In this week’s podcast, we have a conversation with leading solar executives on whether solar has reached the point of no return. We’ll talk about vertical integration, evolving business models, international markets and the economics of projects. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Media Editor Stephen Lacey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy...
Apr 23, 2014•52 min
Could solar paired with battery storage make utilities obsolete? That's the question analysts are asking as the economics of the technologies improve. The short answer is "no." Utilities operate an extremely valuable set of infrastructure and still benefit from legacy customer relationships. And the economics of grid defection are usually not favorable. But it's an important question to ask, says Jon Creyts, managing director of the Rocky Mountain Institute, because it can guide how utilities ma...
Apr 11, 2014•47 min
This week, the Gang is live from the Building Energy Summit in Washington, DC. In this episode, we talk with some of the leading thinkers and practitioners in sustainable design and get their thoughts on how our built environment is evolving. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Media Editor Stephen Lacey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and ...
Apr 02, 2014•46 min
A new study from PJM, America's largest wholesale competitive energy market, once again shows that high amounts of renewables can be integrated without harming the grid or raising energy prices. In this week's show, we'll look at the real-world challenges of renewable energy integration, and ask why so many myths persist about their role on the grid. Then we'll take a look at what Minnesota's new "value of solar" tariff means for the solar industry, and ask if a proposal from environmentalists t...
Mar 18, 2014•37 min
U.S. Natural Gas is being touted as a tool to weaken Russian President Vladimir Putin's influence in Europe. But how effective would an export strategy really be? In this week's show, we'll look at the reality of using American natural gas as a geopolitical tool. We'll also discuss the push among Democrats to talk about climate change in the lead up to the 2016 elections, and we'll look at the significance of recent venture activity in off-grid solar for developing countries. The Energy Gang is ...
Mar 12, 2014•36 min
As expected, 2013 was yet another record year for solar in the U.S. With 5.1 gigawatts of PV and CSP coming online, the solar industry was the second largest provider of electricity capacity behind natural gas. But how long will it continue? With a tax credit expiration looming, conflicts over net metering and a brewing solar trade war, it is far from assured that this boom will go on forever. This week, we’ll talk with Rhone Resch, president of the Solar Energy Industries Association, about how...
Mar 06, 2014•43 min
This month, the U.S. government agreed to take up another case against China for its solar trade practices. The complaint was filed by German solar producer SolarWorld, but most of the solar industry agrees that the case could be terrible for the U.S. solar market. So will we reach a settlement? In this week's show, the Energy Gang will debate the consequences of the U.S.-China solar trade war. We're joined by solar expert Shayle Kann, who's been watching the case closely. Also in the show, we'l...
Feb 28, 2014•45 min
ARPA-E was modeled after a successful defense research agency called DARPA, which helped create the foundation of the internet. So can the government's energy innovation agency do something equally groundbreaking for clean energy? This week, we'll talk with ARPA-E's director, Dr. Cheryl Martin, who describes how she thinks about developing groundbreaking energy technologies. We'll also debate the solar industry's aggressive tactics used to hit back against utilities that are attempting to limit ...
Feb 13, 2014•38 min
The electricity sector in the U.S. is nearing a tipping point for clean energy. But transportation isn't seeing the same level of change. In this week's podcast -- recorded live at the Department of Transportation -- we'll look at where the tipping points may occur in electric vehicles, car sharing, public transport and freight. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Gr...
Feb 07, 2014•38 min
In his latest State of the Union address, President Obama once again called natural gas a "bridge" to the clean energy future. But is the resource really all the industry claims? We'll take a nuanced look at dynamics in the natural gas market, and ask whether it's helpful or hurtful to renewable energy. We'll also discuss the energy and climate piece of Obama's State of the Union Speech, as well as dissect the forces behind the booming solar jobs market. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechm...
Jan 31, 2014•41 min
The clean energy industry may soon face some hard choices about tax incentives. Should it continue to push for short-term extensions of the production and investment tax credits, or does it need to lead the conversation on tax reform? It may look to do both in 2014. In this week’s podcast, the Gang will look at the prospects for tax reform in Washington, and ask what it means for the future competitiveness of clean energy. We'll also dig into the President's latest strategy to develop manufactur...
