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With millions of miles of gas distribution pipelines under our feet, the transition away from gas and toward electrification needs to account for that existing infrastructure somehow. And that comes with risks, not only to gas distribution companies but to their customers as well.

Understanding, anticipating and managing these risks is a vital part of a safe, equitable transition. To discuss this topic, Paul is joined by Jan Rosenow of Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP). They really dig into what is needed to decommission an entire industry.

For the full interview with Jan, visit our sister podcast, More Than Eight Minutes.

For further research:

Jan Rosenow

Regulatory Assistance Project

"The elephant in the room: How do we regulate gas transportation infrastructure as gas demand declines?" - Rosenow, Lowes & Kemfert

"Planning and regulating Europe’s gas networks: breaking up with fossil gas" - Regulatory Assistance Project

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In this episode, Paul steps back from the individual technologies and business processes that are driving the energy transition, and looks at the interconnected systems that need to be reimagined as well. For some systems, this may be intuitive, such as in the need to develop the ecosystem of supporting infrastructure for EVs. But other interconnected, dependent systems are more nuanced and reflect the challenges policy makers, utilities, and regulators have to manage a transition that is occurring at a different pace and scale across industries and across the globe.

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In this first of two parts, Paul takes a deeper dive into the climate implications of the conservative policy playbook, Project 2025. Paul unpacks how the document lays out a vision for a smaller federal government, and how doing so may impact not only climate action but America's leadership across emerging economic industries.

For further reference:

"Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise" - Project 2025

"What Project 2025 would do to climate policy in the US" - Yale Climate Connections

"The Endangerment Finding: What Does It Actually Do?" - Resources.org

"2024 Poll: Americans’ Views on Climate Change and Policy in 12 Charts" - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago

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In this episode, Paul dives into tax credits and the byzantine structures used by the federal government to incentivize renewable energy projects. He also lays out how the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) revises the tax equity market for the better, setting the stage for real growth over the next decade.

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In this episode, Paul explains how some large corporations are tackling the thorny issue of emissions in their supply chains. While many are still trying to grasp how to account for and report on these Scope 3 emissions, others are leading the way with innovative solutions to help suppliers reduce their greenhouse gases.

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In this podcast, our host, Paul Schuster, explores the challenges in decarbonizing commercial buildings, especially those that need to be retrofitted. He discusses how governments are using building performance standards to incentivize landlords toward net zero emissions and what some of the issues are in implementing.

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In this new podcast, Paul Schuster breaks down the complexities of the clean energy transition in brief eight minute segments. The debut episode tackles the existing solar industry, the different ways customers are currently contracting for solar power, the impact of new federal incentives, and the challenges awaiting the industry in the near future. 

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The demand for electricity continues to go up. But instead of relying upon utilities to build more dirtier gas and oil fired power plants, a more novel approach is emerging. These Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) aggregate together a number of residential or commercial buildings and adjust demand in order to keep the grid operating optimally.

Paul talks with Courtney Blodgett, Co-Founder and Director of Strategy at Edo on how VPPs work and how Edo is helping commercial buildings become powerful grid assets.

For further reference:

Courtney Blodgett

"Sector Spotlight: Virtual Power Plants" - Department of Energy

Edo

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In order for the IRA to realize all of the benefits from the subsidies it allocated to renewable energy and advanced manufacturing, the legislation needed to revise how tax credits were going to work. The traditional form of tax equity financing wasn't going to be enough, so the IRA introduced something called tax credit transferability. This new process has opened up the tax credit market to a whole new batch of investors, able to invest in even smaller projects, and at rates that are encouragingly beneficial to the clean energy economy.

Paul outlines how this new structure works and the impact that it is already having on clean energy projects.

For more research:

"Monetizing Energy Tax Credits: A Guide to Transferability and Tax Equity Transactions" - Cherry Bekaert

"Understanding Direct Pay and Transferability for Tax Credits in the Inflation Reduction Act" - Cap 20

"Transferable Tax Credit Market Intelligence Report, 2023" - Crux

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The ocean is already a huge carbon sink - and it could do even more. A burgeoning industry of carbon removal solutions, looking to leverage the enormous potential of our marine system, is starting to emerge.

Paul looks at how our oceans currently help us combat carbon emissions, while also dissecting some of the innovative solutions that are emerging within this space.

