

Factor This
Factor This
Launched in 2022, the Factor This Podcast has featured many of the most influential leaders driving the energy transition. From solar and battery storage executives to utility CEOs, the Factor This Podcast brings unique insights and answers to the energy industry’s most pressing challenges. Go beyond high-level trends and mainstream talking points with actionable takeaways. The Factor This Podcast grew in 2023 with the addition of This Week in Cleantech, a weekly roundup of the biggest stories in climate and clean energy in 15 minutes or less. With new episodes every Friday, Factor This content director Paul Gerke and Mike Casey, a cleantech commentator and president of Tigercomm, bring listeners the most important headlines of the week while featuring the leading journalists behind the stories.The all-new FactorThis.com is your best source for news, commentary, and analysis of renewable energy and the power grid.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 14, 2025 • 18min
This Week in Cleantech (03/14/2025) - Emergency powers to restart coal plants?
Tell us what you think of the show! This Week in Cleantech is a weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in cleantech and climate in 15 minutes or less.This week's "Cleantecher of the Week" is Elliot Coad, founder of 30x30 United Kingdom and Ecologi, who shared research that stated the world is losing 4-14% of its staple crops due to microplastics, since they are hindering plant photosynthesis. Researchers say this problem could increase the number of people at risk of starvation by 400M in the next two decades. Thanks to Elliot Coad for sharing this new information, and kudos to Damian Carrington at The Guardian for reporting on the research. This Week in Cleantech — March 14, 2025 The Biggest US Banks Have All Backed Out of a Commitment to Reach Net Zero — WIREDThis Startup Has A Way To Make Cheap, Clean Hydrogen–Without Federal Subsidies — ForbesSolar Energy, Criticized by Trump, Claims Big U.S. Gain in 2024 — The New York TimesKhosla Backs Startup Aiming to Pull Carbon From Air in New Mexico — BloombergUS Considers Emergency Powers to Restart Closed Coal Plants, Doug Burgum Says — BloombergNominate the stories that caught your eye each week by emailing Paul.Gerke@clarionevents.comWant to make a suggestion for This Week in Cleantech? Nominate the stories that caught your eye each week by emailing Paul.Gerke@clarionevents.com

Mar 7, 2025 • 17min
This Week in Cleantech (03/07/2025) - Trump's tariffs make things complicated
Tell us what you think of the show! This Week in Cleantech is a weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in cleantech and climate in 15 minutes or less.This week’s episode features Lisa Martine Jenkins from Latitude Media, who wrote about how Trump's tariffs will complicate the U.S. energy supply chain.This week's "Cleantecher of the Week" is Dhruv Patel, COO of Renewable Energy at McCarthy. He celebrated National Energy Efficiency Day with his team at McCarthy on Wednesday and shared his experience on LinkedIn with the quote, “But what really sticks with me isn’t just the megawatts we build—it’s the impact we leave behind.”This Week in Cleantech — March 7, 2025 Justin Peterson, The D.C. Power Broker Embroiled in a Global Hacking Scandal — The Wall Street JournalTumbling Tesla Shares Leave Investors Bracing for More Losses — BloombergColumn: Time for California to get serious about cheaper, cleaner energy — LA TimesZero: Why (Almost) Everyone Hates ESG Right Now — BloombergTariff havoc begins, complicating energy supply chains — Latitude MediaNominate the stories that caught your eye each week by emailing Paul.Gerke@clarionevents.comWant to make a suggestion for This Week in Cleantech? Nominate the stories that caught your eye each week by emailing Paul.Gerke@clarionevents.com

Feb 28, 2025 • 14min
This Week in Cleantech (02/28/2025) - How the solar power industry is rebranding to meet an ‘energy dominance’ edict
Tell us what you think of the show! This Week in Cleantech is a weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in cleantech and climate in 15 minutes or less.This week’s episode features Kate Yoder from Grist, who wrote about how the solar industry is rebranding itself as a symbol of American "energy dominance" to survive a second Trump term.This week's "Cleantecher of the Week" is Daniela V. Fernandez, Founder and CEO of Sustainable Ocean Alliance. Daniela shared a Consumer Reports study on LinkedIn about the chemicals and microplastics found in our food, and how it is impacting our health. She shares a petition for a strong global plastics treaty. Congratulations, Daniela!This Week in Cleantech — February 28, 2025 Trump Administration Moves to Fast-Track Hundreds of Fossil Fuel Projects — The New York TimesTrump Paralyzes the U.S. Wind Power Industry — The Wall Street JournalAI giants learn to share Trump’s zeal for fossil fuels — The Washington PostHow Tariffs Could Shock America’s Power System — The Wall Street JournalCan solar power avoid Trump’s culture wars? — GristNominate the stories that caught your eye each week by emailing Paul.Gerke@clarionevents.comWant to make a suggestion for This Week in Cleantech? Nominate the stories that caught your eye each week by emailing Paul.Gerke@clarionevents.com

