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The election cycle can feel overwhelming for the average person who is climate-concerned, but not deeply political enough to understand where and how to plug in. If you have money to give, where should it go? If you have time to contribute, what should you do? We could think of no better group than the experts we have here to help walk us through it.
Tiernan Sittenfeld is the Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at LCV or the League of Conservation Voters, among many other things. LCV assigns every member of the U.S. Congress with a national environmental Scorecard, which is a handy tool for tracking their voter record on issues related to climate change.
Caroline Spears is the Executive Director at Climate Cabinet, which she describes as Moneyball meets climate policy. Climate Cabinet analyzes local climate and governance data to uncover high-leverage races and candidates across thousands of local offices. Caroline joined us previously on the pod a few years ago for a deep dive about her journey and her work.
Eliza Nemser is the Co-founder and Executive Director at Climate Changemakers, a modern climate advocacy network built for busy, productive people. They help individuals take productive climate action through action playbooks, issue briefings and hour-of-action co-working sessions. Eliza is also a repeat guest on the show.
A few disclaimers: One, this episode tends to be pretty pro-Democrat. Some of that comes from top-of-the-ticket sentiment such as former President Trump's withdrawal of the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement. Some of it comes from the most recent experience in Congress where the Inflation Reduction Act faced a 51 to 50 vote in the Senate that was evenly split down party lines with Vice President Harris breaking the tie. This is not to say that all Democrats are strong on climate. The Inflation Reduction Act nearly died many times inside the Democratic Party before it passed. And if you look up and down Congress and even farther into state and local politics, there are a wide range of LCV scores for Democratic candidates and there are some Republicans who are strong on climate issues as well. The second disclaimer is that climate is a huge topic. We didn't take time in the episode to talk about what it means to be a "climate voter."
We've learned one thing over the years, that you should never assume that climate-concerned people always agree on solutions. We intentionally didn't spend time going deep into the pros and cons of different policy platforms. And yes, there is an argument to be made that natural gas is a bridge fuel and that replacing coal aggressively with gas will help our emissions problem. But this episode is meant for people who already know they want to see progress around clean energy deployment across our economy and want some ideas on how to get involved in the election cycle.
*Watch the MCJ Collective member hub for a special Ask-Me-Anything session with Climate Changemakers.
In this episode, we cover:
[5:00] Intro to Tiernan and LCV[6:16] Intro to Caroline and Climate Cabinet[7:30] Intro to Eliza and Climate Changemakers[9:02] Climate stakes in this election[15:30] House and Senate race importance[21:30] Climate's political divide[28:45] House stakes this cycle[34:30] Texas election outlook[39:20] Key states to watch[42:17] Climate champion governors[44:13] LCV candidate scoring[47:15] Supporting candidates financially[57:22] How to participate and engage[1:08:21] Improving accessibility and outcomesEpisode recorded on Aug 30, 2024 (Published on Sept 16, 2024)
Get connected with MCJ:
Cody Simms X / LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective / YouTube*If you liked this episode, please consider giving us a review! You can also reach us via email at [email protected], where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.
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Doug Bernauer is the CEO and Co-founder of Radiant. Radiant is developing a portable nuclear micro-reactor to replace diesel generators. They raised a $40 million Series B in 2023 led by a16z, after previously raising capital from investors including USV, Founders Fund, and DCVC. They're targeting the development of a portable, mostly self-contained, one-megawatt nuclear reactor that is roughly the size of a shipping container.
We've been focusing more on nuclear energy lately, exploring whether the US could reclaim its position as a global leader. With bipartisan support reflected in recent legislation like the ADVANCE Act signed into law by President Biden, there are signs of progress, but significant challenges remain.
In this episode, Doug discusses these challenges and delves into Radiant’s technology, use cases, fuel, and more.
In this episode, we cover:
[02:28]: Radiant's micro-reactor technology and applications [04:21]: Use cases for one-megawatt reactors, including disaster relief [06:36]: Description of Radiant’s reactor[10:26]: Cooling technologies used by Radiant[12:20]: Radiant's connection with Idaho National Lab's Pele design [13:40]: DOE and DoD funding for Radiant's nuclear technology[17:02]: Customer models and sales strategies for nuclear reactors [20:43]: Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approval processes for operating reactors [21:57]: Doug’s hopes for future regulatory parity with diesel generators [24:18]: Supply chain for High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) fuel [28:38]: Challenges of NRC processes for micro-reactors [32:24]: Demand signals from remote and military applications for micro-reactors [35:31]: Current financing status and future fundraising plansEpisode recorded on Aug 8, 2024 (Published on Sep 12, 2024)
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Cody Simms X / LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective / YouTube*If you liked this episode, please consider giving us a review! You can also reach us via email at [email protected], where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.
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Fehlende Folgen?
