Electrify This!

Latest Episodes:

Environmental Justice Impacts of the Hydrogen Economy Jun 23, 2022

Show notes

The hydrogen buzz is getting louder. Carbon-free hydrogen is part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s strategy to achieve President Biden’s net-zero by 2050 target, and the bipartisan infrastructure law earmarked $8 billion for regional clean hydrogen hubs. Meanwhile, natural gas and electric utilities in more than a dozen states are proposing hydrogen-blending for use in buildings and natural gas plants. In this episode, energy equity advocates discuss which of these hydrogen applications have the most potential and which are the most problematic. You’ll also hear how hydrogen could harm environmental justice and frontline communities, as well as more promising and equitable solutions.

Guests:
Abbe Ramanan, Project Manager at Clean Energy States Alliance and Clean Energy Group. Abbe specializes in equitable low-income solar policy, managing the Solar with Justice: Connecting States and Communities project, and leading the Hydrogen Information and Public Education project. She also supports the Resilient Power Project to provide solar and battery storage technologies to the communities that need it most. Abbe holds a master’s in energy policy from Tufts University, and a bachelor’s in international studies from American University.
Victor Davila, Community organizer and ACTION program manager at The Point Community Development Corporation. Victor has been a Bronx based community organizer for over 16 years and attended the University of Vermont. Victor is a co-founder of the environmental education skate group Eco Ryders and a member of the New York Renews organizing committee.
Daniel Chu, Energy Planner for the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance. Daniel is an urban designer interested in civic involvement in the built environment design and preservation. He has experience working at NYC 2030 District focusing on building efficiency and heat pump retrofits in Brooklyn, and at Urban Design Forum reporting infrastructure maintenance and global zoning practices. He's held various positions with The New School, where he also received a Master of Science in Design and Urban Ecologies and a BA in Urban Studies.
To Dig in Deeper, Check out these Must-Read Resources:

· Clean Energy Group
· The Point Community Development Corporation
· New York City Environmental Justice Alliance & Peak Coalition
· Assessing the Viability of Hydrogen Proposals: Considerations for State Utility Regulators And Policymakers | Energy Innovation
· Hydrogen Information and Public Education Project Page | Clean Energy Group
· 5 Reasons to Be Concerned About Green Hydrogen | Clean Energy Group
· Hydrogen Heating & Cooking Would Cost Homeowners $100,000+ Extra Over 15 Years | Clean Technica
· Event: Verge Electrify (July 26-29, 2022)

Looking for Freedom from Fossil Fuels: Decarbonizing the European Union Apr 28, 2022

Show notes

Russia’s unprovoked Ukraine invasion sent shockwaves across the world and shined a spotlight on the true costs of our global fossil fuel reliance, especially for the European Union (EU). The EU’s 27 members buy a quarter of their oil and more 40 percent of their gas from Russia, and EU households are facing high energy bills and accelerating impacts from the climate crisis.
On this episode of Electrify This!, host Sara Baldwin speaks with energy policy experts at the Regulatory Assistance Project and Agora Energiewende to explore how the EU can end its reliance on Russian gas and oil, achieve its climate goals, and ensure its consumers benefit from the transition. Tune in to learn how consumers can lead the way through electrification combined with a clean grid that puts the EU on a path to a more prosperous, safe, and peaceful future.
Guest Bios:
Michaela Holl is a Senior Associate at the independent thinktank, Agora Energiewende, working to influence EU clean energy policies. Prior to this, she worked as a policy analyst at the European Commission, the EU s executive arm for 16 years on a broad range of EU legislation from tobacco regulation to renewables and energy efficiency. She also worked as assistant to a Member of the European Parliament. Michaela holds a Master degree in European Economics from the College of Europe in Bruges and a Diploma in International Business and Cultural Studies. She is also a visiting lecturer at Technical University Munich’s School on governance and co-host of the bimonthly Watt Matters Podcast.

Jan Rosenow is a Principal and Director of European Programmes at the Regulatory Assistance Project and has several board appointments including the European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, the Coalition for Energy Savings and the Carbon Free Europe. Jan is also an Honorary Research Associate at Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute and has been appointed Special Advisor to the House of Commons’ inquiry into decarbonizing heating. He was named one of the world’s Top 25 energy influencers and co-hosts the Watt Matters podcast.

