In this episode of Flanigan’s Eco-Logic, Ted speaks with Jigar Shah, Director of the Loan Programs Office at the U.S. Department of Energy. Jigar discusses how the Loan Programs Office operates in terms of lending and taking risks to achieve its goals. He gives the example of how it helped Tesla scale up, and how they are now working to support the conversion of the Intermountain Power Plant from coal to hydrogen. Jigar demonstrates the incredibly broad reach of the Loan Programs Office, especia...
Oct 03, 2022•34 min•Ep. 83
In this issue of Flanigan's Eco-Logic Podcast, Ted features Yvon Chouinard and his family’s gift of Patagonia to fight climate change. He also salutes Californians all who defeated proclamations of rolling black-outs and effectively kept the power grid on. Ted goes on to dig into the Inflation Reduction Act and its climate and energy funding and implications. Other stories feature Green Hydrogen Electrolyzers, the Little Free Library movement, and Air Canada’s purchase of electric planes....
Sep 30, 2022•19 min•Ep. 82
Ted and David have a substantive discussion ranging from the roots of his environmental passion in Tehran, Iran as a child, to his long standing and official role as a Member of the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board. He's been appointed by four governors to this position. A division of Cal EPA, the Board is responsible for potable water, non-drinking water, stormwater, ocean waters and more throughout the region made up of 99 cities. The current three-year drought is a big part of...
Sep 22, 2022•33 min•Ep. 81
In this episode of Flanigan’s Eco-Logic, Ted speaks with Lauren Faber O'Connor, Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of Los Angeles. Ted and Lauren discuss her early career at the British Embassy promoting sustainability solutions, as well as the relationship between British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, which led to her moving home to California to serve as Assistant Secretary of the California EPA for Climate. She goes to share how she landed ...
Sep 19, 2022•38 min•Ep. 80
In this episode of Flanigan’s Eco-Logic, Ted speaks with Mona Newton, former Executive Director of CORE (Community Office of Resource Efficiency), serving Aspen and Pitkin County, Colorado. Ted and Mona discuss her background and early career working in Colorado’s Governor’s Energy Office, segueing into her role at CORE. CORE is an interesting community energy model made up of elected officials, utility representatives, and committed citizens to help people, businesses, municipalities, facilitie...
Sep 09, 2022•36 min•Ep. 79
In this episode of Flanigan's Eco-Logic, Ted speaks with Walter "Wally" McGuire, Retired CEO of the Flex Your Power Campaign. Ted and Wally discuss his background and early career in campaign organizing, White House trip planning for President Jimmy Carter, his involvement in two Olympics, and managing the Pope's visit to Los Angeles. He also highlights his role in developing and managing the enormously successful Flex Your Power Campaign for 15 years, demonstrating the importance of thanking th...
Sep 06, 2022•33 min•Ep. 78
In this episode, Father - Daughter Duo, Ted and Sierra Flanigan, hold a Crash Course on offshore wind. They have a lively discussion on its fantastic potential, and unpack its challenges and its benefits. Listen to gain insight and learn more on the topic!
Sep 06, 2022•33 min•Ep. 77
In this issue of Flanigan's Eco-Logic, Ted takes listeners along on a journey aboard Zephyr, sailing the Coast of Maine. He starts by introducing the State of Maine, then highlights each day of the sailing trip, starting at Falmouth and ending in Rockland. Along the way, Ted highlights Maine's lobster industry, renewable energy, and light houses. He also announces EcoMotion's B Corp certification and the company's long-standing tradition of eco-conscious work.
Aug 19, 2022•27 min•Ep. 76
In this episode of Flanigan's Eco-Logic, Ted speaks with Paul Schwer, President at PAE Consulting Engineers, Inc. As the president of PAE, Paul leads a talented group of over 380 engineering, design, and business professionals creating the most energy and water efficient buildings in the world. Ted and Paul discuss the Living Building Challenge, and how it is the next step past LEED. Paul goes on to highlight the potential for timber framing, the PAE office building using waste as a product, and...
Aug 18, 2022•31 min•Ep. 75
In this issue of Flanigan's Eco-Logic, Ted digs into all things elevators: cable-less, mag-levs, and high-rise gravity storage. He goes on to highlight The U.K.’s low-cost renewable tender, agrihoods and farm-centered communities, batteries addressing California's heat waves, swiss pumped-hydro storage, sand batteries, and shared mobility and active transportation.
Jul 26, 2022•23 min•Ep. 74
In this episode of Flanigan's Eco-Logic, Ted speaks with Christopher Klinga, Owner / Principal Engineer at Solmotiv, a Boulder, Colorado-based firm focused on applications of architectural glass. Ted and Chris discuss the definitions of BIPV-- building integrated photovoltaics - and architectural solar, the latter being fully baked into a building's design process. Chris notes that in many cases, architectural solar can replace building construction components, like window walls of PV IGU -- the...
