its solicitation for 1,100 MW of offshore wind, the largest single state OSW solicitation in US history. Special Offer for MPTY listeners: Next month, the Maryland Clean Energy Center is hosting its annual Maryland Clean Energy Summit, a three-day conference from October 8-10 in College Park. The conference focuses on cutting-edge technologies, modern business models, and innovative regulations and financing solutions to ensure a secure, resilient and transactive power grid. More Power To You listeners will get a 10 percent discount on registration if you enter the coupon code MPTY at checkout.  Recorded September 12, 2018. Published September 26, 2018.

  Welcome to Part Three in a special six-part series of More Power To You, produced in partnership with the Maryland Clean Energy Center for National Clean Energy Week 2018. Each episode spotlights a different clean energy technology, and features some of the people and companies leading the way in Maryland.  In this episode we focus on distributed energy solutions. My guests are:  Geoff Oxnam, CEO of American Microgrid Solutions Eric Wachsman, Director of the University of Maryland Energy and Innovation Institute, and CEO of Ion Storage Systems Michele Mitch-Peterson, Senior Business Consultant at Honeywell Our conversation covers a range of issues that all stem from the electricity transition we’re in the midst of—from the old, centralized power grid to a smarter, networked and more distributed grid. We discuss how new technologies and ways of integrating them can make the system more efficient; reduce carbon emissions; improve grid security, reliability and sustainability; and serve as a huge job creation engine. Special Offer for MPTY listeners: Next month, the Maryland Clean Energy Center is hosting its annual Maryland Clean Energy Summit, a three-day conference from October 8-10 in College Park. The conference focuses on cutting-edge technologies, modern business models, and innovative regulations and financing solutions to ensure a secure, resilient and transactive power grid. More Power To You listeners will get a 10 percent discount on registration if you enter the coupon code MPTY at checkout.  Recorded July 23, 2010. Published September 25, 2018.

  Welcome to Part Two in a special six-part series of More Power To You, produced in partnership with the Maryland Clean Energy Center for National Clean Energy Week 2018. Each of these episodes spotlights a different clean energy technology, and features some of the people and companies leading the way in Maryland.  In this episode, the second in the series, we focus on solar energy in Maryland. My guests are David Murray, Executive Director of MDV-SEIA; Cyrus Tashakkori, President of Open Road Renewables; and Corey Ramsden, VP of Go Solar at Solar United Neighbors.  In our conversation we examine different segments of the solar industry including utility scale, residential rooftop, and the commercial and industrial sectors. We discuss the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard and the importance of state policy in growing the industry; we look at energy equity issues, the economics of solar, and close with ahead towards next year’s legislative session. References SEIA’s Solar Spotlight—Maryland fact sheet Benefits and Costs of Utility Scale and Behind the Meter Solar Resources in Maryland (April 10, 2018 Draft), Daymark Energy Advisors EARN Maryland GRID Alternatives Mid-Atlantic CivicWorks Power52 Clean Choice Energy Special Offer for MPTY listeners: Next month, the Maryland Clean Energy Center is hosting its annual Maryland Clean Energy Summit, a three-day conference from October 8-10 in College Park. The conference focuses on cutting-edge technologies, modern business models, and innovative regulations and financing solutions to ensure a secure, resilient and transactive power grid. More Power To You listeners will get a 10 percent discount on registration if you enter the coupon code MPTY at checkout.  Recorded August 29, 2010. Published September 24, 2018.

  Welcome to a special six-part series of More Power To You, produced in partnership with the Maryland Clean Energy Center for National Clean Energy Week 2018. Each of these six episodes spotlights a different clean energy technology, and features some of the people and companies leading the way in Maryland.  In this episode, the first in the series, we focus on Energy Efficiency in the Built Environment. My three guests all wear multiple hats: they run small businesses and also serve in leadership roles in industry associations. Nakita Reed is a Principal at Encore Sustainable Design and Chair of the Maryland Green Building Council Michelle Griffith, is a Manager at DeVere Insulation Home Performance and Chair of the Maryland Building Performance Association Michael Giangrandi is the owner of A.J. Michaels Company and Chair of the Maryland Alliance of Energy Contractors. In our conversation we look at how the energy efficiency sector is a big employer of local jobs, but finding trained employees can sometimes be a challenge; and how standards and policy have driven change within the industry. We discuss different ways of financing energy efficiency upgrades, including the Empower Maryland program; we look at the unique challenges and advantages of older, historic properties; and we close with a look ahead and how the industry may continue to evolve.  Special Offer for MPTY listeners: Next month, the Maryland Clean Energy Center is hosting its annual Maryland Clean Energy Summit, a three-day conference that runs from October 8-10 in College Park. The conference focuses on cutting-edge technologies, modern business models, and innovative regulations and financing solutions to ensure a secure, resilient and transactive power grid. More Power To You listeners will get a 10 percent discount on registration if you enter the coupon code MPTY at checkout.  Recorded July 23, 2018. Published September 23, 2018.

