Let us know how we're doing - text us feedback or thoughts on episode content It seems that every day we see another media article about the growth (or demise) of climate action. So - what's really going on? In this episode, Paul provides some perspective and critical analysis of recent media headlines in order to fully understand both the good (and the bad) in today's climate action. For further reference: "How EVs became such a massive disappointment" - CNN "AAA survey confirms the trend: More...
Jul 15, 2024•9 min•Season 2Ep. 86
Let us know how we're doing - text us feedback or thoughts on episode content In this episode, Paul sits with Stephanie Doyle, the California State Affairs Director for the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), to discuss the changes that California has implemented to their net metering tariff for rooftop solar. NEM 3.0 (or also known as the Net Billing Tariff (NBT)) has reimagined the solar market in California, dramatically reducing the compensation that homeowners receive for generating...
Jul 08, 2024•10 min•Season 2Ep. 85
Let us know how we're doing - text us feedback or thoughts on episode content With all of the success of the global EV car market comes a looming question in a few years - what do we do with all of those batteries at a car's end-of-life? While it may be a small industry today, the EV battery recycling market is poised to grow exponentially over the next few years. And the success of that market is likely to help define just how successful the overall EV market will be as well. Paul dives into th...
Jul 01, 2024•8 min•Season 2Ep. 84
Let us know how we're doing - text us feedback or thoughts on episode content ESG investing may be going through a bit of a rocky patch, these days, but the investment tool is hardly dead. Rather, the importance of ESG non-financial reporting is more important than ever as stakeholders are looking for the potentially critical externalities that a company's business practices may play. In this episode, Paul discusses a bit of why ESG has seen an increasing outflow of investment funds recently - w...
Jun 24, 2024•8 min•Season 2Ep. 83
Let us know how we're doing - text us feedback or thoughts on episode content Spurred by investment incentives from the IRA, a manufacturing renaissance is emerging along the I-75 corridor between Michigan and Georgia. Huge investments into battery manufacturing facilities are tapping into existing automotive infrastructure and supply chains to diversify and domesticate the EV battery market. Paul digs into the impact that these new investments are having and why the emerging Battery Belt of the...
Jun 17, 2024•8 min•Season 2Ep. 82
Let us know how we're doing - text us feedback or thoughts on episode content China is not only the global leader in developing renewable energy, but they maintain a huge competitive advantage in clean tech manufacturing and supply. From solar panels to wind turbines to raw minerals and EVs, China supplies the globe with what's needed to convert to clean energy. But with that dominance comes challenges, geopolitical risks not the least among them. Paul digs a bit deeper into how China became the...
Jun 10, 2024•9 min•Season 2Ep. 81
Let us know how we're doing - text us feedback or thoughts on episode content The electric meter is one of the foundational backbones of the energy transition. And today's meters do so much more than simply measure and report on the amount of energy being consumed at a site. Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) provides two way communication between a utility and a consumer, opening up not only a more decentralized, decarbonized grid, but a whole host of value added services as well. For more ...
Jun 03, 2024•8 min•Season 2Ep. 80
Let us know how we're doing - text us feedback or thoughts on episode content In this episode, Paul discusses some examples of how companies, cities, farms and other entities are adapting their strategies to cope with climate change. As the threat from extreme weather events increases, ensuring that an organization is resilient and strengthened against these situations is becoming increasingly important. And new regulations as set out by the ISSB and the SEC require companies to take a hard look...
May 27, 2024•7 min•Season 2Ep. 79
Let us know how we're doing - text us feedback or thoughts on episode content In order to meet the ambitious climate goals as enshrined in New York's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), the state is about to embark upon a far reaching program to ratchet down emissions from heavy emitters. The Cap and Invest program has a lot of similarities to RGGI and other Cap & Trade efforts, with some key nuances on how New York is planning on using this tool to transition to a clean...
May 20, 2024•9 min•Season 2Ep. 78
Let us know how we're doing - text us feedback or thoughts on episode content There's a lot going on in the offshore wind market in the US these days. Multiple projects have had to renegotiate or even outright cancel their power purchase agreements. In today's episode, Paul takes a closer look at the reasons behind this turmoil and the impact on the nascent offshore wind market. For further reference: "Offshore wind in the U.S. hit headwinds in 2023. Here's what you need to know" - NPR "A wind p...
