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This Week in Cleantech is a new, weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in cleantech and climate in 15 minutes or less.
Trump’s Energy Pick, Chris Wright, Argues Fossil Fuels Are Virtuous — The New York TimesCipher analysis: Emerging clean technologies see sharp drop in investments this year — Cipher NewsThe Age of Electrons Has Arrived, but Maybe Not for the Right Reasons — Heatmap NewsPG&E Secures $15 Billion Loan From U.S. Energy Department — The New York Times
This week’s episode features Dana Clare Redden, from our “Cleantecher of the Year” committee, who has picked our Cleantecher of the Year!
This Week in Cleantech — December 20, 2024Watch the full episode on YouTube
Cleantechers of the Year
Most Impactful - Bill Weihl - ClimatevoiceBill Weihl, transitioned from ClimateVoice’s Co-Executive Director to the role of Founder & Chief Strategic Advisor. ClimateVoice leverages corporate influence from climate-positive companies to win policy battles.
Most Entrepreneurial - Emilie Oxel O'Leary - Green Clean Wind LLC
Emilie is actively urging her LinkedIn followers to reach out for their solar recycling needs, highlighting the growing concern over solar components ending up in landfills. She’s asking for every steel pile, aluminum racking component, nut, and bolt, so she can help clean up your site.
Most Disruptive - Michael Tekabe/Hayat Bedene - Kübik
Michael Tekabe, Chief Operating Officer, and Hayat Bedane, Engineering Lead at Kubik, an Africa-based startup, make building materials out of recycled plastic for affordable, sustainable, and easy-to-deploy homes, clinics, and warehouses. Their construction materials reduce 5x less carbon pollution than traditional materials.
Most Innovative - Gregg Patterson- Origami Solar
Gregg is leading the effort to reframe the global solar industry with recycled steel, replacing aluminum solar module frames. This entire effort is designed to lower the carbon pollution footprint of the global solar industry.
Cleantecher of the Year - Jonathan Foley - Drawdown
Jonathan Foley, climatologist and Project Drawdown Executive Director, wrote a piece that shares the impact of agricultural pollution, and how we need to prioritize sustainable agricultural practices. Jonathan shared that total carbon pollution from the food system, including food waste, transport, packaging and refrigeration sits at 34%, making food the single largest polluting economic sector — more than power generation or industry, which both sit at roughly 23%.
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This Week in Cleantech is a new, weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in cleantech and climate in 15 minutes or less.
The Israeli Investigator Who Delivered Dirt on Exxon’s Enemies — The Wall Street JournalDoes talking about climate ‘tipping points’ inspire action — or defeat? — GristWhat 4 Years of Delay Means to an Offshore Wind Project — Heatmap NewsChinese Carmakers Are Taking Mexico by Storm While Eyeing U.S. — The New York TimesUnder Trump, an 'all of the above' energy policy is poised for a comeback — NPR
This week’s episode features Camila Domonoske from NPR, who wrote about how under a second Trump administration, an "all-of-the-above" energy policy is likely to return, meaning support for oil, gas, and renewable energy sources together.
This week's "Cleantecher of the Week," is Kevin Minton, Vice President of Spruce Power, who represented the company on a mission to a small village in Kenya. Over the course of three days, they installed two solar arrays, inverters, and batteries to power facilities, including a schoolhouse, a dispensary, and a small hospital room. These systems also supported laptops for children to learn and televisions for instructional videos. Congratulations, Kevin!
This Week in Cleantech — December 13, 2024Watch the full episode on YouTube
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This Week in Cleantech is a new, weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in cleantech and climate in 15 minutes or less.
Utilities build flow batteries big enough to oust coal, gas power plants — The Washington PostNorthvolt, Europe’s Hope for a Battery Champion, Files for Bankruptcy — The New York TimesUS Solar Installs Facing Flat Growth — and That’s Before Trump — BloombergA strange new climate era is beginning to take hold — The Washington PostMichigan wants to fast-track renewable development. Local townships are suing — Grist
This week’s episode features Izzy Ross from Grist, who wrote about how Michigan's fast-tracking of renewable energy projects under a new law, Public Act 233, is facing legal pushback from about 80 townships and counties.
