Energy Gang
Wood Mackenzie
Covering breaking news in clean tech, going deep on global energy policy, and debating the levers that need to move to accelerate the energy transition. Energy Gang is the podcast covering clean energy technology, renewable energy, and the environment. The world of clean energy moves fast, and you need a reliable source to stay on top of the news that matters. You’ll find it on Wood Mackenzie’s Energy Gang.How will changes to the US government affect decarbonisation and energy security? When will hydrogen, nuclear and carbon capture deploy at scale? Where’s the money for the energy transition green finance coming from and how much more is needed? What’s the outlook for EVs? What are the energy predictions for solar energy? What's the latest on climate change?Get answers to questions like these, bi-weekly on Tuesdays at 7am ET. Plus, get special live episodes recorded at the biggest climate and energy events throughout the year, like COP30 and Climate Week NYC. Don’t worry if you can’t make it in person, Energy Gang brings you all the updates on energy policy, energy finance and energy innovation you need to hear.Energy Gang is presented by Wood Mackenzie and hosted by Ed Crooks, Vice-Chairman of Energy at Wood Mackenzie and a former Financial Times and BBC News journalist. Regular guests are Amy Myers-Jaffe (Director of NYU’s Energy, Climate Justice and Sustainability Lab), and Dr Melissa Lott (Partner at Microsoft) – plus a roster of industry leaders and policy influencers, like Jigar Shah (Industry figurehead and former director of the Loan Programs Office in the US Department of Energy), Caroline Golin (Head of North America, Global Energy Market Development and Policy at Google) and Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt (Former Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources).If you like The Energy Transition Show, Catalyst with Shayle Kann, The Big Switch from Columbia University, Open Circuit with Stephen Lacey or The Green Blueprint, you’ll enjoy Energy Gang.Want to get involved with the show? Reach out to podcasts@woodmac.com to:Bring Energy Gang to your eventBe a guest on the showSponsor an episodeAsk a question to Ed Crooks or one of our guestsCheck out another leading clean tech global podcast by Wood Mackenzie, Interchange Recharged: https://www.woodmac.com/podcasts/the-interchange-recharged/Wood Mackenzie is the leading global data and analytics solutions provider for renewables, energy and natural resources. Learn more about Wood Mackenzie on the official website: https://www.woodmac.com/
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 31, 2013 • 44min
Are Big Banks Botching One of the Greatest Cleantech Opportunities of All Time?
The largest international development banks have made it a priority to deliver energy to the 1.3 billion people without access to the modern grid. But are they approaching a 21st-century market with 20th-century solutions?
In this week's show, the gang will discuss whether organizations like the World Bank are botching investment in energy access by ignoring the full potential of distributed energy and mobile infrastructure. The Sierra Club's Justin Guay will join the gang to chat about how to break old ways of thinking about energy access in the developing world.
Then, we'll chat about changes on the grid one year after Superstorm Sandy, and explore the coming business model shift within one of Europe's largest utilities.
The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Oct 24, 2013 • 40min
40 Years After the Arab Oil Embargo, Is America Much Better Off?
It's been four decades since Arab oil producers shut off the oil spigot to America, creating price shocks, gas lines and economic hardship. It also spawned the modern political definitions for "energy security" and "energy independence."
So 40 years later, are we really better off? The Gang will look at what's changed, and talk with an energy economist from the EIA about how the availability of information on energy has improved.
We'll also take a look at the implications of California's new energy storage mandate, and discuss Arizona Public Service's admission that it gave money to political groups producing anti-solar ads.
The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Oct 18, 2013 • 41min
How Worried Should We Be About the Decline in Clean Energy Investment?
The clean energy industry is headed for yet another dip in global investment. Meanwhile, venture investors are shifting their money toward more "capital-lite" businesses. Should we be worried?
The Energy Gang looks at the complex picture behind the numbers.
We'll also ask what SolarCity's recent acquisitions mean for M&A activity in downstream solar, and we'll look at how effectively the push toward municipalizing the grid will leverage microgrids and distributed energy.
The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Oct 11, 2013 • 42min
Real Talk: Has the Geothermal Industry Failed in Its Messaging?