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Jeff Chapin is the Co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Haven Energy. Haven aims to make it easier for homeowners to install home battery systems, including choosing the right battery, permitting and installation, tax credits, and virtual power plant setup. Haven recently began offering bundled installation of solar and batteries. Jeff has seen scale before as he and his co-founder, Philip Krim, previously co-founded and grew the one-time darling, direct-to-consumer mattress company, Casper. Jeff has a long-time background in design at IDEO and credits this experience with training him for the context switching that's allowed him to move across very different industries, sectors, and technologies.
In this episode, we talk about consumer demand for batteries, how Haven works, the wonky and esoteric net metering regulations in California where Haven is prioritizing their go-to-market, and why Haven added solar to their offering recently.
In this episode, we cover:
[02:08]: Jeff's design-driven journey from IDEO to Casper[06:18]: Applying design thinking to home energy[08:45]: Retrofitting batteries to existing solar systems[11:30]: Challenges in the battery installation market[15:28]: Customizing battery options and customer incentives[21:35]: Installation process and energy management[26:03]: Financial benefits and tax credits[28:15]: Changes in net metering for rooftop solar[34:46]: Growing demand for solar and battery setups[41:06]: Series A funding and growth strategy for HavenEpisode recorded on Jul 23, 2024 (Published on Aug 29, 2024)
Get connected with MCJ:
Cody Simms X / LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective / YouTube*If you liked this episode, please consider giving us a review! You can also reach us via email at [email protected], where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.
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Matt Soule is the CEO and Co-founder of Parallel Systems.
Parallel Systems is re-imagining how goods can be transported via rail by building automated battery-electric freight rail vehicles. These vehicles resemble box cars that can drive independently and form on-the-fly connections with each other to create mini trains. According to Matt, the goal is not to upend existing rail freight use cases but to rethink what’s possible on current rail infrastructure to address use cases traditionally managed by trucking.
Before founding Parallel Systems, Matt spent 13 years at SpaceX as an engineering leader in avionics. Parallel Systems has raised around $50 million from investors, including Anthos Capital and Congruent Capital. The conversation begins with a 101 primer on railways, a topic not previously covered on the show.
In this episode, we cover:
[2:31] Matt's background in rocket engineering[6:14] Energy efficiency: rail vs. trucks[7:31] History of US rail transportation[9:22] Rail industry ownership and subsidies[11:21] Rail transportation's environmental impact[14:44] Rail's challenges, especially for short trips[17:23] Industries using rail transport[18:53] Rail for non-critical and luxury use cases[23:05] Overview of Parallel Systems' self-assembling trains[28:37] Benefits of battery electrification in rail[31:21] Cost comparison: Parallel Systems vs. traditional rail and trucking[34:14] Current pilots and safety considerations[39:08] Expansion plans for new geographies[40:29] Business model: selling vehicles to railroads[44:08] Future of locomotives in the rail industryEpisode recorded on July 30, 2024 (Published on Aug 22, 2024)
Get connected with MCJ:
Cody Simms X / LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective / YouTube*If you liked this episode, please consider giving us a review! You can also reach us via email at [email protected], where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.
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Katie Siegel is CEO and Co-founder at Flipturn. Flipturn is an EV charging management platform for fleets and we're diving into the electrification of trucking.
At the beginning of 2024, the Advanced Clean Fleets law came into effect in California creating a number of mandates for zero emissions vehicle adoption in the trucking space. And the law impacts any fleet doing business in California, so there are nationwide implications.
Cody and Katie dig into this as well as the impacts on various types of trucks and routes. As fleet managers begin to anticipate compliance, they're realizing that understanding and managing charging will need to become a core competency for them. All of a sudden, things like power procurement and efficient energy usage will become a huge part of the equation for running a business that moves goods around. Flipturn raised a seed round in 2023 from Accel and Katie brings hands-on experience into the company after having previously grown her career through IPO at Samsara, a leader in telematics and Internet of Things, connectivity services for trucking and logistics.
In this episode, we cover:
[01:48]: Flipturn’s mission to electrify trucking and enhance fleet management[02:28]: Katie's journey from Samsara to founding Flipturn[03:39]: From telematics to EV infrastructure innovation[05:14]: Transportation's role in pollution and the shift to electrification[07:19]: Focus on electrifying last mile delivery and drayage[10:25]: Differences in EV charging needs for delivery vans vs. drayage trucks[17:23]: Flipturn’s software for efficient fleet charging[19:00]: Strategies for setting up fleet charging stations[22:21]: Challenges and solutions in vehicle electrification[27:32]: Integrating truck OEMs with charging networks[30:06]: How fleets choose charging software[33:23]: Hydrogen vehicles in new zero-emissions law[35:12]: Evolving challenges in the trucking industryEpisode recorded on Jun 27, 2024 (Published on Aug 15, 2024)
Get connected with MCJ:
Cody Simms X / LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective / YouTube*If you liked this episode, please consider giving us a review! You can also reach us via email at [email protected], where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.
