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This is the surprising story of how Texas – rich in oil and gas – became America's biggest producer of wind energy. For our first episode, Ryan and Anjali talk with Pat Wood, once George W. Bush's right hand man and head of Texas's Public Utility Commission, to uncover the innovative approach that turned Texas into a renewable energy powerhouse. It's a story about what could get done before partisan politics got in the way of good climate policy, and it shows that economic incentives for consumers, government, and companies can play a huge role in supercharging clean energy.Interested in learning more about upcoming TED events? Follow these links:TEDNext: ted.com/futureyouTEDAI Vienna: ted.com/ai-viennaTEDAI San Francisco: ted.com/ai-sf Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This special episode of Interchange Recharged brings together finance, law, and technology leaders shaping the path to commercial carbon capture. Host Sylvia Leyva Martinez explores how capital, regulation, and innovation are converging to turn early-stage CCUS projects into bankable reality.The conversation opens with Omer Farooq, Head of Sustainable Asset Finance at Bank of America, on how one of the world's largest banks is approaching carbon capture — from financing first-of-a-kind projects to assessing new business models and risk structures. Omer explains why point-source capture is already investable, why direct air capture still has hurdles to clear, and why incentives like 45Q remain the backbone of the economics. “Policy drives energy,” he says, “and transport and permitting are the next frontiers.”Next, Liz McGinley, Partner at Bracewell LLP, joins to unpack the evolving U.S. regulatory landscape. She discusses the expanded 45Q tax credit, the lingering uncertainty around the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, and why the slow pace of pipeline permitting has become a bottleneck for deployment. Yet, she says, investor confidence is growing fast — driven by clarity on incentives and insurance mechanisms to manage geological risk.Finally, Shahul Hameed, Vice President of Global Oil & Gas Measurement Instrumentation at Emerson, explains how technology is catching up with policy. He shares how decades of oil and gas expertise are being repurposed for CO₂ transport and storage, and how automation, measurement accuracy, and data integrity are helping to de-risk projects. From AI-driven analytics to mass-based metering, Shahul outlines how precision is becoming the new currency of CCUS.From finance and legal frameworks to field-level innovation, this episode captures the mood on the ground in Houston — one of optimism, collaboration, and rapid evolution. As Sylvia concludes, “Finance follows certainty. The incentives are there, the technology is advancing, and the industry is learning fast.”See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This is the surprising story of how Texas – rich in oil and gas – became America's biggest producer of wind energy. For our first episode, Ryan and Anjali talk with Pat Wood, once George W. Bush's right hand man and head of Texas's Public Utility Commission, to uncover the innovative approach that turned Texas into a renewable energy powerhouse. It's a story about what could get done before partisan politics got in the way of good climate policy, and it shows that economic incentives for consumers, government, and companies can play a huge role in supercharging clean energy.TED Talks Daily is nominated for the Signal Award for Best Conversation Starter Podcast. Vote here!Interested in learning more about upcoming TED events? Follow these links:TEDNext: ted.com/futureyouTEDAI Vienna: ted.com/ai-viennaTEDAI San Francisco: ted.com/ai-sf Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In part 2 of this episode of the HVAC Know It All Podcast, host Gary McCreadie continues his conversation with Nate Adams, Co-Founder at Phantasm and Founder at Nate the House Whisperer, about electrifying homes and the benefits of heat pumps, solar, and other electric technologies. They discuss how these systems improve comfort, lower costs, and offer better reliability compared to traditional methods. Nate also shares why many HVAC installations fail due to poor practices and the importance of proper sizing and installation. This episode offers valuable tips for HVAC pros to enhance their work and customer satisfaction. Gary and Nate talk about the benefits of electrifying homes with systems like heat pumps, solar, and induction stoves. Nate explains how these electric options are more reliable, cheaper, and provide a better experience for homeowners. They discuss why proper installation and system sizing are key to avoiding mistakes and ensuring long-term performance. Nate shares tips for HVAC pros, emphasizing the importance of understanding and experiencing the systems themselves. They wrap up by highlighting how focusing on quality installs can lead to satisfied customers and fewer callbacks. This episode is packed with useful advice on electrifying homes and improving HVAC installs. Nate and Gary discuss how heat pumps, solar, and other electric systems offer better comfort, lower costs, and greater reliability. They explain why system sizing and proper installation are key to success. Nate shares tips for HVAC pros on how to enhance their work by understanding and experiencing these systems firsthand. This episode helps techs boost their installs, customer satisfaction, and overall service with smart practices and practical tools. Expect to Learn: How heat pumps and solar improve comfort and save money. Why system sizing and installation are crucial for success. The value of hands-on experience with HVAC systems. How quality installs reduce callbacks and boost satisfaction. Why focusing on comfort beats the green energy debate. Episode Highlights: [00:00] - Intro to Nate Adams in Part 02 [01:48] - Nate's Take on Electrify Everything and Benefits of Electric Systems [04:48] - Renewable Energy Growth and Market Trends [06:07] - Wind Energy, Land Use, and Role in the Renewable Mix [13:03] - Exploring Energy Generation and Costs in HVAC Systems [13:39] - HVAC Installation Tips and Hands-On Experience [17:02] - Educating Consumers and Improving HVAC Accountability [19:27] - Selling Heat Pumps: Comfort Over Green Narrative This Episode is Kindly Sponsored by: Master: https://www.master.ca/ Cintas: https://www.cintas.com/ Cool Air Products: https://www.coolairproducts.net/ property.com: https://mccreadie.property.com SupplyHouse: https://www.supplyhouse.com/tm Use promo code HKIA5 to get 5% off your first order at Supplyhouse! Follow the Guest Nate Adams on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natethehousewhisperer/ Website: Nate The House Whisperer: https://www.natethehousewhisperer.com/ Follow the Host: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-mccreadie-38217a77/ Website: https://www.hvacknowitall.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/HVAC-Know-It-All-2/61569643061429/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hvacknowitall1/
Cori Lausen remembers the first time she saw a bat killed by a wind turbine. It looked like a “black banana peel.” That unlocked a years-long search to understand what was happening and how to fix it. Decades later, Cori says not enough has been done to keep those bat species, which act as natural pest control, from becoming endangered. As wind energy developments continue to pop up in a rush to add renewables to the grid, the question looms: will we be able to do enough to keep both climate solutions on the landscape?
