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Tell us what you think of the show! This Week in Cleantech is a weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in clean energy and climate in 15 minutes or less featuring Paul Gerke of Factor This and Tigercomm's Mike Casey.This week's episode features special guest Kathiann Kowalski from Canary Media who wrote about how Ohio's House Bill 1 is seen as a win by the solar industry.This week's "Cleantecher of the Week" is Adam Hall, who had his 8th grade students give him a “Solar Mohawk” at their Viva el Drágon festival. Students at the festival demonstrated the power of the sun with student-built solar models. Congratulations, Adam!This Week in Cleantech — May 30, 2025BYD beats Tesla in European EV sales despite EU tariffs in 'watershed moment,' report says — CNBCTrump Tariffs Blocked by U.S. Court of International Trade — The New York TimesTrump policy kick-starts nuclear test reactors in the U.S. — AxiosFate of $20 Billion US Home Solar Market Lies in GOP Senate Hands — BloombergWhy the solar industry is counting Ohio's newest energy law as a win — Canary MediaNominate the stories that caught your eye each week by emailing Paul.Gerke@clarionevents.com
What's it like to cover the renewable energy transition in rural America? Daily Yonder reporters Claire Carlson and Julia Tilton spoke with Canary Media's Kari Lydersen during a live show recording at the Rural Journalism Collective on May 14, 2025. This week, we're bringing you an edited version of that conversation.Kari has spent extensive time reporting on coal mining communities and the clean energy transition in the Midwest. Her recent work follows individuals who participated in a state-funded clean energy job training program in rural Decatur, Illinois. Kari joins the conversation with Claire and Julia to discuss her reporting process as well as some of the joys and challenges of reporting on energy topics in rural places.Read Kari's story here.The Rural Journalism Collective is a space for journalists and media professionals who cover rural places to network, share ideas, and uplift excellent work.
On the latest Clean Power Live, Tim Montague and John Weaver dive into the cutting-edge developments from InterSolar Europe 2025 and discuss critical US clean energy policy challenges. John shares his first-hand experiences from the conference, highlighting how the battery revolution is transforming the renewable energy landscape, with batteries now taking up more exhibition space than traditional solar technology…HighlightsBattery Revolution Takes Center Stage: At InterSolar Europe 2025, batteries and battery-adjacent technologies now occupy more exhibition space than traditional solar equipment, signaling a major industry shift (PV Magazine).Next-Generation Battery Technology: CATL showcased an ultra-dense 9MWh battery container, while sodium batteries emerge as a potential lithium alternative despite current cost and lifespan limitations (ESS News).Solar & Tech Innovation Continues: New developments include flexible colored solar panels exceeding 20% efficiency, laser wind measurement systems providing 5-10 minute warning of damaging winds, and automated cleaning robots for arid region installations.Hotel Solar Carport Project: Weaver's 690 kW commercial project is progressing toward Q3 2025 completion despite excavation challenges (LinkedIn).IRA Under Threat: Proposed legislation could undermine the Inflation Reduction Act, which has spurred $321 billion in domestic clean energy investments, by imposing unworkable supply chain verification requirements (Canary Media).Battery Tariff Developments: Tariffs on Chinese battery imports have been reduced from 145% to 60%, though industry experts estimate effective tariffs remain at 40-65% when all categories are considered (Energy Storage News). Support the showConnect with Tim Clean Power Hour Clean Power Hour on YouTubeTim on TwitterTim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple PodcastsThe Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America's number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com
This week, Daily Yonder reporters Claire Carlson and Julia Tilton are continuing the conversation about environmentalism in rural places. In this episode, Claire and Julia dig deeper into the conservative corner of the climate movement. They speak with Chris Barnard, the president of the American Conservation Coalition (ACC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to mobilizing young conservatives around environmental action. Points of conversation include popular rural clean energy sources, state-level clean energy action in conservative districts, and how the media can build trust with conservatives.ANNOUNCEMENT: Join us for a live recording of the Rural Reporter's Notebook podcast next week! Claire and Julia will be interviewing Canary Media's Kari Lydersen as part of the Rural Journalism Collective virtual event on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 2 p.m. Eastern. Register for a spot here.Photo: Robert F. Bukaty/AP.
The ZENERGY Podcast: Climate Leadership, Finance and Technology
Welcome to The Zenergy Podcast! On today's episode, host Karan Takhar, sits down with Heidi Binko, Co-Founder and CEO of Just Transition Fund. They begin with an overview of JTF, the work they are doing in coal communities around the U.S., and a summary of the broader energy landscape. Then, they discuss what happens to a local economy when their coal plant shuts down and how JTF works to support these communities during a time of transition. Heidi and Karan chat about what's driving coal out of these communities, what strategies JTF employs to reach the hardest hit communities, and what conversations they are having with community members. JTF has helped secure over $2 billion in grants and other assistance and has also aided in connecting coal communities across the nation so they can share what they have done to grow their economy. They touch briefly on federal funding, why investments such as the IRA and the CHIPS Act may not have landed with people in these communities as well as what impact the current federal funding freeze has on energy projects. Finally, Heidi shares her excitement for JTF's 10-year anniversary. Be sure to listen through to the end of the episode for ways you can get involved with JTF or visit their website justfundtransition.org.Resources: What does 'just transition' really mean?, Canary Media, 2022Fossil Fuel-Producing Communities Face a 'Cumulative Burden' of Pollution, Poor Health and Job Loss in the US, World Resources Institute, 2023 American Made: What Happens to People When Work Disappears a book by Farah StockmanCredits:Editing/Graphics: Desta Wondirad, Wondir Studios
Jeff St. John, Director of News and Special Projects at Canary Media, discusses the Trump administration's new executive orders and policy initiatives, and how they affect various aspects of sustainability efforts, including clean energy, environmental protection, the EPA, and program funding. Jeff also breaks down several issues, including the Inflation Reduction Act and infrastructure, energy sources and prices, the implications of "Drill Baby Drill," and a lot more in this informative interview.
Jeff St. John, Director of News and Special Projects at Canary Media, explains why clean energy is important.
On January 16th, 2025, a fire broke out at the Vistra plant in Moss Landing, California burning for two days and scattering heavy metals and other toxic materials across the plant's surroundings, including Elkhorn Slough. What happened there and why did the batteries burn? What are the impacts of the fire and on the future of renewable energy?Join host Ronnie Lipschutz for three conversations about the batteries and the fire, with Ric O'Connell, executive director of GridLab, who will explain what the batteries are doing there, Dr. Ivano Aiello, Professor of Geological Oceanography at San Jose State's Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, who will discuss the results of his research into contamination of Elkhorn Slough, and Dr. Megan Thiele Strong, Professor of Environmental Sociology at San Jose State, who will talk about the health and social effects of the fire on people living around the site.Here are some resources:Fire Protection Association, UK "Why do lithium-ion batteries catch fire?"Never Again Moss LandingHunterbrook, "After Vistra Fire, Residents Report Illness, Scientists Confirm Contaminated Soil," Jan. 27, 2025.Never Again Moss Landing (NAML), "Community Organization Conducts Surface Sampling for Heavy Metals Following Moss Landing Battery Storage Facility Fire," feb. 6, 2025.Hunterbrook, "New Data Indicates Elevated Heavy Metal after Vistra Fire," Feb. 11, 2025.Julian Spector, "Why we don't need to worry about the latest grid battery fire," Canary Media.com, Jan. 27, 2025.(Moss Fire photo @picklerich831 via REUTERS)
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.volts.wtfIn this episode, I speak with Canary Media journalists Claire Fieseler and Julian Spector to assess the early impacts of Trump's executive orders on clean energy. We explore what's actually happening with offshore wind projects, manufacturing investments, and tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act.
00:08 — Ahmad Abuznaid is Executive Director of the US Campaign for Palestinian rights. 00:33 — Jeff St. John is the director of news and special projects at Canary Media, a nonprofit newsroom covering the transition to clean energy and solutions to the climate crisis. The post Trump Wants the United States to Takeover Gaza; Plus, What a Trump Adminsitration Means for Decarbonizing the Economy appeared first on KPFA.