In this episode of More Power To You we explore the nexus of electrification, transportation and industrial marine ports. My guest is Christine Houston, Manager of Sustainable Practices at the Port of Long Beach, the 2nd largest port in the country and a national leader in electrification. In our conversation we touch on a range of issues including why the Port is pursuing electrification in the first place, what’s involved in electrifying a massive marine port, the implications of electrification for managing load, and what port electrification and automation mean for jobs and workforce development. References include: The Port's Energy Island Initiative brochure Video of the Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) at the Long Beach Container Terminal  POLB electrician training partnerships with Long Beach City College and IBEW: https://academy.polb.com/career/electrician/ Recorded August 23, 2018. Published September 10, 2018.  Sign up for email news and updates from More Power To You.  More Power To You is sponsored by SemaConnect, the leading provider of smart, networked electric vehicle charging stations. SemaConnect’s integrated solution combines its elegantly-designed charging station with its cutting edge cloud-based network, making it easy for drivers to manage their charging experience on their laptop, tablet or mobile device. Unlike some of its competitors, SemaConnect’s support for open standards and interoperability, combined with its robust dashboard, data analytics and reporting, make it an ideal solution for public utilities who want to manage and operate their own charging networks. And SemaConnect’s turn-key experience allows property managers to easily add and manage charging stations at their properties. American-owned, SemaConnect designs, assembles and distributes all its products at its headquarters in Maryland. Learn more about SemaConnect and its best in class service and warranty at SemaConnect.com.  

In this episode we take a regional look at energy efficiency in the Southeastern U.S. My guest is Mandy Mahoney, President of the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance, or SEEA. We start off by discussing the concept of energy efficiency and what it means these days, and then dive into SEEA’s energy efficiency work in the South, including the energy equity work that SEEA is doing in high poverty and often rural communities. Mandy, a native-born Southerner, shares her perspective on some of the economic and cultural nuances that can make it challenging to advance energy efficiency and clean energy in the South, but we also explore some innovative approaches that work. We then get into some of the interesting ways in which SEEA is expanding its energy efficiency focus to include electric transportation, storm resiliency and even healthcare. We close with a preview of SEEA’s upcoming annual Conference which will be held in Atlanta this October. Resources mentioned include: Collaboration: One Key to Arkansas' Success (slide deck by Arkansas PSC's Matthew Klucher Ouachita Electric Cooperative's HELP PAYS (Pay As You Save) Energy Efficiency Program Partnership for Southern Equity Green and Healthy Homes Initiative FORTIFIED Home™ standard for resilient construction ACEEE Rural Energy Conference fusion (2018 SEEA Conference) Recorded August 22, 2018. Published August 27, 2018. Sign up for email news and updates from More Power To You.  More Power To You is sponsored by SemaConnect, the leading provider of smart, networked electric vehicle charging stations. SemaConnect’s integrated solution combines its elegantly-designed charging station with its cutting edge cloud-based network, making it easy for drivers to manage their charging experience on their laptop, tablet or mobile device. Unlike some of its competitors, SemaConnect’s support for open standards and interoperability, combined with its robust dashboard, data analytics and reporting, make it an ideal solution for public utilities who want to manage and operate their own charging networks. And SemaConnect’s turn-key experience allows property managers to easily add and manage charging stations at their properties. American-owned, SemaConnect designs, assembles and distributes all its products at its headquarters in Maryland. Learn more about SemaConnect and its best in class service and warranty at SemaConnect.com.    

This is the second of two episodes in which we look at clean energy advocacy and politics from different political points of view, as we approach November's midterm elections. This week we hear a progressive perspective from Craig Auster, PAC and Advocacy Partnerships Director at the League of Conservation Voters. We begin the conversation with a discussion about what LCV is and does, and then get into the politics. Show references include: Emily's List Rep. Terri Sewell H.Con.Res.119 (House Resolution opposing a carbon tax) Market Choice Act sponsored by Rep. Carlos Curbelo LCV-endorsed Congressional candidates Craig mentioned: Dan McCready for Congress (NC) Sean Casten for Congress (IL) Mike Levin for Congress (CA) Dan Feehan for Congress (MN) Elissa Slotkin for Congress (MI) Abigail Spanberger for Congress (VA) Gina Ortiz Jones for Congress (TX) Elaine Luria for Congress (VA) Recorded: July 27, 2018. Published: August 6, 2018. Sign up for email news and updates from More Power To You.  More Power To You is sponsored by the Energy News Network. With original reporting on clean energy and daily digests of timely aggregated content, the Energy News Network is dedicated to covering America's transition to a clean energy economy. Subscribe for free to its regional services covering the West, Midwest, Northeast and Southeast, or to its national service—US Energy News—at energynews.us.  

This is the first of two episodes in which we look at clean energy advocacy and politics from different political points of view. In today's show I sit down with Charles Hernick, Director of Policy and Advocacy at CRES Forum and its political arm, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions, for the conservative perspective. We begin the conversation with Charles explaining CRES Forum's goal and mission. Charles then discusses CRES Forum's National Clean Energy Week initiative, what it's all about and how people can get involved. We then switch gears and get more into the politics of clean energy, including how CRES engages with conservative candidates and how it frames the conservative message for supporting clean energy policies. Some of Charles' articles: Global energy politics are front and center at the World Cup in Russia (The Hill, 6/24/18) Federal energy proposal will hike consumer costs in freezing winter (The Hill, 1/6/18) Recorded: July 20, 2018. Published: July 23, 2018.   Sign up for email news and updates from More Power To You.  More Power To You is sponsored by the Energy News Network. With original reporting on clean energy and daily digests of timely aggregated content, the Energy News Network is dedicated to covering America's transition to a clean energy economy. Subscribe for free to its regional services covering the West, Midwest, Northeast and Southeast, or to its national service—US Energy News—at energynews.us.    