Jul 22, 2022•28 min•Ep. 73
In this episode of Flanigan's Eco-Logic, Ted speaks with Dr. Susan B. Eirich, Founder and Executive Director of the Earthfire Institute, a wildlife sanctuary and rehabilitation center in Driggs, Idaho. She discusses her deep sentiments on the value of Reconnection Ecology, a framework created to reawaken our relationship with wildlife and nature, expanding our sense of community to include all living beings and moving us to protect thriving habitats for all life. She talks about her love for the...
Jul 13, 2022•26 min•Ep. 72
In this issue of Flanigan's Eco-Logic, Ted reflects on his trip visiting Esalen at Big Sur. He described the beauty, origins, and sustainability features. He goes on to highlight two major stories out of Hawaii: the state's last coal-fired power station - the Kapolei station on Oahu – is slated for closure, and they are rewarding households for sharing clean energy with the grid at useful times. Ted also shares stories on EV equity, peecycling, Germany slashing train fares, European solar roofto...
Jul 01, 2022•22 min•Ep. 71
In this issue of Flanigan's Eco-Logic, Ted speaks with Rob Pratt, an extremely accomplished national and international leader in clean energy, on his career in Washington, DC and Central America developing renewable energy projects, founding the International Institute for Energy Conservation (IIEC) originally in China, founding GreenerU which focuses on American campus efficiency, and his current works in the South Pacific. Rob is a for-profit and non-profit entrepreneur, a clean energy funder,...
Jun 28, 2022•34 min•Ep. 70
In this issue of Flanigan's Eco-Logic, Ted speaks with Salem Afeworki, sustainability professional, on her resilient past and upbringing, which has led to her discovering her passion and career in sustainability. Salem discusses her youth in Ethiopia and Eritrea, and how her parents pushed education as a pathway out of the turbulent region. She shares that her early job in the UN Peacekeeping Mission shaped her view of local conflicts, and exposed her to her world view. She later moved to Chile,...
Jun 27, 2022•27 min•Ep. 69
In this issue of Flanigan's Eco-Logic, Ted speaks with Dave Munk, Board Chair at Holy Cross Energy, on his vision for a customer centric utility industry transition for rural electric cooperatives to increase their business resilience and strengthen the communities they serve. Dave notes that Holy Cross Energy has made great strides toward advancing his vision and has been recognized for its "aggressive pursuit of economical clean energy." Ted and Dave discuss his earlier career works, promoting...
Jun 17, 2022•31 min•Ep. 68
In this issue of Flanigan's Eco-Logic, Ted speaks with Matt Harper, a clean-tech entrepreneur and product developer, on commercializing battery technology and bringing it to scale. Matt is an MIT educated engineer with a lifelong passion for innovation, and Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer at Invinity Energy Systems. Ted and Matt discuss various battery chemistries and how they each have roles in energy storage: lithium for the short term, vanadium flow 8 - 12 hours, iron air for 100 - 15...
Jun 08, 2022•33 min•Ep. 67
In this episode, Father - Daughter Duo, Ted and Sierra Flanigan, hold a Crash Course on their experimental solar home. They discuss the experience of taking an existing experimental home with perfect orientation and changing it from active solar heating to a passive house opening up great views and streams of sunshine. They delve into the history of the land and home, the design and goals of the home, and lessons along the way. Listen to learn about what you can do to integrate some of these pra...
Jun 03, 2022•29 min•Ep. 66
In this issue of Flanigan's Eco-Logic, Ted reflects on the memorial of his late stepbrother, Chris Avery. He attended the dedication ceremony of Restoration Ranch, and shares the vision of Kathryn Avery, Chris' wife, to create a haven for first responders to relax, reflect, recreate, and focus on wellness. He goes on to highlight electric Class 8 trucks with 200 hundred miles of range, a Texas-based builders plan to focus on sustainability and build 200,000 homes that are each an energy-resilien...
May 20, 2022•22 min•Ep. 65
In this issue of Flanigan's Eco-Logic, Ted speaks with Rob Watson, known as the "Founding Father of LEED," on the current state of productivity in the building sector. Under Rob’s direction, LEED became the largest and fastest-growing international green building standard, though he notes with concern the structural capabilities of delivering sustainability at scale, scope, and speed. Ted and Rob also discuss the SWEEP Standard (Solid Waste Environmental Excellence Performance), launched in 2016...