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter (pictured) died a few days ago at 100. Here is Jonathon Altrer, who said that as President, "He peered over the horizon, especially on energy and the environment"; "Canary Media's top 10 clean energy stories in 2024"; "A Triple Threat to Humanity: Climate Change, Pandemics, and Anti-Science"; "Nuclear power had a strong year in 2024, but uncertainty looms for 2025"; "In 2025, let's make it game on – not game over – for our precious natural world"; "Sport produces mountains of high-tech waste. We are finding new ways to recycle it"; "Germany and Spain experienced some of the world's costliest climate disasters in 2024"; "Violence, frayed tempers and hot weather — is mango madness real?"; "AI air pollution takes deadly health toll"; "If popular culture is anything to go by, 2024 is the year we simply gave up"; "These Graphics Help Explain What Climate Change Looked Like in 2024"; "North Carolina's Climate Activists Brace for Trump's Return"; "2024: a year of racism and lying to ourselves"; "From the sidelines to the helm: The Global South's turn to lead climate policy"; "Millions of households in Great Britain face higher energy bills as price cap rises"; "‘Moving to the mountaintops': rising seas displace tens of thousands in Papua New Guinea".
President-elect Donald Trump has promised to at least partially repeal the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, and some analysts say it could end up helping China more than the United States.“If you take away the incentives for people to buy the stuff that American manufacturers are making, that weakens the case for investing in American manufacturing,” said Canary Media's Jeff St. John, who wrote about how killing the EV tax credit could impact an electrified future for the U.S. St. John said the tax credit is a major incentive for car buyers, while also incentivizing automakers and battery manufacturers. “Those investments are making a difference in the lives and jobs and economic development to move forward,” he said. “Those are all things that are tied up with the $7,500 per EV tax credit and it's a little bit hard to know what will happen if we untangle that.”To hear the full conversation with St. John and MPR meteorologist Paul Huttner, click play on the audio player above or subscribe to the Climate Cast podcast.
Jeff St. John, director of News and Special Projects at Canary Media, discusses how the Inflation Reduction Act, which offers companies incentives for bringing manufacturing of renewable energy technologies back to the United States, can also affect trade with China.
Jeff St. John, Director of News and Special Projects at Canary Media, returns for an in-depth discussion on the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and its far-reaching effects on both domestic and international businesses. Passed in 2022 under the Biden administration, the IRA provides crucial incentives for companies investing in renewable energy and clean technologies onshore. However, with a new administration taking office in 2025, the landscape could shift dramatically. Jeff also shares insights on the role of China, the impact on jobs, and the complexities surrounding tariffs in this rapidly evolving sector.
California is embracing wave power technology to generate electricity from ocean waves, which will help power thousands of homes. A new study challenges the long-standing belief that rooftop solar is a burden on California's customers, showing that it actually benefits the state. This update offers hope for the future of solar power in California. Read more from Canary Media. China's Open Sea Solar Farm: China has just powered up the world's largest open-sea solar farm, which also incorporates fish farming. This innovative project showcases the potential of combining solar energy with marine aquaculture to boost renewable energy production. More on this from Electrek. COP29 Climate Talks: As COP29 unfolds, key figures are calling for a complete redesign of the conference. One major suggestion: reducing the influence of fossil fuel lobbyists, who currently outnumber climate negotiators. The conference is in its final week, and tensions are rising over the role of developing countries in achieving decarbonization goals. More details on COP29 from Electrek. The Lightning Round: Air Pollution in India: India is currently experiencing extreme air pollution, with levels up to 130 times above the recommended safety threshold. Flights and trains have been canceled due to the severity of the pollution. Bomb Cyclone: A bomb cyclone is forming off the coast of the Pacific Northwest, with winds strong enough to rival a hurricane. This rare weather event is a stark reminder of the power of climate extremes. Contact Us cleanenergyshow@gmail.com or leave us an online voicemail: http://speakpipe.com/clean Support The Clean Energy Show Join the Clean Club on our Patreon or with YouTube Memberships to receive perks for supporting the podcast and our planet! PayPal Donate offers one-time or regular donations. Store Visit The Clean Energy Show Store for T-shirts, hats, and more!. Social Bluesky: Clean Energy Pod Copyright 2024.
Jeff St. John, director of News and Special Projects at Canary Media, has been following the relationship between AI computing energy demands and the U.S. energy sector. He discusses what data centers require, the challenges that utility companies have, and what kinds of decisions have to be made to accommodate environmental changes.
Jeff St. John, director of News and Special Projects at Canary Media, explains why the electric grid isn't ready for AI expansion.
Let us know how we're doing - text us feedback or thoughts on episode contentThe DOE recently released a report outlining a pathway for the US to meet recent pledges of tripling of domestic nuclear capacity by 2050. Nuclear needs to play a role in a clean energy economy, but the industry may be fooling itself in thinking that learning curve cost decreases will help to make these advanced nuclear reactors more economically viable.In this episode, Paul discusses the challenges facing the nuclear industry in reducing costs, including the need to customize between facilities, the challenge in translating workforce experience across construction firms, and the ongoing costs associated with the high regulatory hurdles associated with this technology.How can the US support new nuclear, but in a way that ensures affordability for the energy transition?For more research:"Pathways to Commercial Liftoff: Advanced Nuclear" - Department of Energy"To meet US nuclear goals, big reactors need to get built today, DOE says" - Canary Media"Historical construction costs of global nuclear power reactors" - Jessica Lovering, et al. (2016)"The economics of nuclear power: Further evidence on learning, economies of scale, and regulatory effects" - Cantor, et al. (1988)"EDF's UK Hinkley Nuclear Costs Balloon as Plant Delayed Anew" - BloombergFollow Paul on LinkedIn.
Did you know that nearly a third of households in the U.S. face an uphill climb to drive and benefit from an EV simply because they live in multifamily housing? This is not only a climate and public health issue, but also an equity issue. Research shows that access to reliable, convenient, and affordable EV charging is one of the biggest factors for consumers considering owning or leasing an EV. But are the public charging networks sufficient to meet the need for those without at-home charging? How do different cities stack up when it comes to public charging? And what actions should policymakers take to ensure a smooth road ahead? In this episode of Electrify This! host Sara Baldwin speaks with Ingrid Malmgren, Senior Director of Policy with Plug in America, to discuss the state of EV charging for people living in multifamily housing, key findings from new Energy Innovation research, and innovative approaches states and cities are taking to solving the EV charging gap. Tune in today to learn more! Guest Bio: Ingrid has over a decade of experience advancing sustainable energy and transportation electrification through research, utility regulatory proceedings, and legislative advocacy. She began to focus on EVs in 2015, working to demonstrate the benefits of EVs to consumers, the economy, the environment, and the electric grid. Before joining Plug In America, she worked as a senior analyst at Cadmus Group, a lobbyist in the Vermont Statehouse, and a transportation policy manager at Vermont Energy Investment Corporation. Electrifying News: NYC looks to kick its curbside EV-charging plans into second gear (Canary Media), 09/09/24Demand flexibility programs ‘need to evolve' as utilities shift to winter peaking: LBNL report (Utility Dive), 10/09/24Decarbonize Your Life (Heatmap News), 09/23/24Major Ohio cities aim to cut building emissions with voluntary program (Canary Media), 09/18/24 To dig in deeper, check out these must-read resources:The State of Electric Vehicle Charging for Multifamily Housing (Energy Innovation), October 2024The Home Charging Experience (Plug In America), January 2024EV Building Codes Toolkit (Plug in America)2024 EV Driver Survey (Plug In America)The Public Charging Experience (Plug In America), May 2024U.S. Department of Transportation, Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant RecipientsThe 2030 National Charging Network: Estimating U.S. Light-Duty Demand for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure (NREL), June 2023 U.S. Department of Energy, Tax Credits for EVs and Charging Infrastructure
Reporter Carrie Klein from Canary Media, a nonprofit news outlet focused on clean energy, examines the draft rules released by the Public Utility Commission. Commissioner June Tierney from the Department of Public Service joins the conversation to discuss the report. She represents the public interest in utility cases before the Public Utility Commission and in federal and state courts.At the end of the month, the commission will hold a public hearing on the draft. It will be held on Wednesday, October 30th, starting at 6:30 pm. You can find that information here.Broadcast live on Monday, October 14, 2024, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments, or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.