This week's "Cleantecher of the Week” is Robert Wilson and Louisa Ziane, Co-Founders of Toast Brewing, which brews beer with the surplus of fresh bread from bakeries, reducing agricultural demand for barley and food waste. Every second loaf of bread is wasted in the UK, but since 2016, Toast Brewing has saved enough bread to stack more than four times the height of Mount Everest. Congratulations Robert and Louisa!
This Week in Cleantech — December 6, 2024
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This Week in Cleantech is a new, weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in cleantech and climate in 15 minutes or less.
This week’s episode features Amanda Chu from the Financial Times, who wrote about how Albemarle, the largest lithium producer in the world, said it is not economically viable to build a lithium supply chain in North America or Europe.
This week's "Cleantecher of the Week” is Mary Powell, CEO of Sunrun. Mary just was named to the 2024 TIME100 Climate List of Most Influential Leaders In Climate. TIME recognized Mary for her climate leadership, advancing residential clean energy adoption to strengthen the nation’s energy grid. Congratulations, Mary!
The hidden emissions impact of grid congestion is bigger than you think — Latitude MediaTrump picks fracking CEO Chris Wright to be energy secretary — The Washington PostThis seaside town will power thousands of homes with waves — The Washington PostA Court Just Broke America’s Most Divisive Environmental Law. Here’s What Happens Next. — Heatmap NewsLithium producer says west cannot end reliance on China in critical minerals — The Financial Times
This Week in Cleantech — November 22, 2024Watch the full episode on YouTube
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This Week in Cleantech is a new, weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in cleantech and climate in 15 minutes or less.
What Trump means for Tesla — Fast CompanyExxon’s chief has a warning for Republicans — POLITICOUS Unveils Plan to Triple Nuclear Power by 2050 as Demand Soars — BloombergCOP29 host Azerbaijan hits out at West in defense of oil and gas — ReutersClimate Tech Companies Plan For Survival Under Trump – Heatmap
This week’s episode features Katie Brigham from Heatmap, who wrote about how climate tech companies are uncertain, but hopeful, of their future under a Trump presidency.
This week's "Cleantecher of the Week” is Sara Samanieg, Latin America’s first recycling influencer. She has taught people how to sort recyclables and brought attention to Bogotá’s often-overlooked community of recyclers. Congratulations, Sara!
This Week in Cleantech — November 15, 2024
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This Week in Cleantech is a new, weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in cleantech and climate in 15 minutes or less.
Utility regulators take millions from industries they oversee. What could go wrong? — Floodlight NewsOil giant BP is killing 18 hydrogen projects, chilling the nascent industry — TechCrunchWorld’s largest transformer maker warns of supply crunch — The Financial TimesUS Regulator Rejects Amazon-Talen Nuclear Power Agreement — BloombergDonald Trump will test how fragile the energy transition really is — Semafor
This week’s episode features Tim McDonnell from Semafor, who wrote about how many in cleantech believe the clean energy transition will happen regardless of who is in the White House, since the growth of U.S. clean energy industries is driven by fundamental economics.
This Week in Cleantech — November 8, 2024Watch the full episode on YouTube
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Tell us what you think of the show!
This Week in Cleantech is a new, weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in cleantech and climate in 15 minutes or less.
U.S. approves massive lithium mine in Nevada, overriding protests — The Washington PostCheap Solar Panels Are Changing the World — The AtlanticA new solar-storage project is powering Amazon data centers. It took 7 years to get online — Latitude MediaGreen jet fuel producers are crossing a daunting climate tech barrier — SemaforSee how the Inflation Reduction Act is affecting your community — The Washington Post
This week’s episode features Shannon Osaka from The Washington Post, who wrote about how districts that favored Trump in 2020 received three times as much Inflation Reduction Act investment as those who favored Biden.
This week's "Cleantecher of the Week," is Colin Hughes from Rebel, who just shared his bikeshare experience in Rotterdam, Netherlands with BAQME’s e-assist cargo bikes. He shared that the company had at least one bike within a 5-minute walk, and that the cost was usually under $5 per trip around the city. Thank you for sharing your bikeshare experience, Colin!
This Week in Cleantech — November 1, 2024
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This Week in Cleantech is a new, weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in cleantech and climate in 15 minutes or less.
Google Backs New Nuclear Plants to Power AI — The Wall Street JournalIs LNG worse for the climate than coal? — The Financial TimesIEA report signals "age of electricity" — AxiosWatch this robot expertly take apart electronics so they can be used again — Fast CompanyA utility promised to stop burning coal. Then Google and Meta came to town. — The Washington Post
This week’s episode features Washington Post reporter Evan Halper, who covered how a coal power plant's life was extended when Meta and Google data centers came to town.