In this episode we focus on data, analytics, artificial intelligence and their impact on the electric grid. My guest is Sonny Garg, Managing Director of Global Energy Solutions at Uptake. We start this fascinating and wide ranging conversation with a look at how data and predictive analytics are being used to maximize the uptime, productivity and efficiency of our existing generation fleet. We then explore some ways in which artificial intelligence and machine learning are enabling large scale defection from the grid, and how regulatory policy and incentives need to change to enable incumbents to evolve into a more decentralized and digital grid. We close the conversation by looking ahead and contemplating how utilities and the grid itself may be fundamentally different in the future. Show references include: Untapped Energy: How the US Wind industry can produce more megawatts without new turbines (Uptake report) To keep the lights on in the digital age, regulatory model must reward innovation, published in The Energy Collective, April 30, 2018 Recorded May 30, 2018. Published June 11, 2018. Sign up for email news and updates from More Power To You.  More Power To You is sponsored by the Energy News Network. With original reporting on clean energy and daily digests of timely aggregated content, the Energy News Network is dedicated to covering America's transition to a clean energy economy. Subscribe for free to its regional services covering the West, Midwest, Northeast and Southeast, or to its national service—US Energy News—at energynews.us.  

In this episode of the podcast we focus on Alaska's unique energy landscape. Our guest is Chris Rose, Executive Director of the Renewable Energy Alaska Project, or REAP. We begin with an overview of energy in Alaska today, then delve into the unique way Alaska's grid operates without oversight from FERC—the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission—and how reforming the grid's system-wide governance can improve efficiency and reliability and reduce costs. We look into the reasons behind the growth of renewable energy despite the lack of a statewide Renewable Portfolio Standard, including how Alaska's high energy costs can make new technologies more economical than in the lower 48 states, and we highlight an innovative flywheel energy storage system on Kodiak Island. We close with a discussion about how the national climate change conversation is playing out in Alaska, and look ahead by contemplating what Alaska's energy landscape may look like ten years from now. Show references include: E&E News: On Kodiak Island, flywheels are in and diesel is 99.8% out by Margaret Kriz Hobson, June 10, 2016 Midnight Oil, an 8-part podcast series from Alaska Public Media Climate Action for Alaska Leadership Team Island Institute in Rockland, Maine Cold Climate Housing Research Center Alaska Center for Energy and Power Recorded: May 9, 2018. Published: June 5, 2018. Sign up for email news and updates from More Power To You.  More Power To You is sponsored by the Energy News Network. With original reporting on clean energy and daily digests of timely aggregated content, the Energy News Network is dedicated to covering America's transition to a clean energy economy. Subscribe for free to its regional services covering the Midwest, Southwest, Northeast and Southeast, or to its national service—US Energy News—at energynews.us.  

In this episode we look at the current landscape for community solar, including trends, financing models and case studies. We close with a prediction about the state of community solar five to ten years in the future. My guests are Dan Chwastyk, K Kaufmann and Jared Leader from SEPA, the Smart Electric Power Alliance. Three new reports from SEPA serve as the basis for our discussion.  SEPA's reports referenced in the show: Community Solar Program Design Models  Financing Community-Based Solar Projects: Case Studies From The Field Value Stacking in Minster, Ohio Other references include: Coalition for Community Solar Access  Fremont's Community Solar Farm information sheet Virginia's first community solar project earns national award (BARC Electric Co-Op press release) Energy Storage Snapshot, with Tanuj Deora and Nick Esch of SEPA (Episode 25) Recorded May 11, 2018. Published May 14, 2018. Sign up for email news and updates from More Power To You.  More Power To You is sponsored by the Energy News Network. With original reporting on clean energy and daily digests of timely aggregated content, the Energy News Network is dedicated to covering America's transition to a clean energy economy. Subscribe for free to its regional services such as Midwest Energy News or Southeast Energy News, or to its national service—US Energy News—at energynews.us.

In this episode we focus on pollinator-friendly habitat and its inclusion in solar developments. My guest is Rob Davis, Director of the Center for Pollinators in Energy at Fresh Energy, a public interest non-profit based in St. Paul, Minnesota. We start by discussing the energy landscape in Minnesota, and then we get into pollinator-friendly habitat—best practices, finances, and benefits it offers solar developers which can help build support among community and agricultural stakeholders. We close with a look ahead at what Rob thinks the state of pollinator-friendly solar will be in a few years. Show references include: Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Energy Resources Center at the University of Chicago  Energy News Network 56 Brewing in Minneapolis, brewers of Solarama Crush, the world's first beer made with honey from pollinator-friendly solar Recorded April 25, 2018. Published May 14, 2018.  

In this episode we review the electric vehicle landscape in the Southeast. My guest is Anne Blair, Clean Fuels Director at the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and one of the driving forces behind Electrify the South. We first discuss the factors affecting EV adoption in Georgia, then cover Florida, North Carolina and other states. Anne also touches on the Volkswagen diesel settlement, the NextCar Pledge, and the relationship of offshore oil drilling to EV adoption. References include: Georgia's 2015 HB 170 (Transportation Act of 2015) City of Atlanta Passes "EV Ready" Ordinance into Law (press release,) 11/21/17 Electrify the South's Volkswagen Settlement page Solar United Neighbors Drive Electric Orlando North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association's Electric Vehicle Working Group Plug-In NC NextCar Pledge New Numbers Are In and EVs Are Cleaner Than Ever, Union of Concerned Scientists, 5/31/17 Electric Vehicles: Driving Reduced Demand for Offshore Oil (SACE blog series,) April 2018 Recorded: April 26, 2018. Published: April 30, 2018. Sign up for email news and updates from More Power To You.  Thank you to our sponsor! The Atlas EV Hub gives stakeholders from across the electric vehicle industry quick access to key data and information on the market, policies and regulations, and activities by the EV community. The Hub is the place to track activities in the states related to the Volkswagen Settlement. Visit www.atlasevhub.com to learn more, including how to gain free access for public agencies and Clean Cities Coalitions.