Recorded in front of a packed room at NYU's Kimmel Center during Climate Week NYC, Ed Crooks and Amy Myers Jaffe moderate a debate on the high-stakes topic of AI and energy. They dig deep into the questions raised by the surge of investment in data centers: what it means for grid stability and electricity bills, and how new technologies and market structures can help the power industry adapt.Climate Week this year often felt more like AI Week, given how many discussions were centred around it. To explore the issues, the team Ed and Amy are joined by representatives of two of the key companies at the heart of the revolution. Josh Parker is Head of Sustainability at NVIDIA, and Craig Sundstrom is Head of Energy & Sustainability Policy at AWS. Xizhou Zhou, Wood Mackenzie's Head of Power and Renewables, also joins the discussion, to add his perspectives on how the industry is changing The load shock is real. Xizhou says that more than 116 GW of US data centers are under construction or fully committed to interconnect in the next few years: equivalent to about 15% of US peak load today. After two decades of flat demand, the electricity industry must rebuild its muscle memory for rapid infrastructure build-out. US power prices went up 6% in the past year, with rates in some states going up far more. What is driving that surge? And what can be done to provide some relief for hard-pressed consumers? One answer comes from rapid progress in the technologies that make AI possible, including the chips. NVIDIA's Josh Parker notes NVIDIA has cut energy use for inference tasks by 100,000× over the past decade ,and by about 30× in just the past two years. Craig from Amazon explains how new grid-enhancing technologies could quickly make a difference, pointing to an AWS/RMI study showing that 6.5 GW of extra capacity could be freed up on the PJM grid without building any new transmission lines. He adds that AI is already helping in California, where smart battery dispatch is cutting costs in real time. Data centers don't only use electricity for computation: they create a lot of heat, too. Josh says there are ways to use that heat, and describes Scandinavian projects that use it for their local district heating networks. With geothermal and new small modular reactors unlikely to reach widespread deployment until well into the 2030s, the panel agrees that the real solutions in the next few years lie in upgrading transmission, expanding storage, redesigning rates, and building in flexibility.It's a busy and lively discussion, with a couple of questions from the audience answered by the panel. If you have any further questions or comments on the show, we'd love to hear them. You can comment on Spotify, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, or find us on YouTube and leave a comment there. Thanks!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
For COP30, the international climate talks in Brazil in November, the countries of the world are supposed to roll out their new Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs: their commitments to cut emissions. China's NDC is particularly eagerly awaited: it is the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases. Its NDC has been described as the most important document that will be published this year. In this edition of the Energy Gang, recorded at New York University, host Ed Crooks and regular guest Amy Myers Jaffe (Director of NYU's Energy, Climate Justice and Sustainability Lab) explore the security, technology and climate implications of China's energy policy. They are joined by someone who knows a lot about China's role in the energy transition: David Sandalow, who is the Inaugural Fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University. He talks through China's rapid clean energy rollout, from solar to EVs, and its implications for the race for dominance in AI. We also welcome back Joseph Webster of the Atlantic Council, who studies China's energy system and the implications for geopolitics.China's energy surge in recent years has been staggering. The country added 217 gigawatts of solar capacity in 2023, and kept growing into 2024 and 2025. It is also leading the world in batteries and electric vehicles. Joseph explains how China's energy investments intersect with military tech, particularly in AI and batteries, positioning China as a global leader in energy and technology innovation. Is the US struggling to keep up?Then, late drama! While we were recording, China finally released its new NDC, pledging a relatively modest 7-10% emissions reduction from peak levels. Some other countries and climate campaigners had hoped for more ambition. But the numbers involved are still staggering. The NDC sets a target of expanding wind and solar capacity to 3,600 GW by 2035, six times 2020 levels, and three times the entire generation capacity of the US, in all technologies. Ed, Amy, David and Joseph react to the news in real time and debate what it means for energy in the US and beyond.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
At Climate Week NYC continues, the hottest topic is the question of how to meet growing demand for electricity while cutting emissions. In New York State, electricity use is expected to increase by 25% over the next 15 years. To meet that demand, the state plans to add tens of gigawatts or renewables. But that is not enough. It also wants more “dispatchable, emissions-free” power to keep the grid stable, and that includes new nuclear reactors.Back in June, Governor Kathy Hochul asked the New York Power Authority to move ahead with at least 1 gigawatt of new nuclear generation. And the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is exploring what it needs to do to make that happen. Doreen Harris is President and CEO, and she explains to host Ed Crooks that nuclear is a central pillar of an emissions-free power mix.She says New York's plan isn't about bringing back old reactors like the ones at the Indian Point nuclear plant, controversially closed in 2021. The state wants new designs that are safer, modular, and more efficient. NYSERDA is leading a “Master Plan for Responsible Advanced Nuclear Development”, expected to be published by end of 2026, to explore technologies ranging from large reactors to small modular and micro reactors. Ed and Doreen discuss the plan, and the barriers and opportunities for nuclear in the US.Support from federal, state and local governments is going to be essential to make new nuclear construction a reality. But backing from the private sector will also be essential. Nick Campanella is a Senior Equity Research Analyst at Barclays investment bank. He says new nuclear investment will move forward only if three pieces line up: clear policy support, customers willing to buy the power, and an EPC ready to build the plant.Nick and Ed discuss the cost overruns and delays that have plagued nuclear projects in the West. Hyperscalers might be able to get costs down by committing to multiple reactor builds at once. The ‘first-of-a-kind' project is always risky. The ‘nth-of-a-kind' developments that benefit from the lessons learned on previous projects should be more predictable, and less costly. Nick believes it is quite possible that a final investment decision to build at least one new nuclear plant in the US is very possible before the end of 2026. If that happens, the first project to go ahead could be for large plants, not small or micro reactors. The US grid doesn't need tens of megawatts; it needs thousands.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
It's New York Climate Week this week, and we're bringing you highlights from all the key debates and discussions. Climate Week NYC is one of the most important gatherings in the energy calendar, bringing together business leaders, investors, scientists, campaigners and policymakers to discuss the global effort to prevent catastrophic global warming.Last year, confidence in renewable energy was riding high, but now the conversation is shifting toward the challenge of meeting rising electricity demand. The race to achieve the most advanced AI capabilities is widely seen in the energy industry as the most urgent issue it is facing today. And that is creating challenges for the drive towards decarbonization.At the Climate Week opening ceremony, Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, said that climate advocates have “not explained to people in the right way what needs to be done”. He urged them to connect their messaging to immediate, everyday issues rather than distant disasters. To discuss all this, host Ed Crooks is joined by Helen Clarkson, CEO of the Climate Group, which puts on the event. She describes Climate Week NYC as the “green room for COP,” a place to sharpen focus before the big UN negotiations that are this year being held in Belem, Brazil, in November. While climate ambition is clearly faltering in the US, she says, there are rapid shifts under way elsewhere, such as the explosion of cheap rooftop solar in Pakistan. As this divide opens up between the US building on its strengths in fossil fuels, and other countries embracing low-carbon technologies, America risks losing competitiveness, she warns. Plus, the financial analyst's view on the big themes of the week. Will Thompson is a Director in the Thematic Investment Research Team at Barclays Investment Bank, and he spends a lot of his time at the moment thinking about the intersection of AI and energy. He talks to Ed about how AI is driving a surge in electricity demand, with US data centers potentially doubling their share of the nation's power use by 2030. And he describes the “power wall” facing AI: a looming bottleneck when companies want more power than the grid can provide. To overcome this, tech giants are moving toward distributed or “bring your own power” solutions, such as on-site natural gas plants and battery storage, he says. This shift prioritizes “speed to power” over cost and could push up emissions in the near term. Will and Ed discuss permitting delays, grid constraints, and fragile supply chains as the major barriers to accelerated investment in electricity supply capacity. There is bipartisan urgency in the US to secure AI dominance over China. Will it be enough?Follow the show wherever you get podcasts, so you don't miss any of our Climate Week coverage.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