Atmos is a climate fintech company offering savings and checking accounts to help fund the clean energy transition. Ravi is a 25-year veteran of the clean energy industry, material science engineer, and serial entrepreneur. In this episode, you'll learn these four important takeaways and much more. Why the $6 trillion mandate means that every lender should be a climate lender How they've crafted financial products to move tens of millions of dollars into clean energy installations How he almost got diabetes from working too much on his business What he means by "experience is what you get when you don't get what you want"
Through the passage of IRA and CHIPS, the Biden administration has invested billions of dollars and created more than 100,000 manufacturing jobs in purple and red districts that have been hard-hit by globalization and disinvestment. In this episode, Julian Spector of Canary Media, reporting from these communities, shares about local reactions to this influx of new money and opportunities, and the reality that Trump's Project 2025 wants to roll back the tax credits fueling this growth. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.volts.wtf/subscribe
Coffin Butte Landfill, which is located in Benton County, might expand soon. The site draws waste from nearly two dozen Oregon counties and accepts more than one million tons of garbage annually. But the facility’s operators have applied for a permit to expand the landfill even further, raising public health and environmental concerns. A 2022 Environmental Protection Agency report found high levels of methane in the air at Coffin Butte Landfill. People living in nearby towns say that the landfill shouldn’t get bigger under any circumstances, and some longtime residents have been suffering from health issues due to living in such close proximity. Isobel Whitcomb, a science and environmental reporter, is here to share more about what they learned while researching this issue for Canary Media.
In the last installment of our three-part series on industrial decarbonization, we explore industrial sector decarbonization and the role electrification can play in achieving net zero goals for a stable climate. Host Sara Baldwin speaks with Blaine Collison of the Renewable Thermal Collaborative about the barriers to electrifying industrial heat processes in the U.S., and the policy, regulatory, and market changes that could put the country on track to electrify more industries. Guest Bio:Blaine Collison is the Executive Director of the Renewable Thermal Collaborative and the Senior Vice President at David Gardiner and Associates, where he helps companies and institutions advance renewable energy, energy efficiency and climate change initiatives, including industrial decarbonization. Previously he served as the managing director of marketing and partnerships at Altenex, an Edison Energy company, where he led the development of corporate sustainability services, communications, and strategic partnerships. He also served 17 years with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, with multiple roles in the Energy Star program and a decade leading the Green Power Partnership. Electrifying News: The Race to Decarbonize Heavy Industry Heats Up (Inside Climate News, May 2024) Massachusetts kicks off first pilot to shift gas utilities to clean heat (Canary Media, June 2024) How heat pumps can turn wasted energy into low-carbon whisky (Canary Media, June 2024) To dig in deeper, check out these must-read resources: Electrification Action Plan (Renewable Thermal Collaborative, 2024) Renewable Thermal Collaborative RTC Summit (Sept 30-Oct 1, 2024)
0:08 — Joel Beinin Professor of Middle East History, Emeritus at Stanford University. 0:33 — Jeff St. John is the director of news and special projects at Canary Media, a nonprofit newsroom covering the transition to clean energy and solutions to the climate crisis. The post Benny Gantz Resigns, Truce Deal on the Table; Plus, California Budget Cuts Hit Distributed Energy Efforts appeared first on KPFA.
How I'm I supposed to live my life with a car that only goes 300 miles per charge when I might need to go to the dry cleaner 4 miles from my house?BONUS EPISODES available on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/deniersplaybook) SOCIALS & MORE (https://linktr.ee/deniersplaybook) CREDITS Created by: Rollie Williams, Nicole Conlan & Ben BoultHosts: Rollie Williams & Nicole ConlanExecutive Producer: Ben Boult Producer: Gregory Haddock Editor: Brittany TerrellResearchers: Carly Rizzuto, Canute Haroldson & James CrugnaleArt: Jordan Doll Music: Tony Domenick Special thanks: The Civil Liberties Defense CenterSOURCESAllen, S. (2016, August 22). The horror of alligator attack on boy at Disney World resort is detailed in new reports. Los Angeles Times.Better Offline. (2024, May 8). Enron Musk ft. Ed Niedermeyer.Contributor, G. (2023, August 13). Are Electric Cars Really Cheaper To Own And Drive Than Gas Cars? CleanTechnica. Coren, M. (2023, August 8). Advice | Is it cheaper to refuel your EV battery or gas tank? We did the math in all 50 states. Washington Post. Electric Classic Cars. (2021, January 4). VW Beetle converted to electric in a day. YouTube. Enel X Way. (2022, November 21). Future of gas stations vs EV chargers | Enel X Way. Www.enelxway.com. Energy.Gov. (n.d.). The Cost to Charge an Electric Vehicle Explained. Energy.gov. Retrieved May 14, 2024, from https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/cost-charge-electric-vehicle-explained#:~:text=Using%20the%20U.S.%20household%20averageFederal Highway Administration. (n.d.). National Household Travel Survey. Nhts.ornl.gov. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://nhts.ornl.gov/vehicle-tripsFischer, J. (2022, September 22). The Average Price of an Electric Car Keeps Dropping (2024 Update). CarEdge. Forest Breaking News. (2023, September 20). WATCH: Pete Stauber Tears Into Sec. Pete Buttigieg Over EV Mandates. Www.youtube.com. fueleconomy.gov. (2019). How many gas stations are there in the U.S? Fueleconomy.gov. Hoonigan. (2017, March 28). [HOONIGAN] DT 012: Electric Smart Car Burnouts, Donuts and Other Bad Ideas. YouTube. Jalopnik. (2020, June 2). Unboxing The World's Cheapest New Car Reveals It's So Much Better Than You Think. Www.youtube.com. Jalopnik. (2021, June 29). How The Cheapest Electric Car In The World Held Up After 1 Year. YouTube. Keley Blue Book. (2024, February 13). Kelley Blue Book Reports New-Vehicle Transaction Prices Continue to Tumble, Down 3.5% Year Over Year in January. Kelley Blue Book. Marklines. (2024, January 4). USA - Flash report, Automotive sales volume, 2023 - MarkLines Automotive Industry Portal. Www.marklines.com. Meyer, R., & Jenkins, J. (2024, May 8). Shift Key with Robinson Meyer and Jesse Jenkins: Elon Musk Is Putting the EV Transition in Peril on Apple Podcasts. Apple Podcasts. Nadel, S. (2024, January 10). Charging Ahead: How EVs Could Drive Down Electricity Rates | ACEEE. Www.aceee.org. Not Just Bikes. (2023, March 6). These Stupid Trucks are Literally Killing Us. Www.youtube.com. Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy. (2022, March 21). FOTW #1230, March 21, 2022: More than Half of all Daily Trips Were Less than Three Miles in 2021. Energy.gov. Policy, A. P. (2024, March 7). Comparing the Total Cost of Ownership of the Most Popular Vehicles in the United States. Atlas Public Policy. Randall, T. (2023, March 9). US Electric Cars Set Record With Almost 300-Mile Average Range. Bloomberg.com. Shilling, E. (2022, January 27). Trucks And SUVs Are Now Over 80 Percent Of New Car Sales In The U.S. Jalopnik. Squires, A. (2023, June 27). Building the 2030 National Charging Network. Www.nrel.gov. St. John, J. (2024, May 2). Tesla's Supercharger team layoffs perplex EV charging industry. Canary Media. Sturges, D. (2023). Near to Far: A design for a new equitable and sustainable transportation system. Dan Sturges.The Economic Times. (2023, December 3). Trump on electric vehicles: “They don't go far, they cost a fortune.” Www.youtube.com. The International Council on Clean Transportation. (n.d.). Five things you know about electric vehicles that aren't exactly true. International Council on Clean Transportation. The Simpsons. (n.d.). The Simpsons - Electric car of the future. Www.youtube.com. Retrieved May 14, 2024, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wjyaF8ut_E. Season 14, Episode 7.Torchinsky, J. (2023, April 27). This Indian-Market Brochure For The New MG Comet EV Is Concentrated Cringe Injected Right Into Your Brain. The Autopian. Torchinsky, J. (2024a, January 5). You'll Never Guess The Technology That Hospital Beds And Premium Cars Share, And For Very Different Purposes. The Autopian. Torchinsky, J. (2024b, January 8). VW Will Be The First Carmaker To Offer Integrated ChatGPT After All None Of You Demanded It. The Autopian. Torchinsky, J. (2024c, January 24). EV Startup Canoo Announces Deal With Post Office To Provide A Comically Small Number Of Vans. The Autopian. Torchinsky, J. (2024d, January 30). America Is Missing Out on the Best Electric Cars. The Atlantic. Torchinsky, J. (2024e, February 27). Congratulations! You Have Achieved The Same Results As Apple's 10-Year-Long EV Program Which They Just Shut Down. The Autopian. Torchinsky, J. (2024f, March 29). Huge Smartphone Company Xiaomi Just Showed The World Their Under-$30,000 Tesla Model 3 Fighter. The Autopian. Torchinsky, J. (2024g, April 12). “Fully Automated AVs May Never Be Able To Operate Safely” Says One Of The Oldest Professional Computing Technology Organizations. The Autopian. Witt, J. (2022, December 12). Winter & Cold Weather EV Range Loss in 7,000 Cars. Www.recurrentauto.com.Additional Media: The horror of alligator attack on boy at Disney World resort is detailed in new reports - Los Angeles TimesAmerica Is Missing Out on the Best Electric Cars - The AtlanticRobinson Meyer, Elon Musk Is Putting the EV Transition in PerilEd Zitron, Enron Musk Ft. Ed NiedermeyerVW Beetle converted to electric in a dayHow The Cheapest Electric Car In The World Held Up