This week's "Cleantecher of the Week" is Michael Graham of the Columbia-Willamette Clean Cities & Communities Coalition. Michael leads the EMPOWER project, which helps workplaces install EV chargers at their offices for free, and is a Workplace EV Charging Coach. Congratulations, Michael!
This Week in Cleantech — October 18, 2024Watch the full episode on YouTube
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This Week in Cleantech is a new, weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in cleantech and climate in 15 minutes or less.
Maggie Sasser from Pine Gate Renewables has organized efforts to help rebuild.Nico Johnson from Suncast Media and Tom Weirich from EDP Renewables have raised awareness and shared ways to support affected communities.Jason Grumet and the American Clean Power Association co-hosted a Hurricane Helene Relief Fund Reception. Also thanks to all the other cleantechers this week who donated and helped John Engel bring gas cans, water, food and blankets to those in Asheville, NC.
This week’s episode features Maddie Stone from Grist, who wrote about how Hurricane Helene caused the temporary closure of Spruce Pine, NC's two main quartz mines, which has disrupted the solar supply chain.
This week we have multiple "Cleantechers of the Week.” The industry has truly come together to support those impacted by Hurricane Helene:
Cost of Producing Green Hydrogen Makes It Prohibitive, Says Study - Wall Street JournalForm Energy raises $405mn to develop rust-powered batteries - Financial TimesU.S. Ramps Up Hunt for Uranium to End Reliance on Russia - New York TimesThis country ditched coal. Here’s what the world can learn from it - Washington PostThe solar supply chain runs through this flooded North Carolina town - Grist
This Week in Cleantech — October 11, 2024
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Hello, Factor This! listeners. This is John Engel, editor-in-chief of Renewable Energy World and POWERGRID International. As many of you know, I live in Asheville, which was devastated from Tropical Storm Helene.
North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund Beloved AshevilleSamaritan's PurseFootprint Project
This conversation between myself and Renewable Energy World content director Paul Gerke was hastily recorded on Wednesday, Oct. 2, so please excuse the production quality. Some of the conditions discussed in this podcast have changed since recording-- gas is now readily available in Asheville and Duke Energy has restored power to at least 90% of the Carolinas.
I love Asheville. To see many of its best elements destroyed is beyond tragic. 10 days after the storm, most of the city remains without water. Remote mountain regions are impassable. People are still missing. We need your help.
Please consider supporting these organizations:Thank you to all of you who continued to support Asheville's recovery. It means the world to me.
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This Week in Cleantech is a new, weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in cleantech and climate in 15 minutes or less.
Under a Texas sun, agrivoltaics offer farmers a new way to make money — The Washington PostAmerica's Oil Country Increasingly Runs on Renewables — The New York TimesWhat The Fed’s Interest Rate Cut Means For Climate Change — HuffPostFrom Norway to New York, electric ferries are taking over the globe — NY PostTech bros and bankers rally around nuclear power to fuel AI's rapid rise — The Business Insider
This week’s episode features Catherine Boudrea, a Business Insider reporter who wrote about Constellation Energy's plans to restart the Three Mile Island nuclear plant in Pennsylvania.
This week’s “Cleantecher of the Week” is Robin Swanhuyser, the Executive Director of Twende Solar. Twende Solar empowers under-resourced communities with renewable energy systems. Their vision is to have renewable energy be the solution for eliminating poverty, strengthening economies, protecting ecosystems, and achieving a more equitable society. Congratulations, Robin!
This Week in Cleantech — September 30, 2024Watch the full episode on YouTube
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Tell us what you think of the show!
This Week in Cleantech is a new, weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in cleantech and climate in 15 minutes or less.
This week's episode features Ivan Penn from the New York Times, who wrote about how one of the country's largest coal plants, located in Minnesota, is being replaced by solar and storage. It will be the largest solar farm in the Upper Midwest when completed, but some residents are worried about the change.
This week's "Cleantecher of the Week" is President of rPlus Energies. Luigi recently called on his LinkedIn following to form a solar industry equivalent rallying cry of the “Got Milk?” campaign. He mentions that other industries have found a way to emotionally engage people, but the solar industry is lagging behind. Congratulations, Luigi!