May 13, 2024•7 min•Season 2Ep. 77
Let us know how we're doing - text us feedback or thoughts on episode content The amount of renewable generation that is forecasted to come online over the next few years is staggering. But renewable assets face risks - risks associated with the changing climate in the first place. As weather patterns change, affecting cloud cover, snow melt, or wind speed - renewable assets are especially vulnerable to these changes. In this episode, Paul unpacks how the changing climate may affect our increasi...
May 06, 2024•8 min•Season 2Ep. 76
Let us know how we're doing - text us feedback or thoughts on episode content There are over 20 Green Banks spread across the US, designed to deploy clean energy technologies and ensure equitable access to the clean energy economy. These quasi-public institutions play an important role in bridging a risk gap between what is "theoretically financeable" and what is "actually financeable". In this episode, Paul discusses how Green Banks function, the role that they play in handling risks that priva...
Apr 29, 2024•8 min•Season 2Ep. 75
Let us know how we're doing - text us feedback or thoughts on episode content If there is a gold standard for setting corporate climate goals, it's a science based target. These commitments are a rigorous, methodical approach toward ensuring that we stay below the 2 degree warming threshold. In today's episode, Paul explains the methodology used to determine science based targets and their net zero counterpart. And Paul touches upon the recent controversy that arose around when and how it is app...
Apr 22, 2024•9 min•Season 2Ep. 74
Let us know how we're doing - text us feedback or thoughts on episode content Philanthropic giving to climate related causes is woefully small. But charitable dollars have a really important role to play because of their flexibility and different motivations. They can catalyze investment in areas where private or governmental dollars can not. In this episode, Paul sits with Randall Kempner, Senior Advisor to the Aspen Institute to discuss the role of philanthropic dollars in the capital stack, w...
Apr 15, 2024•8 min•Season 2Ep. 73
Let us know how we're doing - text us feedback or thoughts on episode content Paul sits with Mike Roeth of the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) to discuss the current state of trucking and how that industry is decarbonizing. Although trucks only account for 5-10% of the vehicles on the road, they contribute up to a quarter of the transportation sector's greenhouse gas emissions. But whereas challenges remain to fully decarbonize long haul, heavy duty trucking, Mike and Paul ...
Apr 08, 2024•9 min•Season 2Ep. 72
Let us know how we're doing - text us feedback or thoughts on episode content 2024 marks the first compliance period for the groundbreaking building performance standard in New York City known as Local Law 97. The law requires large buildings to go beyond simply reporting emissions and to begin to enact decarbonization standards. Or face fines. Paul sits with Luke Surowiec of ICF and who is the program director of the New York City Accelerator to talk about the current state of Local Law 97, how...
Apr 01, 2024•8 min•Season 2Ep. 71
Let us know how we're doing - text us feedback or thoughts on episode content It's been about 6 and a half years since Hurricane Maria laid waste to Puerto Rico's power grid. As the island continues its recovery, it is pioneering a more distributed, renewable and resilient power infrastructure that the rest of us can learn from. In this episode, Paul sits down with Javier Rua of the Solar and Energy Storage Association of Puerto Rico to talk about the recovery process and what's next for the isl...
Mar 25, 2024•8 min•Season 2Ep. 70
Let us know how we're doing - text us feedback or thoughts on episode content On March 6th, the Securities and Exchange Commission released their long awaited rules on climate disclosure. The final product attempts to standardize how companies report on the risks that they face from worsening climate events, while providing a way to indicate the strategies and steps being taken to reduce the impact and risk of climate change. Paul tackles the rules, both in what they are now going to require pub...
Mar 18, 2024•8 min•Season 2Ep. 69
Let us know how we're doing - text us feedback or thoughts on episode content Thermal Energy Networks are matriced assemblies of pipes and heat pumps where buildings can not only utilize the heat from the ground beneath us, but repurpose heat from the buildings around us to make certain we're not wasting anything. And, because of that, these systems may be a super efficient and cost effective means to decarbonize large swaths of cities and neighborhoods. Paul sits with Matt Rusteika, Director of...
Mar 11, 2024•9 min•Season 2Ep. 68
Let us know how we're doing - text us feedback or thoughts on episode content In this episode, Paul unpacks how 24/7 hourly matching is becoming something of a new standard for corporate renewable energy procurement. This temporal strategy is having an impact on not just how large companies are buying power, but also for federal organizations, hydrogen developers, and, frankly, just about anyone in the renewable procurement market. Paul discusses the impact of 24/7 hourly matching, it's potentia...