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Julia Strong is the Executive Director of Symbiosis Coalition. Announced in early 2024, Symbiosis Coalition is an advanced market commitment from Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Salesforce to purchase up to 20 million tons of nature-based carbon removals.
The forestry credit space has faced challenges over the last couple of years, prompting interest in how Julia and these large tech companies collaborated to stimulate activity in the sector. Conversations about forestry should be relatively straightforward, considering forests, along with oceans and soil, are natural carbon sinks. Preserving and restoring forests is crucial, yet the complexity surrounding forestry credits always brings new insights. We’re grateful to Julia for sharing more about the formation of Symbiosis Coalition, criteria for high-quality credits, barriers to bankability, and more.
In this episode, we cover:
An overview of Symbiosis CoalitionThe formation of the coalitionJulia's background in nature-based solutionsCriteria for high-quality forestry carbon removal projectsCounterfactuals in forest protection vs restorationRegions for reforestation effortsMotivations for landownersThe role of project developersBarriers to bankability and how Symbiosis is approaching themPotential financing and perceived riskSymbiosis' quality criteria: conservative accounting, durability, social and community benefits, ecological integrity, and transparencySymbiosis' mangrove restorationWorking with local and indigenous communitiesGoals for Symbiosis' transparencyJulia's podcast Solving Climate NaturallyEpisode recorded on July 9, 2024 (Published on Aug 12, 2024)
Get connected with MCJ:
Cody Simms X / LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective / YouTube*If you liked this episode, please consider giving us a review! You can also reach us via email at [email protected], where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.
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Joe Daniel is a Principal on the Carbon-Free Electricity Team at RMI.
Our topic today is coal, specifically the "non-economic dispatch" of coal. This phenomenon occurs when coal-fired power plants deliver power to electricity grids even when their electricity is not the most cost-effective option, thereby disrupting the "merit order" of electricity dispatch. This complex topic is explored with Joe's help, as he provides insights into this intricate issue. The US electric grid is notoriously difficult to understand, and there may be moments when the conversation becomes challenging. However, Joe and Cody consistently strive to make the concepts clear and accessible.
The complexity of the system contributes to the problems Joe highlights. Information asymmetry creates economic friction, which disadvantages renewables, despite their general economic superiority. Joe's work at RMI involves developing and deploying quantitative tools, such as RMI's Economic Dispatch Hub, which he will discuss. These tools aim to accelerate affordable and equitable utility de-carbonization pathways.
In this episode, we cover:
[2:42] Joe's background and work at RMI[4:25] Seasonality and cyclical trends in coal usage[6:20] Operation and flexibility of coal plants[10:05] Merit order and prioritizing resources based on cost[12:25] Types of resources and their cost ranking[16:01] Dispatching resources and electricity sources[21:03] Non-economic dispatch of coal and cost impacts[25:02] Public utility commissions' role in regulation[29:23] Need for transparency and market price signals[33:31] Smooth energy transition and coal's future role[39:09] RMI's role in providing expertise and assistance[40:30] Cost implications and solutions for non-economic dispatch[43:49] Public engagement in utility commission hearings[46:16] Policy and local engagement in clean energy adoptionEpisode recorded on July 18, 2024 (Published on Aug 4, 2024)
Get connected with MCJ:
Cody Simms X / LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective / YouTube*If you liked this episode, please consider giving us a review! You can also reach us via email at [email protected], where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.
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Siva Yellamraju is the Co-founder and CEO at Fourier.
Fourier's mission is to make hydrogen universally accessible with on-site and on-demand production. Fourier is not Siva's first startup, it's his fourth. He sold his last company to Apple the one before that to Google and the one before that to Polycom, so he knows a thing or two about entrepreneurship.
Fourier is barely two years old and they raised a seed round in mid-April led by General Catalyst. They've largely operated in stealth. In fact, there's nothing on their website at fourier.earth other than their thesis statement for starting the company, so we were excited to learn from Siva about why he transitioned from a very successful entrepreneurial career in software to tackle a business in the energy sector. We were also eager to learn specifically about what Siva’'s building in distributed hydrogen and what he's learned from the process thus far.