Jan 23, 2014•35 min
Google has invested billions of dollars in clean energy projects and startups. Is the internet giant positioning itself to be the next energy giant? In this week's show, we'll look at Google's cleantech investment strategy and ask what the end game may be. Then, we'll examine the recent rise U.S. CO2 emissions, and ask if the global coal industry has reached its peak. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy...
Jan 20, 2014•36 min
In 2006, the small wind industry was poised to take off in the U.S. But then solar surged ahead, leaving small wind in the dust. What happened? In this week's show, we'll look at how the small wind industry can regain its footing and live up to its potential. Small wind pioneer Andy Kruse joins us to chat about the ups and downs in the market, and draw some parallels to distributed solar. We'll also talk about the latest developments in the SolarWorld trade complaint against Chinese solar manufa...
Jan 11, 2014•46 min
On Sunday, the popular CBS news magazine "60 Minutes" aired a story on a supposed "cleantech crash." Reporter Lesley Stahl looked at the troubles in venture capital, and used them to declare government cleantech investments a virtual failure. In this podcast, we’ll look at the quality of the "60 Minutes" reporting, parse the reactions within the cleantech sector, and fill in some crucial gaps left by the story. Then, we'll ask why Energy Information Administration projections are so far from rea...
Jan 06, 2014•36 min
We may not have been able to predict Time Magazine's person of the year, or Google's most searched term of 2013. But the Energy Gang was on top of the big happenings in cleantech this year. In our year-end podcast, we'll outline our favorite stories of 2013 and make predictions for the coming year. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey. S...
Dec 20, 2013•42 min
There convergence of solar and distributed batteries is underway. Although the use of storage is still very limited in the solar sector, more companies are looking to bring new value to customers by pairing the two technologies. In this week's podcast, the Gang will look at some new business models for customer-sited storage, which include targeting buyers of solar PV. We'll also look at the progress of California's cap and trade market one year after implementation, and speculate about whether ...
Dec 16, 2013•43 min
Everyone agrees Germany is a renewable energy powerhouse. But not everyone agrees on how that’s benefitted the country. The web is littered with conflicting opinion pieces on the German experience – some claiming the country’s aggressive promotion of renewables is an oncoming economic disaster, and some saying those concerns are far overblown, if not totally false. So what are we to believe? In this week's show, we'll look at Germany's evolving relationship with renewables, the impact on electri...
Dec 06, 2013•51 min
State electricity regulators are as diverse as the regions they come from. So their thinking on the future of energy varies wildly. With worries about the disruptive threat of efficiency and distributed generation growing, how are these regulators thinking about looming changes? In this podcast, we'll talk with energy consultant Cameron Brooks, who reports on the themes coming out of a major national regulatory meeting. We'll also talk about the net metering compromise in Arizona, as well as the...
Nov 21, 2013•47 min
What does the nation's top energy regulator, FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff, think about the future of solar? "I think we're seeing the Moore's Law cost curve together with the entrepreneurial spirit coming into an industry in a way that is going to overtake a monopolistic, non-innovative structure." This week, we feature a live podcast from the MDV-SEIA Solar Focus 2013 conference in Washington, DC. The Gang took the stage and discussed the merits of East Coast solar policy, innovative business ...
Nov 13, 2013•45 min
The wind industry is facing another expiration of the production tax credit at the end of the year, and this time it likely won't get extended quickly. So is the wind industry prepared for a post-PTC future? This week, the Energy Gang will debate the merits of the PTC, whether the industry can thrive without it, and question whether the wind lobby has screwed up the opportunity to develop policy beyond the tax credit. We'll also look at the significance of SolarCity's recent effort to securitize...