Mar 04, 2024•8 min•Season 2Ep. 67
Let us know how we're doing - text us feedback or thoughts on episode content When Walmart launched their Project Gigaton program in 2017, the idea that the retailer could get their suppliers to cumulatively reduce 1 BILLION tons for carbon emissions by 2030 was hailed as incredibly ambitious. Last week, the company reported in their fourth quarter earnings call that they had not only surpassed that billion ton goal, but had done so 6 full years earlier than their target. In today's episode, Pau...
Feb 26, 2024•8 min•Season 2Ep. 66
Let us know how we're doing - text us feedback or thoughts on episode content While EV global sales continue to surge, the uptick in the US lags significantly behind that of our European counterparts. And while obstacles such as a lack of charging infrastructure, high up-front costs, and battery range are affecting market share - those same issues are also at play in Europe. So what are they doing right that is helping that continent achieve over 20% market share of EVs? In this episode, Paul di...
Feb 19, 2024•9 min•Season 2Ep. 65
Let us know how we're doing - text us feedback or thoughts on episode content Getting discouraged by all of the negativity in climate news recently? In this week's episode, Paul takes a different tack - focusing on the good news that came out of 2023 and all of the positive results that we've *already* achieved in climate action. Take a bit of hope from this episode as to the trajectory of change that is occurring! For further research: "World’s renewable energy capacity grew at record pace in 2...
Feb 12, 2024•8 min•Season 2Ep. 64
Let us know how we're doing - text us feedback or thoughts on episode content In this episode, Paul is joined by DR Richardson and Jan Keleher of Elephant Energy to discuss the challenges of the residential heat pump market. With an array of federal, state and local incentives, a myriad of technology options, sizing requirements, electrical upgrade decisions and other factors that play into installing these units, Elephant Energy has found a niche as a "one-stop shop" in helping homeowners. We e...
Feb 05, 2024•8 min•Season 2Ep. 63
Let us know how we're doing - text us feedback or thoughts on episode content The intensity and impact of wildfires has dramatically increased over the past few decades due to climate change. And as those acres burn, those fires are releasing trapped carbon back into the atmosphere and only exasperating global warming. Utilities have been at the center of the controversy around wildfires - taking the blame for devastating events in California and Maui, but also leading in developing solutions to...
Jan 29, 2024•8 min•Season 2Ep. 62
Let us know how we're doing - text us feedback or thoughts on episode content Is renewable natural gas the silver bullet for a greener future or a complex puzzle yet to be solved? While many industrial and natural gas companies have looked to RNG as a potential solution to decarbonize their operations, the fuel source is not without some issues. Paul examines how RNG is made, used and contributes to decarbonization goals. But he also looks at how and why some of those claims may not fully stand ...
Jan 22, 2024•8 min•Season 2Ep. 61
Let us know how we're doing - text us feedback or thoughts on episode content CO2 may be the main culprit of climate warming activities - but there are other greenhouse gases out there even more potent. Twenty thousand times more potent, in fact. And controlling these gases is just as important to meeting our climate ambitions as reducing carbon emissions is. Paul unpacks the Kyoto protocol and the seven gases identified to have significant global warming implications on our planet. And Paul dis...
Jan 15, 2024•9 min•Season 2Ep. 60
Let us know how we're doing - text us feedback or thoughts on episode content Just before Christmas, the US Treasury and IRS issued rules on how certain tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act should be considered. These 45V tax credits are critical to the growth and evolution of the hydrogen industry, but not everyone agrees on how these credits should be managed. Should they prioritize growth of a needed carbon-free fuel industry? Or should they ensure that dirty, fossil fired power station...
Jan 08, 2024•9 min•Season 2Ep. 59
Let us know how we're doing - text us feedback or thoughts on episode content Back in October, California passed a remarkable law called Senate Bill 253, The Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act. Usually shortened to just SB 253, the new law is the first to require large companies to publicly report on their greenhouse gas emissions. Paul sits down with one of the key architects of the legislation, Catherine Atkin of Carbon Accountable . They discuss the implications and opportunities of th...
Jan 01, 2024•8 min•Season 2Ep. 58
Let us know how we're doing - text us feedback or thoughts on episode content COP28, the world's largest climate event, wrapped in Dubai last week. On the one hand, the COP is an event for politicians and dignitaries as they wrestle with the language around how forcefully the world will commit to the climate transition. But, the COP has another side to it as well, a public side where corporations, NGOs and other organizations gathered to share the very best of what global collaboration can mean ...
Dec 18, 2023•7 min•Season 2Ep. 57
