Volts

Will Toor from the Colorado Energy Office discusses the state's clean energy policy. Topics include reforms for electric utilities, support for electric vehicles, new restrictions on oil and gas, greenhouse gas reduction targets, clean energy goals for electricity, decarbonization, carbon capture, addressing oil and gas leakage, transportation emissions, environmental justice, and community engagement in Colorado.

The podcast discusses the challenges in decarbonizing the cement industry and introduces Sublime Systems, a startup with a zero-emission cement manufacturing method. It explores the use of supplemental materials and cheap renewables to reduce CO2 emissions. The podcast also delves into the process of producing zero-carbon cement using an ambient room temperature process. The cost of producing green cement, building a kiloton plant, and the importance of carbon avoidance are also discussed.

The podcast discusses the challenges of mining minerals for clean energy and the potential of AI to improve exploration efficiency. It emphasizes the urgency of the estimated $15 trillion supply gap and the need for improved technology and skills in mining. The chapter also explores data gathering and standardization for AI technology in mining exploration, different types of data used, and the importance of environmental and social concerns in the mining industry.

The podcast explores the challenges facing the US offshore wind industry, including increasing costs, contract renegotiations, and project cancellations. It discusses local opposition, benefit sharing, and power purchase agreement renegotiations. The uncertainty surrounding offshore wind projects in New Jersey and New York is highlighted, along with the unique challenges of offshore wind on the West Coast. The impact of macroeconomic problems, such as inflation and the pandemic, is examined. The potential of offshore wind projects in the US is discussed, emphasizing the need for tempered expectations and policy tools.

This podcast explores the resistance of rural communities to clean energy infrastructure. The guest, Jarra Hicks, discusses her work with community-owned wind farms in Australia. They delve into the importance of community engagement, the challenges faced by renewable energy developers, and the need for benefit sharing. They also address the presence of anti-wind sentiment in Australian conservative politics and the challenges of coordinating renewable energy projects. The podcast emphasizes the need to foster strong relationships with local communities and the role of industry standards and advocacy organizations in achieving a positive community experience. Overall, it highlights the complexities of transitioning to renewable energy and the importance of addressing social mechanics and community buy-in.

The podcast explores the importance of the Farm Bill in addressing climate change and the role of agriculture in decarbonization. It discusses the significant contribution of agriculture to greenhouse gas emissions and the need for sustainable farming practices. The podcast also delves into the power dynamics of the agriculture industry in politics and the allocation of subsidies. Additionally, it examines the Rural Energy for America program and the push for transparency in the agricultural sector. Lastly, it discusses climate measures advocated for in the Farm Bill and explores the cultural argument surrounding meat consumption.

The podcast reflects on Volts' third anniversary and discusses its goals of providing information on clean energy and combating climate change. It highlights the need for subscriber support and announces upcoming upgrades and improvements for subscribers. Exciting new features include open comment sections, a monthly community thread, a Jumpstart series for newcomers, and a monthly mailbag pod for paid subscribers to ask questions.

Jenny Chase, solar power industry analyst and founding member of New Energy Finance, discusses the growth and cost reduction of solar power, the impact of trade barriers and tariffs, the limitations of Paravskite solar technology, solar power efficiency and potential, tracking technology and the role of AI, the unpredictability and underestimation of growth in the PV solar power industry, developments in solar power in different countries, and the differences between installation and manufacturing in the solar power industry.

Astrid Atkinso, a former senior software engineer at Google, discusses her shift from Google to co-founding Camus Energy, a software company focusing on grid orchestration. The podcast explores the need for a shift from centralized to distributed systems in the utility industry, the challenges of managing a distributed energy grid, the role of automation in managing rooftop solar in Australia, and the potential future of local electricity administered by DSOs.

The podcast discusses the urgent need for accelerated transmission capacity expansion in the US to meet climate goals. It explores challenges in regional transportation planning and highlights the upcoming rule by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as a significant opportunity for progress. The chapter also discusses the need for active Senate involvement in FERC. The importance of anticipating future resource changes and planning accordingly is emphasized. The benefits of transmission planning, such as reliability and resilience, are highlighted. The weakness of the proposed rule, allowing regions to selectively choose benefits, is discussed. Assessing costs based on portfolios of projects and FERC oversight recommendations are explored. The chapter also delves into the design principles and potential legislation in Washington. The support for a transmission bill and improved planning in the energy sector is explained. Listeners are encouraged to engage with FERC and become paid subscribers to support the podcast.