After 1 YearUnboxing The World's Cheapest New Car Reveals It's So Much Better Than You Think[HOONIGAN] DT 012: Electric Smart Car Burnouts, Donuts and Other Bad IdeasI'm an electric car - The SimpsonsWATCH: Pete Stauber Tears Into Sec. Pete Buttigieg Over EV MandatesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Canary Media senior editor Eric Wesoff explains the latest in a history of solar PV trade disputes involving the U.S. and China, and what it could mean for the growth of solar power and domestic solar manufacturing. --- In April, a coalition of U.S. photovoltaics manufacturers petitioned the Department of Commerce to impose anti-dumping tariffs on solar panels from four Southeast Asian countries. The move is the latest in a long history of solar trade disputes involving China and, more recently, Chinese PV manufacturers operating throughout Asia. Canary Media senior editor Eric Wesoff explains the foundations of the latest complaint, and how this case is substantively different from earlier trade disputes including the Auxin Solar case of 2022. He explores the competing priorities of the domestic solar manufacturing industry and solar project developers on the issue of tariffs, and how tensions within the industry create a Catch-22 for the Biden administration as it seeks to grow the solar industry through IRA incentives. Eric Wesoff is senior editor at Canary Media, and former editor in chief at Greentech Media. Related Content California's Solar Equity Challenge https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/podcast/californias-solar-equity-challenge/ The Key to Electric Grid Reliability: Modernizing Governance https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/research/publications/the-key-to-electric-grid-reliability-modernizing-governance/ Energy Policy Now is produced by The Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania. For all things energy policy, visit kleinmanenergy.upenn.eduSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hello Earthlings! In this episode, we dive into an inspiring story of renewable energy success. Our guest is Julian Spector, a senior reporter at Canary Media, who was the first to report on Portugal's remarkable achievement of powering its grid with 100% renewable energy for six consecutive days. We discuss how Portugal, despite not having easy access to geothermal or extensive hydro resources, managed to achieve this milestone and what lessons other countries can learn from their experience.Lisa Ann and Julian discuss the significance of Portugal's achievement, the history of 100% renewable energy goals, and the future of renewable energy worldwide. We also delve into the practicalities of grid management, the role of energy storage, and how different regions can adapt similar strategies to their unique contexts.Restoring Our Faith in Humanity this week is Connie Sanchez and the National Audubon Society's Lights Out initiative, which aims to protect migratory birds from the hazards of city lights.Be sure to take our listener survey and subscribe to our Substack newsletter for more Earthlings content!Key Topics: Portugal's Achievement of Six Days of 100% Renewable Energy: Portugal powered its grid entirely with renewable energy for six consecutive days, showcasing a significant milestone in the global shift towards sustainable energy.Practical Strategies for Other Regions to Replicate Portugal's Success: Portugal's intentional and strategic planning, including the development of wind and solar power, serves as a model for other regions. Their approach demonstrates that even countries without extensive natural resources can achieve significant renewable energy milestones.The Importance of Energy Storage and Grid Management: Effective grid management and energy storage are crucial for maintaining a stable supply of renewable energy. Portugal's use of hydropower as a base load and their exploration of battery storage solutions highlight the importance of a diverse energy portfolio.Voices on The Show: Julian Spector, Senior Reporter at Canary Media Linkedin: Julian SpectorLisa Ann Pinkerton, Earthlings 2.0 Host, CEO of Technica Communications, and Founder of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability LinkedIn: Lisa Ann PinkertonX - Lisa Ann Pinkerton Instagram - @LisiAnniTechnica Communications Women in Cleantech and SustainabilityWeb Resources:Article mentioned in the show: Portugal just ran on 100% renewables for six days in a row11 countries leading the charge on renewable energy | Climate Council Sign up to our
Let us know how we're doing - text us feedback or thoughts on episode contentThere's a lot going on in the offshore wind market in the US these days. Multiple projects have had to renegotiate or even outright cancel their power purchase agreements.In today's episode, Paul takes a closer look at the reasons behind this turmoil and the impact on the nascent offshore wind market.For further reference:"Offshore wind in the U.S. hit headwinds in 2023. Here's what you need to know" - NPR"A wind project promised Mass. cheap power. Then came inflation" - WBUR"Two major New York offshore wind projects are back on track" - Canary Media"US offshore wind projects facing inflation headwinds" - Reuters"Lawmakers pass controversial bill to give tax break to offshore wind developer" - New Jersey MonitorFollow Paul on LinkedIn.
Problem: fossil fuels. Solution: different fossil fuels. BONUS EPISODES available on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/deniersplaybook) SOCIALS & MORE (https://linktr.ee/deniersplaybook) CREDITS Created by: Rollie Williams, Nicole Conlan & Ben BoultHosts: Rollie Williams & Nicole ConlanExecutive Producer: Ben Boult Producer: Gregory Haddock Editor: Brittany TerrellResearchers: Carly Rizzuto, Canute Haroldson & James CrugnaleArt: Jordan Doll Music: Tony Domenick Special thanks: The Civil Liberties Defense CenterSOURCESThe Obama Whitehouse. (2014). The 2014 State of the Union Address (Enhanced Version). YouTube.NowThis Impact. (2019). Trump Speaks at Natural Gas Plant in Louisiana | NowThis. YouTube.Natural Allies for a Clean Future. (2023) Earth Day 2023. YouTube.Energy Information Administration. (2023). Electricity explained. U.S. Energy Information Administration.DOE. (2006). Mercury Emission Control R&D. U.S. Department of Energy.Palmer, B. (2021, November 15). Natural Gas 101. NRDC.The Oklahoman Video Archive. (2017). Natural Gas Boom (2008-07-30). YouTube.ClimateProgress. (2009). Video 5. YouTube.Alvarez, R. A. et al. Assessment of methane emissions from the U.S. oil and gas supply chain. Science, 361(6398). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aar7204Union of Concerned Scientists. (2014, June 19). Environmental Impacts of Natural Gas.EPA. (2013). Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990 - 2011 (p. 439). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.International Trucks. (2012). President Obama Supports Natural Gas. YouTube.Olano, M. V. (2023, July 14). Chart: The US is now exporting more LNG than ever before. Canary Media.Williams, Curtis. (2024, January 3). US was top LNG exporter in 2023 as hit record levels. Reuters.Energy Information Administration. (2023, November 13). Today in Energy. U.S. Energy Information AdministrationJeremy. (2023, November 14). Report: Status of U.S. LNG Export Permits and Associated Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Symons Public Affair.The White House. (2024, January 26). FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Announces Temporary Pause on Pending Approvals of Liquefied Natural Gas Exports.International Energy Agency. (2022). Outlook for gaseous fuels.Global Energy Monitor Wiki. (2021, May 5). Existing U.S. Coal Plants.Oil Change International. (2019, May). Burning the gas ‘bridge fuel' myth: why gas is not clean, cheap, or necessary.Lazard. (2023, April 12). 2023 Levelized Cost Of Energy+.greenmanbucket. (2016). Mark Z. Jacobson PhD on Natural Gas as a "Bridge Fuel." YouTube.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
There's a hole in the finance world. Fighting climate change means scaling up lots of new technologies, but financing those first-of-a-kind (FOAK) projects is incredibly difficult. New technologies involving things like sustainable aviation fuel, geothermal, and direct air capture can take a decade or more to scale up. But venture capital is too expensive for FOAK projects, while infrastructure finance is too risk-averse. So what solutions could solve the FOAK financing problem? In this episode, Shayle talks to longtime climatetech investor David Yeh. He was most recently the managing director at the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. He was also a senior advisor on climatetech in the Obama administration. They cover topics like: Different approaches to FOAK, like off-balance sheet, structured finance, catalytic capital, and government programs. Examples of companies that solved the FOAK problem Code switching between venture capitalists and infrastructure financiers. (Try using the word “innovative” with traditional bankers). David's checklist for FOAK entrepreneurs. Recommended Resources: Bloomberg: Grant From Bill Gates-led Fund Will Make Green Jet Fuel As Cheap As Fossil Fuels CTVC: What the FOAK? If you want more news and analysis like this in your inbox, subscribe to Latitude Media's newsletter and Canary Media's newsletter. Catalyst is a co-production of Latitude Media and Canary Media. Catalyst is brought to you by BayWa r.e., a leading global renewable energy developer, service supplier, and distributor. With over 22GW in their project pipeline, BayWa r.e. is rethinking energy every day and at every level. Committed to being a solid partner for the long run, BayWa r.e. wants to work with you to help shape the future of energy. Learn more at bay.wa-re.com. Catalyst is brought to you by Sungrow. Now in more than 150 countries, Sungrow's solutions include inverters for utility-scale, commercial, and industrial solar, plus energy storage systems. Learn more at us.sungrowpower.com.