In this episode, we cover:
[2:01] Siva’s entrepreneurial background[4:46] His decision to work on climate and energy [7:35] Customer pain point understanding [12:44] Potential use cases for distributed hydrogen, including power backup solutions and data centers[15:04] Approaching hydrogen production as a data problem[21:47] Customers working with Fourier as part of a broader movement around clean energy [24:01] Potential use cases for distributed hydrogen, including power backup solutions and data centers[27:14] Advantages of hydrogen over batteries for long-term storage and heavy transportation [33:20] Geographic markets for hydrogen deployment; the US, Germany, India, and Indonesia[35:33] Fourier's success to date and plans for commercial rollout [37:12] The goals for Fourier's pilots in the US and India [40:16] Siva's learning curves in building an energy company [42:29] Potential for India to become a leader in hydrogen[44:21] The name behind Fourier [45:34] Fourier's current capital and hiring needsEpisode recorded on July 25, 2024 (Published on Aug 1, 2024)
Get connected with MCJ:
Cody Simms X / LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective / YouTube*If you liked this episode, please consider giving us a review! You can also reach us via email at [email protected], where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.
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Japan is important to consider on the global energy stage. The country’s emissions footprint is considerably smaller than China and the U.S. While Japan's energy footprint isn't growing as rapidly as India's, it’s still the fifth-largest emitter of any country globally, with emissions representing roughly three to 4% of the global total. Japan's energy system is heavily fossil fuel-based, especially after it cut nuclear power generation from roughly one-third to zero in the aftermath of the 2011 Fukushima incident.
Today we're diving into the Japanese energy economy and decarbonization efforts with Isshu Kikuma. Isshu has been with Bloomberg New Energy Finance since 2018, and up until last month his role there was Japan Energy Analyst. He just switched his focus to the energy storage world, but clearly brings a wealth of knowledge on Japan, energy, and decarbonization.
We've been doing these geo tours on the pod for a while, covering countries like China, India, Brazil, and Kenya. Just check out our pod archives at the links below.
In this episode, we cover:
Japan's current power mix and heavy reliance on fossil fuels Decrease in nuclear power generation after the Fukushima incidentThe country's share of renewablesChallenges and potential of offshore wind in JapanPrograms and initiatives to encourage emission reductions, including the feed-in tariff schemeThe structure of Japan's power grid and interconnections between regionsThe role of industry in energy use and emissions reductionJapan's emissions targets Market-based levers and consumer programs in Japan, including the RE-100 initiative and EV subsidiesJapan's funding of coal power plants in other Southeast Asian countriesClimate change impacts on Japan and resiliency efforts The role of battery energy storage in Japan's power gridGeothermal and more✈️ Travel With Us:
China’s Role in the Global Energy TransitionNarendra Taneja on India’s Energy PoliciesDr. Carlos Nobre’s Roadmap for Brazil’s Climate FuturePowering Up KenyaEpisode recorded on June 4, 2024 (Published on July 22, 2024)
Get connected with MCJ:
Cody Simms X / LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective / YouTube*If you liked this episode, please consider giving us a review! You can also reach us via email at [email protected], where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.
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Max Jamilly, CEO and Co-founder at Hoxton Farms. And today, we're talking about fat.
Hoxton Farms, a London-based startup, grows and sells animal fats without animals. They aspire to be an ingredients provider; cultivating fats via bioreactors and selling cruelty-free and sustainable fats to other food brands, starting with meat alternatives.
It's been a challenging time for the alt-meat space, and we were eager to hear how Max feels the industry will develop and the role Hoxton Farms can play therein. He's also got a vision for how Hoxton Farms can expand beyond that initial market over time. Hoxton raised a series A led by Fine Structure Ventures and Collaborative Fund in late 2022, in which MCJ is proud to have participated. So grab a plate and let's dig in.
In this episode, we cover:
[1:37] Intro to Hoxton Farms[2:36] Founders' background: Max Jamilly and Ed Steele[5:51] Meat alternative industry: Challenges and opportunities[9:00] Expansion potential beyond meat alternatives[12:56] Cost parity with traditional animal fats[17:08] Scalability, production, and commercialization plan[18:51] Consumer appetite for meat alternatives[24:49] Regulatory environment and labeling requirements[32:56] Hoxton Farms' pork fat cultivation process[34:48] Potential for genetic engineering in cultivation[40:18] Overview of Hoxton's facility[42:48] Capitalization and financing history[46:13] Importance of branding and merchandise[47:21] Hoxton Farms is hiring!Episode recorded on June 26, 2024 (Published on July 18, 2024)
Get connected with MCJ:
Cody Simms X / LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective / YouTube*If you liked this episode, please consider giving us a review! You can also reach us via email at [email protected], where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.
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Julia Reichelstein is the CEO and Co-founder at Vaulted Deep, a carbon removal company that injects carbon-rich waste slurries deep underground into permanent geologic storage. They've come onto the scene quite fast recently securing just north of a $58 million order from Frontier to sequester over 152,000 tons of carbon between now and 2027, which is Frontier's largest commitment yet. They're one of 20 finalist teams still in the mix for the $100 million Carbon Removal Xprize, and one of 24 semi-finalists of the DOE's Carbon Dioxide Removal Purchase Pilot Prize. Try saying that three times fast.
