Volts

CEO Kyle Clark of BETA Technologies discusses the design and operation of electric planes for all of aviation, starting with short light-cargo flights. Topics include EVTOL aircraft design, battery advancements, range and sustainability, and the future of electric aviation.

Washington State Governor Jay Inslee, a climate advocate, discusses his achievements and challenges in combating emissions. The podcast covers his climate advocacy, political landscape, fundraising efforts, and reflections on past campaigns. It explores balancing conservation with green energy, burning wood pellets for carbon neutrality, renewable energy impacts, and union battles against corporations in Washington State.

Author Brett Christophers discusses how profitability, not cost, drives renewable energy deployment. Challenges of using markets for decarbonizing electricity are explored, emphasizing the importance of government support. Topics include bid selection, market volatility impacting renewables, and unique challenges in electricity generation. Corporate power purchase agreements, government subsidies, and financing strategies for accelerating the transition to renewable energy are also discussed.

Alp Kucukelbir discusses the transformative power of AI in climate change, optimizing industrial processes with AI and machine learning, concerns about AI manipulation and disinformation, AI's role in decarbonization policies, advancements in data gathering technologies, and making industries more efficient in developing nations.

Tombo Banda discusses the challenges of electricity access in Africa, mini-grid innovations, boosting profitability through economic empowerment, balancing profitability and access, and solutions for mini-grid developers in Africa

Tadeu Carneiro, CEO of Boston Metal, discusses making carbon-free steel using clean electricity, explaining the process of 'molten oxide electrolysis' and its potential to transform the industry. They explore challenges faced by the steel industry in reducing CO2 emissions and the innovative approaches to steelmaking, emphasizing the importance of clean electricity for a sustainable future in steel production.

Rob Gramlich, Expert in Grid Strategies, discusses FERC's new transmission planning rule, implications for clean energy goals, grid reliability, and consumer rates. Topics include 20-year plans, grid enhancing technologies, cost allocation dynamics, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act impacts, regulatory initiatives, future grid actions, and reevaluating stances on transmission infrastructure.

Caroline Spears, Executive Director of Climate Cabinet, discusses using data science to target state and local races for climate advocacy. Topics include Moneyball strategies, empowering clean energy advocates, legal structures, navigating partisanship, engaging marginalized voters, analyzing election performance, and the impact of volunteer engagement in climate politics.

CEOs from startup Quilt discuss redesigning heat pumps for better aesthetics and performance. Topics include ductless heat pumps, innovative outdoor and indoor units, smart room temperature control, pricing models, working with contractors, scaling a clean energy startup, and exploring demand for clean home heating in different regions.

California electricity guru Lorenzo Kristov discusses envisioning a democratic, bottom-up energy system. Topics include community-based energy resources, challenges in decentralized energy generation, empowering communities through local energy production, and rethinking revenue models for distribution system operators.