Podcasts about cleantech alliance

As the outgoing president and CEO of Washington CleanTech Alliance, Tom Ranken has been close to many of the biggest and some of the smallest businesses in the region. What they all have in common, Ranken says, is a goal to change the world. Ranken had plenty of business expertise -  Immunex, VizX Labs, Axio Research - on his resume before joining the Alliance in 2010 as its first full-time president & CEO. At that time, the clean-tech industry trade association had 35 members. Under Ranken’s leadership, the Alliance now represents more than 400 member organizations spanning 10 states and three Canadian provinces. “You may get into a controversy over climate change but you never get into a controversy over jobs,” Ranken says. “Everybody is interested in finding ways to get people jobs.” The definition of what qualifies as a clean-tech job has changed over the years. “We figure there are about 80,000 (clean-tech) jobs in the state, but the definition is important,” Ranken says. “With some of our members you see their job title or company name and you know it’s clean-tech, like a solar installer." According to Ranken, a lot of the CleanTech Alliance members are bigger companies with a mission of being clean and green. They also find that being green makes good business and environmental sense. Another common thread through Ranken’s career has been the Boy Scouts. Beginning as a Cub Scout in Oak Harbor, Ranken’s Navy family meant he took scouting with him around the world. He eventually became an Eagle Scout in Virginia. “My experience has led me to believe that the two most important lessons learned in Scouting are leadership and persistence,” Ranken says. “Most Scouts have spent more than half their lives in the program when they become Eagles, and each has persevered over personal challenges.” As he steps away from the CleanTech Alliance, Ranken says he hopes to have more time to play music in his band named, what else, The Ranken File. “We have three guitars, bass and drums,” Ranken says. “We are developing our own songs, but mostly we play classic rock.” Episode length: 56:10 Episode Links Tom Ranken LinkedIn profile CleanTech Alliance Soundview Innovation Campus Cascadia CleanTech Accelerator Snohomish County Economic Development Initiative Nuclear fusion/University of Washington Nuclear fusion/Forbes University of Washington MBA program The Ranken File band Tom Ranken on the value of Boy Scouts Boy Scouts of America “Range” by David Epstein

The Pacific Northwest boasts several world-class research institutions, making the region a hub for cleantech R&D. But how do you move from the lab to the marketplace, building a business around your new innovation? What government programs are available to help your startup gain traction early on? And what industry associations offer programs for entrepreneurs and advocate for cleantech companies large and small? Tom Ranken is the President and CEO of the CleanTech Alliance, a trade association working to drive clean technology innovation and job growth. The 300 member organizations represent a variety of industries and business models, all inspired to create products that are better, faster, cheaper, cleaner and safer. Prior to joining the Alliance, Tom served as Cofounder and CEO VizX Labs, President and CEO of Axio Research Corporation and President of the Washington Biotechnology and Biomedical Association.  Today, Tom joins Ross, Alexsandra and Christophe to discuss what makes the Pacific Northwest a hub for cleantech. We talk about the need for products and services to ultimately stand on their own in the marketplace as well as the role policy can play in supporting early-stage companies. Tom shares his definition of cleantech and walks us through the trajectory of the industry since he started working with the CleanTech Alliance in 2010. Listen in for Tom’s insight into current trends in cleantech and learn how companies of all sizes are innovating in the cleantech space!   Resources CleanTech Alliance Cascadia CleanTech Accelerator Idaho National Laboratory National Energy Technology Laboratory Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Clean Energy Fund Demand Energy Doosan GridTech Hudson Technologies: Energy Saving Assessments Boeing: 2018 Environment Report   Connect with Ross & Christophe  Nori Nori on Facebook Nori on Twitter Nori on Medium Nori on YouTube Nori on GitHub Email hello@nori.com Nori White Paper Subscribe on iTunes   Key Takeaways [0:49] Tom’s path to reversing climate change Background in banking, biotech Eight years in current role [1:50] The role of the CleanTech Alliance Trade association advocates for members Events, PR and program for entrepreneurs [3:43] Why the Pacific Northwest is a cleantech hub Leading research institutions in region Energy efficiency efforts best in country [5:46] How the Clean Energy Fund supports early-stage companies Competition for grants (Department of Commerce) State funds portion, reduces cost to utility [10:03] Tom’s insight on government ‘picking winners’ Early-stage technologies inherently risky Share risk with company itself and utility [12:56] The trajectory of cleantech as an industry Many companies tanked in economic downturn R&D continues to be extraordinary in region [14:50] Tom’s definition of cleantech Broadly defined as energy (renewables, efficiency) Resource efficiency plays (e.g.: insect farming) [20:00] Tom’s take on sharing ideas in the pre-competitive space Government-supported research, share in early stages Companies need some protection once commercializing [22:16] The current trends in cleantech Battery technology (software and hardware) Commitment of large companies like Boeing, Microsoft [25:41] How large corporations benefit from reducing emissions Financial incentives (reduce costs, access to funds) Attract talent and customers