They also recently announced an $8 million seed round led by Lowercarbon Capital with participation from Earthshot, Woven Earth, Collaborative Fund and others. We got to know Julia and her co-founder Omar Abou-Sayed as they set up Vaulted as a spin-out of Omar's waste disposal company, Advantek. Vaulted is a complex set of operations based on a relatively simple construct: Humans have been sucking geologically stored carbon in the form of oil out of the ground for 150 years now. What if we could put it back?
In this episode, we cover:
Backgrounds of Vaulted's co-founders and the company's missionHow Vaulted turns organic waste into carbon storageJulia's shift from venture capital to carbon removalAdvantek's history and technological contribution to VaultedTechnical details of Vaulted's sequestration wellsTypes of wells used in Vaulted's processCommunity and environmental benefitsVaulted's business model and financial sustainabilityThe rigorous process for selecting and processing waste for carbon removalComparison of carbon removal strategies and Vaulted's unique approachFinancial and ecological benefits of Vaulted's methodologyHutchinson Kansas facility's role and historical significanceVaulted's partnership with Frontier for carbon removalVaulted's participation in the $100 million Carbon Removal Xprize competitionPotential global health impact of Vaulted's technologyOpen roles and opportunities at Vaulted for furthering its missionEpisode recorded on Jun 17, 2024 (Published on Jul 11, 2024)
Get connected with MCJ:
Cody Simms X / LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective / YouTube*If you liked this episode, please consider giving us a review! You can also reach us via email at [email protected], where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.
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Mish Thadani is the CEO and Co-founder of Rhizome. Rhizome helps utilities plan for resilience. It's an AI-powered software platform that helps electric utilities identify vulnerabilities from climate threats to quantify risk and to measure the economic and social benefits of grid enhancing investments.
In our discussion, we delve into how utilities address vulnerabilities arising from extreme weather and other climate change impacts. We also explore how they balance preventive investments to avoid disaster-related outages with strategies to rapidly recover after incidents.
In this episode, we cover:
[2:42] Exploring the definition of resilience[6:26] Vulnerabilities of utilities to climate and weather extremes[10:02] Data-driven balancing of utility investments[14:15] Enhancing decision-making in utilities with Rhizome's software[16:43] Comparing physical asset and capacity risks[18:07] Reconductor technology as a resilience strategy[22:53] Regulatory challenges in resilience investments[25:50] The impact of proactive resilience investments[29:42] Inside look at Rhizome's software platform[33:35] Rhizome's market strategy and achievements[36:07] Federal initiatives on resilience: expectations and realities[39:53] AI in resilience: challenges and opportunities[42:34] Where Rhizome needs helpEpisode recorded on May 23, 2024 (Published on June 27, 2024)
Get connected with MCJ:
Cody Simms X / LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective / YouTube*If you liked this episode, please consider giving us a review! You can also reach us via email at [email protected], where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.
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Today's conversation is all about how the US is trying to onshore manufacturing of key clean energy supply chains, things like EV, battery metals, and the like.
Giulia Siccardo is the Director of the US Department of Energy's Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains or MESC.
We start out with a bit of a history lesson on why manufacturing somewhat intentionally moved offshore from the 1980s through the 20-teens and the implications of this move on the American workforce. We then talk about how and why MESC was formed and the initiatives and programs that MESC is undertaking to swing manufacturing back within America's borders.
To give you a bit of the detail before we start the conversation, MESC was established as a new office in the DOE in 2022 with the aim of strengthening and scaling America's clean energy supply chains through investments in manufacturing capacity, workforce development, and data analysis of America's supply chain vulnerabilities.
Giulia joined the DOE after many years with McKinsey, including having led McKinsey's green growth service line and having co-created Frontier, the advanced market commitment to buy over a billion dollars of carbon removal.
In this episode, we cover:
[2:55] History of offshoring manufacturing[6:08] U.S.-China tensions in clean energy manufacturing[9:57] Energy supply chain and workforce intersection[15:14] AI as a blue-collar workforce generator[17:33] Evolution of the manufacturing workforce and training[22:08] Overview of DOE's Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC)[29:42] MESC's non-dilutive equity efforts[35:03] Critical minerals and materials for energy transition[37:18] MESC's global collaboration portfolio[42:04] MESC's 48C tax credit program[47:05] Considerations for companies approaching MESC during an election year[48:47] Giulia's background at Frontier[54:04] Data analysis on U.S. supply chain vulnerabilities[58:00] MESC's plans to publicly share data and insightsEpisode recorded on May 31, 2024 (Published on June 17, 2024)
Get connected with MCJ:
Cody Simms X / LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective / YouTube*If you liked this episode, please consider giving us a review! You can also reach us via email at [email protected], where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.
