

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

Jun 7, 2024 • 17min
This Week in Cleantech (6/7/24) — Michigan fights off NIMBY push against clean energy
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 The Guardian's Dharna Norr, who reported on an effort by Vermont leaders to force fossil fuel companies to pay for their emissions impacts.This Week in Cleantech — June 7, 2024This week's "Cleantecher of the Week" is CleanCapital co-founder Jon Powers!Renewable Energy Wins for Now in Michigan as Local Control Measure Fails to Make Ballot — Inside Climate NewsWorld’s biggest solar farm goes online, big enough to power a country — The IndependentHow Electric Car Batteries Might Aid the Grid (and Win Over Drivers) — The New York TimesHow a simple fix could double the size of the U.S. electricity grid — The Washington Post‘Game-changing’: Vermont becomes first state to require big oil to pay for climate damages — The GuardianWatch the full episode on YouTube Help make This Week in Cleantech the best it can be. Send feedback and story recommendations to rew@clarionevents.com. And don’t forget to leave a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts.Join us every Friday for new episodes of This Week in Cleantech in the Factor This! podcast feed, and tune into new episodes of Factor This! every Monday.This Week in Cleantech is hosted by Renewable Energy World senior content director John Engel and Tigercomm president Mike Casey. The show is produced by Brian Mendes with research support from Alex Petersen and Clare Quirin.Want to make a suggestion for This Week in Cleantech? Nominate the stories that caught your eye each week by emailing Paul.Gerke@clarionevents.com

May 31, 2024 • 17min
This Week in Cleantech (5/31/24) — How Texas topped California for utility-scale solar
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 Stephen Robert Miller, who wrote for Yale E360 about an effort to convert existing oil wells for long-duration storage of solar energy.This Week in Cleantech — May 31, 2024 This week's "Cleantecher of the Week" is Gregg Patterson, CEO of Origami Solar!The U.S. just took its biggest step yet to end coal mining — The Washington PostOpinion | Can Biden Win America’s Green Tech Trade War With China? — The New York TimesHow red Texas became a model for green energy — The Financial TimesBiden’s Long Game on Climate — Heatmap NewsCan a California Oilfield Be Retrofitted to Store Solar Energy? — Yale Environment 360Watch the full episode on YouTubeHelp make This Week in Cleantech the best it can be. Send feedback and story recommendations to rew@clarionevents.com. And don’t forget to leave a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts.Join us every Friday for new episodes of This Week in Cleantech in the Factor This! podcast feed, and tune into new episodes of Factor This! every Monday.This Week in Cleantech is hosted by Renewable Energy World senior content director John Engel and Tigercomm president Mike Casey. The show is produced by Brian Mendes with research support from Alex Petersen and Clare Quirin.Want to make a suggestion for This Week in Cleantech? Nominate the stories that caught your eye each week by emailing Paul.Gerke@clarionevents.com

10 snips
May 20, 2024 • 48min
What FERC did, and didn't, do to jumpstart transmission
Tell us what you think of the show! The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has unveiled landmark new rules in attempt to jumpstart the beleaguered transmission system in the U.S. Many are already calling it the most impactful action by the agency in decades, providing a path to meet the needs of the energy transition. Taken together, Orders 1920 and 1977 total more than 1,500 pages, requiring long-term, proactive transmission planning and providing a backstop to some key siting disputes. But experts say there's still plenty of work ahead, and challenges to the rules are likely. Episode 77 of the Factor This! podcast features Tory Lauterbach, a partner in the energy and climate practice at Foley Hoag LLP, who breaks down what FERC did, and didn't, do to boost transmission. Watch the full episode on YouTubeDisclaimer: This interview was recorded on May 14, 2024. Relative time references like “yesterday” or ”two days ago” refer to the timing on the date of recording. Tory Lauterbach's commentary is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Want to make a suggestion for This Week in Cleantech? Nominate the stories that caught your eye each week by emailing Paul.Gerke@clarionevents.com