To Dig in Deeper, Check out these Must-Read Resources:

How to Electrify Your Life: Ask a Contractor (Part 2 of 2) Feb 09, 2022

Show notes

What burning questions do you have about what it takes to remove fossil fuels from your home or workplace and switch to all-electric appliances and equipment? What should you know before you choose a contractor? For example, do heat pumps work in cold climates? And what is a mini split, and is it right for my building? In part two of our how-to series, Electrify This! host Sara Baldwin speaks with residential HVAC contractor Larry Waters, founder of Electrify My Home, LLC and commercial HVAC specialist Steve Kroh, commercial manager for Shamrock Sales, Inc. Both contractors will respond to top questions from our listeners. Tune in to learn all you need to know to reduce pollution, address climate change, and plug in to the electrification movement where you live and work.
Guests:
Larry Waters is the Founder of Electrify My Home, LLC and is a 40-year veteran of the HVAC industry. Since 1994, Larry has focused on residential Heating and Air as a service technician and sales professional and in 2014, he shifted his focus to high-efficiency heat pump installations to replace gas. He has designed and installed over 400 electrification projects in the greater Bay area of California. Larry serves as an advisory board member of Gridworx and the Building Decarbonization Coalition. Larry is also a Building Performance Institute certified building analyst and earned a 2021 Eco leader award from Green Builder Magazine.

Steve Kroh is Commercial Quotations Manager for Shamrock Sales Inc. a Manufacturers Rep firm in Denver, Colorado specializing in boilers, water heaters, pumps, expansion tanks, and controls for the Hydronic heating Industry. He has 25 years of experience in the field, and works with customers in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and Montana.

To Dig in Deeper, Check out these Must-Read Resources:

Electrify My Home, LLC
Shamrock Sales, Inc.
Building Performance Institute
Electrify Everything in Your Home: A Guide to Comfy, Healthy, Carbon-Free Living, by Joel Rosenberg – A Rewiring America Publication
The Switch Is On

How to Electrify Your Life: Getting Started at Home (Part 1 of 2) Feb 08, 2022

Show notes

Want to electrify your life and not sure where to start? Then tune in to a special two-part series of Electrify This! to find out how you can cut pollution and save money by making the switch to clean, efficient electric alternatives. Host Sara Baldwin speaks with Joel Rosenberg, the author of the new e-book called Electrify Everything in Your Home: A Guide to Comfy, Healthy, Carbon-Free Living, and Panama Bartholomy of the Building Decarbonization Coalition about the steps homeowners and renters can take to transition to a clean, electrified life. We’ll also discuss the big electrification wins of 2021 and the new The Switch is On campaign aimed at helping households and contractors plug in to the electrification movement.

Guests:
Joel Rosenberg is an educator and entrepreneur focused on helping solve the climate crisis and is the Author of a new e-book, just released, called Electrify Everything in Your Home (which is a Rewiring America publication). Joel has worked on science and engineering education at the Museum of Science, Boston; the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany; the Lawrence Hall of Science at U.C. Berkeley; Maker Media; and Otherlab. He is also the co-founder of 3D Fab Light, an industrial laser cutter company. Joel has a mechanical engineering degree from MIT, and a master’s from Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism.

Panama Bartholomy is the Director of the Building Decarbonization Coalition, which is a multi-sector forum advocating for and creating solutions for our pollution-intensive building stock. Previously, Panama has served as the European Director of the Investor Confidence Project, an Advisor on Energy and Natural Resources to California Assembly Speaker John A. Perez, the Deputy Director of the California Energy Commission’s Efficiency and Renewables Division, and an advisor for Chairwomen Douglas and Pfannenstiel. He is also a former board member on the U.S. Green Building Council and past president of the Northern California Chapter.

