Podcast appearances and mentions of Ray Long

Episode Overview In this episode, recorded live at the ACORE Finance Forum in NYC, host Benoy Thanjan sits down with Ray Long, President & CEO of ACORE. They discuss the evolving clean energy finance landscape, grid permitting challenges, policy battles around the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and the exponential demand for power driven by AI and electrification. Ray also shares the history and mission of ACORE—from its origins connecting Wall Street to developers in 2001, to its current role as a leading voice in renewable energy policy and finance. Key Themes & Takeaways Explosive Growth in Power Demand U.S. energy demand remained flat for decades—but is now rising due to: AI and cloud computing Electrification of buildings and manufacturing EV charging infrastructure Urgent need for scalable solutions—wind, solar, storage, and natural gas are critical in the next 5–10 years IRA Threatened by Tax Bill “Big Beautiful Bill” proposes eliminating key tax incentives from the IRA Would undermine progress and financing certainty across clean energy markets Industry needs a thoughtful, phased approach, not abrupt disruption Permitting & Interconnection Bottlenecks Interconnection Crisis Major ISOs like PJM are overwhelmed—some developers face 7+ year delays Load centers like Virginia see 100+ data center projects awaiting connection ACORE's Macro Grid Initiative pushes for regulatory fixes and grid modernization Bipartisan Momentum & Strategy ACORE promotes an “all of the above” strategy—recognizing solar, wind, storage, natural gas, and emerging tech Urges policymakers to emulate China's aggressive infrastructure and energy approach Emphasizes renewables as a national competitiveness issue—not just environmental Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies.  He has extensive project origination, development, and financial experience in the renewable energy industry and in the environmental commodities market.   This includes initial site evaluation, permitting, financing, sourcing equipment, and negotiating the long-term energy and environmental commodities off-take agreements. He manages due diligence processes on land, permitting, and utility interconnection and is in charge of financing and structuring through Note to Proceed (“NTP”) to Commercial Operation Date (“COD”). Benoy composes teams suitable for all project development and construction tasks. He is also involved in project planning and pipeline financial modeling. He has been part of all sides of the transaction and this allows him to provide unique perspectives and value. Benoy has extensive experience in financial engineering to make solar projects profitable. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016.  He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets.  Benoy was the Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners which is a national solar installer where he focused on project finance solutions for commercial scale solar projects.  He also worked for Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund, where he analyzed potential investments in renewable energy projects and worked on maximizing the financial return of the projects in the portfolio.  Benoy also worked on the sale of all of the renewable energy projects in Ridgewood's portfolio.   He was in the Energy Structured Finance practice for Deloitte & Touche and in Financial Advisory Services practice at Ernst & Young.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. He has a MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from the Stern School of Business at New York University.  Benoy was an Alumni Scholar at the Stern School of Business.  Ray Long Ray Long leads the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) as President and Chief Executive Officer.   ACORE is the oldest nonprofit organization in the United States dedicated to expanding the use of renewable energy technologies for American homes and businesses. This mission is as important and relevant today as it was back in 2001. As CEO, Long is privileged to lead a team of dedicated professionals and an equally passionate group of members and contributors who enable ACORE's strategic initiatives.   ACORE's members operate in all 50 states, and in 2022, they financed, developed, built and owned over 90% of new, utility-scale renewable energy projects. Under Long's leadership, ACORE continues to expand the framework that has enabled the industry's growth through bipartisan outreach, accurate and compelling analysis, and effective collaboration.  Long is a respected energy executive, having spent over 25 years representing and growing conventional and renewable energy companies in the United States. Most recently, Long was Senior Vice President of External Affairs and a member of the management team at Clearway Energy. Throughout his career, Long helped to build successful government, regulatory and communications teams, utilizing a campaign management approach to policy and project development challenges.   Long earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Policy and Administration from Suffolk University and a Juris Doctor degree from Suffolk University Law School. He lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife.     Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Ray Long Website:  https://acore.org/ Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ray-long-a89a816/   WRISE 20th Anniversary Gala Date & Time: Thursday, June 26, 2025 from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM Location: Gotham Hall, New York City Occasion: Celebrating 20 years of championing women and underrepresented groups in the renewable & sustainable energy sector  Host & Highlight: Presented by Women of Renewable Industries & Sustainable Energy (WRISE); evening includes networking, recognition of community leaders, and celebration of industry milestones  The link to register is below. https://wrise20thanniversarygala.rsvpify.com/?mc_cid=2c22b50623&mc_eid=0dfa02be45&securityToken=qZn8wqQI1mC1uMRPyb08kNwbscQ23wtX

Ray Long, the great investigative reporter at the Chicago Tribune, and author of the book, ‘The House that Madigan Built,’ joins John Williams to talk about former Illinois Speaker of the House Mike Madigan being sentenced to over 7 years in prison. Was Ray surprised by the severity of the sentence?

