CleanTech Talk — EVs, Solar, Batteries, AI, Tesla

Today we talked with Quentin Scott, Federal Policy Director at the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) Action Fund, about the organization's 7th annual EV raffle, the tremendous work CCAN Action Fund is doing at the federal and state level to try to advance climate action, clean technologies, and sensible policies. Listen in for plenty of insight and fun, and go here to buy an EV raffle ticket or three: https://ccanactionfund.org/ev-raffle/

Aquaria is a company reimagining water access through distributed atmospheric water generation systems. In this episode, CleanTechnica's Scott Cooney talks with founder Brian Sheng about the company's technology and Brian's history. To date, Aquaria has raised over $112 million from leading investors including Soma Capital, Bow Capital, SoftBank, and former House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt. For its impact and innovation, Aquaria was named one of Fast Company’s World Changing Companies of 2023 and selected among TIME’s Best Inventions of 2024.

It’s one of the coolest raffles on the internet: Win the Tesla or EV of your choice or $50K cash, all while supporting people in need. Learn how ChesedChicago made it happen — and how you can get your chance to win before they run out of tickets. Here's the link to join the raffle, and be sure to use coupon code CLEAN for $25 off 2 tickets or $500 off 15 tickets: https://ccraffle.com/?utm_source=cleantechnica&utm_medium=sponsoredpodcast&utm_campaign=07.30.25 Joining CleanTechnica's Zach Shahan today is Moshe Isenberg. Mo has spent over 20 years in the nonprofit and business worlds, with a focus on fundraising, community engagement, and leadership development. He serves on the board of ChesedChicago and is active in several national and local causes all in hopes of making the world a better place.

In this episode of CleanTech Talk, Nick Chaset, CEO of Octopus Energy US, dives into the future of clean energy and how AI technology is reshaping the industry. With operations in 18 countries and nearly 10 million customers, Octopus Energy is leading the charge in making renewable energy more accessible, affordable, and smarter. Chaset shares how Kraken, the world’s only proven end-to-end platform for utilities, is disrupting the space to help to scale up clean energy adoption and improving grid efficiency. Want to know how Octopus Energy is driving the energy transition? Tune in to hear about the next frontier in energy innovation and how Octopus Energy is harnessing the power of technology to create a cleaner, greener, and more affordable future for all.

Kris Ohleth, Director of the Special Initiative on Offshore Wind, delves into the evolving landscape of the U.S. offshore wind industry. He discusses the historical challenges and current obstacles, including slow policy responses and competition with global leaders like China. Despite these issues, Kris highlights a hopeful future, emphasizing the economic potential of offshore wind and its benefits over traditional energy sources. He also shares insights on navigating procurement complexities and the unique challenges California faces in developing this clean energy source.

Offshore wind power has been slower to mature than solar power or onshore wind power, but it offers some big benefits. Its upfront costs may be higher, but the value it offers is immense, and there's also much potential for bringing down utility electricity costs. Zach Shahan, CEO of CleanTechnica, and Susan Muller, a Senior Energy Analyst with the Union of Concerned Scientists, talk much further about some of these benefits. Enjoy!

CleanTechnica's Jose Pontes and Zachary Shahan talk EV sales trends in Europe, the US, China, and the world as a whole. In particular, they spend a lot of time talking about BYD's growing leadership, Volkswagen Group's fresh rise in the EV market, and Tesla's sales trend, business approach, and potential crises around the world.

Aseem Kapur, Chief Revenue Officer at GM Energy, and Lydia Krefta, Director of Clean Energy Transportation at PG&E, discuss an exciting new Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) pilot program in Northern California. They explain how GM EV owners can earn incentives by allowing their vehicles to supply energy back to their homes or the grid. The conversation highlights advancements in bidirectional charging, enhancing grid resilience, and the potential for EVs to serve as reliable energy assets. It's a forward-thinking look at how electric vehicles can empower communities.

Brian Nelson, ABB’s Renewables Segment Leader in the United States, sits down with CleanTechnica's Scott Cooney to discuss the ins and outs of innovation accelerating the solar economy, the timeline for the next leap forward, and what it means for end-users, utilities, developers, and EPCs.

Mark Z. Jacobson, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University and author of seven books, including “No Miracles Needed,” talks with CleanTechnica CEO Zach Shahan about renewable energy development over the last 25 years as well as how and why carbon capture & storage is a scam. Read more here: https://cleantechnica.com/2025/02/19/we-need-to-keep-our-eye-on-the-ball-to-save-the-planet/