May 17, 2024 • 16min
This Week in Cleantech (5/17/24) — Biden slaps new tariffs on Chinese imports
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 Oliver Milman, an environment reporter for The Guardian, who covered a new report that casts doubt on sustainable aviation fuel prospects.This Week in Cleantech — May 17, 2024This week's "Cleantecher of the Week" is Paul Carp, Independent Climate Consultant for his recently launched Carpe Diem Climate Consulting 1. Biden sharply hikes US tariffs on an array of Chinese imports — Reuters 2. FERC shakes up power industry with landmark grid rule — E&E News 3. What Trump promised oil CEOs as he asked them to steer $1 billion to his campaign — The Washington Post 4. As Ohio clamps down on clean energy, recent changes make it easier to force landowners to allow oil and gas drilling — Energy News Network 5. ‘Magical thinking’: hopes for sustainable jet fuel not realistic, report finds — The Guardian Watch the full episode on YouTubeHelp make This Week in Cleantech the best it can be. Send feedback and story recommendations to rew@clarionevents.com. And don’t forget to leave a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts.Join us every Friday for new episodes of This Week in Cleantech in the Factor This! podcast feed, and tune into new episodes of Factor This! every Monday.This Week in Cleantech is hosted by Renewable Energy World senior content director John Engel and Tigercomm president Mike Casey. The show is produced by Brian Mendes with research support from Alex Petersen and Clare Quirin.Want to make a suggestion for This Week in Cleantech? Nominate the stories that caught your eye each week by emailing Paul.Gerke@clarionevents.com

May 10, 2024 • 15min
This Week in Cleantech (5/10/24) — The giant battery boom is here
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 in Cleantech — May 10, 2024This week's "Cleantecher of the Week" is Lara Hamsher, Director of Stakeholder Relations, Social Impact and Sustainability for AES Clean Energy!1. Battery Recycling Shatters the Myth of Electric-Vehicle Waste — Bloomberg2. Renewable energy passes 30% of world’s electricity supply — The Guardian3. A Century-Old Company The Government Owns Wants To Solve A Big Energy Problem — HuffPost4. Giant Batteries Are Transforming the Way the U.S. Uses Electricity — New York Times5. Biden's tax credits for sustainable aviation fuel allow a big role for corn ethanol — SemaforWatch the full episode on YouTubeHelp make This Week in Cleantech the best it can be. Send feedback and story recommendations to rew@clarionevents.com. And don’t forget to leave a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts.Join us every Friday for new episodes of This Week in Cleantech in the Factor This! podcast feed, and tune into new episodes of Factor This! every Monday.This Week in Cleantech is hosted by Renewable Energy World senior content director John Engel and Tigercomm president Mike Casey. The show is produced by Brian Mendes with research support from Alex Petersen and Clare Quirin.Want to make a suggestion for This Week in Cleantech? Nominate the stories that caught your eye each week by emailing Paul.Gerke@clarionevents.com

May 3, 2024 • 15min
This Week in Cleantech (5/3/24) — The EPA is cracking down on power plant emissions. Will it stick?
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 Washington Post climate reporter Maxine Joselow, who reported on a new ruling by the EPA to curb power plant emissions.This Week in Cleantech — May 3, 2024This week's "Cleantecher of the Week" is Justina Whipkey, the mill supervisor at a JM Steel plant outside Pittsburgh that just tripled capacity to supply trackers to solar projects throughout the region.1. In America’s Biggest Oil Field, the Ground Is Swelling and Buckling — Wall Street Journal2. Musk Plans More Layoffs as Two Senior Tesla Executives Depart — The Information3. Sodium Batteries From Michigan Challenge Lithium’s Grip on Energy Transition — Bloomberg4. Biden completes permitting rule — Axios5. New rules will slash air, water and climate pollution from U.S. power plants — Washington PostWatch the full episode on YouTubeHelp make This Week in Cleantech the best it can be. Send feedback and story recommendations to rew@clarionevents.com. And don’t forget to leave a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts.Join us every Friday for new episodes of This Week in Cleantech in the Factor This! podcast feed, and tune into new episodes of Factor This! every Monday.This Week in Cleantech is hosted by Renewable Energy World senior content director John Engel and Tigercomm president Mike Casey. The show is produced by Brian Mendes with research support from Alex Petersen and Clare Quirin.Want to make a suggestion for This Week in Cleantech? Nominate the stories that caught your eye each week by emailing Paul.Gerke@clarionevents.com