Ray Long, the great investigative reporter at the Chicago Tribune, and author of the book, ‘The House that Madigan Built,’ joins John Williams to talk about former Illinois Speaker of the House Mike Madigan being sentenced to over 7 years in prison. Was Ray surprised by the severity of the sentence?

Ray Long, the great investigative reporter at the Chicago Tribune, and author of the book, ‘The House that Madigan Built,’ joins John Williams to talk about former Illinois Speaker of the House Mike Madigan being sentenced to over 7 years in prison. Was Ray surprised by the severity of the sentence?

In the third and final special episode recorded live from the ACORE Finance Forum, host Ed Crooks and regular guest Amy Myers Jaffe talk to industry leaders to explore some key issues in renewable energy technology and finance.Amy starts the episode by speaking with David Ulrey, CFO of Fervo Energy, an innovative geothermal startup. David shares insights into Fervo's projects, including their initial commercial pilot in Nevada and the ambitious 100-megawatt development in Utah. They discuss the challenges and successes of pioneering next-generation geothermal energy, the potential for the technology to offer clean, reliable power across the US, and the evolving landscape of financing structures in the industry.Ed then sits down with Mona Dajani, global co-head of Energy, Infrastructure and Hydrogen at the law firm Baker Botts. Mona provides an expert perspective on the shifting sands of energy dealmaking amidst political and economic uncertainty in the US. She highlights how companies are rapidly pivoting their strategies, shifting from green hydrogen to alternative technologies or repurposing sites for data centres, and discusses why global markets remain committed to clean energy despite changing US policy priorities.Later, Ed and Amy speak with leaders from businesses supported by ACORE's Accelerate programme. Amy talks with Tonya Hicks, founder of Power Solutions Inc, who shares her inspiring journey as a woman entrepreneur in electrical contracting and renewable energy. Tonya stresses the importance of resilience and adaptability in the face of policy volatility and argues that the industry's momentum will continue despite political shifts.Ed also speaks with Jennifer Rouda, CEO of 7Skyline, who discusses the unique challenges faced by tribal governments in the US pursuing renewable energy projects. Jennifer highlights the critical role of bridging finance and impact investors as federal funding becomes less predictable.Finally, Ed and Amy wrap up with a comprehensive conversation with Ray Long, President and CEO of ACORE. Ray summarises key themes from the forum, including the industry's concerns about the abrupt potential removal of energy tax credits and the urgent need for viable alternative financing mechanisms. He underscores the economic and environmental impacts of current legislative uncertainty and outlines the future resilience strategies the clean energy industry may adopt. This concludes our three-part series from the ACORE Finance Forum. We'll be back in two weeks, resuming regular coverage of all the latest developments and discussions shaping the energy transition.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Energy Gang are at The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) Finance Forum in New York City, which brings together industry leaders, investors, and bankers to discuss the hottest issues in clean energy. Host Ed Crooks and regular guest Amy Myers Jaffe talk to ACORE Chief Executive and President Ray Long about the uncertainty hanging over the industry following the debate in Congress over repealing energy tax credits. He talks about the reasons why a Republican president and Congress should preserve tax breaks for low carbon technologies to advance their energy dominance agenda. Ed and Amy also talk to Meghan Schultz, EVP and Chief Financial Officer of Invenergy, the largest independent power producer in the US, and to Ted Brandt, CEO and Founder of Marathon Capital. They explain the impact that uncertainty over tax credits has already had on their businesses. They discuss what rising demand from data centers means for electricity prices. And they explore the potential implications if subsidies for low carbon energy are scrapped.Finally, Ed and Amy reflect on what the proposed legislation could mean for energy competition between the US and China.This is the first of three special episodes from the ACORE Finance Forum. We'll be back tomorrow with further coverage of all the essential conversations at the event.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of The Cole Memo, I'm joined once again by Chicago Tribune reporter and author Ray Long for a deep dive into Illinois' ongoing ethics crisis. We discuss his recent reporting on how, despite a wave of public corruption convictions—including former House Speaker Mike Madigan—lawmakers have made little effort to close glaring loopholes in state ethics laws. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2025/05/12/e200/