In this episode I sit down for a brief conversation with Joe Fiordaliso, President of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. It's an exciting time for clean energy in New Jersey: the state has a new governor and a new BPU president, and both are committed to positioning the state as a national leader in clean energy. This is the second of two interviews I recorded at the 2018 International Offshore Wind Partnering Forum, or IPF, hosted by the Business Network for Offshore Wind earlier this month in Princeton. Not surprisingly, President Fiordaliso discusses the important role offshore wind has to play for New Jersey to meet its goals. I came away from the conversation optimistic not only about New Jersey's clean energy goals but its ability to meet them. References:  Governor Murphy Signs Executive Order to Promote Offshore Wind Energy (press release) Recorded: April 6, 2018. Published: April 16, 2018. Sign up for email news and updates from More Power To You.  Thank you to our sponsor! The Business Network for Offshore Wind is the first and largest non-profit organization devoted solely to advancing the US offshore wind industry and its supply chain. If you're interested in US offshore wind, the Network has what you need. It hosts a variety of training and networking events throughout the year and brings together industry leaders and stakeholders to grow the industry. Its flagship event is the International Offshore Wind Partnering Forum, or IPF -- the industry's top venue to establish and grow the relationships so critical to a project's success. Mark your calendars now for next year's IPF from April 9-11, 2019 in New York City!

In this episode we explore public sentiment about offshore wind farms and the importance of community engagement in shaping it. My guest is Dr. Jeremy Firestone, Director of the Center for Carbon-Free Power Integration and Professor of Marine Policy at the University of Delaware. His research on public sentiment about the Block Island Wind Farm in Rhode Island serves as the basis for our conversation. References:  Wind in the sails or choppy seas?: People-place relations, aesthetics and public support for the United States’ first offshore wind project, by Firestone, Bidwell, Gardner & Knapp (Available for free download until April 26, 2018. Afterwards you may contact the author.) Block Island Wind Farm  This is the first of two interviews I recorded at the 2018 International Offshore Wind Partnering Forum, or IPF, hosted by the Business Network for Offshore Wind earlier this month in Princeton, New Jersey. Recorded: April 5, 2018. Published: April 16, 2018. Sign up for email news and updates from More Power To You.  Thank you to our sponsor! The Business Network for Offshore Wind is the first and largest non-profit organization devoted solely to advancing the US offshore wind industry and its supply chain. If you're interested in US offshore wind, the Network has what you need. It hosts a variety of training and networking events throughout the year and brings together industry leaders and stakeholders to grow the industry. Its flagship event is the International Offshore Wind Partnering Forum, or IPF -- the industry's top venue to establish and grow the relationships so critical to a project's success. Mark your calendars now for next year's IPF from April 9-11, 2019 in New York City!

In this episode we take a deep dive look at the solar market in the southeastern U.S. My guest is Bryan Jacob, Solar Program Director at SACE, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. We use SACE's new report Solar in the Southeast as the basis for our conversation. We start by discussing the report's methodology, then delve into the solar landscape in the seven states the report covers, including the political and policy activity shaping the numbers. We close by considering the possible impact of recent federal actions, and contemplate what the Solar in the Southeast report may look like a few years from now. Reports: Solar in the Southeast - 2017 Annual Report, by SACE Energy Information Administration's Annual Energy Outlook EIA's 860 data (utility) EIA's 861 data (distributed) 2017 Solar Market Insight, by SEIA and GTM Research Other references: North Carolina legislative staff overview of 2017 Competitive Energy Solutions for NC legislation Regulators approve Georgia Power IRP, Utility Dive article by Robert Walton, 7/28/16 Floridians for Solar Choice South Carolina's 2016 Act 236 Implementation Report Jacksonville Electric Authority's Battery Incentive Program The Interchange Podcast: Why US Solar Had a Down Year in 2017 Recorded: March 26, 2018. Published: April 2, 2018. Sign up for email news and updates from More Power To You.  Thank you to our sponsor! The Atlas EV Hub gives stakeholders from across the electric vehicle industry quick access to key data and information on the market, policies and regulations, and activities by the EV community. The Hub is the place to track activities in the states related to the Volkswagen Settlement. Visit www.atlasevhub.com to learn more, including how to gain free access for public agencies and Clean Cities Coalitions.

In this episode we look at the energy transition from the perspective of one of its key players—the Consumer Advocate. My guest is Elin Katz, Connecticut's Consumer Counsel and the current president of NASUCA, the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates. We first explore broadly what the consumer's interest is; then we look at energy storage and electric vehicles; and we close by contemplating the convergence of utilities such as electricity and telecom, and how the focus of the Advocate may continue to evolve in the future. References include: Alliance for Transportation Electrification Edison Electric Institute NASUCA's 2018 Mid-Year Meeting, June 24-27 in Minneapolis  Recorded March 9, 2018. Published March 19, 2018. Sign up for email news and updates from More Power To You.  Thank you to our sponsor! Have you ever thought about making the switch to clean energy? With CleanChoice Energy, you don’t need to install solar panels or even own your home to get 100% of your electricity from clean and renewable energy sources. Learn more about CleanChoice Energy—and get a $25 rebate when you sign up—by visiting cleanchoiceenergy.com.    