As RE+ 2025 wrapped up in Las Vegas, the mood across the show floor was one of contradiction: anxiety, anger, optimism, and opportunity all rolled into one. In this episode, Sylvia Leyva Martinez – Research Director and analyst covering global solar markets - sits down with Chris Seiple, Vice Chair of Power & Renewables, and Kasim Khan, Senior Analyst at Wood Mackenzie, to unpack the forces shaping today's energy market. From the shockwaves of OB3 and FEOC restrictions, to investors navigating the whiplash of shifting subsidy regimes, Sylvia, Chris and Kassim talk about the conversations they've had with developers and manufacturers. Everyone is facing the same dilemma: double down on building compliant supply chains or hold back in anticipation of yet another policy reversal? Meanwhile, the collapse of early-stage development activity and the race to prove FEOC compliance are reshaping priorities across the industry.But there's more than just uncertainty, there's also innovation. Utilities are experimenting with new ways to fast-track data center interconnections, EPCs are doubling down on execution, and storage is emerging as the wildcard technology that could reshape both grid reliability and investor confidence. With US utilities already committed to 99 GW of new load from data centers - equivalent to nearly 15% of peak demand - the industry faces a defining test. Will the removal of subsidies finally level the playing field for capital, or will it strip away the last federal lever for climate policy? Tune in to hear why industry leaders believe we are living through the most uncertain moment in US clean energy history, and why that uncertainty could also create the biggest opportunities yet.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Allen and Joel discuss the best conferences in the wind industry in the upcoming months. Across the world, the wind industry is coming together to better the industry and share knowledge. Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly email update on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard's StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary Barnes' YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us! You are listening to the Uptime Wind Energy Podcast brought to you by build turbines.com. Learn, train, and be a part of the Clean Energy Revolution. Visit build turbines.com today. Now here's your hosts, Allen Hall, Joel Saxon, Phil Totaro, and Rosemary Barnes. Allen Hall: Welcome to the Uptime Wind Energy Podcast. I'm your host Allen Hall, and I'm. Here with Joel Saxum, who's up in Wisconsin, and Joel and I have been talking back and forth about all the conferences that we need to attend, and it's going to be that time of year. We need to be planning for the end of your conferences in 25. And then getting, uh, your registrations in for conferences in 2026. It's coming up fast, Joel. Joel Saxum: Yeah, I know. This is the time of year where like blade season is over. A lot of the heavy repair season is over. MCE work starts to get a little bit touch and go depending on where you are. We're getting into September, October. It starts to snow here soon in some places in the northern, uh, [00:01:00] latitudes. So it's also coinciding with that is the time when companies starts. Spooling up their budgets for 26. And those budgets are operations and maintenance budgets. They also include for, you know, depending on the team, you're on, engineering asset management. It, it is conference budgets and it's, uh, you know, these things aren't cheap. Uh, so that's one of the complaints that we have globally about a lot of these conferences is, uh, you know, some of 'em are getting up to, it used to be a couple hundred dollars to get in. Now they're 1500. 2000. I even heard of one to 2,500 to get in the door, which is. A bit extreme. So if I could say anything to the, uh, conference organizers, please stop raising the prices. But like Allen said, it's that time of year to start planning these things. 'cause it's conference, the fall conference season starts kicking back off, uh, at a global way. So, uh, we're gonna walk through some of those conferences and, uh. Can I share with you our thoughts and the knowledge that we have around some of 'em and where we'll be? Allen Hall: Yeah. And the, the first one on the list is one that it's just gonna pass by the time this podcast comes out, which is hu Some [00:02:00] and Hu Some's the big energy conference in Germany. And uh, it is. Just massively popular. It has been the, uh, counterpart to, uh, Hamburg every year. So the alternate year to year. So everybody that goes to Hamburg tends to go to Husam, and whoever goes to Husam tends to go to Hamburg. It's a great place. There's a ton of technology there, and anybody that's of interest in wind needs to go there at least once in their lifetime and see it. Joel Saxum: Yeah, it's like a, it's a wind mecca. Conference. So when we talk Huso, usually it's more focused on onshore. Hamburg is more focused on offshore, uh, which is really cool to see. Of course, most companies that are playing in these spaces are dabbling in a little bit of both, whether you're an ISP or you're an operator or a financier, whatever it may be. But this is one of those conferences that Allen and I regularly tell people specifically from the North American market, if you haven't been over to the European conferences, the big European [00:03:00]conferences. You should go, um, just to see what kind of technology, what they're doing,
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As fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, there is renewed interest in what can be done to capture carbon dioxide. Until now, most of the investment in carbon capture has gone into projects to take those emissions and store them underground forever. But what if we could make use of that captured carbon? To find out what role carbon capture and utilization, or CCU, could play in tackling climate change, host Ed Crooks is joined by three experts in the sector. He is joined by Sarah Lamaison, who is the CEO and co-founder of CCU start-up Dioxycle, Tim van den Bergh, the climate tech innovation lead at the World Economic Forum, and John Ferrier, a senior research analyst at Wood Mackenzie. Together they unpack what CCU actually is (and isn't), and where it can deliver the biggest punch; for example in the chemical industry, which is a sector in large part built on carbon.Sarah explains how Dioxycle's carbon electrolysis can turn carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide into high-value molecules such ethylene using electricity and water. It is effectively “dual” decarbonization: it uses captured carbon instead of fossil feedstock, and also avoids process emissions.But despite those compelling advantages, CCU faces some steep challenges. The gang examines the policy landscape, and the economics that can make or break CCU projects. John outlines why support has historically skewed toward carbon storage rather than utilization: it offers measurable, near-term reductions and simpler business models. To accelerate the growth of CCU, it needs clearer incentives, and standardized lifecycle assessment of carbon emitted and avoided. Sarah compares Europe's current framework, which can disadvantage CCU, with more supportive tax credits that are available in the US. She explains that the choice of product to be made using CCU really matters. For fuels, conventional feedstocks such as crude oil and natural gas are hard to beat on cost. For complex chemical pathways, there is room for CCU to undercut incumbents as efficiency improves. Tim looks at the system level, calling for global, aligned policies, early markets in cost-competitive niches and “patient capital” to bridge the valley of death that innovative companies face as they scale up.There's a strong case that can be made for CCU, if policy, finance, and industry can travel in the same direction. This episode explains what would be needed to make that a reality, taking businesses from promising pilots to deployment at scale and cost parity with conventional feedstocks.UpLink is a World Economic Forum initiative focused on impactful early-stage innovation. It builds ecosystems that enable purpose-driven, early-stage entrepreneurs to scale their businesses for the markets and economies that are essential to a net-zero, nature-positive and equitable future. You can learn more in the World Economic Forum and Wood Mackenzie's new report on scaling CCU, available here.