In less than a decade, America has become the world's biggest exporter of liquified natural gas. In the mid-2000s, the US was building terminals to import more fossil gas. But that all changed after the fracking boom unlocked vast reserves of hydrocarbons. The US became a net exporter in 2017. Then, Russia's war on Ukraine forced a scramble for new supplies of gas in Europe – and American companies stepped in. The consequence: a historic push for new terminals, a vast new source of heat-trapping gasses that could wipe out US climate gains, and a growing conflict over how the government approves new LNG infrastructure. This week: we explore the latest climate flash point: liquified gas. We're joined by Bill McKibben, author, organizer and founder of Third Act; Nicole Pollack, a contributing writer at Canary Media; and Jeremy Symons, analyst, political strategist, and principal at Symons Public Affairs. Resources mentioned in this episode: Canary Media: Nicole Pollack's deep dive into the controversies over FERC approval of LNG exports. New Yorker: Bill McKibben's article on Robert Howarth's latest research on LNG emissions. Jeremy Symons' recent research on how LNG exports are causing US emissions to rise. Sign up for Latitude Media's Frontier Forum on January 29, featuring Crux CEO Alfred Johnson, who will break down the budding market for clean energy tax credits. We'll dissect current transactions and pricing, compare buyer and seller expectations, and look at where the market is headed in 2024. It's Canary Media's listener drive through the end of the year. Make a tax-deductible donation today. The Carbon Copy is supported by FischTank PR, a specialized climatetech PR firm dedicated to bringing meaningful results for companies in sectors spanning grid edge, solar, energy storage, battery, EVs, alternative fuels, VC and green building. FischTank helps clients stand out in an increasingly competitive and noisy space. Visit FischTank PR to learn more.
It's time to get specific. In the power industry “long-duration energy storage” could mean anything from 4 to 10 to 100 hours of energy. But Form Energy's Mateo Jaramillo argues that batteries in the ballpark of 100 hours hit a sweet spot, and that sweet spot deserves its own term: multi-day storage. In the 15 minute to 12 hour range, lithium-ion batteries shine, effectively displacing natural gas peaker plants that run less than 5% of the year. But they don't displace higher-capacity generation. Nor do they meet the needs of the grid during significant weather events, like heat domes, Nor'easters and freak Texas winter storms that can last upwards of 75 hours. And for that, Mateo says we need multi-day storage. Form Energy's iron-air batteries made headlines back in 2021 for promising to deliver tens of hours of storage at a low cost per kilowatt hour. (Energy Impact Partners, where Shayle is a partner, invests in Form Energy.) So what role could multi-day storage play on the grid? In this episode, Shayle talks to Mateo about real-world examples from Form's experience with utilities like Xcel and Georgia Power. They also cover topics like: The strengths and limitations of lithium-ion batteries on the grid today, and why Mateo thinks lithium-ion is here to stay. The competitive landscape for mulit-day storage, including iron-air, carbon capture and storage, hydrogen, and transmission. What role multi-day storage plays for utilities beyond balancing renewables, such as meeting load growth and resilience goals. Plus: Shayle's idea for bitcoin mining on a barge. Recommended Resources: Canary Media: Form Energy closes its biggest deal yet for long-duration energy storage Carbon Copy: A groundbreaking long-duration battery nears industrial scale Wall Street Journal: Old West Virginia Steel Mill Becomes a Green-Energy Powerhouse If you want more news and analysis like this in your inbox, subscribe to Latitude Media's newsletter and Canary Media's newsletter. Catalyst is a co-production of Latitude Media and Canary Media. Catalyst is brought to you by BayWa r.e., a leading global renewable energy developer, service supplier, and distributor. With over 22GW in their project pipeline, BayWa r.e. is rethinking energy every day and at every level. Committed to being a solid partner for the long run, BayWa r.e. wants to work with you to help shape the future of energy. Learn more at bay.wa-re.com. Catalyst is brought to you by Sungrow. Now in more than 150 countries, Sungrow's solutions include inverters for utility-scale, commercial, and industrial solar, plus energy storage systems. Learn more at us.sungrowpower.com.
The U.S. Treasury proposed guidance last Friday that would significantly restrict what battery parts and materials can qualify for incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act. The rules label China and several other countries as “foreign entities of concern.” These rules will prevent materials and parts sourced from those countries, starting in the next few years, from counting toward the IRA's electric vehicle tax credits. The new rules are meant to push battery companies to develop supply chains outside the control of Chinese officials and companies, which control much of the world's battery industry. They come following a first batch of guidance released this year by the Treasury, which the IRA tasked with developing specific rules for implementing the law. So what does the new guidance mean for battery supply chains? This episode features two conversations with Sam Jaffe, senior director of business development at Addionics. The first is a short update on last week's proposed rules. The second is a longer conversation Shayle had with Sam in April about the first batch of rules, which focused on which battery ingredients count as “constituent materials” under the IRA. Both discussions are relevant to understanding what's happening now. In this update they cover topics like: Defining what counts as a material controlled by a foreign entity of concern, such as percentage ownership in a joint venture Key loopholes in law, such as licensing arrangements and small percentages of low-value materials, like cathode binder and electrolyte salts The parts of the supply chain most significantly affected by the rule, such as Chinese graphite, Indonesian nickel, and Congolese cobalt Upcoming deadlines in 2025 and 2026, and whether onshored or friend-shored facilities can begin supplying materials before then Recommended Resources: Canary: The US EV industry now faces a choice: Tax credits or Chinese batteries Heatmap: It's Suddenly a Mystery Which EVs Will Qualify for a Tax Credit in 2024 If you want more news and analysis like this in your inbox, subscribe to Latitude Media's newsletter and Canary Media's newsletter. Catalyst is a co-production of Latitude Media and Canary Media. Catalyst is brought to you by BayWa r.e., a leading global renewable energy developer, service supplier, and distributor. With over 22GW in their project pipeline, BayWa r.e. is rethinking energy every day and at every level. Committed to being a solid partner for the long run, BayWa r.e. wants to work with you to help shape the future of energy. Learn more at bay.wa-re.com. Catalyst is brought to you by Sungrow. Now in more than 150 countries, Sungrow's solutions include inverters for utility-scale, commercial, and industrial solar, plus energy storage systems. Learn more at us.sungrowpower.com.