May 19, 2022•40 min•Ep. 64
In this issue of Flanigan's Eco-Logic, Ted speaks with Laurel Rothschild, Vice President of Programs at The Energy Coalition, on overseeing one of California's most important and impactful energy-based nonprofit's diverse portfolio of programs. She collaborates with stakeholders across the state to advance the organization’s mission of empowering and educating communities to leap into the clean energy future. Laurel has over 13 years of experience working with local governments, students, and un...
May 12, 2022•27 min•Ep. 63
In this issue of Flanigan's Eco-Logic, Ted reflects on the 52nd anniversary of Earth Day and encourages listeners to to take action and invest in our planet. He goes on to highlight CAISO (California Independent System Operator) setting a new record by delivering 97.6% renewable energy to the State’s power grid. He also shares stories on tidal power in the United Kingdom, Spain’s first wave energy power plant, carbon neutral lithium, Southern California mass transit milestones, the European Hydr...
Apr 22, 2022•19 min•Ep. 62
In this special episode, Father - Daughter Trio, Ted, Sierra, and Skye Flanigan, hold an Earth Day Special on the origins and future of the sustainability movement, and what gives them optimism about ability to tackle climate change. Ted reflects on his conversation with Denis Hayes, Founder of Earth Day, and his personal experiences on past Earth Days. Skye then brings in a fresh take on what Earth Day now means to the youth, and shifts the focus on climate justice, a call to action, and access...
Apr 22, 2022•30 min•Ep. 61
In this issue of Flanigan's Eco-Logic, Ted speaks with Craig Perkins, President and Executive Director at The Energy Coalition, on his extensive experience in designing and implementing energy programs and policies in Southern California. Prior to joining TEC in 2008, he was Director of Environmental and Public Works Management for the City of Santa Monica, where he served for over 25 years. Craig has played a key leadership role in shaping regulatory energy efficiency policies that have resulte...
Apr 07, 2022•38 min•Ep. 60
In this episode, Father - Daughter Duo, Ted and Sierra Flanigan, hold a Crash Course on Green Hydrogen. Ted educates listeners on the basics, breaking down the chemistry of the element, where it comes from, and once it is formed, the various options for its use. He delves into its many different applications as a fuel used in transport, buildings, or industry, and opportunities on the distributed, residential, and big scale, commercial level. Listen to learn about the colorful renewable resource...
Apr 01, 2022•31 min•Ep. 59
In this issue of Flanigan's Eco-Logic, Ted speaks with Dr. Allen Hershkowitz, an environmental scientist, founder of the Green Sports Alliance, and advisor to the Olympics and sports teams around the world. He shares his background, motivation for his work, and passion to alleviate human suffering, demonstrating the connection between greening and global issues. Dr. Hershkowitz was a solid waste expert in New York City, founded the Green Sports Alliance, and is the Environmental Science Advisor ...
Mar 29, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 58
In this issue of Flanigan's Eco-Logic, Ted shares his experience serving as a Commissioner for Glendale Water and Power, and the controversy that comes along with civic duty. He also digs into hydrogen, highlighting stories on hydrogen mega projects, hydrogen and thermal nitrogen oxides, and pumped hydro storage. Ted goes on to share big stories coming from down under, like Australian billionaires plans to bring solar power from Australia to Singapore via an undersea cable link known as the Aust...
Mar 29, 2022•26 min•Ep. 57
In this issue of Flanigan's Eco-Logic, Ted speaks with Aura Vasquez, a leader, advocate, and activist for environmental and social justice issues with extensive experience in policies that improve the lives of the frontline communities. She shares her origin story, inspiration, and career in advocacy, policy, and community organizing for social change. Aura was a former candidate for Los Angeles City Council in 2020, organized with the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign, and served as Commission...
Mar 15, 2022•30 min•Ep. 56
In this issue of Flanigan's Eco-Logic, Ted speaks with Joel Levin, Executive Director at Plug In America, a leading advocate for EVs, clean energy, and effective climate policies. He is chair of the Global EV Drivers’ Alliance, which links together EV driver associations around the world. He is also a member of the Los Angeles Metro Sustainability Council. Ted and Joel discuss the history of EVs in California, their benefits, and the growing variety of EVs while their costs are coming down and r...
Mar 03, 2022•36 min•Ep. 55
In this issue of Flanigan's Eco-Logic, Ted shares several stories on green hydrogen, including the Hydrogen Shot initiative to drive down the cost of clean hydrogen, a brand-new initiative to pipe green hydrogen into the Los Angeles Basin, plus green hydrogen projects in Spain and New Zealand. He also highlights federal funding for Amtrak, EV charging, and hydrogen through the the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, iron-air batteries, the U.S. Army's announcement to install a microgrid at e...
Feb 24, 2022•21 min•Ep. 54