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This is the surprising story of how Texas – rich in oil and gas – became America's biggest producer of wind energy. For our first episode, Ryan and Anjali talk with Pat Wood, once George W. Bush's right hand man and head of Texas's Public Utility Commission, to uncover the innovative approach that turned Texas into a renewable energy powerhouse. It's a story about what could get done before partisan politics got in the way of good climate policy, and it shows that economic incentives for consumers, government, and companies can play a huge role in supercharging clean energy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of Energy Newsbeat Daily Standup, Stu Turley and Michael Tanner break down the hidden costs and tax subsidies behind wind energy, highlighting Warren Buffett's reliance on tax credits to make wind projects profitable, while consumers and taxpayers ultimately foot the bill. They contrast this with the lower cost of natural gas and new turbine technology, critique California's EV credit policies under Governor Newsom, and cover geopolitical energy developments, including the U.S. blocking Iran-Iraq gas deals and Michigan's Line 5 pipeline legal battles. The hosts also touch on market movements, rig counts, and Cord Energy's Williston Basin acquisition, while emphasizing the value of diversifying through oil and gas investments with strong tax advantages.Subscribe to Our Substack For Daily InsightsWant to Add Oil & Gas To Your Portfolio? Fill Out Our Oil & Gas Portfolio SurveyNeed Power For Your Data Center, Hospital, or Business?Follow Stuart On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuturley/ and Twitter: https://twitter.com/STUARTTURLEY16Follow Michael On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelta... and Twitter: https://twitter.com/mtanner_1Timestamps:00:00 - Intro00:12 - Warren Buffett Was Right About Wind Energy, and You Should Not Invest in It Without Tax Breaks and Subsidies03:37 - Rising Natural Gas Costs Make Wind and Solar More Expensive, Too06:49 - California Won't Replace Expiring $7,500 Federal EV Tax Credit09:15 - Iraq's Gas Deal Through Iran Blocked by U.S.10:58 - Oil Pipeline Lifeline for Canada Comes Under Siege in Michigan16:28 - Market Update17:27 - U.S. Oil Rig Count Rises for Third Consecutive Week17:46 - Frac Count Update18:02 - Chord Energy to acquire XTO Energy's Williston Basin assets for $550m19:14 - OutroLinks to articles discussed:Warren Buffett Was Right About Wind Energy, and You Should Not Invest in It Without Tax Breaks and SubsidiesRising Natural Gas Costs Make Wind and Solar More Expensive, TooCalifornia Won't Replace Expiring $7,500 Federal EV Tax CreditIraq's Gas Deal Through Iran Blocked by U.S.Oil Pipeline Lifeline for Canada Comes Under Siege in MichiganU.S. Oil Rig Count Rises for Third Consecutive WeekChord Energy to acquire XTO Energy's Williston Basin assets for $550m
Recorded live at RE+, Sylvia Leyva Martinez, Research Director at Wood Mackenzie, hosts Ryan Chen and Neil Bradshaw from Hithium to unpack the true costs of OB3, the constraints on innovation and fire safety as result of the bill, and the future possibilities for AIDC.Neil Bradshaw is Director of Global Applications Engineering, and takes the view that even US manufacturers aren't immune from the OBBA's sweeping impact on supply chains: “imagine you are a manufacturer based in the US but you're importing parts, and all of a sudden you have a policy that comes through that changes how you bring in parts and maybe you can't find local cells or you can't find a certain component,” he says. How are manufacturers responding to this uncertainty? How are they planning for the next few years, never mind decades?Ryan Chen is Chief of Staff to the Chairman at Hithium, and he shares with Sylvia how Hithium is betting big on Texas manufacturing, investing before they even had offtake agreements in place. You'll hear how they're importing not just equipment but full-scale Chinese manufacturing practices - down to autonomous container movers - and why true scale is the only way to compete.Plus, hear how AI is driving new demand for storage, how bankruptcies are shaking up the talent market, and why even something as small as a paint colour change can cost millions in safety testing.Got power? At Hithium Energy Storage, we make sure the answer is always yes. Ranked 7 times as a BNEF Tier 1 provider with the Top 2 global battery shipments in 2025, Hithium delivers safe, reliable, profitable energy solutions that keep the clean energy transition moving forward. Let green energy benefit all. Trusted worldwide, built to last.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
with Brad Friedman & Desi Doyen
"The point of my book and the point of this big day of action that we're doing across the country is to drive that notion away that this isn't alternative energy, that it's the obvious, straightforward, common sense and very beautiful way to power the world going forward. To use the analogy I've been using, it's not any longer the Whole Foods of energy: nice, but pricey. It is now the Costco of energy: cheap available in bulk on the shelf, ready to go," says Bill McKibben, author of Here Comes the Sun.Today we have Bill McKibben, author, at last count, of 447 books, including his latest Here Comes the Sun: A Last Chance for the Climate and a Fresh Chance for Civilization. It's published by Norton and if ever there was an American president open to the idea of non-fossil-fuel energy solutions, it's this one.Photosynthesize, baby, photosynthesize, just rolls off the tongue.So if you're a real drip and don't know who Bill McKibben is, let me tell you a thing or two: He's the author 19 books, including his pioneering book on climate called The End of Nature, and one of my favorite books on rethinking consumerism, Hundred Dollar Holiday. Aside from being a journalist basically his entire life, he's an activist who helped found 350.org, and Third Act, which is a movement of Americans over 60 who bring their collective power to the climate and democracy fights. We call them silver-haired ponytails here in Eugene.And his latest venture is SunDay, a creative climate project that celebrates solar energy through art, storytelling, and public engagement. The day of action is Sunday, September 21, whereby they'll celebrate solar, host e-bike parades, give heat pump tours, and rally for change. There's a SunDay event in Eugene, but I'll unfortunately be burning fossil fuels that day driving up to Portland for a book event. But visit sunday.earth to find a local event near you. Those solar panel subsidies are going bye bye since the wannabe fuhrer will be gutting anything that doesn't belch CO2 into the air.Bill also writes the incredibly popular Substack The Crucial Years, which has nearly 100,000 subscribers. You can learn more about Bill and his books at billmckibben.com, and you're about to learn more about how he told William Shawn to fuck off, his start as a sports writer, being a pioneer writing about climate, and how he wrote Here Comes the Sun in about one month.Order The Front RunnerNewsletter: Rage Against the AlgorithmWelcome to Pitch ClubShow notes: brendanomeara.com
Despite the US adding 4.3 gigawatts of solar manufacturing capacity in Q2, there were no additions to the upstream components of polysilicon wafer and cell manufacturing. As gas prices continue to rise and the demand for alternative power supplies grows, get a detailed look at what big names in energy are doing to get over the hurdles. On her second day at RE+ in Las Vegas, Sylvia Leyva Martinez, Research Director at Wood Mackenzie, explores the trajectory of solar and storage. Alongside industry experts, this episode of Interchange Recharged discusses the exciting yet challenging future of solar energy and energy storage amidst changing policy landscapes and growing demand. Sylvia and her guests explore and explain the dynamics of solar capacity, regulatory and financial challenges such as One Big Beautiful Bill (OB3) accelerating the phase-down of key tax credits, and emerging technologies fueling the renewable energy sector. This episode includes an exclusive excerpt from Sylvia's presentation with the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). She discusses energy policy uncertainty, market saturation in the solar energy industry, and manufacturing hurdles in the renewable energy space. Featured guests in this episode of Interchange Recharged: · Sean Gallagher, Senior Vice President of Policy at SEIA · Steven Munson, Valuation and Tax Credit Advisor for Energy Transition at CohnReznik In this episode, Sylvia and her guests discuss: The State of Solar Energy and Storage - Sean discusses why solar and energy storage are crucial for power demands in the coming years, emphasizing their role in new energy infrastructures. Impact of Policy Changes - Sean and Sylvia explore the effects of recent legislative changes, including the projected decline in solar installations post-2027, and how peak chaos impacts the industry. Investor Perspectives and Valuations - Steven shares insights on current investor sentiments, valuation challenges, and trends in renewable energy financing. Technological Advancements – The guests discuss strategies to improve efficiencies in solar modules, automated permitting, and innovations aiming to lower costs. Looking Into the Future – Sylvia and her guests explore potential long-term effects of emerging technologies like AI on power markets and the need to adapt quickly to policy updates. Interchange Recharged explores clean tech, green finance and energy innovation, the three lanes on the road to a successful global energy transition. At the intersection of these lanes is a place where ideas on finance, technology and policy are shared and debated. Sylvia Leyva Martinez, Research Director at Wood Mackenzie, and her guests bring you data and forecasts on clean technology, climate change, and offer predictions on the build out of utility-scale projects and the future of green finance. Check out another leading clean tech global podcast by Wood Mackenzie, Energy Gang, at woodmac.com/podcasts/the-energy-gang Wood Mackenzie is the leading global data and analytics solutions provider for renewables, energy and natural resources. Learn more about Wood Mackenzie on the official website: https://www.woodmac.com/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Mona Doss from Wildlife Acoustics discusses how wind operators can address bat conservation and regulatory risks with their SMART System. Their technology uses acoustically triggered curtailment to protect bats while maximizing wind energy production. Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly email update on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard's StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary Barnes' YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us! Welcome to Uptime Spotlight, shining Light on Wind Energy's brightest innovators. This is the Progress Powering Tomorrow. Allen Hall: let's get started with the challenge facing Wind operators today. the Tricolored bat is in serious trouble and it's creating regulatory risks for the wind industry. Can you walk us through what's happening and why this matters for wind operators? Mona Doss: It matters because last fall, the US Fish and Wildlife introduced some, voluntary wooded guidelines for the tri-colored bat. this, particular bat species population has, declined and is, primarily being affected by two factors. one being, something called, white nose that's affecting many back. Species across, north America. But the other is for some reason the tricolor bats. And [00:01:00] we're still looking at a lot of bat researchers, and I'll leave that to the bat biologist to address more specifically. but they are, being affected very much by, wood turbine mortality. So it's gonna be a balance between trying to address back conservation as well as the needs for energy production, which we all want from a, wind farm. Allen Hall: And the white nose fungus is a really deadly disease for the tricolor bats. I, I've seen numbers upwards of 90%, mortality rate, when that fungus, affects them. And that fungus is pretty much exists where they live. it's something hard to, stop. Mona Doss: Yeah, there's been a lot of great research by, various universities and VE Conservation International here in North America, trying to understand the nature of the fungus. And, how there might be possibilities to, treat, bats that are exposed to that fungus. All of that at this point is still very experimental. but that fungus has wa out many, [00:02:00] bat ber macular of various species. You might have had bat ber macular that had tens of thousands of bats that are literally just down to a few dozen. Joel Saxum: That's extreme. That's, that's like wiping out entire populations, entire ecosystems. Mona Doss: It's very extreme. so there's been a lot of monitoring for the progress of this fungus. It was first founded in New York a few years ago. It's been slowly migrating, towards the west. so you've got the fungus affecting the bats and you've got, the demand for more clean energy, with wind farms that are also contributing to bat mortality. And these poor bat species are suffering from both sides at the moment. Allen Hall: It's very serious. Mona, what are the consequences for wind operators who don't proactively address this sort of dual threat to the. White nose syndrome, wind turbines, and fungus. obviously they're gonna be asking wind turbine operators to do something. What does that look like? Mona Doss: Yeah. right now, [00:03:00] when the, wind farm operators are going in front of environmental regulators to, get their permitting all approved, there's a negotiation that's occurring between balancing the bat species protect protection based on maybe pre-construction, present servings for bats. And the need for energy production. But as more and more bat species get listed as their populations are declining and they become species of concern, you're gonna have an increase in, what's called blanket curtailment.
In a year defined by uncertainty, this RE+ special episode of Interchange Recharged flips the script from “build more” to “get more from what you've got.” Sylvia Leyva Martinez, Research Director at Wood Mackenzie, is joined by Alex Bamberger, VP of Digital Solutions at RES, to look at how owners are squeezing extra megawatt-hours from operating wind, solar and storage, opening OEM-level data, pairing software with smart hardware, and retuning controls for site realities. You'll hear real uplift figures (think low-single-digit AEP gains that add up to a year's worth of new installs at fleet scale) that show how new tech is optimising renewable energy assets.Then we widen the lens to the grid itself. Systems architect and founder and CEO of Dynamic Grid Kay Aikin makes the case that smarter controls, storage and flexible demand can raise distribution utilisation far beyond today's approximate 45%. Sylvia and Kay look at how performance-based models could unlock faster, cheaper reliability without waiting on every substation rebuild. You can find more on this at www.dynamicgrid.aiFinally, GridStor's VP of Finance Anna Astretsova breaks down the storage finance reality: plenty of capital, but higher costs. What's the impact been of OB3 on storage? Learn how safe-harbouring, earlier procurement, bankable tolling structures and better cycling assumptions are getting deals done, and why FEOC, tariffs and interconnection queues are reshaping who wins. It's been a packed first day of RE+, so get the key insights right here on the show.Make sure you're following wherever you listen to the podcast so you don't miss any of the coverage.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, we're joined by leaders from Vestas, a globally recognized wind energy solutions provider, to explore the profound impact empowering leaders to simply be present and connected with their teams can have on culture, performance, and safety in high-risk industries.After a rise in safety incidents, they launched the “Be Present” program—an initiative to strengthen relationships between site managers and technicians. The program has led to measurable improvements in safety, trust, and teamreliability, offering insights that leaders across industries can learn from as they look to improve performance and trust in their own organizations. Hear from AnneMarie Graves, Vice President of the Midwest Region, and Gary Lamont, a Vestas Site Manager based in Iowa, as they share how presence—showing up for people as much as priorities—has transformed their teams and operations.Guest BiosAnneMarie Graves AnneMarie Graves is the Vice President, Midwest Region for Vestas, where she leads an operations team of 500 wind turbine technicians operating 10 GW of wind farms in the American heartland. From 2018-2021, AnneMarie lived and worked in Europe, leading 300 Vestas engineers supporting global deployment and operation of 100 GW of Vestas, GE, Gamesa, Nordex and Siemens wind turbine and wind plant technology. As an early proponent of utility scale wind energy in the early 2000s, AnneMarie brings more than 20 years of engineering and management experience in wind energy. Prior to joining Vestas, she led a team at DNV GL specialized in assessing the performance and reliability of over 10 GW of operating wind projects, including predicting wind project production, analyzing and diagnosing performance, and modeling turbine life. AnneMarie started her career in 2003 with GE Wind Energy assessing the suitability of new wind project locations in North America. AnneMarie has presented and chaired sessions at American Cleanpower's conferences including AWEA WINDPOWER and Operations Maintenance & Safety Conference, Wind Energy Update's O&M Summits and co-chaired conferences with Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy. AnneMarie holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Science and Technology Studies from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.Gary LamontGary Lamont brings over 11 years of experience working with wind turbines at Vestas, where he has contributed to advancing renewable energy technologies and supporting the growth of clean energy initiatives. Beyond his passion for sustainable energy, Gary is a devoted family man and a music enthusiast, finding inspiration in both his work and personal life. This blend of professional dedication and personal passions shapes his unique perspective on life and work.
The policy environment in the US at the moment is challenging, but developers, utilities, and investors are still moving forward with decarbonisation goals and climate action; they're just talking about it and approaching it in a different way. As RE+ (North America's biggest clean energy event) kicks off, Sylvia Leyva Martinez talks to veteran climate journalist and cleantech investor Molly Wood, about the ways in which the industry is navigating the uncertainty. Molly talks about the outdated forecasts of 1–2% load growth which are being blown apart by real demand increases of up to 30% in some regions, driven by electrification, AI, and data centers. If you can't make it to the event this year, Interchange Recharged will bring you the key discussions and exclusive insights so you don't miss out. You'll hear why traditional load forecasts are being upended by surging demand from AI and data centers, and what that means for project planning and risk management. Despite policy headwinds, the money is still flowing, but in smarter ways: into scalable tech like batteries, grid modernization, and distributed solutions. Investors are refocusing on scalable, commercial-ready technologies like batteries, grid modernization, and distributed energy solutions. And as the narrative shifts from using terms like “net zero” to the more pragmatic “energy dominance,” the conversation explores how storytelling shapes strategy, and why hyperscalers like Google and Amazon may even build their own small modular reactors or power islands to secure the future of energy.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
President of Rhode Island Energy Greg Cornett joins Gene to talk about the affects of wind energy as a supplier and reaction to off shore wind projects being halted by the Trump administration See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
with Brad Friedman & Desi Doyen
The project to improve 72 acres in Portsmouth to become a staging ground for Dominion Energy's offshore wind project was completed in March. Officials say the money's been spent.