Nov 07, 2013•47 min
The largest international development banks have made it a priority to deliver energy to the 1.3 billion people without access to the modern grid. But are they approaching a 21st-century market with 20th-century solutions? In this week's show, the gang will discuss whether organizations like the World Bank are botching investment in energy access by ignoring the full potential of distributed energy and mobile infrastructure. The Sierra Club's Justin Guay will join the gang to chat about how to b...
Oct 31, 2013•44 min
It's been four decades since Arab oil producers shut off the oil spigot to America, creating price shocks, gas lines and economic hardship. It also spawned the modern political definitions for "energy security" and "energy independence." So 40 years later, are we really better off? The Gang will look at what's changed, and talk with an energy economist from the EIA about how the availability of information on energy has improved. We'll also take a look at the implications of California's new ene...
Oct 24, 2013•40 min
The clean energy industry is headed for yet another dip in global investment. Meanwhile, venture investors are shifting their money toward more "capital-lite" businesses. Should we be worried? The Energy Gang looks at the complex picture behind the numbers. We'll also ask what SolarCity's recent acquisitions mean for M&A activity in downstream solar, and we'll look at how effectively the push toward municipalizing the grid will leverage microgrids and distributed energy. The Energy Gang is p...
Oct 18, 2013•41 min
No one denies the immense potential of geothermal. Despite that potential, the industry has grown incrementally over the years and failed to attract strong investment flow, particularly in the U.S. So what's keeping growth so low? In this week's podcast, the Energy Gang will look at the industry's two main problems: drilling risk and messaging. Both are holding back growth. We'll also look at the challenges for another "forgotten renewable" -- solar thermal. And finally, we'll ask how ESCOs can ...
Oct 11, 2013•42 min
This week, we'll forget the political train wreck in Washington (for a little while) and instead turn our attention to the business leaders helping build new wealth opportunities in clean energy. Energy Gang co-host and SunEdison Founder Jigar Shah is out with his new book, Creating Climate Wealth. We'll discuss his philosophy on what it takes for entrepreneurs to succeed in the market. But we can't help ourselves. We'll also turn back to Washington and examine how the political shutdown will im...
Oct 03, 2013•34 min
Almost everyone admits it: utilities are going to be in for some serious trouble if they don't start thinking about how to properly manage the coming surge in distributed energy. But we can't entirely blame the utilities for moving slowly; regulators play a key role in setting the rules for how power companies operate. In this week's show, we'll look at a comprehensive new report aimed at these decision makers, called America's Power Plan, which lays the foundation for the future of electricity....
Sep 21, 2013•35 min
After failing to pass a climate bill in 2010, the environmental movement has seen a new surge of activism mobilized by the fight against Keystone XL. So what are the implications for the clean energy sector? And are advocates and business leaders learning anything from this new movement? This week, the Energy Gang will debate the effectiveness of the environmental movement, and look at its relationship with the clean energy business community. Then, we'll look at the political fight around Ron B...
Sep 13, 2013•44 min
California is a bellwether for the solar industry, which is why a new bill being considered in the state could have wide-ranging impacts around the country. The state is currently considering a bill that would make significant changes to electricity pricing structures that could eat into the value of solar. But the industry is cautiously backing the bill because it also extends net metering policies. The end result could have equally positive and negative consequences. We'll look at the entire p...
Sep 06, 2013•47 min
Venture investments in cleantech have taken a nosedive after bringing in poor returns. But the problem isn't in cleantech -- it's in the investment strategy. On this week's podcast, The Gang will talk with Rob Day of Black Coral Capital about how the "next wave" of investment is bringing innovative and realistic opportunities for the industry. Then we'll talk about what the coming closure of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant says about the state of nuclear power in the U.S., as well as disc...
Aug 30, 2013•34 min
Utilities are on the verge of a "death spiral" as more customers leave the grid and implement distributed energy technologies like solar. The same thing happened in Telecom as the rise of mobile phones made copper lines nearly obsolete. We'll ask what lessons the utility sector can learn from telecom companies that have already navigated the shift to distributed technologies. We'll also discuss why the Tea Party and other unlikely groups are supporting renewables, as well as ask what we've learn...
Aug 15, 2013•42 min