For more research:

"CO2 and Ocean Acidification: Causes, Impacts, Solutions" - Union of Concerned Scientists

"Ocean Carbon Dioxide Removal: Integrity at a Cheaper Price?" - Cleantech Group

"Leveraging the Ocean's Carbon Removal Potential" - World Resources Institute

"The oceans are absorbing more carbon than previously thought" - World Economic Forum

"The Ocean is the Next Frontier for the Carbon Removal Industry" - Time Magazine

NOTE: Paul references the company Running Tide during this episode as experimenting with ocean based carbon removal. Just prior to this episode being published, Running Tide announced that they would be shutting down.

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The nuclear industry achieved something remarkable in July - full bipartisan support of new legislation aimed at supercharging growth of this clean energy technology.

Paul digs into the specifics of the ADVANCE act, why it makes sense for helping to license new reactors faster (and cheaper), and why it garnered rare bipartisan support.

For further reference:

"Congress votes to advance nuclear energy development in the US" - Verge

"The Senate just passed a critical clean energy bill to pave the way for more nuclear" - CNN

"Nuclear Power" - Our World in Data

"ADVANCE Act Strikes Right Balance for Nuclear Energy Regulation" - Harvard Law Review

"Newly Signed Bill Will Boost Nuclear Reactor Deployment in the United States" - DOE

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Let's get into the wonky world of emissions accounting, where the corporate standard for reporting is in the process of being refined. The GHG Protocol Corporate Standard has solicited input into whether a market-based or location-based approach to accounting is appropriate. And the final determination could significantly impact not only tomorrow's decarbonization activities, but possibly how today's approaches are handled as well.

Paul digs into this topic in order to better understand the implications for companies of any size.

For further reference:

"Detailed Summary of Responses from Scope 2 Guidance Stakeholder Survey" - GHG Protocol, July 2023

"Detailed Summary of Responses from Market-based Accounting Approaches Stakeholder Survey" - GHG Protocol, April 2024

"Location-based and market-based: Understanding Scope 2" - Carbonary

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While we talk a lot about the energy "transition", some countries have already fully pivoted to renewable power. In this episode, Paul takes a look at how these countries were able to successfully make the change, while outlining a few common lessons that the rest of the world can learn as we try to catch up.

For further research:

"California achieves 100 days of 100% electricity demand met by renewables" - Electrek

"Fostering Effective Energy Transition 2023" - World Economic Forum

"Renewable energy statistics 2024" - IRENA

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The US has enough renewable energy stuck in the permitting process to fully replace every single gas and coal facility on the current power grid. But the interconnection process, a convoluted analysis of impact, costs, siting and permitting requirements, has become a chokepoint for getting new renewable projects built. Only a percentage of those projects being developed are likely to ever come to completion.

In this episode, Paul discusses some of the reasons as to why the interconnection queue has swelled to more than 2 Terrawatts of proposed capacity - and what we can do about that.

For further research:

"FERC approves PJM’s ‘first-ready, first-served’ interconnection reform plan, steps to clear backlog" - Utility Dive

"Explainer on the Interconnection Final Rule" - FERC

"Why the energy transition broke the U.S. interconnection system" - Utility Dive

"Queued Up: 2024 Edition - Characteristics of Power Plants Seeking Transmission Interconnection As of the End of 2023" - Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

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In this episode, Paul discusses why the up-front emissions of new products and new construction can be so important in climate activity. These locked-in, embedded emissions could account for up to a quarter of the globe's total carbon - and over 50% of the carbon for construction and buildings.

For further research:

"What is Embodied Carbon?" - Carbon Cure

"What Is Embodied Carbon And Why Does It Matter? - Carbon Herald

"Reducing embodied carbon in new construction" - McKinsey

"Embodied Carbon 101" - Carbon Leadership Forum

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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 buyers worry about EVs, favor hybrids" - AAA

"EV Sales Are in a Slump — Why Aren’t More Car Buyers Going Electric?" - Money

CEBA Deal Tracker - Clean Energy Buyers Association

"Amazon Says It Reached a Climate Goal Seven Years Early" - NY Times

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As the world launches into COP29 in Azerbaijan, this week, it may be useful for us to review some of the sustainability metrics that the world has agreed to as a foundation for peace, prosperity - and a world devoid of climate change.

There are 17 Sustainable Development Goals (or SDGs) in total, though not all of them deal with climate. The ones that do, though, provide us a bit of a report card on how we're doing, as a globe, in combating climate change. In this episode, Paul explains a bit more as to what these SDGs represent - and highlights some of the findings from the UN's latest report card.