To Dig in Deeper, Check out these Must-Read Resources:

Electrify Everything in Your Home: A Guide to Comfy, Healthy, Carbon-Free Living, by Joel Rosenberg – A Rewiring America Publication
The Switch Is On
Building Decarbonization Coalition
Energy Sage
Database for State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIREUSA.org)

That’s A Wrap! 2021 Reflections and 2022 Predictions with Three Electrification Dynamos Dec 14, 2021

Show notes

An all-star line-up closes out the year with reflections on 2021 and predictions for 2022. Host Sara Baldwin speaks with electrify everything pioneer Saul Griffith, policy expert and former Energy Gang podcast co-host Katherine Hamilton, and leading climate and clean energy commentator David Roberts. Tune in to hear three electrification dynamos recap 2021’s biggest developments in the transition from fossil to clean electricity, share the latest scoop on the Build Back Better Act, and predict what’s in store for electrification in 2022.
Guests:

Saul Griffith is an engineer, inventor, entrepreneur, and author of the book Electrify: An Optimist's Playbook for Our Clean Energy Future. Saul is the founder and chief scientist at Otherlab, an independent R&D lab that helps government agencies and Fortune 500 companies understand energy infrastructure and deep decarbonization. He is also the founder and chief scientist at Rewiring America, a nonprofit dedicated to decarbonizing America by electrifying everything. Prior to pursuing his passion for electrification, Saul led research projects for the likes of NASA, the National Science Foundation and U.S. Special Operations Command, among others, and he has founded and co-founded numerous technology companies. He completed his PhD at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2004 and was a recipient of a MacArthur “genius grant” in 2007.

Katherine Hamilton is the Chair of 38 North Solutions, a clean energy public policy consultancy with expertise in state, federal, and international markets. Katherine is currently the co-chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Clean Electrification. Katherine has served as President of the GridWise Alliance, policy advisor for Good Energies, Inc., buildings research lead for National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and engineer at Virginia Power. She studied electrical engineering at Northern Virginia Community College and holds degrees from Cornell University and the Sorbonne. Katherine was an original and longtime host of The Energy Gang podcast.

David Roberts is a writer and owner of Volts, a newsletter on clean energy and politics featuring in-depth analysis of the latest research, technologies, policies, and the social and political forces shaping the clean energy transition. David has had a long career as a journalist, writing five years for Vox, ten years for Grist. He’s also written for publications like Outside magazine and appeared on a variety of TV shows, radio programs, and podcasts.

To Dig in Deeper, Check out these Must-Read Resources:

Changing the Way We Build with Electrified Construction Nov 23, 2021

Show notes

The landmark $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will restore and expand the United States infrastructure. From improving roads, bridges, and rail, to expanding electric vehicle charging, to developing a more resilient grid and more efficient buildings, or to ensuring clean drinking water for all—this historic investment will spur construction in nearly every community in America. But it’s also a tremendous opportunity to reconsider how we build. Since the majority of construction equipment rely on fossil fuels, this sector is ripe for innovations that address climate change and air pollution. A new movement, led by several cities around the world, including Oslo, Norway, is underway to create a market for climate-friendly construction practices like electrified equipment. In this episode of Electrify This!, three experts discuss the global effort to scale clean, electrified construction. Learn how governments, the private sector, and NGOs are working collaboratively to create greater demand for electrified equipment, and hear insights into how these technologies could revolutionize the way we build.
Guests:
Heidi Sørensen, is the Director of the Climate Agency for the City of Oslo. She was elected to the Parliament of Norway from Oslo in 2001, and went on to become the State Secretary to the Minister of the Environment between 2007-2012. She has also served as a member of the Norwegian Consumer Council, the Norwegian Board of Technology, the board of the Research Council of Norway and the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences.
Nils-Olav Haukaas is a senior consultant with CEPartnersAS and represents Nasta AS. For nearly three decades has been working in commercial sales and marketing of construction machines and mining machines. Nasta AS has represented Hitachi Construction Machines since 1982. He has also worked in health and safety, product compliance, risk assessments. He has also served on a Norwegian Committee on Zero Emission building and constructions sites and a Zero Emission Digger construction site.
Marta Lovisolo, is a Junior Policy Analyst at Bellona Europa in Brussels. Bellona is a climate NGO with headquarters in Norway and offices across several European countries. After supporting the city of Oslo in running the first zero emissions construction site in the world, Bellona is now disseminating the Norwegian experience to European cities and countries, as well as the the E.U.
To Dig in Deeper, Check out these Must-Read Resources:

Now We're Cooking With...Electricity! Oct 20, 2021

Show notes

Once considered a status symbol, gas stoves have become a popular choice for amateur and professional chefs alike. More than a third of U.S. households cook with gas and 50% of single-family homes now feature gas stoves. Yet, when it comes to climate stability, air quality, and our health, gas stoves have serious impacts. Gas stoves emit the same fumes found in car exhaust, and gas consumption in buildings is a significant contributor to climate change. But it is possible to cook dinner without cooking the planet: 60% of U.S. households are already using electricity to cook and newer induction technologies are gaining popularity. Still, market and policy changes are needed to make electricity the preferred choice. This episode features a pediatrician, a professional chef, and a real estate agent discussing the perils of gas stoves and the pioneering movement to clean up our kitchens.
Guests:

Dr. Lisa Patel is a pediatrician and an advocate for children's health priorities. She was the co-chair for the American Academy of Pediatrics Advocacy Committee, California Chapter, co-founder the Climate and Health task force, and Director for the pediatric resident's Community Pediatrics and Child Advocacy Rotation. Today she is the Co-Director for Stanford's Climate, Health, and Equity Task Force at the Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy and Asthma Research. She holds degrees from Stanford, Yale, and John Hopkins University.

Chef Rachelle Boucher is a national cooking appliance trainer, private chef, influencer and event expert with 20+ years of experience. She's worked as a private chef for celebrities and athletes, a corporate chef, and a home appliance expert and consultant with Monark Home, Sub-Zero & Wolf, and Miele. Today, Rachelle's new venture “Kitchens to Life” focuses on kitchen electrification for performance, people and planet.

Annie Trujillo is a real estate agent with Keller Williams Real Estate, based in Salt Lake City. In 2020 she was the third individual agent in her office and made the Top 500 Realtors in Utah list. Previously, Annie had an illustrious ten-year career working as a mountain guide, leading expeditions in remote areas from Greenland to Alaska. She holds a degree from San Francisco State University.

Must-Read Resources:

Kitchens to Life | Yale Appliance Induction Cooking Buying Guide & Yale Appliance Electric Cooking Buying Guide

Gas Stoves: Health and Air Quality Impacts and Solutions, RMI

We need to talk about your gas stove, your health and climate change, NPR

How the Fossil Fuel Industry Convinced Americans to Love Gas Stoves, Mother Jones

Farewell Fossil Gas, Hello Better Buildings: A Building Electrification Status Update Sep 08, 2021

Show notes

With more than 100 million housing units and commercial buildings burning fossil fuels for space or water heating or for cooking across the United States, our building sector needs a major retrofit. Buildings cause 13 percent of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, and every new fossil-fueled appliance or structure locks in higher emissions and costs for decades to come – not to mention serious health impacts from burning fuels indoors. To reach net-zero by 2050, we must electrify all new buildings by 2025 and all new building equipment by 2030. So how do we do this? Where is it happening? Who is leading and who is stalling? On this episode of Electrify This!, host Sara Baldwin speaks with building electrification experts to discuss efforts underway to get gas out of buildings and switch to clean electricity, including city leadership and California’s new, landmark 2022 Energy Code.

Guests:
Denise Grab, Manager, Carbon-Free Buildings, RMI. Denise works to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from buildings in the West and across the U.S., and she brings over a decade of experience in advancing clean energy, climate, and clean air policy and law throughout the country. Prior to RMI, she served as the Western Regional Director at the Institute for Policy Integrity at New York University School of Law, an Adjunct Professor at New York University School of Law, an associate at a major law firm, and a law clerk for a federal district court judge. Denise obtained a JD from Yale Law School, a Masters in Environmental Management from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies and a BS with highest honors in Environmental Sciences from the University of California, Berkeley.

Tyler Poulson, Deputy Director, Building Electrification Institute (BEI). BEI equips cities across North America with the knowledge, tools and resources needed to accelerate the transition of building systems away from fossil fuels and towards high efficiency electric options. Tyler focuses on helping cities develop critical state and utility partnerships while advancing policies that will accelerate building electrification across their regions. Tyler previously focused on clean energy and climate change solutions in local government sustainability offices for Salt Lake City and Park City, UT. He has past experience in the finance sector and a Masters in Economics from the University of Utah.