Sustainable energy is a wicked problem. As we solve one aspect of the challenge, others arise—and the very definition of the problem evolves over time. Yet admitting uncertainty is unpopular. No one is holding a picket sign that reads, “It depends on a number of factors that are mutually interdependent.” So, what should we be thinking about as we work toward a sustainable energy future?   Jimmy Jia is an entrepreneur, author, educator, strategist and speaker at the intersection of sustainable energy and business. As the founder and CEO of Distributed Energy Management, he supports companies in right-sizing their energy consumption to reduce wasted utility spending. Jimmy also serves on the board of the Center for Sustainable Energy in San Diego and the Executive Committee of the CleanTech Alliance in Seattle. He teaches the Sustainable Energy Solutions Certificate at Presidio Graduate School, and Jimmy is the author of Driven by Demand: How Energy Gets Its Power. Today, Jimmy joins Ross, Christophe, and Paul to discuss the wicked problem of energy, offering his insight around energy transitions and the value proposition of sustainable energy. He explains the concepts of a microgrid and a smart grid, speaking to the nuances of those terms and the challenge of assigning a formal definition to either one. Jimmy also addresses what Nori might learn from the Renewable Energy Credit (REC) market and how Nori fits into the overall energy balance framework. Listen in for Jimmy’s advice to consumers regarding sustainable consumption and get his take on nuclear energy, the rise of cooperatives, and even the feasibility of the Dyson sphere!   Resources Driven by Demand: How Energy Gets Its Powerby Jimmy Jia I, Pencil Wendell Berry Bill McKibben TerraPower Helion Energy   Connect with Nori Nori Nori on Facebook Nori on Twitter Nori on Medium Nori on YouTube Nori on GitHub Email hello@nori.com Nori White Paper Subscribe on iTunes   Key Takeaways [0:44] Jimmy’s energy journey Developed interest during MBA 10 years ago Link between materials science + energy market Explore physics of energy, business realm  [4:56] How the laws of thermodynamics apply to business Value proposition = useful energy out Sustainable system requires discussion of demand [7:12] Jimmy’s insight around energy transitions Must define start point and end point Start with value prop + work backwards [12:48] How to frame the value prop of sustainable energy Define societal benefits want to achieve Find cheapest method (financially, in energy) Look at energy as demand-side issue  [14:35] Jimmy’s advice for consumers Efficient solution usually best practice for sector Consume well to consume sustainably [15:49] Why energy qualifies as a ‘wicked problem’ Definition of problem evolves over time People find way to consume each new source  [22:00] The concept of the microgrid Generic term for small power infrastructure ‘Self-sustaining’ but boundaries hard to define [25:06] The idea of the smart grid Internet-enabled data available More granular as evolves (i.e.: sensor in toaster) [27:55] What Nori can learn from the REC market Separates power production from fact that green No way for consumer to know if bought green electron [32:00] How Nori fits into the energy balance framework Play in ‘waste box’ (carbon, pollution space) [36:44] Jimmy’s take on nuclear energy Tech today very different from 30 years ago Some use rather than generate waste Different risks, benefits among types [39:48] The rise of energy cooperatives Community choice aggregation in California Adds retail layer separate from utility  [41:46] The feasibility of the Dyson sphere Sensitivity to gravitational distribution makes unlikely Smaller units (swarm) viable but far away

Join Tom Ranken, President and CEO of the CleanTech Alliance to find out: Why research and development is key to the CleanTech Industry; The importance of creating better, faster, cheaper and cleaner solutions; What it takes to bring new technology to market; Why it’s important to understand the value to both customers and the market when developing new technology; The challenges facing those in the CleanTech Industry and how to overcome them.