Chicago Tribune reporter Ray Long joins Patrick to discuss ethics reform, the bribery trial of Sen. Emil Jones III (D-Chicago) and the reason the federal government is no longer seeking a $3 million forfeiture from former House Speaker Michael Madigan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Award-winning investigative journalist Ray Long joins Cole Preston for a deep dive into the political legacy of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan—arguably the most powerful figure in the state's modern political history. Read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2025/04/19/e188/

Alders ban January 6th Capitol riot participants from city jobs. Staff say the Chicago History Museum retaliated against them for unionizing. The University of Illinois sues the Department of Energy over funding cuts. Reset goes behind the headlines of those stories and much more in our Weekly News Recap with Heather Cherone, WTTW Chicago politics reporter; Ray Long, Chicago Tribune investigative reporter; and Lisa Kurian Philip, WBEZ higher education reporter. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Chicago Tribune reporter Ray Long joins Patrick to discuss the federal government's attempt to get former House Speaker Michael Madigan to forfeit $3 million in assets and how the ComEd Four case may be crumbling. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joining Mike this edition of Hitting Left is Chicago Tribune reporter Ray Long and Democratic Party consultant Alaina Hampton to disucuss convicted former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan and Illinois' culture of corruption

We've had more than a week to digest the trial of former Illinois House speaker Michael Madigan. We're still processing. Who better to guide that thinking than the Chicago Tribune's investigative reporter Ray Long.    In this episode, Ray joins Lissa & Thom to explore the implications of Madigan's conviction on Illinois politics and the broader issues of corruption within Illinois' political system. We'll get into the challenges of ethical governance and the role of journalism in documenting political misbehavior.   Plus, we ponder the question of whether politicians are capable of policing themselves.    Ray Long is two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, and author of The House That Madigan Built: The Record Run of Illinois' Velvet Hammer.

Efforts to reduce Chicago's speed limit stalled in City Council. Mayor Brandon Johnson named his final appointee to the Chicago Board of Education. The Chicago Bears announced a 10% ticket hike. Reset goes behind the headlines of those stories and much more in our Weekly News Recap with City Cast Chicago host Jacoby Cochran, Chicago Tribune investigative reporter Ray Long and WBEZ statehouse reporter Alex Degman. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Ray Long, investigative reporter for the Chicago Tribune, discusses the historic corruption trial of former House Speaker and Democratic Party Chair Michael Madigan.

Chicago Tribune Ray Long joined Springfield's Morning News to discuss the rise and fall of former House Speaker Michael Madigan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ray Long, the great investigative reporter at the Chicago Tribune, joins John Williams to tell us everything we need to know about the Mike Madigan trial now that the jury has begun deliberations.

Ray Long, the great investigative reporter at the Chicago Tribune, joins John Williams to tell us everything we need to know about the Mike Madigan trial now that the jury has begun deliberations.

Ray Long, the great investigative reporter at the Chicago Tribune, joins John Williams to tell us everything we need to know about the Mike Madigan trial now that the jury has begun deliberations.

Chicago Tribune reporter Ray Long joined Springfield's Morning News to take us inside closing arguments of the Madigan corruption trial.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ray Long, the great investigative reporter at the Chicago Tribune, joins John Williams to give us all the details on the last couple days of the Mike Madigan corruption trial when Madigan took the stand in his defense.

Ray Long, the great investigative reporter at the Chicago Tribune, joins John Williams to give us all the details on the last couple days of the Mike Madigan corruption trial when Madigan took the stand in his defense.

Ray Long, the great investigative reporter at the Chicago Tribune, joins John Williams to give us all the details on the last couple days of the Mike Madigan corruption trial when Madigan took the stand in his defense.

Chicago Tribune reporter Ray Long reacts to former House Speaker Michael Madigan's decision to testify in his federal corruption trial.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Chicago Tribune's Ray Long joins Bret Gogoel on Springfield's Morning News to discuss Michael Madigan, corruption across the state, a recent investigatory series, and much more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Divide between Chicago's mayor and its city council remains over how to close a nearly $1 billion budget gap. Meanwhile, drama in the Johnson administration continues as alders call for reforms to the city's “Do Not Hire” list. Reset goes behind the headlines of those stories and more with Chicago Tribune investigative reporter Ray Long, Chicago Sun-Times reporter covering government and politics Mitch Armentrout, and Block Club Chicago reporter covering the Loop, West Loop, River North and the Gold Coast Melody Mercado in our Weekly News Recap. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

When it comes to government corruption, nobody touches Illinois. Bradley talks to Ray Long and Rick Pearson, investigative and political reporters for the Chicago Tribune, about their excellent series on the state's legacy of crooked politics and why people says the Governor's Mansion in Springfield is a better stepping stone to the Big House than to the White House.This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City's only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today's episode: info@firewall.media.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter, follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube, be sure to order his new book, Vote With Your Phone.