Feb 21, 2025 • 18min
This Week in Cleantech (02/21/2025) - White House targets environmental permitting rules
Tell us what you think of the show! This Week in Cleantech is a weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in cleantech and climate in 15 minutes or less.This week’s episode features Jennifer McDermott from the Associated Press, who wrote about how enhanced geothermal company Eavor is starting up their first commercial power plant in Germany using techniques from the oil and gas industry to drill deep and extract heat from hot rock. This week's "Cleantecher of the Week" is Johanna Anderson, who shared her experience as one of the Federal employees terminated last Friday. Despite this setback, she remains deeply committed to climate action and making a difference. Her resilience is a testament to the passion and perseverance driving the clean energy transition forward. Congratulations, Johanna!This Week in Cleantech — February 21, 2025You already know Elon Musk. You need to know Harold Hamm. — HEATEDWhite House Starts Unwinding Environmental Permitting Rules — Bloomberg LawCalifornia’s Push for Electric Trucks Sputters Under Trump — The New York TimesThe False AI Energy Crisis — The AtlanticMajor test case for new geothermal technology launches in small German town — AP NewsWant to make a suggestion for This Week in Cleantech? Nominate the stories that caught your eye each week by emailing Paul.Gerke@clarionevents.com

Feb 20, 2025 • 30min
The software that could save the grid
Linda Stevens, Chief Strategy Officer at OATI and expert in smart grids and cities, dives into the world of Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS). She clarifies misconceptions and highlights how DERMS can optimize the energy grid and facilitate power market participation. Stevens discusses the need for streamlined data management and software interoperability to ensure efficient grid operations. With the energy landscape evolving, she emphasizes the importance of robust solutions tailored to meet the market's dynamic demands.

Feb 14, 2025 • 19min
This Week in Cleantech (02/14/2025) - Trump's 'unpredictability' shakes investors
Tell us what you think of the show! This Week in Cleantech is a weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in cleantech and climate in 15 minutes or less.This week’s episode features Tim McDonnell from Semmafor, who wrote about how Trump's return could freeze clean energy investments by rejecting or clawing back DOE’s $400B Loan Programs Office (LPO) funding.This week's "Cleantecher of the Week" is Peter Roy, International Consultant for Soluz Honduras. Peter recently took a trip to Honduras to witness the company’s operations in Yoro, where solar energy was brought to a remote, off-grid community that used to rely on wood sap for light. This Week in Cleantech — February 14, 2025Record-breaking growth in renewable energy in US threatened by Trump — The GuardianHow China Became The World's New Nuclear Energy Superstar — HuffPostTrump Sets 25% Steel, Aluminum Tariffs, Widening Trade War — BloombergGreen Energy Ambitions of European Companies Take a Beating — The New York TimesTrump’s unpredictability scares energy investors, Biden’s green banker says — SemaforWant to make a suggestion for This Week in Cleantech? Nominate the stories that caught your eye each week by emailing Paul.Gerke@clarionevents.com

Feb 7, 2025 • 16min
This Week in Cleantech (02/07/2025) - Renewables permitting has been 'paralyzed' by Trump
Tell us what you think of the show! This Week in Cleantech is a new, weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in cleantech and climate in 15 minutes or less.This week’s episode features Matthew Zeitlin from Heatmap News, who wrote about how how huge load growth in Georgia, partially from its green manufacturing boom, is keeping coal plants open.This week's "Cleantecher of the Week" is Liz Burdock, CEO of Oceantic Network. Liz was open about the tough road ahead for offshore wind, but reminds us that despite the obstacles, we must stay united and keep fighting for our future as a community. Congratulations, Liz!This Week in Cleantech — February 7, 2025 Trump Has Paralyzed Renewables Permitting, Leaked Memo Reveals — Heatmap NewsBoiling Point: Farewell to Ivanpah, the world's ugliest solar plant — LA Times$100 Billion Stargate AI Venture Touted by Trump to Depend Partly on Solar Power — BloombergBig Tech wants to plug data centers right into power plants. Utilities say it's not fair — AP NewsGeorgia’s Green Manufacturing Boom Is Keeping Coal Plants Open — Heatmap NewsWant to make a suggestion for This Week in Cleantech? Nominate the stories that caught your eye each week by emailing Paul.Gerke@clarionevents.com