To Dig in Deeper, Check out these Must-Read Resources:

The Road to Clean, Electrified Transportation: State and Federal Pathways (Part 3 of 3) Jul 26, 2021

Show notes

The climate, public health, and jobs benefits of electric vehicles are clear, but how do we get to a highly electrified transportation future when internal combustion engines still dominate the market today? To reap these benefits, we need a smart combination of federal and state actions to pave the way. In this final episode of our 3-part transportation series, host Sara Baldwin speaks with Margo Oge, former Director of the Office of Transportation and Air Quality at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, to learn more about the critical role of the EPA in setting tailpipe emission standards nationally. And, we hear from Anjali Bains, Senior Transportation Manager at Fresh Energy, who shares the full story of how Minnesota became the 15th state (and first Midwest state) to adopt a clean cars standard. Tune in to learn more about viable pathways and strategies to avoid blockades on the road to a clean, electrified transportation future.

Guest Bios:

Margo Oge, Chair of the International Council on Clean Transportation Board of Directors and the former Director of the Office of Transportation and Air Quality at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Margo had a 32-year career with the EPA, and during her 18-year tenure as Director, she was the chief architect of numerous programs that reduced emissions from gasoline and diesel-fueled automobiles, trucks, buses, and off-road vehicles by up to 99 percent. She led the EPA's development of the first-ever national greenhouse gas emission standards for cars and heavy-duty trucks and helped establish the Renewable Fuels Standard, among other accomplishments. She is a Distinguished Fellow with the ClimateWorks Foundation, a member of the Volkswagen Group’s International Sustainability Council, member of the board of the Union of Concerned Scientists, and a member of the Advisory Committee of the US Global Change Research Program.

Anjali Bains, Senior Clean Transportation Manager at Fresh Energy, a Saint-Paul based clean energy & climate nonprofit advocating for policies to accelerate Minnesota’s transition to a zero-emissions economy by 2050. At Fresh Energy, Anjali leads the electric transportation program, advocating in the state legislature, regulatory arenas, and other decision-making bodies as a technical expert in issues ranging from clean car standards and to utility EV programs.

To Dig in Deeper, Check out these Must-Read Resources:

· Fresh Energy, Transportation Program

· Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Rulemaking: Clean Cars Minnesota

· State judge Oks ‘clean cars’ plan, MPR News

· Minnesota Advances to Become First Midwest Clean Cars State, NRDC

· Emissions Standards Reference Guide for On-road and Nonroad Vehicles and Engines

· U.S. EPA Transportation: Mobile Sources, website

Accelerating Clean, Electrified Transportation and a Clean Grid by 2035 (Part 2 of 3) Jun 09, 2021

Show notes

We have the technology needed to drive the clean energy future, but what policies must we adopt now to actually reach that goal? In part two of our three-part series on electrifying transportation, host Sara Baldwin speaks with electric vehicle and electricity policy experts to explore the most critical policies needed for an all-electric transportation transition that also helps achieve a carbon-free grid within 15 years. We dive into the current state of play of federal EV and charging infrastructure policies, a federal clean electricity standard, policies to enhance America’s economic competitiveness, and approaches to ensure an equitable transition. You won’t want to miss this inside scoop on America’s clean energy policy landscape!

Dr. Kelly Fleming, Ph.D., Policy Director at Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA). Prior to joining ZETA, Kelly was a research and policy analyst at the Policy Institute for Energy, Environment, and the Economy at University of California, Davis. She also received the AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowship where she served at the Department of Energy. She holds an M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Washington and B.S. from the Colorado School of Mines, all in Chemical Engineering.

Mike O’Boyle, Director of Electricity Policy at Energy Innovation, directs the firm’s Power Sector Transformation program, working with policymakers, advocates, and others on policy and technology solutions for a clean, reliable, and affordable U.S. electricity system. Mike has co-authored foundational reports including Coal Cost Crossover 2.0, 2030 Report: Powering America’s Clean Economy, and A National Clean Electricity Standard to Benefit All Americans. Mike graduated cum laude from Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, where he focused on energy and international law. He also has a B.A from Vanderbilt University.

To Dig in Deeper, Check out these Must-Read Resources: