What does it take to scale the clean energy transition—both at the bleeding edge of new technology and in the nuts-and-bolts of infrastructure?
Today’s episode dives into the nuanced world of climate finance and infrastructure with Brendan Bell, Chief Operating Officer and Partner at Aligned Climate Capital. Unlike most investors who play in either venture or infrastructure, Align straddles both worlds, backing early-stage companies while also owning and operating clean energy assets.
Brendan shares his unusual path from the Sierra Club to the U.S. Senate, the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office, and now into the private sector. Along the way, he offers candid insights into what makes a strong infrastructure investment, how venture-backed technologies eventually scale into bankable assets, and why understanding both sides of the capital stack is critical to accelerating the clean energy transition.
This is a masterclass on the interplay between policy, venture innovation, and hard infrastructure. If you’ve ever wondered how moonshot technologies meet the realities of capital markets and project finance, this conversation will give you the inside view.
📝 Show Notes:
Topics
- 02:43 – Dual Strategy: Venture vs Infrastructure
- 04:05 – Evaluating Infrastructure Projects
- 06:06 – Career Journey to Aligned Climate Capital
- 07:55 – Inside the Loan Programs Office
- 10:10 – Impact of Early Loans and Technology Bets
- 12:25 – Evolution of the LPO
- 15:42 – Lessons from Oil and Gas
- 22:48 – Current State of Infrastructure Investment
- 24:40 – Community Solar and Storage
- 27:55 – Global Trends and Race for Electrons
- 32:45 – Successful Investment Example
- 34:32 – Team Structure and Investment Philosophy
- 39:48 – Policy and International Markets
- 44:59 – Global Impact on Costs and Adoption
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