Trump vows to pull back climate law’s unspent dollars — POLITICOAmerica’s New Climate Delusion — The Atlantic Natural Gas Is Critical To Achieving Global Climate Goals. Here’s Why — ForbesWhat If We Get Fusion — But Don’t Need It? — Heatmap Coal Power Defined This Minnesota Town. Can Solar Win It Over? — New York Times
This Week in Cleantech — September 20, 2024
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This Week in Cleantech is a new, weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in cleantech and climate in 15 minutes or less.
What Will We Do With Our Free Power? — New York TimesHow much more water and power does AI computing demand? Tech firms don't want you to know — LA TimesLocal opposition is now a ‘leading cause’ of canceled clean energy projects — Latitude MediaMore cleantech companies fail as fundraising challenges emerge — Financial TimesOxylus Energy strikes 'beautiful balance' to make e-fuels for aviation and shipping — TechCrunch
This week's episode features Tim De Chant from TechCrunch, who wrote about a possible path to reduce or eliminate carbon emissions from the airline and shipping industries: a startup working to develop "green" methanol, which is made without fossil fuels.
This week's "Cleantecher of the Week" is Nora Zacharski, Press Secretary at Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. Nora recently graduated with her Master’s in Political Communications, and shared her Capstone project online, which analyzed Facebook messaging by opponents of land-based and offshore wind energy. Congratulations, Nora!
This Week in Cleantech — September 6, 2024
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The energy transition was always going to produce some form of tension. That isn't altogether negative— friction keeps a speeding train on the tracks, after all. In the energy industry, it's electric utilities and clean energy developers who most often collide, one positioned as the gatekeeper of the grid and the other a disrupter.
Plenty of challenges face the energy transition, but one underpins nearly all of them: interconnection. Utilities and developers, meanwhile, are beginning to recognize the importance of collaboration, and that fences must be mended to reach our goals.
Episode 82 of the Factor This! podcast features Carrie Gill, the head of electric regulatory strategy at Rhode Island Energy, and Ed Brolin, the vice president of policy and distributed government relations at RWE. Both will be featured speakers at the interconnection event GridTECH Connect Forum - Northeast, which will be held in Newport, Rhode Island in October.
Gill and Brolin break down the challenges and solutions to interconnection in the Northeast and preview what you can expect at GridTECH Connect Forum. Register today using the promo code PODCAST to receive 10% off your admission.
That's all next on Factor This!
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his Week in Cleantech is a new, weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in cleantech and climate in 15 minutes or less.
This week's episode features Dan Gearino from Inside Climate News, who wrote about how progress in solid-state battery technology may soon enable electric vehicles to achieve up to 600 miles of range.
This week's "Cleantecher of the Week" is Emilie Oxel O’Leary, founder of Green Clean Wind LLC. Emilie is actively urging her LinkedIn followers to reach out for their solar recycling needs, highlighting the growing concern over solar components ending up in landfills. She’s asking for every steel pile, aluminum racking component, nut, and bolt, so she can help clean up your site. Congratulations Emilie!This Week in Cleantech — August 30, 2024
Far-Right ‘Terrorgram’ Chatrooms Fuel Wave of Power Grid Attacks — BloombergThe Case for a Clean Energy Marshall Plan — Foreign AffairsScoop: Swell is shutting down — Latitude MediaHungry for Clean Energy, Facebook Looks to a New Type of Geothermal — New York TimesWant an EV With 600 Miles of Range? It’s Coming — Inside Climate News
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Tell us what you think of the show!
This Week in Cleantech is a new, weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in cleantech and climate in 15 minutes or less.
Big Tech’s bid to rewrite the rules on net zero — The Financial TimesEVs are starting to overtake gas-powered cars in a surprising place — CNNClean Fuel Startups Were Supposed to Be the Next Big Thing. Now They Are Collapsing. — The Wall Street JournalCoal Power Defined This Minnesota Town. Can Solar Win It Over? — The New York TimesThe US Power Grid Has a Problem. Your House Could Help Solve It — CNET
This week's episode features CNET senior editor Jon Reed, who visited an energy-efficient home in Vermont that will eventually be part of a virtual power plant, or VPP.
This week's "Cleantecher of the Week" is Jim Kapsis, CEO of the Ad Hoc Group, who recently wrote about his 531-mile trip from Virginia to Maine in an electric vehicle. Jim wrote about his experience traveling the long electric miles, both the good and bad. We’ll link his piece in our YouTube bio. Congratulations Jim!