with Brad Friedman & Desi Doyen
The COP21 climate talks in Paris in 2015 were hailed as a historic success. They resulted in a global agreement to curb climate change, and set a framework for every country in the world to contribute to achieving that goal.Ten years on, the conference no longer looks such a triumph. Greenhouse gas emissions are still rising, and so are global temperatures. The Paris agreement's goals for keeping global warming in check seem to be slipping out of reach.So what is the world really getting out of the UN's annual COPs? (The name stands for the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.) Every year, pledges are made and commitments agreed, but real-world changes have not been nearly fast enough to achieve those international goals. COP30 is coming up fast: it will be held in Belém in northern Brazil, a little over two months from now. What can we expect from this latest attempt to drive forward global action on climate?To look ahead to the meeting, host Ed Crooks is joined by climate and energy journalist Simon Evans, deputy editor at the climate science publication Carbon Brief. Simon and Ed were on the ground in Azerbaijan last year at COP29. They reflect on the outcomes from that meeting, and the progress that has been made – and not made – in the months since then. Regular guest Amy Myers-Jaffe – director of NYU's Energy, Climate Justice and Sustainability Lab – is also back on the show, asking about the broader context of international efforts on climate change. She raises the question of whether China and the EU have stuck to their commitments under that historic Paris Agreement. They ask: is COP30 is likely to be a success or a failure? And is it time for a completely new approach to global cooperation on climate?With the UN strategy for curbing global warming in crisis, Ed, Simon and Amy discuss the effectiveness of COPs, the potential for carbon pricing, and new ideas for strengthening international climate efforts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
EV growth is moving, but is it moving quickly enough? Wood Mackenzie research projects battery electric vehicles to account for 58% of light vehicle sales globally by 2050. It won't be until 2045 that EVs surpass ICE vehicles on the roads globally. So how can consumers be incentivized to get an EV? Manufacturers are addressing concerns around range anxiety and price, so what else is there to tempt buyers? Perhaps shifting the conversation from EVs as just low-carbon emitting cars to seeing them as energy assets might do the trick. Could vehicles reliably charge your house? Or even stabilize the grid during peak demand? To find out, host Sylvia Leyva Martinez speaks with GM Energy's Aseem Kapur about their two-way charging EV project. They explore the potential of vehicle-to-home and vehicle-to-grid systems, the lessons from early pilots, the importance of interoperability standards, and how incentives and customer trust will drive EV adoption – something that needs to accelerate if we're to stay on track for climate goals. The key questions to answer on the viability of using EVs as DERs: Why should EV owners risk their battery health and daily mobility needs to support the grid?With thousands of utilities across the US, can one interoperable system realistically work at scale?Will incentives be strong enough to convince consumers and utilities that EVs are more than just cars?Sylvia gets the answers.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
A wind energy development project in southeast Montana is facing pushback from neighbors. At the same time, the Trump administration is pushing for further investment into gas and oil energy. Montana Free Press' Tom Lutey joined Elinor Smith to explain.
About a quarter of Ohio counties have bans on renewable energy projects. In northwest Ohio, Paulding County has embraced them.
Allen discusses the halting of Revolution Wind by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). The order comes as part of a larger political motion to stop renewable energy in the US. Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly email update on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard's StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary Barnes' YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us! Welcome to Uptime News. Flash Industry News Lightning fast. Your host, Allen Hall, shares the renewable industry news you may have missed. Allen Hall 2025: There's a man from North Dakota who knows something about pipelines. His name is Doug Bergham, and last Friday, August 22nd, as Secretary of the Interior, he pulled the plug on another big energy project. Bergham ordered a halt to revolution wind. That's an offshore wind farm being built by Osted. 80% complete. 45 wind turbines already spinning in the ocean off the coast of Rhode Island Friday, they stop spinning. Revolution Wind was set to power 350,000 homes in Rhode Island and Connecticut. But Ham's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said the project needed more Review. [00:01:00] Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee had called Revolution Wind Quote, essential to advancing the state's 100% renewable energy standard by 2033. Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont said The project was quote, a key part of our clean energy strategy to provide families, quote, clean, reliable, and affordable power unquote. Both governors celebrated when revolution wind got federal approval. Now their project sits frozen in the water. Earlier this month, Bergham also canceled a massive wind project in Idaho. His interior department has vowed a comprehensive review of all wind projects. A review that could halt wind development on all federal land. Now here's what you need to know about Doug Bergham when President Biden canceled the Keystone XL Pipeline back in 2021. Bergham. Was furious. [00:02:00] He said revoking the permit was wrong for the country. Said it would have chilling effect on private sector investment in much needed infrastructure projects, unquote. Bergen said, when the federal government stops projects under construction, it hurts working families and discourages future investments. Bergham has always been clear about protecting investors. At a political conference speech in 2023, he laid out his principle quote, if you put capital into a project that's related to fossil fuels, or a project related to critical minerals and mining, if somebody comes along in the future, administration with an executive order, if they want to wipe out what you've invested in. They've got to write you a check to pay for your lost capital. That was Bergen's rule. If government stops your fossil fuel project, well, government pays you back. That Keystone XL Pipeline would've carried [00:03:00] 830,000 barrels of oil daily through Bergen's home. And Bergham is not alone in his disdain for Wind Energy. Energy Secretary Chris Wright calls wind and solar, unreliable and worthless commerce. Secretary Howard Lunik launched a national security investigation into wind turbine imports Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy Once Wind turbines kept at least 1.2 miles from highways. EPA administrator Lee Den is weakening regulations that support renewables. It's a coordinated government assault on one of America's cheapest forms of electricity. Earlier this year, Bergham also stopped Empire Wind off New York's Coast, $5 billion worth of construction, 30% complete. At the time. He said the Biden administration rushed the approval. But here's the curious part. [00:04:00] Bergham let Empire Wind restart after New York. Governor Kath Hoel made a deal. She agreed to allow new natural gas pipelines ...
This weekend on The Core Report: Govindraj Ethiraj sits down with Girish Tanti, Co-Founder & Vice Chairman of Suzlon Group, to trace the unlikely origins of one of India's most iconic renewable energy companies.What began as Girish's unfinished MBA thesis — the bold idea of setting up a wind energy company in India — became Suzlon Energy, a venture that transformed a family textile business into a global green energy pioneer.In this exclusive conversation, Girish opens up about:Early struggles to make wind power viable in IndiaCompeting with global giants in the US & EuropeSurviving crises, including the loss of founder Tulsi TantiRebuilding into a debt-free, sustainability-driven leaderA must-listen for anyone tracking innovation, resilience, and India's green future.(00:00) Introduction(01:35) The Origins of Suzlon(06:35) Building Wind Power in India(07:35) Innovation and Technology at the Core(11:45) Wind Energy and India's Climate Goals(19:00) Global Footprint, Indian Roots(27:45) Digitization In Wind Energy(38:00) India's Wind Potential(43:30) Lessons from the past(54:30) The Future of Energy — Wind & BeyondJoin The Core Insider to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzXJw6XkwZulY4nigdtvs4Q/joinListeners! We await your feedback: https://tinyurl.com/TCR-Listener-SurveyThe Core & The Core Report is ad supported & FREE for all readers & listeners.Write in to shiva@thecore.in for sponsorships & brand studio requirements.For more of our coverage check out thecore.in(https://www.thecore.in/)Support the Core Report (https://tinyurl.com/Support-the-Core-Report)Join & Interact anonymously on our WhatsApp channel (https://tinyurl.com/The-Core-WhatsApp-Channel) Subscribe to our Newsletter (https://www.thecore.in/newsletters/thecorenewsletter)Follow Us on Social Media for More Updates:Twitter (https://twitter.com/the_core_in)Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/the.core.in/)Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/thecore.biz/)Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/company/thecore-in)Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/@thecore_in)
It's a lot more complicated than even destroying the sunrise view of the Atlantic Ocean from the boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland forever. As Mayor Rick Meehan points out, there's far more at stake for the ecology and economy of our favorite lifelong resort and its future with the pending fight for the shoreline. The post Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan educates Nestor about the wind energy issue at the beach first appeared on Baltimore Positive WNST.