For those of us in the U.S., Europe's strong electric vehicle market might offer a glimpse into the future of EV charging. In 2022 the electrification haven of Norway had a whopping 166 plugin-in electric vehicles per 1,000 residents. Germany had 20 per 1,000 residents and Europe's largest fleet, based on reporting by Euronews. That's far ahead of the U.S., which averaged 8.6 in 2022, according to Argonne National Laboratory. So, it stands to reason that these countries must have insights into how to get all these vehicles charged. And Europe does indeed have a lot to teach the U.S. — but it turns out the lessons might actually go both ways. In this episode, Shayle talks to Nick Woolley, CEO and co-founder of charging management company ev.energy, which operates in both the U.S. and Europe. (Shayle's firm Energy Impact Partners is also an investor in ev.energy.) They discuss topics like: EV adoption rates and charging patterns by region The fragmented European charging networks and Europe's unique roaming programs that facilitate interoperability The difference between customers who have off-street parking and their own charging infrastructure, and those who instead have to scavenge for charging The pros and cons of Europe's unbundled electricity markets, as compared with vertically integrated markets in the U.S. Carrots, sticks, and compliance for managed charging, also known as V1G The challenges of implementing vehicle-to-grid charging, or V2G Recommended Resources: Catalyst: Can the V2X dream become reality? Catalyst: The journey to monetizing distributed energy resources If you want more news and analysis like this in your inbox, subscribe to Latitude Media's newsletter and Canary Media's newsletter. Catalyst is a co-production of Latitude Media and Canary Media. Catalyst is brought to you by BayWa r.e., a leading global renewable energy developer, service supplier, and distributor. With over 22GW in their project pipeline, BayWa r.e. is rethinking energy every day and at every level. Committed to being a solid partner for the long run, BayWa r.e. wants to work with you to help shape the future of energy. Learn more at bay.wa-re.com. Catalyst is brought to you by Sungrow. Now in more than 150 countries, Sungrow's solutions include inverters for utility-scale, commercial, and industrial solar, plus energy storage systems. Learn more at us.sungrowpower.com.
Since Oct. 7, Palestinian and Jewish Americans have been navigating work while enduring anxiety and heartache as the Israel-Hamas War plays out. We’ll discuss the pressure to perform professionally as the conflict continues. And there’s some hopeful climate news out of Portugal: The country ran on 100% renewable energy for six days. Plus, we’re settling the debate on the least-liked Thanksgiving side dish in a round of Half Full/Half Empty. Here’s everything we talked about: “If Gaza were in your city, how much would be destroyed? | Israel-Palestine conflict News” from Al Jazeera “Palestinian Americans on working while grieving: ‘How many days off do you take when Gaza's bombed daily?'” from The Guardian “Portugal just ran on 100% renewables for six days in a row” from Canary Media “Sam Altman fired as CEO of OpenAI” from The Verge “As streaming services search for ad revenue, expect more political ads — and minimal regulation” from Marketplace “Meta allows Facebook and Instagram ads saying 2020 election was rigged” from The Guardian “Have dating apps lost their spark?” from Marketplace “Martha Stewart Says She’s Canceled Her Thanksgiving Dinner: ‘Turkeyed Out!'” from People “The 3 Most-Hated Thanksgiving Side Dishes In America” from Huffpost Got a question for the hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.
Since Oct. 7, Palestinian and Jewish Americans have been navigating work while enduring anxiety and heartache as the Israel-Hamas War plays out. We’ll discuss the pressure to perform professionally as the conflict continues. And there’s some hopeful climate news out of Portugal: The country ran on 100% renewable energy for six days. Plus, we’re settling the debate on the least-liked Thanksgiving side dish in a round of Half Full/Half Empty. Here’s everything we talked about: “If Gaza were in your city, how much would be destroyed? | Israel-Palestine conflict News” from Al Jazeera “Palestinian Americans on working while grieving: ‘How many days off do you take when Gaza's bombed daily?'” from The Guardian “Portugal just ran on 100% renewables for six days in a row” from Canary Media “Sam Altman fired as CEO of OpenAI” from The Verge “As streaming services search for ad revenue, expect more political ads — and minimal regulation” from Marketplace “Meta allows Facebook and Instagram ads saying 2020 election was rigged” from The Guardian “Have dating apps lost their spark?” from Marketplace “Martha Stewart Says She’s Canceled Her Thanksgiving Dinner: ‘Turkeyed Out!'” from People “The 3 Most-Hated Thanksgiving Side Dishes In America” from Huffpost Got a question for the hosts? Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email us at makemesmart@marketplace.org.
Nuclear construction costs in the U.S. are some of the highest in the world. Recent estimates put it at more than $6,000 per kilowatt, as measured by overnight capital cost. But high costs are a problem for new small modular reactors (SMRs) too, killing what was going to be the country's first small modular reactor before it got built. On the other hand, South Korea has some of the lowest costs in the world. Estimated overnight capital costs for reactors in South Korea are closer to $2,200 per kilowatt. And then there are countries like China, France, and the United Arab Emirates that fall between those extremes. So why the wide range in costs? In this episode, Shayle talks to Dr. Jessica Lovering, co-founder and executive director at the Good Energy Collective, a non-profit that researches and promotes policies that support nuclear power. A former director of energy at the Breakthrough Institute, she also authored a comprehensive study of nuclear construction costs in 2016. Shayle and Jessica talk about things like: What goes into the cost of construction and South Korea's secret sauce for low-cost nuclear reactors Why Jessica thinks we should manufacture and regulate reactors like large aircraft Driving down costs with modularity, small reactors, passive safety features, and more construction Why changing regulations might be necessary, but not a silver bullet Why the pro- and anti-nuclear camps talk past each other — and why Jessica says she's somewhere in between Recommended Resources: Energy Policy: Historical construction costs of global nuclear power reactors National Academy of Engineering: Chasing Cheap Nuclear: Economic Trade-Offs for Small Modular Reactors Joule: Evaluating the Role of Unit Size in Learning-by-Doing of Energy Technologies Science: Granular technologies to accelerate decarbonization Canary: Future of small reactors at stake as NuScale deal flops If you want more news and analysis like this in your inbox, subscribe to Latitude Media's newsletter and Canary Media's newsletter. Catalyst is a co-production of Latitude Media and Canary Media. Catalyst is brought to you by BayWa r.e., a leading global renewable energy developer, service supplier, and distributor. With over 22GW in their project pipeline, BayWa r.e. is rethinking energy every day and at every level. Committed to being a solid partner for the long run, BayWa r.e. wants to work with you to help shape the future of energy. Learn more at bay.wa-re.com. Catalyst is brought to you by Sungrow. Now in more than 150 countries, Sungrow's solutions include inverters for utility-scale, commercial, and industrial solar, plus energy storage systems. Learn more at us.sungrowpower.com.
It's about that time again. You sent in great questions for Shayle, and in this episode we're tackling them with the help of Sarah Golden, vice president of energy at GreenBiz. Together Shayle and Sarah cover topics like: Load growth and whether data-center demand is good or bad for decarbonization. The crash in photovoltaic module prices and what it means for the solar industry. The impact of interest rates on climatetech. The challenges of siting carbon dioxide pipelines. Why there's no clear winning technology for carbon dioxide removal. European energy companies acquiring U.S. companies. Why Shayle is bullish on the macro grid, despite the slow pace of interconnection and transmission buildout. Plus: volcanoes, Frankenstein, and Shayle's childhood with geodes. Recommended Resources: Catalyst: Navigating the electrification gauntlet Canary: The US offshore wind industry faces a moment of reckoning S&P Global: Cancellation of Navigator CO2 pipeline raises critical issues for several industries Catalyst: Growing the carbon dioxide removal market If you want more news and analysis like this in your inbox, subscribe to Latitude Media's newsletter and Canary Media's newsletter. Catalyst is a co-production of Latitude Media and Canary Media. Catalyst is brought to you by BayWa r.e., a leading global renewable energy developer, service supplier, and distributor. With over 22GW in their project pipeline, BayWa r.e. is rethinking energy every day and at every level. Committed to being a solid partner for the long run, BayWa r.e. wants to work with you to help shape the future of energy. Learn more at bay.wa-re.com. Catalyst is brought to you by Sungrow. Now in more than 150 countries, Sungrow's solutions include inverters for utility-scale, commercial, and industrial solar, plus energy storage systems. Learn more at us.sungrowpower.com.
Microsoft was an early mover in integrating OpenAI's LLM into its Azure cloud services. And now every part of Microsoft's technology stack — from cloud infrastructure to data analytics to consumer apps — will be “reimagined” for the AI era, said Nadella. As a result, every industry will inevitably be impacted by AI. Utilities will also find themselves at the center of this shift, even if most aren't yet actively investing in AI for grid management. Generative AI will increasingly start to influence back-office operations and customer support inside utilities for “focus and efficiency,” explained Microsoft's Hanna Grene, on stage at Latitude Media's Transition-AI: New York conference. This week, we feature a conversation from our Transition-AI conference with Hanna. We talk with her about how large language models and other forms of artificial intelligence are making their way inside utilities – and why AI isn't as intimidating as it seems. If you want more news and analysis like this in your inbox, subscribe to Latitude Media's newsletter and Canary Media's newsletter. This episode of Carbon Copy is brought to you by the Energy Show, hosted by Barry Cinnamon. Questioning if that cool new product or service really pencils out for customers? Curious about customer adoption of IRA policies? Wondering how the grid can keep up with home electrification? For the real-world scoop on clean energy technologies with a focus on the customer perspective, don't miss the Energy Show at www.energyshow.biz. The Carbon Copy is supported by FischTank PR, a specialized climatetech PR firm dedicated to bringing meaningful results for companies in sectors spanning grid edge, solar, energy storage, battery, EVs, alternative fuels, VC and green building. FischTank helps clients stand out in an increasingly competitive and noisy space. Visit FischTank PR to learn more.