The offshore wind industry is growing quickly! Liz Burdock, Executive Director of the Business Network for Offshore Wind, returns to the podcast almost a year after our first conversation to discuss the outlook for offshore wind today. Liz presents an overview of state-level offshore wind developments on both coasts; discusses the implications of technological advances for future offshore wind development; shares news about the Network's work with federal partners to establish national industry standards; announces some upcoming Network-sponsored events; and closes with a prediction about offshore wind prices in the future. Resources mentioned in the show include: Offshore wind energy and fishing thrive together, video by University of Delaware and American Wind Energy Association Tradepoint Atlantic Maine's Aqua Ventus floating wind turbine Navigant Research, Offshore Wind Market and Project Assessment 2017 Bloomberg, These Four Power Giants Rule the World's Growing Wind Market 2018 International Offshore Wind Partnering Forum (IPF) Recorded February 26, 2018. Published March 5, 2018. Sign up for email news and updates from More Power To You.  Thank you to our sponsor! More Power to You is sponsored by CleanChoice Energy, a 100% renewable energy provider based in Washington, DC. CleanChoice Energy seeks to transform the U.S. electric grid by making clean energy accessible to everyone. With CleanChoice Energy you don’t need to install solar panels or even own your home to access clean energy.  Learn more about CleanChoice Energy in your area by visiting cleanchoiceenergy.com.  

This week we take a look at how the clean energy transition is impacting our built environment, as seen through the eyes of an architect with more than two decades of experience in green design. Our guest is Phil Kaplan, Principal at Kaplan Thompson Architects in Portland, Maine and the current Chair of NESEA, the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (and a fellow podcaster). Our wide-ranging conversation touches on net zero buildings, integrated design, the economics of residential solar, the role of energy storage and more. We close with a preview of NESEA's big conference and trade show next month in Boston. References mentioned include: Green Architects' Lounge Podcast BrightBuilt Home BuildingEnergy Boston Conference and Trade Show   Recorded: February 19, 2018. Published: February 19, 2018. Sign up for email news and updates from More Power To You.  Thank you to our sponsor! The Atlas EV Hub gives stakeholders from across the electric vehicle industry quick access to key data and information on the market, policies and regulations, and activities by the EV community. The Hub is the place to track activities in the states related to the Volkswagen Settlement. Visit atlasevhub.com to learn more, including how to gain free access for public agencies and Clean Cities Coalitions.  

  In this episode we take a look at how the clean energy transition is playing out in the Land of Lincoln. Jen Walling, Executive Director of the Illinois Environmental Council, and MeLena Hessel, Policy Advocate with the Environmental Law and Policy Center, join me for a discussion about the policy and political developments shaping Illinois' clean energy economy. Resources mentioned include: Future Energy Jobs Act (SB 2814, passed Dec. 1, 2016) Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition Recorded February 14, 2018. Published February 19, 2018. Sign up for email news and updates from More Power To You.  Thank you to our sponsor! The Atlas EV Hub gives stakeholders from across the electric vehicle industry quick access to key data and information on the market, policies and regulations, and activities by the EV community. The Hub is the place to track activities in the states related to the Volkswagen Settlement. Visit www.atlasevhub.com to learn more, including how to gain free access for public agencies and Clean Cities Coalitions.  

For almost a year, one of the hottest topics among solar insiders has been the Suniva trade case. Its petition for the President to impose import duties on certain solar photovoltaic cells and modules created market uncertainty, galvanized the vast majority of the solar industry in opposition to the petition, and left everyone wondering--as usual--what the President would decide.  Today, the President issued his decision, bringing the long guessing game to an end. Now the question becomes, what did the President approve, and what will the impact be? Joining the show for immediate feedback less than an hour after the President issued his decision is John Berger, CEO of Houston-based Sunnova, one of the largest residential solar service providers in the U.S. Resources include: US Trade Representative's Fact Sheet announcing President's decision Full USTR solar trade case docket Excellent article by Utility Dive's Krysti Shallenberger last December with solid background and perspectives from both sides Recorded January 22, 2018. Published January 22, 2018. (Audio file edited 1/23/18 at 9:23 ET)

One of the big stories in clean energy in recent years has been the electrification of transportation. For our first show of 2018 we're sticking with that theme and discussing the EV landscape in New Jersey and the Mid-Atlantic. Our guest is Pam Frank, CEO of ChargEVC, a new organization based in New Jersey. References mentioned in the show include: Gabel Associates New Jersey Coalition of Auto Retailers (NJCAR) Gov.-Elect Phil Murphy's Transition Team Isles, a Trenton-based non-profit Forth Alliance for Transportation Electrification (ATE) Recorded January 3, 2018. Published January 8, 2018.

  Since MPTY launched nine months ago, we've covered the clean energy landscape from solar to wind, hydrokinetic to nuclear, biofuels to electric vehicles, battery storage and more. Our shows have been downloaded thousands of times, in 45 states and more than 30 countries. Enjoy this brief audio mashup that sprints through all of our 2017 interview episodes, starting with our very first show. Thank you to my podcast mentors Tim Hamilton (The Maryland Crabs) and Scott MacMullan (The Annapolis Podcast) for their early guidance and encouragement. Thank you as always to The New Mastersounds for permission to use their tune Freckles. And thank you listeners for your feedback, suggestions and for listening this year! 

Our electric grid is in the midst of arguably its biggest transformation of the last hundred years. Changes in technology, different regulatory approaches, new business models, as well as the rise of distributed generation in which consumers generate their own power behind the meter—all of these factors are fundamentally upending our traditional electric grid, as well as making people question what the role of the utility should be in the future. Joining the podcast to discuss the grid of the future are Christine Stearn, Senior Manager, 51st State Initative, and Tanuj Deora, Chief Content Officer, at SEPA, the Smart Electric Power Alliance based in Washington, D.C.  Resources mentioned include: Baskin-Robbins' Old Fashioned Butter Pecan MPTY Podcast Episode 21: Electric Vehicles, Managed Charging and Utilities Light and Hope for Puerto Rico Recorded: December 4, 2017. Published: December 11, 2017.

