Volts

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.

A live podcast was recorded at the Yale Clean Energy Conference with Sonia Aggarwal discussing her experiences in the Biden administration, achievements in getting laws passed, and remaining gaps in US energy policy. They also touch on topics like clean energy policy in rural areas, unity in the 'build back better' agenda, the debate on carbon taxes, and the role of the US in accelerating decarbonization.

Carbfix, an Icelandic company, carbonates water with CO2 and injects it underground to sequester carbon dioxide as rock. They aim to make Iceland a leading hub for carbon burial. Utilizing zero carbon energy is significant for the process. Carbon mineralization is a cheap and permanent form of carbon storage. Water plays a crucial role in setting up geothermal plants. Carbonating water poses risks and precautions. Negotiating carbon credits and double claiming are discussed. Performance improvements and innovations in carbon sequestration are explored.

Discover the attitudes of rural Americans towards clean energy. Learn about the impact of rural NIMBYism on the renewable energy transition. Explore a new poll that uncovers rural residents' opinions on climate change and energy developers. Gain insights into the challenges faced by renewable energy developers in engaging rural communities. Find out how specific examples of infrastructure funded by renewable energy positively influence residents' views. Understand the need for effective communication to bridge the gap between rural and urban viewpoints.

Collaborative episode between Volts and Catalyst podcasts discussing overhyped and underhyped clean tech trends. Topics include thermal storage for industrial heat, the controversy of gas stoves vs electric cooktops, the impact of higher interest rates on clean energy, voluntary carbon markets vs corporate renewables procurement, reflections on the industry and the significance of the IRA, and concerns about interest rates and decarbonization.