Apr 26, 2024 • 16min
This Week in Cleantech (4/26/24) — A new solar tariff fight begins
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 AP News climate solutions reporter Alexa St. John, who reported on new polling that tests whether or not the Inflation Reduction Act is resonating with voters.This Week in Cleantech — April 26, 2024This week's "Cleantecher of the Week" is Antoine Wagschal, Sales Director of Southeast Asia at Nextracker!1. Why Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth — NPR2. Biden wants to triple China tariffs on steel, aluminum imports — CNBC3. U.S. Solar Factories Urge Biden To Crack Down On China — HuffPost4. Energy-Guzzling AI Is Also the Future of Energy Savings — Wall Street Journal5. Climate change concerns grow, but few think Biden's climate law will help, an AP-NORC poll finds — AP NewsHelp make This Week in Cleantech the best it can be. Send feedback and story recommendations to rew@clarionevents.com. And don’t forget to leave a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts.Join us every Friday for new episodes of This Week in Cleantech in the Factor This! podcast feed, and tune into new episodes of Factor This! every Monday.This Week in Cleantech is hosted by Renewable Energy World senior content director John Engel and Tigercomm president Mike Casey. The show is produced by Brian Mendes with research support from Alex Petersen and Clare Quirin.Want to make a suggestion for This Week in Cleantech? Nominate the stories that caught your eye each week by emailing Paul.Gerke@clarionevents.com

Apr 5, 2024 • 18min
This Week in Cleantech (4/5/24) — The final battle over green hydrogen tax rules
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 E&E News reporter Christian Robles who covered the controversial debate over federal green hydrogen incentive rules. This Week in Cleantech — April 5, 2024This week’s “Cleantecher of the Week” goes to Bill Weihl, who is transitioning from ClimateVoice’s Co-Executive Director to the role of Founder & Chief Strategic Advisor.1. Berkeley Will Repeal Its Landmark Ban on Natural Gas in New Homes — The New York Times2. BlackRock Issued Legal Warning Over ESG Strategy by Mississippi — Bloomberg3. Can We Engineer Our Way Out of the Climate Crisis? — The New York Times4. NOAA gets dire warning about solar geoengineering — POLITICO5. How do you ensure hydrogen is ‘clean’? Treasury rules draw fire. – E&E NewsWatch the full episode on YouTubeHelp make This Week in Cleantech the best it can be. Send feedback and story recommendations to rew@clarionevents.com. And don’t forget to leave a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts.Want 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 29, 2024 • 14min
This Week in Cleantech (3/29/24) — Can the White House stop China's clean energy dominance?
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 Kelly Livingston of ABC News who covered the EPA's new vehicle standards meant to spur the adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles.This Week in Cleantech — March 29, 2024This week’s “Cleantecher(s) of the Week” are Michael Tekabe, chief operating officer, and Hayat Bedane, engineering lead at Kubik, an Africa-based startup.1. Yellen Warns China Against Flood of Cheap Green Energy Exports — The New York Times2. Oil Executives Are Getting Refreshingly Honest These Days — The New Republic3. US Announces $6 Billion to Clean Up Heavy Manufacturing — Bloomberg4. The Last Coal-Fired Power Plants in New England Are to Close — The New York Times5. New EPA vehicle standards would cut US emissions, ramp up pressure for more EVs — ABC NewsWatch the full episode on YouTubeHelp make This Week in Cleantech the best it can be. Send feedback and story recommendations to rew@clarionevents.com. And don’t forget to leave a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts.Want 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 22, 2024 • 16min
This Week in Cleantech (4/22/24) — Wind power has hit a rut. Could a huge plane change its course?
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 Heatmap's Andrew Moseman who reported on a dilemma facing rooftop solar owners and the beleaguered industry: is it better to save your solar, or sell it? This Week in Cleantech — March 22 2024This week’s “Cleantecher of the Week” is Sylvia Leyva Martinez, Principal Analyst at Wood Mackenzie!1. How the World’s Biggest Plane Would Supersize Wind Energy — The Wall Street Journal2. Bill Gates’ TerraPower plans to build first US next-generation nuclear plant — Financial Times3. The Zombies of the U.S. Tax Code: Why Fossil Fuels Subsidies Seem Impossible to Kill — New York Times4. Britain to import energy from US under plan for transatlantic power cable — The Telegraph5. Is It Better to Save Your Solar, or Sell It? — HeatmapWatch the full episode on YouTubeHelp make This Week in Cleantech the best it can be. Send feedback and story recommendations to rew@clarionevents.com. And don’t forget to leave a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts.Want to make a suggestion for This Week in Cleantech? Nominate the stories that caught your eye each week by emailing Paul.Gerke@clarionevents.com