For further research:

"The 17 Goals" - United Nations

"2024 Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals" - United Nations

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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 excess power while incentivizing investment into battery storage and into disadvantaged communities. One year on from the launch of NEM 3.0 and we have a bit of perspective on how the new tariff is working. Paul and Stephanie dig into what NEM 3.0 is all about and the impact it's having on California's solar market.

For further reference:

Stephanie Doyle

"NEM 3.0 in California: What you need to know" - Energy Sage

"One Year In: Tracking the Impacts of NEM 3.0 on California’s Residential Solar Market" - Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

"The fight over the future of rooftop solar in California" - Canary Media

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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 the mechanics of battery recycling and how the market is maturing in these early times.

For further reference:

"5 innovators making the electric vehicle battery more sustainable" - World Economic Forum

"Everything You Need to Know about EV Battery Disposal" - Car & Driver

"Electric cars: What will happen to all the dead batteries?" - BBC

"Battery recycling takes the driver’s seat" - McKinsey

"Trends in electric cars - Global EV Outlook 2024" - IEA

"Recycled Battery Materials Can Work as Well as New Ones" - WIRED

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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 - while unwrapping where the investment thesis may have gone wrong in trying to tackle these challenges. And he'll end with a perspective on how and why the ESG of the future may look a bit different than what we have today.

For more research:

"ESG investing is dying on Wall Street. Here’s why" - CNN

"ESG Turns 20: A Brief History, and Why It’s Not Going Away" - Morningstar

"Here's why we must not lose sight of the importance of ESG, despite the recent backlash" - World Economic Forum

"What’s Next For ESG?" - Forbes

"The unsustainable hype around ESG" - The Financial Times

"BlackRock's Fink says he's stopped using 'weaponised' term ESG" - Reuters

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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 United States seems primed to be one of the big success stories of the IRA.

For more research:

"IRA at 1: US climate law cues $63B spending spree on battery factories" - S&P Global

"North America is now the growth leader for new battery factories" - Electrek

"Here’s where the new US EV ‘Battery Belt’ is forming – and why" - Electrek

"The South is building the most vibrant EV and battery hub in the US" - Canary Media

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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 behemoth in clean tech supply and discusses how Western policy makers are trying to build up their own domestic supply chains.

For more reference:

"How China cornered the market for clean tech" - The Financial Times

"How China Came to Dominate the World in Solar Energy" - The New York Times

"How China Became the World’s Leader on Renewable Energy" - Yale Environment 360

"China Extends Clean-Tech Dominance Over US Despite Biden’s IRA" - Bloomberg

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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 research:

"What is advanced metering infrastructure (AMI)?" - IBM

"How many smart meters are installed in the United States, and who has them?" - EIA

"Enabling the clean energy transition with next-gen advanced metering infrastructure" - Deloitte

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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 at the physical and transitional risks to their organizations.

For more research:

"12 Ways Farmers Are Adapting to Climate Change Around the World" - Global Citizen

Resilient Cities Network

"The Business Leaders Guide to Climate Adaptation & Resilience" - WBCSD

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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 energy economy.

Karsten Barde, Director of US Policy and Regulatory Strategy for National Grid, joins Paul to discuss the construct of the program, who it's likely to impact, and what to expect as it navigates its way through this preliminary structuring phase.

For further reference:

Karsten Barde

New York Cap and Invest

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

Preproposal Stakeholder Outreach - Preliminary Scenario Analyses

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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 project promised Mass. cheap power. Then came inflation" - WBUR

"Two major New York offshore wind projects are back on track" - Canary Media

"US offshore wind projects facing inflation headwinds" - Reuters

"Lawmakers pass controversial bill to give tax break to offshore wind developer" - New Jersey Monitor

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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 increasing reliance upon renewable generation for our power supply.

For further reference:

"Will climate change suck the air out of Illinois' wind power industry?" - The Chicago Sun Times

"Global ‘Stilling’: Is Climate Change Slowing Down the Wind?" - Yale Environment 360

"Hydropower: How droughts are affecting the world's biggest renewable energy source" - World Economic Forum

"Wildfire smoke slashed solar power generation" - Verge

Renewables 2023 Executive Summary - IEA

"Global Review Assesses Hydropower’s Vulnerability to Climate Change" - Columbia Climate School

"Climate change extremes and photovoltaic power output" - Nature Sustainability

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The United Nations estimates that we lose about one third of our global food supply every year to waste and loss. And that organic matter contributes about 10% of our global emissions each year.