No one denies the immense potential of geothermal. Despite that potential, the industry has grown incrementally over the years and failed to attract strong investment flow, particularly in the U.S.
So what's keeping growth so low?
In this week's podcast, the Energy Gang will look at the industry's two main problems: drilling risk and messaging. Both are holding back growth.
We'll also look at the challenges for another "forgotten renewable" -- solar thermal. And finally, we'll ask how ESCOs can continue expanding energy performance contracts for efficiency.
The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Oct 3, 2013 • 34min
To Hell With the Gov't Shutdown, Let's Create Some Cleantech Wealth
This week, we'll forget the political train wreck in Washington (for a little while) and instead turn our attention to the business leaders helping build new wealth opportunities in clean energy.
Energy Gang co-host and SunEdison Founder Jigar Shah is out with his new book, Creating Climate Wealth. We'll discuss his philosophy on what it takes for entrepreneurs to succeed in the market.
But we can't help ourselves. We'll also turn back to Washington and examine how the political shutdown will impact the clean energy sector.
The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sep 21, 2013 • 35min
How To Save the Power Companies From Themselves
Almost everyone admits it: utilities are going to be in for some serious trouble if they don't start thinking about how to properly manage the coming surge in distributed energy. But we can't entirely blame the utilities for moving slowly; regulators play a key role in setting the rules for how power companies operate.
In this week's show, we'll look at a comprehensive new report aimed at these decision makers, called America's Power Plan, which lays the foundation for the future of electricity.
We'll also discuss a few tremendous improvements in renewable energy economics, as well as the coming surge in Home Energy Management tools that are making houses into virtual power plants.
The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sep 13, 2013 • 44min
Will the Emerging Climate Movement Help Cleantech?
After failing to pass a climate bill in 2010, the environmental movement has seen a new surge of activism mobilized by the fight against Keystone XL. So what are the implications for the clean energy sector? And are advocates and business leaders learning anything from this new movement?
This week, the Energy Gang will debate the effectiveness of the environmental movement, and look at its relationship with the clean energy business community.
Then, we'll look at the political fight around Ron Binz, the man tapped by President Obama to run the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. FERC is not usually in the news, but new fears about the death of coal are infusing Binz's confirmation with partisan politics.
The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sep 6, 2013 • 47min
Is Solar About to Get Screwed or Saved in California?
California is a bellwether for the solar industry, which is why a new bill being considered in the state could have wide-ranging impacts around the country.
The state is currently considering a bill that would make significant changes to electricity pricing structures that could eat into the value of solar. But the industry is cautiously backing the bill because it also extends net metering policies. The end result could have equally positive and negative consequences. We'll look at the entire picture, as well as parse the true value of solar on the grid.
We'll also discuss the viability and cleanliness of Bloom Energy's fuel cells, and talk about the slew of positive efficiency news in recent weeks.
The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features engaging discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and GTM Editor Stephen Lacey.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Aug 30, 2013 • 34min
Why Have Venture Capitalists Flopped in Cleantech?
Venture investments in cleantech have taken a nosedive after bringing in poor returns. But the problem isn't in cleantech -- it's in the investment strategy. On this week's podcast, The Gang will talk with Rob Day of Black Coral Capital about how the "next wave" of investment is bringing innovative and realistic opportunities for the industry.
Then we'll talk about what the coming closure of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant says about the state of nuclear power in the U.S., as well as discuss the coming dark clouds for clean energy in Congress this fall.
The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features engaging discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Aug 15, 2013 • 42min
Are Utilities Ready for the Coming Death Spiral?
Utilities are on the verge of a "death spiral" as more customers leave the grid and implement distributed energy technologies like solar. The same thing happened in Telecom as the rise of mobile phones made copper lines nearly obsolete. We'll ask what lessons the utility sector can learn from telecom companies that have already navigated the shift to distributed technologies.
We'll also discuss why the Tea Party and other unlikely groups are supporting renewables, as well as ask what we've learned about grid management ten years after the notorious 2003 Northeast blackout.
The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features engaging discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