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Dr. John Wagner is the President of Battelle Energy Alliance and Director of the Idaho National Laboratory or INL.
INL is one of 17 national labs in the United States and leads the nation in work on advanced nuclear research. INL boasts a rich legacy in the narrative of nuclear energy, marked by its pivotal role in producing the inaugural usable electricity from nuclear sources on its premises. Dozens of reactors have been built at INL during its decades of operation.
Dr. Wagner has been with INL since 2016 and has been director of the lab since 2020. Prior to that, he was the division director at the Reactor and Nuclear Services division at Oak Ridge National Lab. He has a PhD in nuclear engineering from Penn State University and has spent his career working to advance nuclear energy innovation.
In our conversation, we cover the history of INL, its key priorities, current projects under development, and Dr. Wagner’s vision for our nuclear future.
In this episode, we cover:
[2:00] DOE National Labs Overview[5:24] Introduction to Idaho National Laboratory[12:14] Current projects & reactors at INL, including Advanced Test Reactor (ATR)[14:10] INL's upcoming projects: MARVEL, PELE[15:39] How INL supports private firms in nuclear tech development[18:40] End-to-end reactor devolment cycle, e.g., MARVEL[26:57] How entrepreneurs can collaborate with INL[31:17] Collaboration with NRC, support for regulatory development and training[33:07] INL's involvement in fusion research[34:19] John's focus on nuclear fission, U.S. rebuilding[36:05] Future reactor mix: large-scale, modular, advancedResources Mentioned:
Admiral Rickover's 'Paper Reactor' memoThe Most Important Nuclear Reactor (You’ve Never Heard of)Episode recorded on May 17, 2024 (Published on June 10, 2024)
Get connected with MCJ:
Cody Simms X / LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective / YouTube*If you liked this episode, please consider giving us a review! You can also reach us via email at [email protected], where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.
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Christina Yagjian leads global renewable energy strategy and origination at Cargill. According to Forbes, Cargill is the largest private company in the USA by revenue with $177 billion in the fiscal year ending in May, 2023. Before Cargill, Christina managed the renewable energy footprint at Meta, the parent company to Facebook and Instagram and one of the world's largest corporate clean power purchasers.
Our topic today is all about clean power purchasing, why large companies have started buying power directly, how they prioritize their needs across factors like cost and emissions, and how they structure their agreements. This is one of the more complex topics in the climate space, combining carbon accounting with power grid economics and a whole lot of wonk. Cody and Christina keep the conversation accessible to folks who are just trying to understand the role of power consumption, emissions and large companies in the first place. Special thanks to Christina for balancing the need to help explain the overall landscape along with articulating some of Cargill's specific initiatives and focus areas.
In this episode, we cover:
[2:41] Christina's background and journey in renewables[9:53] Reasons behind corporate power purchases[11:19] The difference between renewable energy certificates (RECs) and power purchase agreements[16:08] The role of additionality in power purchase agreements[22:32] Balancing emissions footprints with the cost of power[26:07] Role of storage in balancing intermittent renewable resources[30:12] Challenges and barriers to clean power procurement, such as cost, timing, and market uncertainties[33:24] Considerations in choosing power generators and negotiating PPAs[36:51] An overview of virtual power purchase agreements[43:29] Managing clean power procurement and the need for robust data systems[45:52] Definition of success in clean power procurement for CargillRecorded May 15, 2024 (Published June 3, 2024)
Get connected with MCJ:
Cody Simms X / LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective / YouTube*If you liked this episode, please consider giving us a review! You can also reach us via email at [email protected], where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.
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Cyrus Wadia is the CEO of Activate, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers scientists to bring their research to market. Having supported nearly 200 scientists in founding around 150 companies, including notable names like Fervo, Twelve, Sublime Systems, and Antora Energy, Activate offers selected fellows a unique blend of financial support, business capital, and access to a vast mentorship network. With hubs in Berkeley, Boston, New York, Houston, and a remote program, Activate nurtures the path from scientific discovery to entrepreneurial success.
Cyrus recently joined Activate after stints in sustainability leadership roles at Amazon, Nike, and the White House. This extensive experience, combined with his PhD in energy and resources from UC Berkeley and chemistry degrees from MIT, equips him uniquely for this role.
While the path from computer science to entrepreneurship is well-trodden, Activate champions the less common path from life sciences, chemistry, and physics to entrepreneurship. As we transition our energy systems, it seems inevitable that many new science-based businesses will become iconic industry-defining companies of the 21st century. And for this to be realized, we need to nurture the pathway for scientist-entrepreneurs. Our MCJ venture funds have invested in multiple companies founded by Activate fellows, and we were eager to hear from Cyrus about Activate and his vision for where it's headed.