Wind, solar and batteries have seen steady, fairly predictable cost drops over the last two decades. But a combination of pressures – supply chain turmoil, grid constraints, interest rates, labor costs – has raised costs for products and projects. And they're challenging the commercial viability of emerging sectors like offshore wind and hydrogen. So how will the market work through this inflationary blip? And are there other policy interventions to ease pressures? This week: we'll explore the inflation problem for clean energy. Then, the International Energy Agency says peak fossil fuel consumption is upon us. But what does that actually mean? We'll put the “peak” into perspective. Joining us this week are Katherine Hamilton of 38 North, Michael O'Boyle of Energy Innovation, and Maria Gallucci of Canary Media. Stories we mention in this episode: Latitude Media: The ripple effect of rising wind costs WSJ: Green power gets pricier after years of declines Canary Media: Offshore wind pushes ahead despite industry turmoil NYT: IEA forecasts peak fossil fuel demand Washington Post: “Peak” fossil fuels isn't what it sounds like Subscribe to our newsletters: Canary Media The Latitude This episode of Carbon Copy is brought to you by the Energy Show, hosted by Barry Cinnamon. Questioning if that cool new product or service really pencils out for customers? Curious about customer adoption of IRA policies? Wondering how the grid can keep up with home electrification? For the real-world scoop on clean energy technologies with a focus on the customer perspective, don't miss the Energy Show at www.energyshow.biz. The Carbon Copy is supported by FischTank PR, a specialized climatetech PR firm dedicated to bringing meaningful results for companies in sectors spanning grid edge, solar, energy storage, battery, EVs, alternative fuels, VC and green building. FischTank helps clients stand out in an increasingly competitive and noisy space. Visit FischTank PR to learn more.
If you listen to Volts, you probably also listen to — or at the very least, should also be listening to — Catalyst, the Canary Media podcast hosted by veteran cleantech investor Shayle Kann. Like Volts, it features fairly nerdy deep-dive interviews, though they are mercifully shorter, and they're more focused on cleantech, less likely to drift into politics and activism. (Shayle is a partner at Energy Impact Partners, where he assesses and funds cleantech companies for a living, so unlike me he brings some expertise to the table!)Anyway, our pods have been mutual admirers for a while now and we thought it would be fun to do something together. So the following episode features Shayle and I discussing a few technologies and trends we think are overhyped, and a few we think are underhyped. We get into electric stoves, interest rates, thermal batteries, and much more. It was just as fun and enlightening as I expected — especially where we disagreed — so I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Get full access to Volts at www.volts.wtf/subscribe
Some technologies grab the spotlight even beyond #energytwitter, and some fly under the radar. Which ones are getting more attention than they deserve, and which aren't getting enough? This is the episode you never knew you needed: Shayle talks to Volts host David Roberts about the most underhyped and overhyped trends in climatetech right now. David has written about clean technology for the past two decades, first at Grist and then at Vox. He now writes a newsletter and hosts a podcast of the same. Together, Shayle and David cover topics like: Why this new wave of thermal storage technology is different. Small modular reactors and why David and Shayle disagree on how much hype they deserve Why rising interest rates are starting to become a big problem for climatetech. The Inflation Reduction Act and how people still don't grasp how big of a deal it is. Plus: electric stovetops, mineral bottlenecks, and networked geothermal. We want your climatetech questions for Shayle's Ask Me Anything episode! Email questions to us at catalyst@latitudemedia.com. You can also tag us on Twitter or LinkedIn with the hashtag #AskCatalyst. Or you can leave us a voicemail at 919-808-5832. Recommended Resources: Volts: What's the deal with district energy? Volts: Fine, we're doing gas stoves Catalyst: Solving the conundrum of industrial heat Catalyst: Strong opinions on small modular reactors Subscribe to our newsletters: Canary Media The Latitude Catalyst is a co-production of Latitude Media and Canary Media. Catalyst is brought to you by BayWa r.e., a leading global renewable energy developer, service supplier, and distributor. With over 22GW in their project pipeline, BayWa r.e. is rethinking energy every day and at every level. Committed to being a solid partner for the long run, BayWa r.e. wants to work with you to help shape the future of energy. Learn more at bay.wa-re.com. Catalyst is brought to you by Sungrow. Now in more than 150 countries, Sungrow's solutions include inverters for utility-scale, commercial, and industrial solar, plus energy storage systems. Learn more at us.sungrowpower.com.
We want your climatetech questions for Shayle's Ask Me Anything episode! Email questions to us at catalyst@latitudemedia.com. You can also tag us on Twitter or LinkedIn with the hashtag #AskCatalyst. Or you can leave us a voicemail at 919-808-5832. The electrification gauntlet is this: The more we electrify, the more we ask of the grid. New demands on the grid are coming right as it's facing some of its biggest challenges, like interconnection delays, transmission congestion, and extreme weather. But there's a way to take some of the strain off the grid when it doesn't deliver what you need – Build your own! Microgrids, as they're called, are electrical networks that can function independent of the larger grid. So how do they scale? And what counts as a microgrid, anyway? In this episode, Shayle talks to Tim Hade, co-founder and chief development officer at Scale Microgrids. (Scale was a launch sponsor of Latitude Media, which co-produces this show. This interview is independent of that sponsorship and was scheduled prior to Scale becoming a sponsor). Tim and Shayle talk about the state of the microgrid market. They discuss topics like: Why microgrid switchgear is a major bottleneck right now Whether the Chinese supply chain for microgrid parts will bounce back, or new manufacturing will spring up in Europe and the U.S. to replace it The effort to standardize microgrids to increase adoption Recommended Resources: Canary: Puerto Rico's first community-led microgrid is ready to launch Canary: A giant solar microgrid is coming to New York City's JFK airport Catalyst is a co-production of Latitude Media and Canary Media. Catalyst is brought to you by BayWa r.e., a leading global renewable energy developer, service supplier, and distributor. With over 22GW in their project pipeline, BayWa r.e. is rethinking energy every day and at every level. Committed to being a solid partner for the long run, BayWa r.e. wants to work with you to help shape the future of energy. Learn more at bay.wa-re.com. Catalyst is brought to you by Sungrow. Now in more than 150 countries, Sungrow's solutions include inverters for utility-scale, commercial and industrial solar, plus energy storage systems. Learn more at us.sungrowpower.com.
Heat pumps in 140 million U.S. homes by 2050 — that's the goal laid out in Rewiring America's recent report on the pace of home electrification. It's a daunting target for a country that had heat pumps in only 17 million homes in 2020. But we're not that far off. According to Rewiring America, the U.S. is currently on track to install about five million heat pumps by 2025, only about two and a half million short of the pace we need to reach 140 million homes by midcentury. So what can we do to close the gap? What about other major categories of home electrification like water heaters and induction stoves — are we on pace to reach net-zero targets there? In this episode, Shayle talks to Stephen Pantano, head of market transformation at Rewiring America, about the organization's Pace of Progress report. They cover topics like: The adoption targets for water heaters, induction stoves, and other efficient home appliances The roughly $9 billion in incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act that could accelerate adoption The need for more data to get a better understanding of where and how to speed up adoption Why heat pumps are a growing share of a shrinking heating and cooling market, and how that's impacting slumping heat pump sales Recommended Resources: Rewiring America: Pace of Progress Canary: New plan aims to quadruple heat-pump adoption in 25 states Canary: Heat pumps outperform boilers and furnaces — even in the cold Catalyst: How has US industrial policy impacted climatetech investment? Catalyst is a co-production of Latitude Media and Canary Media. Catalyst is brought to you by BayWa r.e., a leading global renewable energy developer, service supplier, and distributor. With over 22GW in their project pipeline, BayWa r.e. is rethinking energy every day and at every level. Committed to being a solid partner for the long run, BayWa r.e. wants to work with you to help shape the future of energy. Learn more at bay.wa-re.com. Catalyst is brought to you by Sungrow. Now in more than 150 countries, Sungrow's solutions include inverters for utility-scale, commercial and industrial solar, plus energy storage systems. Learn more at us.sungrowpower.com.