President Trump plans a sharp change of directionThe US elections last week are set to transform the energy landscape, with the Republicans now in control of the presidency, the Senate, and likely the House of Representatives. They intend to set a new direction for energy policy, emphasising affordability and reliability over sustainability and climate. In this special episode of The Energy Gang, we explore what this shift means for the American energy sector and the potential implications for both domestic and global markets. Host Ed Crooks is joined Amy Myers Jaffe, Director of the Energy, Climate Justice and Sustainability Lab at New York University; Robbie Orvis, Senior Director at the think-tank Energy Innovation, and a new voice on the show: Ray Long, President and CEO of the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE). Their discussion gives a preview of what we can expect over the next four years. They debate how a new set of priorities in Washington will affect low-carbon energy sectors including wind, solar and storage, as well as carbon capture, hydrogen, and nuclear energy. What will happen to the Inflation Reduction Act's tax credits, which are crucial to the outlook for renewables? How will national security policy and the rise of artificial intelligence shape the new administration's thinking. What is the outlook for the US vehicle industry as Chinese EV sales boom? And how could President-elect Trump's tariff plans affect all energy sectors, both low-carbon and high-carbon? Tune in for answers to all these questions, and to gain a comprehensive understanding of the evolving energy policy landscape. As negotiators gather for the COP29 UN climate talks in Baku this week, the future of the US under a new administration is going to be top of mind for everyone.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Global investment in renewables is projected to surpass US$2 trillion by 2030, with wind, solar and storage projects leading the way. Syliva Martinez, Principal Analyst at Wood Mackenzie, and David Banmiller are joined by Ray Long, President and CEO at ACORE (American Council On Renewable Energy), to look at how the energy transition is creating jobs, lowering costs and making the U.S. more competitive in the global market. American families are expected to save between US$27 and US$38 billion over the next eight years thanks to clean energy initiatives. However, there are still bottlenecks holding back progress, like transmission gridlock and permitting delays. With bipartisan efforts underway, such as the Manchin-Barrasso permitting bill, Ray explores the impact they're having, and how the industry is moving toward overcoming the challenges.Subscribe to the Interchange Recharged so you don't miss an episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Find us on X – we're @interchangeshow.The Interchange Recharged is brought to you by Anza Renewables. Are you wasting valuable time tracking down solar module information that quickly goes stale? Anza's revolutionary platform can help with up-to-date pricing, technical, risk, and domestic content data from 110 solar modules. Compare products in minutes and redirect your time to higher value work. Find out more at go.anzarenewables.com/woodmacSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ray Long, the great investigative reporter at the Chicago Tribune, joins John Williams to tell us everything we need to know about the upcoming corruption trial of former Illinois Speaker of the House Mike Madigan.

Ray Long, the great investigative reporter at the Chicago Tribune, joins John Williams to tell us everything we need to know about the upcoming corruption trial of former Illinois Speaker of the House Mike Madigan.

Ray Long, the great investigative reporter at the Chicago Tribune, joins John Williams to tell us everything we need to know about the upcoming corruption trial of former Illinois Speaker of the House Mike Madigan.

Ray Long, the great investigative reporter at the Chicago Tribune, joins Lisa Dent to break down everything we need to know about Illinois' culture of corruption and to discuss the public officials who helped build this culture. Follow The Lisa Dent Show on Twitter:Follow @LisaDentSpeaksFollow @SteveBertrand Follow @kpowell720 Follow @maryvandeveldeFollow @LaurenLapka

Illinois Republicans called on Democrats to “end dangerous rhetoric” after an apparent second Trump assassination attempt, while the Illinois Supreme Court heard challenges to the state's assault weapons ban. Reset goes behind the headlines of those stories and much more in our Weekly News Recap with Chicago Tribune investigative reporter Ray Long, ABC7 News anchor Ravi Baichwal, and WBEZ city government and politics reporter Tessa Weinberg. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

The Chicago Tribune's Ray Long joins the panel to discuss a series on those who have betrayed the public's trust.