In this episode, we cover:
[03:49]: The gap Activate fills between academic research and commercialization[05:44]: Transition challenges for scientists becoming entrepreneurs[10:42]: The role of tech transfer offices and the gap in supporting hard tech entrepreneurship[16:34]: Activate's unique approach in supporting fellows through licensing and entrepreneurship[22:52]: The ideal Activate fellow: ready to jump into entrepreneurship head-first[24:57]: Selection criteria for Activate fellows[31:26]: Overview of Activate's program, including support and community involvement[34:03]: Financial and strategic support provided to Activate fellows[37:52]: Cyrus Wadia's background and journey to becoming CEO of Activate[42:04]: Future directions and impact goals for ActivateEpisode recorded on Mar 6, 2024 (Published on May 30, 2024)
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Cody Simms X / LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective / YouTube*If you liked this episode, please consider giving us a review! You can also reach us via email at [email protected], where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.
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Dr. Seonghoon Woo is CEO and co-founder at Amogy. Amogy is building technology to unlock ammonia's potential as a clean energy fuel source for transportation and beyond. About a year ago, they raised a Series B of funding led by SK Innovations, with backers including Temasek, Aramco Ventures, Mitsubishi, DCVC, Amazon Climate Pledge Fund, Mitsui OSK Lines, and others.
Ammonia is a workhorse chemical in modern society. It's one of the most produced chemicals in the world today, and it's used primarily as the foundation of the nitrogen fertilizer industry, as a transport vessel for nitrogen. Chemically, ammonia is NH3, so in addition to nitrogen, it contains hydrogen. And hydrogen as we know has a strong potential as a low to zero emissions fuel source, depending on how it's produced.
But hydrogen is challenging to transport. Ammonia, therefore, also has the potential to be a transport vessel for hydrogen as a power source, and ammonia supply chains are already mature today. Amogy's unique innovation lies in cracking ammonia into hydrogen at the point of power generation and then powering vehicles via hydrogen fuel cells. They are targeting ocean shipping as most major companies seek solutions to decarbonize their supply chains.
In this episode, we cover:
[02:21]: Dr. Woo’s background and journey to founding Amogy[05:16]: Co-founder roles and decision-making at Amogy[07:16]: The company’s impressive Series B funding round and key investors[09:45]: Overview of Amogy and its technology: converting ammonia to energy[11:14]: Importance of ammonia in global food production and fertilizer[15:07]: Ammonia as a hydrogen carrier and its applications beyond fertilizer[17:03]: Ammonia production processes, challenges of transportation and storage[19:47]: Amogy’s innovation to use ammonia as a fuel without combustion[24:35]: Ammonia compared with other renewable fuels like methanol and batteries[29:21]: Process and efficiency of converting ammonia to hydrogen on ships[31:32]: Safety considerations for storing and transporting ammonia on ships[34:40]: Amogy’s current traction and building the world's first 100% ammonia-powered vessel, a tugboat[38:57]: Where Amogy is looking for help today[42:07]: Future expansion of ammonia adoption in East Asia and globallyEpisode recorded on May 9, 2024 (Published on May 23, 2024)
Get connected with MCJ:
Cody Simms X / LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective / YouTube*If you liked this episode, please consider giving us a review! You can also reach us via email at [email protected], where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.
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Adam Stein is the Director of Nuclear Energy Innovation at the Breakthrough Institute, where he focuses on the technology, policy, risk and economics of nuclear energy. The Breakthrough Institute is a global research center that identifies and promotes technological solutions to environmental and human development challenges. Among its many projects, the Breakthrough Institute recently launched Build Nuclear Now, a national campaign to mobilize Americans in targeted states to call for regulatory and legislative change to accelerate the licensing and deployment of new, advanced nuclear reactors in the United States.
Adam brings a pro-nuclear perspective to this conversation; and given that, Cody and Adam focus the majority of the discussion on the history of nuclear power in the US and potential paths forward, rather than debating the merits of nuclear (which could of course be a full episode by itself). Adam has a particular interest in advanced nuclear reactors, which represent a broad class of new technologies currently under development and review. This conversation covers these advanced reactors and so much more.