There are a lot of quarterly ups and downs in venture dollars deployed across climatetech. But the trend is generally up. Since 2021, more than 200 new climate investment funds have been created with $121 billion under management, according to CTVC. Earlier this month, Canary Media Editorial Director Eric Wesoff explored the evolved state of climate investing at Canary Media's live event in Berkeley. The panel included: Nancy Pfund, managing partner at DBL Investors; Mona EINaggar, a partner at Valo Ventures, and Elaine Hseih, a senior advisor at the US Department of Energy. They discussed what sectors are most promising, the pathways to commercial success, and what America's green industrial strategy means for investors. This episode is brought to you by SPAN, a smart electrical panel that helps homeowners save on their energy bills. Interested in having a SPAN Panel installed in your home? Visit span.io to learn more. This episode is brought to you by Nextracker, a leading provider of intelligent, integrated solar tracker and software solutions used in solar projects around the world. Learn more at Nextracker.com.
In climatetech circles, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was a big deal. The expectation was that, combined with other parts of U.S. industrial policy like the CHIPS and Science Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the IRA would transform the American economy and ultimately slash U.S. carbon emissions. We can't see the impact on carbon emissions yet, but we can measure the initial effects on the economy. So how's it going so far? In this episode, Shayle talks to Trevor Houser, partner at the Rhodium Group, about the organization's new Clean Investment Monitor, a database of climatetech investments developed with the MIT Center on Energy and Environmental Policy Research. Trevor highlights three different categories of policy impacts: Sectors where policy accelerated existing trends, like solar deployment and EV sales. Sectors where policy catalyzed new growth that probably would not have happened otherwise, like in manufacturing, hydrogen, carbon management, and sustainable aviation fuels. Sectors that are declining despite policy incentives, like the deployment of wind and heat pumps. They discuss the drivers behind these trends and cover topics like: The regional clustering of manufacturing investment and new geographic hubs, like the Southwest. The surprising growth in hydrogen made from steam methane reforming, also known as blue hydrogen. Recommended Resources: Rhodium Group: Clean Investment Monitor Canary: Made in the USA: Ramping up clean energy manufacturing Canary: US offshore wind pushes ahead despite industry turmoil Catalyst is a co-production of Post Script Media and Canary Media. Are you looking to understand how artificial intelligence will shape the business of energy? Come network with utilities, top energy firms, startups, and AI experts at Transition-AI: New York on October 19. Our listeners get a 10% discount with the code pspods10. Catalyst is brought to you by BayWa r.e., a leading global renewable energy developer, service supplier, and distributor. With over 22GW in their project pipeline, BayWa r.e. is rethinking energy every day and at every level. Committed to being a solid partner for the long run, BayWa r.e. wants to work with you to help shape the future of energy. Learn more at bay.wa-re.com. Catalyst is brought to you by Sungrow. Now in more than 150 countries, Sungrow's solutions include inverters for utility-scale, commercial and industrial solar, plus energy storage systems. Learn more at us.sungrowpower.com.
California is at a crossroads. The state has already installed nearly 1.8 million rooftop solar systems, 5 gigawatts of batteries, and 1.6 million electric cars. But it is also facing some serious challenges. The list is long: controversial policy changes, extreme weather threats, and backlogs – lots and lots of backlogs. It is facing serious backlogs in interconnecting utility-scale solar and storage projects, keeping fossil gas-fired power plants open that were supposed to shut down years ago. And that's not even counting the gigawatts of offshore wind, geothermal power, long-duration energy storage and other clean, firm resources called for in the state's long-term plans — none of which we've built yet. This week, Jeff St. John, Canary Media's director of news, sits down with three prominent people who are trying to move the state forward: State Senator Josh Becker; GRID Alternatives Executive Director Arthur Bart-Williams; and California Solar and Storage Association Executive Director Bernadette Del Chiaro. This conversation was recorded live at Canary Live: Bay Area. We have a flash sale for Transition-AI: New York through October 9th. Use the code FLASH30 to get 30% off your ticket price to our event on AI + energy. Spots are limited, so don't miss out! The Carbon Copy is supported by FischTank PR, a public relations, strategic messaging, and social media agency dedicated to elevating the work of climate and clean energy companies. Learn more about FischTank's approach to cleantech and their services: fischtankpr.com. The Carbon Copy is brought to you by Sungrow. Now in more than 150 countries, Sungrow's solutions include inverters for utility-scale, commercial & industrial solar, plus energy storage systems. Learn more at us.sungrowpower.com.
Just as the auto industry resolves supply chain problems from the Covid pandemic, a new disruptive force has emerged: labor disputes. Nearly 20,000 American auto workers are on strike as they ask for higher pay. At the heart of their concerns: will the shift to electric cars make them worse off? We'll look at a strike that is raising big questions about how to support the companies making electric vehicles for the masses – and support the workers who make them. Then: the push for green steel. Are automakers critical for getting low- and zero-carbon steel into mass production? Finally, as the presidential campaign gets noisier, we look at how Republicans are talking about climate and energy. Joining us this week are Maria Gallucci of Canary Media and Katherine Hamilton of 38 North. Stories we mention in this episode: Canary Media: DOE offers $15.5 billion to retool existing auto plants for EVs New York Times: Battle over electric vehicles is central to auto strike Canary Media: Major steel users band together to place first big “green steel” order Energy Monitor Op-ed: The road to clean steel runs through automakers Bloomberg: Ron DeSantis pledges more fossil fuel production New York Times: A roundup of what GOP candidates say about climate change Don't forget to grab your tickets for Transition-AI: New York and Canary Live: Bay Area, coming up in October. The Carbon Copy is supported by FischTank PR, a specialized climatetech PR firm dedicated to bringing meaningful results for companies in sectors spanning grid edge, solar, energy storage, battery, EVs, alternative fuels, VC and green building. FischTank helps clients stand out in an increasingly competitive and noisy space. Visit FischTank PR to learn more. The Carbon Copy is brought to you by Savant Power. Savant's end-to-end power systems provide energy generation, inverter and battery storage, generator control, flexible load management for every circuit, and level two EV charging. Learn more about the only company that can deliver an integrated smart home and energy solution controlled via a single award-winning app at Savant.com.
Voluntary carbon credits are a lot like used cars: You really have no idea what their quality might be. Or maybe they're more like expensive bottles of wine. Many people (or at least Shayle) can't tell whether they're actually buying good-quality wine. If it's expensive, it must be good, right?That's the kind of logic that has plagued voluntary carbon markets for years. A carbon credit can work in one of two ways. First, it can avert 1 metric ton of emissions that would have otherwise happened by, for example, preventing deforestation. Alternatively, a credit can directly remove a ton of carbon from the atmosphere through methods such as direct air capture or biochar.But widespread reporting reveals that most credits don't do what they say they do. Just this month, the CEO of the world's leading certifier stepped down after an investigation by The Guardian revealed that over 90% of rainforest carbon credits were worthless. In May, a $1 billion lawsuit filed in California alleges that the credits that Delta Air Lines relies on for its claim of reaching carbon-neutrality are bogus.Carbon credits have reached a crisis point at the same moment we need to massively scale them up to meet net-zero goals. So what do we do about these quality problems? In this episode, Shayle talks to Allister Furey, co-founder and CEO of Sylvera, a company that rates the quality of credits in a manner akin to what agencies like Moody's and Standard & Poor's do for bonds.Shayle and Allister cover topics including:The history of the first voluntary carbon markets and their early problems, such as producing fluorocarbons just to destroy them.The current state of the market, including its size, segments and prices.The wide gulf in price between the cheapest avoidance credits and the most ambitious engineered removal credits Why Allistair thinks we need to be on a “war footing” to reach the highly ambitious carbon-removal targets needed to meet net zero, such as growing the market from $2 billion to $1 trillion by 2050.Why high prices do not necessarily mean high quality.Recommended resources:The Guardian: Revealed: more than 90% of rainforest carbon offsets by biggest certifier are worthless, analysis showsThe Guardian: Delta Air Lines faces lawsuit over $1B carbon neutrality claimCatalyst is a co-production of Post Script Media and Canary Media.More episodes of Catalyst can be found here.-----------Have feedback or questions? Tweet us, or send a message to