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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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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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