This is the third of three episodes recorded at the Electric Drive Transportation Association’s first Leader Series Event, held at the National Press Club in downtown Washington, D.C. Titled Beyond the Beltway, the event brought together market and policy influencers to detail market trends and policy initiatives outside Washington that are driving the future of electric transportation. This episode brings you the event’s closing panel, The New Movers in Electric Mobility: Public/Private Collaboration. Its panelists include: Matthew Nelson, Director of Government Affairs for Electrify America Elaine O’Grady, Senior Policy Advisor at NESCAUM, the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management Ashley Horvat, VP for Public and Private Partnerships at Greenlots Colleen Quinn, SVP for Global Public Policy at ChargePoint Terry O’Day, VP for Product Strategy and Market Development at EVgo Nick Nigro, Founder of Atlas Public Policy, moderates the discussion. Recorded: November 1, 2017. Published: November 3, 2017.

This is the second of three episodes recorded at the Electric Drive Transportation Association’s first Leader Series Event, held this week at the National Press Club in downtown Washington, D.C. Titled Beyond the Beltway, the event brought together market and policy influencers to detail market trends and policy initiatives outside Washington that are driving the future of electric transportation. This episode brings you remarks from Sue Gander, Director of Energy, Environment and Transportation at the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices. Recorded: November 1, 2017. Published: November 3, 2017.

This is the first of three episodes recorded at the Electric Drive Transportation Association’s first Leader Series Event, held at the National Press Club in downtown Washington, D.C. Titled Beyond the Beltway, the event brought together market and policy influencers to detail market trends and policy initiatives outside Washington that are driving the future of electric transportation. This episode brings you the event’s opening panel, titled Scaling Solutions: Regional Electrification Strategies. Its panelists include: Bill Elrick, Executive Director of the California Fuel Cell Partnership Roland Hwang, Director of Energy and Transportation for the National Resources Defense Council Jeanette Shaw, Director of Governent Relations for Forth Chris Budzynski, Director of Utility Strategy at Exelon Lisa Jerram, Principal Research Analsyt at Navigant Research, moderates the discussion. Recorded: November 1, 2017. Published: November 3, 2017.

In this episode, we dive into energy storage with Chief Content Officer Tanuj Deora and Senior Associate Nick Esch of SEPA, the Smart Electric Power Alliance. SEPA recently issued its annual Utility Storage Market which serves as the basis for our conversation. I start off with a ridiculously corny joke, then we get into the types of energy storage SEPA tracks; SEPA's methodology and key findings; ways in which state policies drive deployment; several different ways in which utilities are using storage both to address emergency power needs and in conjunction with distributed energy resources (DERs); how island grids can use storage to make their grids more resilient; how 2017's storage numbers are shaping up; and predictions for storage five or ten years from now, including the potential synergies with energy storage and electric vehicles. We also cover the neat analogy SEPA uses to explain the difference between power capacity and electrical energy.  Resources mentioned in the show include: SEPA's 2017 Utility Energy Storage Market Snapshot Glasgow, Kentucky Electric Plant Board Village of Minster, Ohio Electric Department California's Self-Generation Incentive Program Recorded September 28, 2017. Published October 16, 2017.

National Drive Electric Week, sponsored by Plug-In America, the Sierra Club and the Electric Auto Association, is billed as a "national celebration" of electric vehicles. Hundreds of locally organized ride-and-drive events are held throughout the week across the country and overseas. I was in Chicago last month during the last few days of National Drive Electric Week 2017, and stopped by two nearby events to check out the current EV landscape in the Midwest. First up in this episode is the Naperville, Illinois event located about 30 miles west of Chicago, where I speak with Bruce Jones, a longtime board member of the Fox Valley Electric Auto Association. Then we head to Portage, Indiana, about 40 miles east of Chicago, where I interview Lauri Keagle, Membership and Program Manager for South Shore Clean Cities. Neither of these interviews were scheduled ahead of time, and I appreciate Bruce and Lauri for being so game when this stranger showed up unannounced with a field recorder and asked to interview them. So with that, we will start right in as I'm interviewing Bruce Jones in Naperville, Illinois, and then cut to my interview with Lauri Keagle in Portage, Indiana. Some references in the show include: Naperville: Fox Valley Electric Auto Association Naperville Auto Test Track Portage: South Shore Clean Cities Midwest EVOLVE Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission DOE's Plug-In Electric Vehicle Handbook for Consumers DOE's Plug-In Electric Vehicle Handbook for Fleet Managers Recorded September 15 and 17, 2017. Published October 2, 2017.

In this episode we focus on rural America with two former state directors for USDA Rural Development: Bill Menner and Bill McGowan. Our conversation begins with a discussion about the need for homegrown local leadership to act as a sparkplug, and continues with why some rural communities struggle while others survive; the importance of broadband connectivity for rural economic development, and the need for government financial support for it; the economics and politics of clean energy in rural communities; and the political divide between rural and urban America. We wrap up the conversation with predictions about sustainable development and the future of rural America. References include: USDA Rural Development Chesapeake Heritage Center B-CROP Act of 2017 Iowa's Cultivation Corridor Recorded September 10, 2017. Published September 18, 2017.