Milwaukee hosts the Republican National Convention as Chicago prepares to host next month's Democratic Convention. Meanwhile, a new poll shows nearly two-thirds of Democrats think President Biden should withdraw from the presidential race. Reset dives into these and other top local stories in the Weekly News Recap. Our panel this week: Alex Degman, statehouse reporter for WBEZ; Ray Long, Chicago Tribune investigative reporter; and Justin Laurence, government and politics reporter for Crain's Chicago Business. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

  Lissa Druss is on assignment this week. Meanwhile, Thom Serafin digs into the trials and sentences of some key political figures like Mike Madigan and Ed Burke. Some of this lead straight to an intersection with the Chief Justice John Roberts' Supreme Court. Once again, we welcome Ray Long investigative reporter for the Chicago Tribune. The two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, and author of “The House That Madigan Built” joins us in unraveling colliding cases.

The firestorm that has engulfed 2024's first Presidential debate is still burning. We needed a cool head in the room, to consider the aftermath of President Joe Biden's performance vs. former President Donald Trump. That calming voice, came in the form of the Chicago Tribune's Ray Long.   During this episode, Lissa & Thom work through the complications of an aging White House with a much-lauded journalist who knows the game of politics. J. R. R. Tolkien fans will enjoy this journey to Helm's Deep.

Protests continue on local university campuses. Lawmakers return to Springfield for spring session, where the Bears' stadium plans are sidelined by the governor's aides and other political leaders. Meanwhile, Mayor Johnson prepares to relaunch a guaranteed basic income program and the speed limit could be lowered in Chicago. Reset goes behind those headlines and more with Axios' Monica Eng, Chicago Tribune's Ray Long and WBEZ's Mariah Woelfel. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Delays to election results leave some holding their breath. Chicago sues Glock over its ability to turn its weapons semi-automatic. And the Bring Chicago Home referendum flounders during the primary election this week that saw a record-low voter turnout. Reset delves into these and other top local stories with WGN's Tahman Bradley, the Chicago Tribune's Ray Long, and WTTW's Amanda Vinicky. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Chicago Tribune investigative reporter Ray Long makes a return visit to the Crisis Cast to prep Lissa & Thom for the upcoming trial of former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan.    During this episode we take a deeper dive into the "minds" that surrounded Madigan, and his unparalleled career in state government. Long also unpacks the recent sentencing of former Madigan aide Tim Mapes, and lays out the remaining legal timelines for former Speaker Madigan.   Ray Long is author of The House That Madigan Built: The Record Run of Illinois' Velvet Hammer, and a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist.    

City Council approves Gaza ceasefire resolution and Chicago becomes the largest city in the U.S. do so. Mayor Brandon Johnson gives migrants more time in shelters. And Chicago Tribune reporters go on strike for the first time in the paper's nearly 180-year history. Reset hears more about those stories and more with Chicago Tribune investigative reporter Ray Long, AXIOS Chicago reporter Monica Eng and WBEZ city government and politics reporter Mariah Woelfel.

Joan's guests today are: - Jared Yates Sexton, author and political analyst - Dr. John Murphy, professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Illinois - Chicago Tribune investigative reporter Ray Long

Chicago Tribune investigative reporter Ray Long joins the Steve Cochran Show to dissect the events unfolding in the Ed Burke trial, the potential outcome of Ed Burke's sentencing, and the possibility of the defense presenting a deal to the prosecution at this stage. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ray Long, the great investigative reporter at the Chicago Tribune, joins John Williams to tell us everything we need to know about the corruption trial of former Chicago alderman Ed Burke as the trial enters day 9.

Ray Long, the great investigative reporter at the Chicago Tribune, joins John Williams to tell us everything we need to know about the corruption trial of former Chicago alderman Ed Burke as the trial enters day 9.

Ray Long, the great investigative reporter at the Chicago Tribune, joins John Williams to break down everything we need to know about the corruption trial of former Alderman Ed Burke.

Ray Long, the great investigative reporter at the Chicago Tribune, joins John Williams to break down everything we need to know about the corruption trial of former Alderman Ed Burke.

Chicago opens its first casino. Libraries are evacuated over bomb threats. Mayor Johnson reveals a projected $538 million budget deficit for Chicago. Reset goes behind the headlines of those stories and much more with Carrie Shepherd, Chicago Axios reporter and Ray Long, investigative reporter at the Chicago Tribune.

Time to get back to examining public trust in state government, through the reign of the former Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, Michael Madigan. In this episode, Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin bring Ray Long of the Chicago Tribune back to our chat room.  Ray spent nearly three weeks covering the perjury trial of Tim Mapes, who was Speaker Madigan's Chief of Staff for over two decades.  What did the Mapes verdict signal about Madigan's upcoming trial?  Is Illinois getting any closer to cleanliness in Springfield?   Buckle your safety belt for another trip through the remarkable influence of The Velvet Hammer.