Jan 24, 2025 • 18min
This Week in Cleantech (01/24/2025) - Trump's 'energy emergency'
Tell us what you think of the show! This Week in Cleantech is a new, weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in cleantech and climate in 15 minutes or less.This week’s episode features Alexander Kaufmann from HuffPost, who wrote about President Trump declaring an “energy emergency” in his inaugural speech to boost oil drilling, weaken environmental protections, and cut gasoline and electricity prices in half.This week's "Cleantecher of the Week," is Adrien Lelièvre, CEO of Pi POP, a French company that has designed the first e-bike that uses supercapacitors instead of heavy lithium-ion batteries. It works by storing energy while braking or coasting downhill and releases it for acceleration or climbing. Congratulations Adrien!This Week in Cleantech — January 24, 2025 Trump temporarily halts leasing and permitting for wind energy projects — AP NewsTrump plots a return to fossil fuel expansionism — SemaforTrump Orders Agencies to Halt Spending From Biden’s Climate Law — BloombergSmoke from fire at California lithium battery plant raises concerns about air quality — AP NewsEnergy Production Is At A Record, But Trump Declares An Emergency — HuffPostWant to make a suggestion for This Week in Cleantech? Nominate the stories that caught your eye each week by emailing Paul.Gerke@clarionevents.com

Jan 17, 2025 • 16min
This Week in Cleantech (01/17/2025) - Solar sales burnout
Tell us what you think of the show! This Week in Cleantech is a new, weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in cleantech and climate in 15 minutes or less.This week’s episode features Brendan Koerner from WIRED Magazine, who wrote about the lives of young men recruited by door-to-door solar sales companies.This week's "Cleantecher of the Week," is Will Heegaard, CEO of Footprint Power. Footprint Power’s South California team are bringing mobile solar power and other renewable energy resources to base camps and distribution sites, and supporting 92,000 displaced people due to the LA wildfires.This Week in Cleantech — January 17, 2025 The Insurance Crisis That Will Follow the California Fires — The New YorkerLos Angeles Utilities’ Decisions to Keep Power On Are Scrutinized – The New York TimesThis group says natural gas bans hurt minorities. It has gas industry ties. — The Washington Post REC Silicon pulls the plug on polysilicon production at Moses Lake plant — Renewable Energy WorldThe Spectacular Burnout of a Solar Panel Salesman — WIRED MagazineWatch the full episode on YouTubeWant to make a suggestion for This Week in Cleantech? Nominate the stories that caught your eye each week by emailing Paul.Gerke@clarionevents.com

Jan 10, 2025 • 18min
This Week in Cleantech (01/10/2025) - Climate trends to watch in 2025
Tell us what you think of the show! This Week in Cleantech is a new, weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in cleantech and climate in 15 minutes or less.This week’s episode features Rachel Frazin from The Hill, who wrote about how the Biden administration finalized fairly strict climate rules for the nascent hydrogen energy industry, that determine which facilities can qualify for hydrogen tax credits. This week's "Cleantecher of the Week," is Aaron Nichols from Exact Solar, who reminds us that solar in the U.S. continued to expand during Trump’s first term. Shout out to Aaron for bolstering our determination as we face this unprecedented time. Congratulations Aaron!This Week in Cleantech — January 10, 2025 EVs, Nuclear and Forever Chemicals: Climate Predictions for 2025 — Bloomberg Banks Celebrate the New Year by Quitting Their Climate Pledges — The New RepublicTrump Says He Wants No Wind Farms Built During Presidency — BloombergClimate-friendly electricity sees big battery projects soar again for 2024 — AP NewsBiden administration adds exemptions into new climate rules for hydrogen energy — The HillWatch the full episode on YouTubeWant to make a suggestion for This Week in Cleantech? Nominate the stories that caught your eye each week by emailing Paul.Gerke@clarionevents.com