This Week in Cleantech — August 23, 2024
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This Week in Cleantech is a new, weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in cleantech and climate in 15 minutes or less.
How Solar-Friendly Is Your State? We Scored Them All — CNETThis Texas Energy Is So Bountiful, They Pay You to Take It Away — New York TimesAmericans tapped $8 billion in tax credits on home energy upgrade — Washington PostDelays hit 40% of Biden’s major IRA manufacturing projects — Financial TimesHow New York City's data centers and Rockefeller Center could help power a climate solution — Business Insider
This week’s episode features Business Insider reporter Catherine Boudreau, who wrote about Con Edison's plans to capture heat from data centers and large commercial buildings to power underground thermal energy networks.
This week's "Cleantecher of the Week" is Samuel Truthseeker, CEO of Solvari Solar. His system view of rooftop solar enables panels to be installed in 2 minutes rather than 20 minutes, and is based on over 20 years developing solar products. Congratulations Samuel!
This Week in Cleantech — August 16, 2024Watch the full episode on YouTube
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Tell us what you think of the show!
This Week in Cleantech is a new, weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in cleantech and climate in 15 minutes or less.
Red-State Republicans Say They’ll Defend Biden-Era Green Jobs — BloombergFormer Rooftop Solar Giant SunPower Files for Bankruptcy — BloombergAround a third of carbon credits fail new benchmark test — ReutersIndiana’s dependence on coal is costing ratepayers millions and holding back clean energy growth — Energy News NetworkYour future air conditioner might act like a battery — MIT Technology Review
This week’s episode features MIT Technology Review reporter Casey Crowhart, who covered how new tech turns air conditioners into batteries.
This Week in Cleantech — August 8, 2024
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Help make This Week in Cleantech the best it can be. Send feedback and story recommendations to [email protected]. And don’t forget to leave a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts.
Join us every Friday for new episodes of This Week in Cleantech in the Factor This! podcast feed, and tune into new episodes of Factor This! every Monday.
This Week in Cleantech is hosted by Renewable Energy World senior content director John Engel and Tigercomm president Mike Casey. The show is produced by Brian Mendes with research support from Alex Petersen and Clare Quirin. -
Tell us what you think of the show!
This Week in Cleantech is a new, weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in cleantech and climate in 15 minutes or less.
The Rush to Shore Up the Power Grid Against Hurricanes, Heat and Hail — The Wall Street JournalHow to Avoid A Climate Backlash — TIMEEnergy Companies Turn to Robots to Install Solar Panels — The New York TimesApplied Carbon's farm robot turns plant waste into biochar to capture CO2 — TechCrunchThe Climate Case Against the Permitting Deal — Heatmap News
This week’s episode features Jael Holzman, a senior reporter at Heatmap, who reported on how the clean energy industry is colliding with climate activists over a long-awaited energy permitting bill.
This Week in Cleantech — August 2, 2024
Watch the full episode on YouTube
Help make This Week in Cleantech the best it can be. Send feedback and story recommendations to [email protected]. And don’t forget to leave a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts.
Join us every Friday for new episodes of This Week in Cleantech in the Factor This! podcast feed, and tune into new episodes of Factor This! every Monday.
This Week in Cleantech is hosted by Renewable Energy World senior content director John Engel and Tigercomm president Mike Casey. The show is produced by Brian Mendes with research support from Alex Petersen and Clare Quirin. -
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The energy industry often pits utilities and clean energy advocates as enemies duking it out from opposite corners of the ring.
As the narrative goes, utilities drag innovation in favor of the status quo. They're lobbying, some say, has tanked the value of distributed energy resources, leaving the residential solar and storage industry in turmoil.
But one company doesn't bother with that framing, even if it may be true in some cases. Instead, they're going inside utilities with the belief that there's only one realistic path to scaling DERs— being on the same team.
Episode 81 of the Factor This! podcast features Sparkfund CEO Pier LaFarge, who is partnering with some of the largest utilities to deploy hundreds of DERs on their behalf.
LaFarge shares how Sparkfund's approach upends consensus thinking around the energy transition, why he's bullish on investor-owned utilities, and what the upcoming presidential election means for clean energy.
That's all next on Factor This!
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