The Green Blueprint

Rick Needham, Chief Commercial Officer at Commonwealth Fusion Systems, shares insights on a revolutionary tape that enables powerful magnets for fusion energy. He discusses the $1.8 billion fundraising success and the groundbreaking collaboration with Dominion Energy Virginia to develop the world's first commercial fusion power plant, ARC. The conversation highlights major milestones, the journey from lab to deployment, and how fusion energy is closer to reality than most realize. Innovative strategies and the clean energy future take center stage.

In this vibrant discussion, Amanda Li, Co-founder of Banyan Infrastructure, and Rachel Halfaker from the Milken Institute tackle the urgent financial barriers hindering small-scale clean energy projects. They uncover the complexities of securing funding amidst overwhelming costs and fragmented interests. With a focus on standardization as a key solution, they explore how effective communication and collaboration can streamline investments. The conversation also touches on the transformative potential of AI in finance, pushing for innovative models to revolutionize the sector.

In this engaging discussion, Mario Fernandez, Head of Breakthrough Energy’s FOAK finance program, shares his expertise in energy infrastructure investment. He explores the challenges of securing funding for first-of-a-kind projects, emphasizing the need for repeatable models to attract conservative investors. Mario discusses the critical steps from piloting to scaling innovations, as well as the complexities of negotiating flexible offtake agreements. Additionally, he highlights innovative pricing strategies and the importance of precise capital estimation in today's evolving market.

Sarah Jewett, Vice President of Strategy at Fervo Energy, shares her inspiring journey into geothermal energy during her honeymoon. She reveals how Fervo's groundbreaking techniques, like horizontal drilling, are revolutionizing access to geothermal resources in ways once thought impossible. The conversation dives into the challenges of innovative financing, strategic partnerships, and the project's rapid scaling in response to energy demands. Jewett emphasizes the untapped potential of geothermal as a clean solution to meet the rising energy needs of the future.

In 2021, Neha Palmer co-founced Terawatt Infrastructure with a bold mission: create the backbone for America's electric trucking revolution. Within its first year, Terawatt secured a billion-dollar investment. But as the company developed plans for a nationwide charging network, it confronted the daunting challenge of building infrastructure for an electric truck market that barely existed.  High-profile bankruptcies like Nikola Motors cast long shadows over the sector's viability, raising questions about whether heavy-duty transport can truly be electrified. In this episode, Lara talks with Neha about how Terawatt aims to transform freight transport despite market skepticism. Neha explains Terawatt’s strategic approach to site selection, innovative charging designs for fully-loaded trucks, and the vision for a revolutionary California-to-Texas network. Credits: Hosted by Lara Pierpoint. Produced by Erin Hardick. Edited by Anne Bailey and Stephen Lacey. Original music and engineering by Sean Marquand. Stephen Lacey is executive editor.Register here for Transition-AI 2025 in Boston on June 12th, 2025. Use promo code LATITUDEPODS10 for 10% off your ticket.

Drew Baglino, former senior VP at Tesla and now CEO of Heron Power, shares the scrappy beginnings of Tesla’s energy division. He recounts how a passionate team built the iconic Powerwall using vehicle parts, all while grappling with critical supply chain issues. With innovative resource sharing, they managed to release the Powerwall 2 amidst increasing demand. Drew also discusses the importance of collaboration with suppliers and how design plays a key role in customer satisfaction. His insights reveal the dedication behind creating a market-defining product.

In 2018, LineVision was a young company with revolutionary technology for electric transmission lines. Its dynamic line rating sensors and software could increase the capacity of existing power lines by up to 40% without building new infrastructure — a critical solution for integrating renewables and meeting growing electricity demand.But to prove its tech, it needed to win over notoriously cautious utilities. When a crucial project worth $750,000 went to a competitor, LineVision's leadership made a last-ditch appeal that changed the company's trajectory.In this episode, host Lara Pierpoint talks with LineVision’s vice president of customer success,  Karthik Rao, about navigating utility cybersecurity requirements, escaping “pilot hell,” and how LineVision became the partner behind the world's largest DLR project.Credits: Hosted by Lara Pierpoint. Produced by Erin Hardick. Edited by Anne Bailey and Stephen Lacey. Original music and engineering by Sean Marquand. Stephen Lacey is executive editor.The Green Blueprint is a co-production of Latitude Media and Trellis Climate. Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere you get podcasts. For more reporting on the companies featured in this podcast, subscribe to Latitude Media's newsletter.

In this discussion, Dan Shugar, the innovative founder and CEO of Nextracker, shares his journey in solar tracking technology since the 1980s. He emphasizes customer-centric innovation and how strategic partnerships have propelled Nextracker's growth. The conversation dives into their cutting-edge HailPro system designed to protect solar panels and the impacts of COVID-19 on supply chains and manufacturing. Dan also reveals how AI and machine learning are shaping the future of solar while navigating challenges during Nextracker's transformation into a multi-billion dollar enterprise.

Raffi Garabedian, Co-founder and CEO of Electric Hydrogen, dives into the evolving landscape of green hydrogen technology. He shares insights on the shift from small electrolyzers to large-scale 100-megawatt systems aimed at drastically cutting costs. Raffi discusses the challenges of building a manufacturing plant during market volatility and highlights why startups are crucial for cost reductions. He also addresses the complexities of customer acquisition in a competitive energy market and the strategic balancing act required for financing innovative green hydrogen projects.

Leila Madrone, founder and former CTO of SunFolding, shares her journey of pioneering a solar tracker with innovative pneumatic technology. She discusses the challenges her startup faced, including a critical redesign after field tests and the pressures of the rapidly evolving solar market. Leila reflects on the difficult choices during the pandemic that impacted funding and operations. She emphasizes the lessons learned about navigating supply chain issues and the importance of fostering innovative funding strategies for climate-focused startups.