Getting a hold on our food waste is a big issue and a huge opportunity, not only for climate action but also in economic terms. In this episode, Paul breaks down the different points in the food value chain where spoilage and waste occurs - and discusses some of the innovative solutions that are emerging to address these issues.

For more research:

"The Enormous Scale Of Global Food Waste" - Stastita

"Food loss and waste account for 8-10% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions; cost USD 1 trillion annually" - UNFCCC

"7 innovative solutions for fighting food waste" - World Economic Forum

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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 private institutions can not, and how the IRA and IIJA unlocked billions of dollars of federal funds in the first ever national green bank.

For further reference:

"Biden-Harris Administration Announces $20 Billion in Grants to Mobilize Private Capital and Deliver Clean Energy and Climate Solutions to Communities Across America"

Green Banks - NREL

"State Energy Financing Institutions: Unlocking Billions in Concessional Financing from the Loan Programs Office" - Center for Public Enterprise

Connecticut Green Bank

DC Green Bank

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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 appropriate to use offsets against these targets.

For further reference:

Science Based Targets Initiative

Why is the SBTi advocating the Carbon Offsets Market?

Science Based Targets vs. Net Zero: what’s the difference? Why do they matter?

SBTi: Yes, companies can use carbon offsets to abate certain Scope 3 emissions

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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, why foundations and donors have not contributed as much, yet, and what is needed to further catalyze this funding source.

For the extended version of the interview with Randall, please visit More Than Eight Minutes

And for further research:

Randall Kempner

The Aspen Institute's Energy & Environment Program

The Global Methane Hub

Much Alarm, Less Action: Foundations & Climate Change - The Center for Effective Philanthropy

Global Energy Alliance for People & Planet

Giving to Amplify Earth Action - World Economic Forum

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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 dig into the different use cases and opportunities that the industry has to electrify existing vehicles today.

If you want to hear the entirety of Paul's interview with Mike, visit More Than Eight Minutes.

For further reference:

Mike Roeth

North American Council for Freight Efficiency

Calstart - Medium and Heavy Duty EV Deployment: Data Collection

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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 buildings are complying with the requirements, what lies ahead, and what other municipalities can learn from NYC Accelerator's experience in getting this off the ground.

For more reference:

Luke Surowiec

New York City Accelerator

Local Law 97

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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 island.

For further reference:

Javier Rua

Puerto Rico Energy Public Policy Act - Act No. 17

Fossil-dependent Puerto Rico can fully shift to clean energy by 2050, a two-year federal study says - The Independent

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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 public companies to report upon as well as in how effective these requirements are going to be in advancing climate action.

For further reference:

"SEC Adopts Rules to Enhance and Standardize Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors"

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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 Market Transformation at the Building Decarbonization Coalition, to talk about these emerging networks, why they show so much promise, and what's holding them back, so far, from a scaled up, mass roll-out.

For further research:

Matt Rusteika

Neighborhood Scale: The Future of Building Decarbonization

Building Decarbonization Coalition Webinar

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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 potential drawbacks ... and even courts a bit of controversy by suggesting that maybe this strategy isn't the best one for all companies.

For further reference:

"System-level impacts of voluntary carbon-free electricity procurement strategies" - Princeton Study

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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, Paul discusses how Walmart got here, what other companies can learn from Walmart's leadership, and what may be next in addressing supply chain (or Scope 3) emissions.

For further reference:

"Why Walmart's Project Gigaton is Corporate America's Moonshot" - Greenbiz (2017)

"Walmart Hits Supplier Emissions Goal 6 Years Early" - Retail Dive

"Walmart Suppliers Lead the Charge, Help Deliver Project Gigaton Goal More Than Six Years Early" - Kathleen McLaughlin, CSO Walmart, Blog Report 2/21/2024

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The DOE recently released a report outlining a pathway for the US to meet recent pledges of tripling of domestic nuclear capacity by 2050. Nuclear needs to play a role in a clean energy economy, but the industry may be fooling itself in thinking that learning curve cost decreases will help to make these advanced nuclear reactors more economically viable.

In this episode, Paul discusses the challenges facing the nuclear industry in reducing costs, including the need to customize between facilities, the challenge in translating workforce experience across construction firms, and the ongoing costs associated with the high regulatory hurdles associated with this technology.