Episode recorded on Apr 15, 2024 (Published on May 13, 2024)
In this episode, we cover:
[02:39]: Launch of 'Build Nuclear Now' to boost public support for nuclear energy[03:45]: Shift in public opinion on nuclear energy post-Three Mile Island incident[05:03]: Contrast between post-WWII and current energy policies focusing on efficiency[09:30]: Decline of nuclear energy due to increased natural gas from fracking[10:48]: Challenges in revitalizing the stagnant US nuclear industry[13:02]: Future projections for nuclear load growth by 2050 [15:14]: Why renewables and storage alone cannot meet future energy demands[19:39]: Additional benefits of nuclear energy[21:33]: The role of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the need for reform[25:00]: Challenges with traditional nuclear reactor approval processes [29:23]: Vogtle reactors and challenges for deploying nuclear plants in the US[32:27]: The potential of advanced nuclear reactors and their smaller, adaptable designs[39:32]: Strategic focus on Appalachia for repurposing coal plants for nuclear projects[42:38]: Recent legislative efforts to modernize nuclear energy regulation and innovation[52:12]: The process and challenges of nuclear fuel management, from enrichment to waste[01:01:12]: National focus on nuclear innovation, highlighting Idaho's MARVEL reactor development[01:05:31]: Role of the Breakthrough Institute in addressing and implementing solutions for nuclear energy barriersGet connected with MCJ:
Cody Simms X / LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective / YouTube*If you liked this episode, please consider giving us a review! You can also reach us via email at [email protected], where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.
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In today's episode, recorded live during San Francisco Climate Week, we delve into the critical intersection of climate policy and carbon removal. Joining us are two distinguished guests: California Senator Scott Wiener, the author of the recent landmark climate legislation known as California's SB 253 or the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act, and Shashank Samala, the CEO and Co-founder of Heirloom, a pioneering carbon removal company. Shashank was a previous guest on the show in 2021, and we're excited to have him back to weigh in on this important conversation.
Senator Wiener sheds light on the legislative landscape driving climate action, while Shashank offers insights into the technologies transforming carbon removal. Together, we explore the convergence of policy and innovation, examining how regulatory frameworks catalyze the adoption and scaling of technological solutions. We pack a lot into this conversation, and we hope you enjoy it!
In this episode, we cover:
[2:15] Senator Scott Wiener's background and personal climate journey[6:04] Shashank's entrepreneurial background and transition to carbon removal[8:38] An overview of Heirloom[10:20] An overview of Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions[12:59] SB 253, the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act, authored by Senator Wiener[17:46] California's cap and trade system[20:22] The importance of carbon accounting and measurement, reporting and verification (MRV)[25:32] How the Senator's team worked with startups to verify compliance challenges[31:48] Heirloom's categories of carbon buyers[34:25] SB 308, Carbon Market Development Act, authored by Senator Josh Becker[36:17] The role of geography in carbon removals[40:14] How startups can engage with local policymakers[45:11] The benefit of representing San Francisco as a climate tech hub[46:29] Senator Wiener's wishlist for climate policy, including dense housing and world-class public transportation[47:06] Shashank's wishlist for climate policy, including SB 308Get connected with MCJ:
Cody Simms X / LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective / YouTube*If you liked this episode, please consider giving us a review! You can also reach us via email at [email protected], where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.
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Dr. Sarah Kapnick serves as the Chief Scientist at NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which plays a critical role in understanding and predicting changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts. Bringing a unique mix of science and finance to NOAA, Dr. Kapnick's background includes a stint as a senior climate scientist at JP Morgan Chase, a leadership role at NOAA's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, and an early career in investment banking at Goldman Sachs. She holds a PhD in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences from UCLA and an AB in Mathematics from Princeton.
In our conversation, Dr. Kapnick touches on a wide range of topics, including NOAA's extensive work, the importance of resilience and adaptation in today's changing climate, and the challenges of planning for a future that deviates from past assumptions of a stable climate. Highlighting NOAA's efforts in supporting community resilience and innovation, she underscores the agency's commitment to aiding stakeholders in navigating the complexities of our evolving environmental landscape, emphasizing the critical need for investment and focus on adaptation for the remainder of the 21st century.
In this episode, we cover:
[03:08]: An overview of NOAA and its departments, focusing on climate, weather, ocean, and coasts[05:16]: The six line offices within NOAA, including the National Weather Service and Oceanic Research[09:26]: NOAA's management of marine resources and the Great Lakes[12:18]: How scientific priorities are set within NOAA, driven by mission and funding[15:06]: Kapnick's background in climate science and finance[20:23]: The intersection of climate change and finance[22:45] The need for bipartisan support for resiliency and adaptation measures[31:13]: NOAA's role in funding and supporting coastal resilience and climate-ready fisheries[36:34]: NOAA's focus on adaptation and resilience in response to climate change[48:19]: Opportunities for startup innovation and government funding in adaptation and resiliency[54:00]: The state of the world's ocean and atmospheric circulation, including AMOC slowdown[59:17]: Climate change impacts on the Midwest and the variability of the Great LakesEpisode recorded on Mar 13, 2024 (Published on Apr 15, 2024)
Get connected with MCJ:
Cody Simms X / LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective / YouTube*If you liked this episode, please consider giving us a review! You can also reach us via email at [email protected], where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.
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