Send me a messageIn this week's replay episode of the Climate Confident Podcast, I bring back one of my favourite conversations from earlier this year - my discussion with Jarand Rystad, founder and CEO of Rystad Energy, about the global energy transition and whether we're truly moving fast enough to meet climate targets.Jarand makes a compelling case that the shift to renewables isn't just about climate, it's driven by the simple economics of cheaper, better technologies. Solar, wind, and batteries are already beating fossil fuels on cost, and countries like China are proving just how fast this transition can accelerate. In fact, they've already hit their 2030 renewable targets six years early, while the US risks ceding leadership in the technologies of the future.We explore the three pillars of decarbonisation - clean electricity, widespread electrification, and tackling the “last 20%” of hard-to-abate emissions through hydrogen, CCS, and sustainable fuels. Jarand also dives into the overlooked challenges: from aviation's limited options to land-use pressures, long-duration storage, and the politics that can either speed us up or hold us back.One of my favourite takeaways? The transition isn't a question of if, but how fast. Policy choices, investment in disruptive technologies, and global competition will decide whether we land closer to 2°C or push down towards 1.5°C of warming.If you missed this episode the first time round, now's the time to catch up. And if you did hear it before, I promise - it's well worth a second listen.Support the showPodcast supportersI'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's amazing supporters: Jerry Sweeney Andreas Werner Stephen Carroll Roger Arnold And remember you too can Support the Podcast - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent Climate Confident episodes like this one.ContactIf you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - get in touch via direct message on Twitter/LinkedIn. If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover the show. CreditsMusic credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper
Is the global transition to low-carbon energy accelerating or slowing down? One answer is that it depends where you look. In the US, energy policy has shifted away from support for low-carbon technologies, but China is continuing with record installations of solar, wind, and batteries, and record sales of EVs. With AI emerging as the central arena for great power completion, which model will work best at providing the power the new technologies need?The AI revolution will be the most transformative change in human history. That's according to Gerard Reid, this week's guest, a veteran energy commentator and co-founder of the advisory firm Alexa Capital. Gerard, who also co-hosts the podcast Redefining Energy, says he thinks AI will reinvent the world's energy system. There is a widening gulf between ‘petrostates' such as the US, which are rich in oil and gas and favor fossil fuels, and the ‘electrostates', led by China, which is dominates global manufacturing for technologies such as solar panels, batteries and EVs.Europe, which is relatively resource-poor, is following China's path out of necessity, while India and others weigh up which model to adopt. Gerard, host Ed Crooks and regular guest Amy Myers-Jaffe debate the different approaches that different countries are taking to build secure energy systems that will be able to meet growing demand for electricity for AI. Electricity is now the ultimate security priority, demanding grid upgrades, new technologies to support resilience including vehicle-to-grid, and new strategic partnerships. Gerard argues that OPEC's current strategy suggest it sees oil demand peaking soon. As the world adopts Chinese EVs and other low-cost, low-carbon technologies, some big questions are becoming increasingly urgent. Will the US continue to cling to fossil fuels? Will cheap solar upend electricity industries around the world? And above all, will the race for strategic and economic success be won by whichever country integrates AI, low-cost power, and resilient grids first?Ed Crooks is Vice Chair for the Americas at Wood Mackenzie. Amy Myers-Jaffe is the Director of NYU's Energy, Climate Justice and Sustainability Lab.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In the month of April, China installed more solar power than Australia ever has. China is also now home to half of the world's wind power and half of the world's electric cars.Despite this, China remains the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases.So, is it a climate hero or villain and how has the Chinese Communist Party managed to roll out green energy tech so quickly?Today, climate reporter Jo Lauder on why China is becoming the world's first ‘electrostate'. Featured: Jo Lauder, ABC climate reporter
On Thursday's show: Houston City Council has approved plans to spend some $315 million in federal recovery funds, including $100 million for home repairs and housing, marking a significant turnaround from Mayor John Whitmire's initial proposal and a major victory for housing advocates. We learn more about that and some other recent developments in city government, including money for more beds for the homeless in the East End and new solid waste trucks. Also this hour: Recent comments from President Trump suggest some hostility towards wind energy. We consider what that could mean for Texas.Then, we learn about the challenges of running a restaurant -- when that restaurant is on wheels.And Stacey Allen, the author of a new children's book about dance, called D is for Dance, explores how the rhythms of the African diaspora continue to shape Houston's creative scene.
It's Thursday and that means it's time to catch up on politics with The Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate's editorial director and columnist, Stephanie Grace. Today we hear about the latest polls, dropouts and endorsements in New Orleans' mayor's race.At the end of July, Jefferson Parish lost its bond rating. It wasn't downgraded or reduced – it was lost completely, pulled by Moody's and S&S Global Ratings. The Times Picayune/New Orleans Advocate's Lara Nicholson has been covering this story. She joins us to discuss the impact of this loss and more. As the Trump administration continues to diminish or halt renewable energy initiatives, one wind energy technology program in Louisiana is notching early success. The Nunez Community College's Wind Energy Technology is getting students involved with the Gulf Wind Technology.The program's chair, Kat Bell, and student John Tsai join us to share more about the projects. –Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production support from Garrett Pittman and our assistant producer Aubry Procell.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, the NPR App and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!
Way back in 2016, US energy storage capacity had just hit 336MWh, a 100% year-on-year increase. The growth forecast for storage was for 7.3GWh by 2022 – a US$3.3 billion market. It's just one example of how far we've come; the IRA's tax credits and incentives created a bullish environment for developers, and the renewable project pipeline grew and grew. Then came OB3, and the uncertainty around the future of the tax credits slowed everything down in the first half of 2025. However, a key market condition still exists: the ability to transfer tax credits. It's a new market and one that could prove crucial for financing renewable projects. So how does it work? And what can it offer developers and financers? To find out, host Sylvia Leyva Martinez – a principal analyst at Wood Mackenzie covering global energy markets – is joined by Alfred Johnson, CEO of Crux. Crux facilitates the raising of capital, including the sale of tax credits and debt capital. Sylvia and Alfred review the last few years of clean energy market developments, explore the outlook for renewables out to 2028 and analyze the impact of tax credit transfers on solar, wind, biofuels and other clean energy projects The introduction of transferable tax credits has nearly doubled the market – to US$52 billion last year. It's allowed developers to access financing for renewables that was previously difficult to get. Find out how it all works and how to make the most of it, right here on Interchange Recharged. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
with Brad Friedman & Desi Doyen
The grid “is designed for the core components - supplying electricity - but we are definitely pushing it to its limits,” says Melissa Lott, Partner for energy technologies at Microsoft*. The electricity grid has been described as one of the greatest achievements of human civilisation, because of its complexity, scale, and essential role in our societies. But it's been around for over century, and in some places its components are many decades old. Whatever you think about the future of energy, it seems clear that we need a modernized grid to meet the new challenges we are facing, including growing demand and increased reliance on variable renewables. So how do we build the right things in the right places? Joining Melissa and host Ed Crooks is first-time Energy Gang guest Alice Jackson. She's a VP of Grid Modeling at the think-tank and cleantech investment firm Breakthrough Energy*. Alice shares how Breakthrough Energy is working to help develop a grid that will meet future needs, around the world. Among other work, they are building open-source, open-access tools for grid planners, to shorten the time needed to secure regulatory approvals and start building. With rising energy needs driven by data centers for AI and new gigafactories, and new types of load such as EV charging, the grid requires radically different system planning to meet demand. On top of that, the physical infrastructure that makes up the grid is aging and badly in need of renewal in many developed countries. Alice, Ed and Melissa discuss the challenge of balancing the need to replace old and crumbling infrastructure with the need to scale up capacity to match demand. The gang also assess a recent paper from the US Department of Energy, which warns that “the status quo is unsustainable” for the nation's grid. And they debate cutting-edge approaches that are being proposed to help boost flexibility in electricity systems and minimise the need for more fossil fuel generation. The US energy department report discussed in this episode can be found here: https://www.energy.gov/articles/department-energy-releases-report-evaluating-us-grid-reliability-and-security*Melissa and Alice are appearing in this episode in a personal capacity; their views do not necessarily represent those of Microsoft or Breakthrough Energy.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
President Donald Trump remarked offhandedly over the weekend that “we will not allow a windmill to be built in the United States.” Recent policy changes in Washington could indeed make it harder to build new wind power projects in the U.S., but it'll still likely continue to be an attractive source of power. And later in the program, a dispute between Mexico and Texas over water is threatening to turn ugly.