How can the US support new nuclear, but in a way that ensures affordability for the energy transition?

For more research:

"Pathways to Commercial Liftoff: Advanced Nuclear" - Department of Energy

"To meet US nuclear goals, big reactors need to get built today, DOE says" - Canary Media

"Historical construction costs of global nuclear power reactors" - Jessica Lovering, et al. (2016)

"The economics of nuclear power: Further evidence on learning, economies of scale, and regulatory effects" - Cantor, et al. (1988)

"EDF’s UK Hinkley Nuclear Costs Balloon as Plant Delayed Anew" - Bloomberg

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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 dissects four areas where Europe's approach to EVs has been a bit different than that of the US in the hope that we can learn from our friends overseas.

For further research:

"Electric Vehicles are Here and Large-Scale Adoption is ... Near?" - Mckinsey

"Electric Car Sales Have Surged in Europe - So Why is Adoption Still Slow?" - World Economic Forum

"Six Essentials for Mainstream EV Adoption" - EY

"The Great NACS Migration: Who Is Switching to Tesla's Charging Port?" - Motortrend

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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 2023" - The Guardian

"Chart: US EV sales are having a record-setting year" - Canary Media

"Which is it, already – is US EV demand slowing or growing?" - Electrek

"Have we reached peak greenhouse gas emissions?" - Brookings

Representative Concentration Pathways

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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 explore why business model innovations such as Elephant's may be necessary to ensure that this useful decarbonization technology gets deployed at scale.

For further research:

DR Richardson

Jan Keleher

Elephant Energy

Global Heat Pump Sales Continue Double Digit Growth - International Energy Agency

After Maine Surpasses 100,000 Heat Pump Goal Two Years Ahead of Schedule, Governor Mills Sets New, Ambitious Target

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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 mitigate the rise in and impact of wildfires.

For further research:

"Wildfire Risks in the US are Soaring. Here's What Utilities can do." - Utility Dive

US Drought Monitor Conditions - NDIS

"PG&E will bury 10,000 miles of power lines so they don't spark wildfires" - NPR

"Effects of Climactic Variability and Change on Forest Ecosystems" - NDA

Wildfire Climate Connection - NOAA

New York City Skyline Turns Orange Due to Wildfires - ABC News

Forest Fires are Getting Worse, 20 Years of Data Confirm - Mongabay

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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 up under scrutiny.

For futher research:

The Four Fatal Flaws of Renewable Natural Gas - Sightline Institute

Renewable natural gas: A Swiss army knife for US decarbonization? - McKinsey

An Introduction to Renewable Natural Gas - EPA

Massachusetts DPU Order 20-80 

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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 discusses where these gases are coming from and what we're doing to address and control these super gases.

For further research:

What is the Kyoto Protocol?

EPA - Importance of Methane

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Proposed Rule to Reduce Wasteful Methane Emissions ... 

Inside Climate News - What is Nitrous Oxide and Why is it a Climate Threat?

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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 stations aren't powering staying operational longer than needed?

In this episode, Paul outlines the issues at stake and the resultant ruling laid down by Treasury on these credits. As the climate industry ramps up new and important technologies such as hydrogen, carbon capture and others - these wonky debates on business models, value chains and tax implications are going to be increasingly important.

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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 the new bill and what it means for companies doing business in California.

For the full interview, check out our sister podcast, More Than Eight Minutes:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2129384/14155297

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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 when harnessed in the right direction.

In this episode, Paul unpacks the tale of these two COPs, outlining the major outcomes negotiated by the global delegations while also highlighting the announcements and actions being taken by private and public entities.

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Industrial and manufacturing processes require intense heat - something that has been relatively difficult to achieve with electricity. But converting those processes away from fossil fuel sources and to renewable energy is critical if we're going to decarbonize this sector.

But a host of emerging technologies are helping to make that transition. From heat pumps to old fashioned firebricks to more advanced technologies, a number of startups are helping to apply electricity to even our highest temperature industrial processes.

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Paul reflects a bit on having just completed the second year of hosting Eight Minutes, and takes a moment to indulge in how the process of developing climate strategy needs to change if we are to keep up with the rapid advances in climate industries. Long term strategic planning may need to be replaced by "agile" strategic processes.

For more research:

"CCUS Market Outlook 2023: Announced Capacity Soars by 50%" - Bloomberg New Energy Finance

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