North Carolina's Outer Banks are a popular vacation spot for millions of families who come for the hundreds of miles of sandy beaches, the surf and the sun. The Outer Banks are also well known historically as the place where the Wright Brothers first pioneered controlled flight more than 100 years ago. These days, the Outer Banks are also the site of research into a new clean energy technology: marine hydrokinetic energy. On this episode of the podcast we are joined by Dr. Lindsay Dubbs, Co-Director of UNC Chapel Hill's Outer Banks Field Site, and Research Associate at the Renewable Ocean Energy Program at UNC's Coastal Studies Institute. We begin with Lindsay explaining what the Renewable Ocean Energy Program is and does. We then discuss some of the types of work its researchers are doing; some of the unique challenges that marine energy faces; how researchers are collecting oceanographic data and how it is being used; some of the different types of marine energy devices such as underwater turbines and kites; and the potential impacts of marine and hydrokinetic energy on marine life and ecosystems. We close with Lindsay describing the career path that led to her to working in the Renewable Ocean Energy Program, and offering a prediction about the future of renewable ocean energy. Some of the projects and resources mentioned during the show include: Ocean Renewable Power Company's Maine Tidal Energy Project Verdant Power's Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy Project European Marine Energy Centre Resolute Marine Energy SAROS Recorded August 10, 2017. Published August 21, 2017.

Electric Vehicles (EVs) represent the largest new source of electric load since the air conditioner was invented. They also represent new, flexible sources of distributed energy resources (DERs) that can put power back into the grid. In this episode we delve into these challenges and opportunities with Erika Myers, Director of Research at SEPA, the Smart Electric Power Alliance. Erika authored a recent report titled Utilities and Electric Vehicles: The Case for Managed Charging which serves as the basis for our conversation. We begin by defining the term "managed charging" and continue with a discussion about why SEPA decided to research the issue; what questions Erika had when she began the research, and what findings surprised her. Erika summarizes three pilot programs involving both utilities and OEM manufacturers; shares some of the findings from the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)'s look at the impact of different EV adoption scenarios; and describes some of the complex barriers to achieving real VGI or vehicle-grid integration. We close the conversation with Erika describing her career path that led her to SEPA, and what she predicts the managed charging landscape will look like five or ten years from now. Recorded July 19, 2017. Published July 24, 2017.

This episode is all about Property Assessed Clean Energy, or PACE -- a relatively new financing mechanism that allows property owners to pay for energy efficiency and clean energy upgrades without spending a dime out of pocket. Our guest is Gerard Neely, Manager of Maryland Commercial PACE, a statewide administrator for commercial PACE projects across Maryland. We discuss how the PACE financing mechanism works; how PACE got its start; the extent to which PACE has been adopted nationally; statistics about PACE in Maryland and other states; and close with Gerard's prediction about the future of PACE financing. Other references mentioned in the show include: PACE Financial Servicing Connecticut Green Bank Maryland Clean Energy Center PACE Nation Clean Energy Leadership Institute And last but not least, Cumberland, Maryland's Queen City Creamery   Recorded July 6, 2017 Published July 10, 2017

In this episode we finally dive into solar energy with Pam Cargill, Principal at Chaolysti consulting and a board member of SEIA, the Solar Energy Industries Association. Our conversation begins with a look at the type of solar consulting work Chaolysti does, and continues with SEIA's recent Lobby Day on Capitol Hill; a discussion about the Suniva trade petition, its potential impact on the domestic solar industry, and how it will proceed; how the politics of solar have changed over the years; how utilities are addressing the growth in distributed generation and rooftop solar; some of the legislative approaches California is taking; and closes with Pam's prediction about the future of solar over the next ten years. Resources mentioned in this episode include: Pam's interview on Barry Cinnamon's podcast The Energy Show SEIA's article about expected solar industry job loss if the Suniva trade petition is upheld North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center's "50 States of Solar" 1st Quarter 2017 Report Grid Geeks podcast Episode 3: Western Markets and Regionalization: Why Should We Care? Recorded June 23, 2017 Published June 26, 2017

This special episode of More Power To You comes to you from the Aspen Institute in Washington, D.C. Hosted by the Institute's Community Strategies Group (CSG) and Rural Development Innovation Group (RDIG), the event focuses on the unique importance of infrastructure in fueling economic development in rural communities. The event kicks off with opening remarks from CSG Executive Director Janet Topolsky and RDIG's Connie Stewart, Executive Director of the California Center for Rural Policy. The event is moderated by Nancy Marshall-Genzer, Senior Reporter at NPR's Marketplace. The panelists represent three different types of intermediaries: a tribal government, a local government, and a community foundation. The three case studies illustrate different types of infrastructure challenges faced by rural communities, and examples of innovative solutions to spur economic growth. Justin Taylor, Former Town Supervisor, Town of Clayton, NY Eric Cutwright and Bari Talley, Karuk Tribe, Orleans, CA Kelly Ryan, President & CEO, Incourage Foundation A technical note: the audio feed at the Institute was not operating for the first minute or two of the event, so the recording starts in the middle of Janet Topolsky's opening remarks. Recorded May 22, 2017. Published Jun 12, 2017.