President Donald Trump remarked offhandedly over the weekend that “we will not allow a windmill to be built in the United States.” Recent policy changes in Washington could indeed make it harder to build new wind power projects in the U.S., but it'll still likely continue to be an attractive source of power. And later in the program, a dispute between Mexico and Texas over water is threatening to turn ugly.
The uncertainty rippling through the energy industry in the first half of 2025 hasn't gone away. Utilities, developers, and manufacturers are still grappling with the fallout from the "One Big Beautiful Bill," the Trump administration's reversal of parts of the Inflation Reduction Act, and the evolving tangle of trade tariffs.Sylvia Leyva Martinez, host and principal analyst at Wood Mackenzie, is joined by her colleague Kelsey Coffman, Vice President of Supply Chain Consulting at Wood Mackenzie, to analyse how clean energy producers and buyers are adapting to the changes.The cost of batteries and solar panels is skyrocketing; tariffs as high as 145% are disrupting billion-dollar projects. How did we get here? And what can be done? Plus, changing definitions of “foreign entities of concern” – the new rules could kill access to tax credits if suppliers have indirect links to China. Sylvia and Kelsey debate the best path through the FEOC minefield. And how big have the risks of project delays and cancelled investments got? There's been an emergence of stockpiling strategies, but even US-based manufacturers aren't safe. If you're in clean energy, finance, procurement, or just trying to make sense of US decarbonisation strategy, Sylvia and Kelsey are here to help you understand what's changing, what's at stake, and what you can do to stay ahead.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
with Brad Friedman & Desi Doyen
In this episode, we take a trip in a time machine, five years into the future. 2030 has been set as a deadline for many climate goals, and is a milestone for checking progress towards a low-carbon energy system. Ed Crooks, Amy Myers Jaffe and Melissa Lott imagine themselves five years from now, and look back at how the US energy industry has changed since the “big beautiful bill” was passed. What do they think have been the key headlines from the last half-decade? And how will history judge America's energy bets?The reconciliation bill that was signed into law by President Trump on July 4 restricted support for low-carbon energy, especially wind and solar power, and doubled down on fossil fuels. The gang break down the sectors that are most at risk, and assess what the changes to tax credits will mean for project developers in renewables and storage. EVs are another sector that will be hit hard. Amy warns that the end result is likely to be a struggling US auto industry and increased Chinese dominance. Another important change is that geopolitics is playing an increased role in deciding who can claim tax credits and who can't. The new rules on FEOCs – foreign entities of concern – from China, Iran, Russia and North Korea could cause headaches for battery storage developers, in particular.Mitigating the impact of all that are state policies and private sector commitments to invest in clean energy, which will continue to push the industry forward. Will they be enough? Amy Myers Jaffe is Director of the Energy, Climate Justice and Sustainability Lab at NYU. Melissa Lott is a Partner at Microsoft, focusing on energy technology, speaking on the show in a personal capacity.With host Ed Crooks, they assess whether the “big beautiful bill” will result in a lasting setback for clean energy in the US, or just a pause for breathe before the next leap forward.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Despite uncertainty for US clean energy investors, things are looking good for the geothermal sector. US$1.7 billion in public funding was pumped into geothermal projects in Q1 this year - 85% of 2024's entire annual allocation – as breakthrough technologies promise to transform untapped resources into commercially viable clean energy projects.Enhanced geothermal and advanced geothermal technologies are making geothermal energy accessible anywhere, not just at existing sites chosen for their high-temperatures.To explore the science behind EGS and AGS, host Sylvia Leyva Martinez is joined by John Plack, VP of engineering at Ameresco. John explains how techniques adapted from the oil and gas sector, like directional drilling and reservoir stimulation, are improving geothermal's commercial viability. John shares what's changed since the IRA's passage, the role of EGS, and why improved subsurface mapping is critical to unlocking investment.Geothermal is currently supplying less than 1% of global energy needs, but could provide 15% of worldwide power by 2050. The US leads global geothermal power production, yet its 4 GW of installed capacity leaves vast resources untapped. Total potential US geothermal capacity exceeds 500 GW, with the best sites in western states featuring temperatures above 150°C and heat flow rates exceeding 80 milliwatts per square metre.Investment is there, and the technology is there, so has the impact of the Trump administration's energy policy been lighter for geothermal than other sectors like wind and solar? Why?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Building out the electricity grid was traditionally a predictable and straightforward business. Now it's like trying to land a jet on a moving aircraft carrier in the dark. That's a quote from this week's guest Quinn Nakayama. He's the senior director of Grid Research and Innovation at Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E). He joins host Ed Crooks and regular guest Amy Myers Jaffe to discuss how California is dealing with all the uncertainty created by new demands being placed on the grid: variable renewable generation, electric vehicles, data centers, and more. Quinn refers to the fast-changing electricity system of today as the ‘crazy grid', because so many things are happening at once. Wind and solar power create new challenges for grid stability, while batteries and demand response offer new solutions. Electric vehicles, following mandates from the state of California and other governments around the world, create new patterns of electricity consumption. The latest breakthroughs in AI are creating a surge in power demand from data centers. And those advances in AI are also opening up new possibilities for grid management. Planning is harder than ever. Are Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) an important solution? Amy, Ed and Quinn debate their effectiveness; these tools are helpful, but they can't solve everything. Large loads such as data centers still need major upgrades to wires and substations. But with a high penetration of electric vehicles, California is working on smart tech that makes it easier to install EV chargers without expensive upgrades. PG&E is also exploring faster ways to connect large users, such as allowing temporary solutions until new lines are built. Despite the range of innovations that are available, and the exciting rate of progress in new technologies, the US risks falling behind other countries. Quinn and Amy warn that cuts in support for clean energy and EVs could lead to the US losing out to China, which is investing heavily in these technologies. The Reconciliation Bill that was signed into law last week included abrupt curtailments of tax credits for wind and solar power. So what is the right way forward for the grid? For the electricity system to meet the fast-evolving demands of the modern world, it needs everything: more energy, more flexibility, and faster action. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.