On this episode of the podcast we sit down with Barry K. Worthington, Executive Director of the United States Energy Association, for a big-picture discussion about U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord, the prospects for a carbon tax, and grid reliability. We close with Barry's prediction about what the U.S. grid will look like ten years from now. The interview was recorded the morning of June 1, 2017, just a few hours before President Trump held a news conference in the White House Rose Garden to announce his intentions with regards to U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord. Recorded June 1, 2017 Published June 1, 2017

This special episode of More Power To You was recorded last week at the Bipartisan Policy Council in Washington, D.C. The BPC and the International Council on Clean Transportation sponsored a fascinating panel discussion entitled "International Competitiveness and the Auto Industry: What's the Role of Motor Vehicle Emission Standards?" BPC president Jason Grumet kicks things off with some introductory remarks, ICCT Executive Director Drew Kodjak takes the podium to moderate the discussion. The five panelists are: David Vogel, Professor Emeritus and Solomon P. Lee Chair in Business Ethics, UC Berkeley Richard Perkins, Associate Professor of Environmental Geography and Associate of Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, London School of Economics and Political Science John German, Senior Fellow / US Co-Lead, ICCT Zoe Lipman, Director, Vehicles and Advanced Transportation Program, BlueGreen Alliance Tim Johnson, Director, Emerging Regulations and Technologies, Corning This discussion about U.S. emissions standards and America's international competitiveness is covers a range of issues including: emission standards policy diffusion among states and also across countries; first mover advantage for countries that adopt higher emission standards; the impact of higher standards on domestic innovation, investment in production facilities and jobs; what the difference between the U.S. and China's national emissions strategies may mean for global leadership in the future; the outlook for technology advances in biofuels, internal combustion engine vehicles and electric vehicles; and more. Recorded May 22, 2017 Published May 30, 2017

This special episode of More Power To You brings you Congressman Joe Barton's remarks at the United States Energy Association's 2017 Annual Membership Meeting and Public Policy Forum. The event was held at the National Press Club in downtown Washington, D.C. USEA presented Rep. Barton with its Annual Energy Award for his longtime contributions to the energy sector. Congressman Barton has served in Congress since 1985 and currently serves as Vice-Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Rep. Barton's comments span his three decades of service in Congress. As you might imagine, he shares some funny anecdotes about elected officials he's served with and covers topics ranging from the repeal of the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978; where the U.S. ranks globally for electricity generation in different sectors; the prospects for Congress taking up a new energy bill; and his role in—and the impact of—Congress prohibiting EPA regulation of hydraulic fracturing and repealing the 40-year old crude oil export ban. After Rep. Barton's remarks, the program continues with brief remarks from Tom Kuhn, president of the Edison Electric Institute, and Dave McCurdy, president and CEO of the American Gas Association. Recorded May 4, 2017 Published May 22, 2017

Americans have had a longtime love affair with the automobile. You could even say it's ingrained into our national psyche. It's not surprising, then, that this industry in which 90% of fuels are fossil-based generates 27% of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Fortunately, this high-carbon transportation model is being disrupted by the emergence of clean electric vehicles. In this episode we focus on EV chargers, a critically important but less-often discussed aspect of the EV revolution. Our guest is Mahi Reddy, the founder and CEO of SemaConnect, a national EV charger manufacturing company based in Bowie, Maryland. We begin with a discussion about why and how Mahi founded SemaConnect and continue with a wide-ranging conversation about how EV charging works; what SemaConnect's business model is and how it compares with those of other EVSE (electric vehicle supply equipment) companies; how EVs—unlike some distributed generation—are a promising source of revenue for traditional utilities; the challenges of starting and running a national company in a young industry in which the policy and regulatory landscape is evolving; and how national and state policies are shaping EV investment and growth. We close with a prediction from Mahi about what the next decade will mean for electric vehicles and autonomous driving. Recorded May 10, 2017 Published May 15, 2017

On this episode we're talking about biology. Not your high school biology, though; we're talking about biotechnology and biofuels with Paul Winters, Director of Communications, and Erick Lutt, Director of Industrial and Environmental Policy, for BIO, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization. Paul and Erick start off with the basics of how agricultural products such as corn are converted into biofuels such as ethanol. Then the discussion covers how biofuels are more climate friendly than fossil fuels; how renewable fuel standards have impacted the biofuels industry both domestically and abroad; how the current political dynamic looks for biofuel support; why BIO believes the federal government should continue to support development and production of biofuels; and closes with a prediction about biochemical production and use of biofuels in the aviation industry. Recorded April 27, 2017 Published May 8, 2017

So much of the discussion about the environment and the clean energy transition these days centers on the new Trump Administration and on Congress. So, who better to talk about it than someone who is in the midst of it every day—U.S. Senator Ben Cardin from Maryland. Senator Cardin joins the podcast from his office on Capitol Hill to share his perspective on what the Trump Administration means for Chesapeake Bay restoration, the Clean Power Plan and the United States' participation in the Paris Agreement. Recorded April 27, 2017 Published May 1, 2017

This is the fifth and final episode recorded at last week’s 2017 International Offshore Wind Partnering Forum, or IPF, in Annapolis, Maryland. This session is called “BOEM’s Path Forward.” It builds on the previous day’s remarks from Dr. Walter Cruickshank, Acting Director of the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, or BOEM. You can hear those remarks in episode 8 of More Power To You. This episode gets into a lot more detail about BOEM’s activities and its approach for supporting the anticipated growth in offshore wind in the near future.  The session is moderated by Ross Tyler, Strategy and Development Advisor for the Business Network for Offshore Wind. The panelists are three senior BOEM leaders: Jim Bennett is BOEM’s Renewable Energy Program Manager and also supervises BOEM’s offshore wind leasing activity in the Atlantic Joan Barminski is BOEM’s Regional Director for the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Mike Celata is BOEM’s Regional Director for the Gulf of Mexico Recorded April 21, 2017 Published April 28, 2017