Inevitable

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Ep. 131 : Jon Goldberg & Julio Friedmann, Founder & CEO and Chief Scientist at Carbon Direct Nov 16, 2020

Show notes

Today's guests are Jon Goldberg, Founder & CEO of Carbon Direct and Julio Friedmann, Chief Scientist at Carbon Direct.

I learned a lot in the episode. Jon and Julio are the first pair to come onto the podcast and it led to a fascinating discussion. We dive into Carbon Direct, their place in the market, and how Carbon Direct is changing the game. We also discuss the areas Jon and Julio are most excited about as well as net zero commitments and the controversy of offsets.

In today’s episode, we cover:

How Carbon Direct works & its position in the market
Net zero commitments comparison
Assessing a company’s carbon footprint
Jon & Julio’s stances on offsets
Biggest problems facing large companies
Companies’ motivations for working with Carbon Direct
Areas Jon & Julio are most excited about
Carbon Removal vs. Carbon Capture
Where we are now and where we need to go

Links to topics discussed in this episode:

Carbon Removal vs. Carbon Capture: https://www.american.edu/sis/centers/carbon-removal/explaining-carbon-removal.cfm#main-container
Carbon Direct: https://carbon-direct.com/
Net Zero Commitments: https://www.greenbiz.com/article/global-net-zero-commitments-double-less-year

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*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Ep. 130: David Hardy, CEO of Offshore NA at Ørsted Nov 09, 2020

Show notes

Today's guest is David Hardy, CEO of Offshore NA at Ørsted, a Danish energy company.

We talked about a lot in this episode. David walked me through his path to Ørsted and where he sees the company going. We chatted about how the renewables landscape has changed since he first started working in this area, and the path forwards. Then, we had a great discussion about offshore wind, its penetration to date, its future, and how these projects come about and get implemented, at a granular level.

In today’s episode, we cover:

Ørsted's origins
David's background
Past, present, and future of renewables
US v. European wind markets
The U.S. hurdles to developing wind energy in the U.S.
Ørsted's prioritizations of projects
Who is buying the power & how is it being sold
The permitting and regulatory hurdles for offshore wind projects
The role of subsidies and incentives in project development
The request for proposal (RFP) process
Environmental considerations and objections to offshore wind

Links to topics discussed in this episode:

Transporting wind energy: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/u-s-offshore-wind-needs-to-clear-a-key-hurdle-connecting-to-the-grid/
US barriers to wind farms: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-10-01/why-it-s-so-hard-to-build-offshore-wind-farms-in-the-u-s
The future of wind in the US: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/13/us-has-only-one-offshore-wind-farm-but-thats-about-to-change.html

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*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Ep. 129: Rodrigo Prudencio, Worldwide Corporate Development, Amazon Climate Pledge Fund Nov 02, 2020

Show notes

Today's guest is Rodrigo Prudencio, who works in Worldwide Corporate Development at Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund.

We discuss a lot in this episode, including what got Rodrigo initially passionate about climate change, the lessons he learned from the last cleantech wave, what led him back into cleantech and his role at Amazon, and a deep dive into the Climate Pledge Fund, its areas of focus, and how Amazon will measure its success.

This episode was recorded live on October 22, 2020 as part of the Co_Invest Cleantech annual flagship event. We’d like to thank Clean Energy Trust for putting on this event, and allowing us to participate.

In today’s episode, we cover:

Climate Pledge Fund profile, focus areas, and early investments
Rodrigo’s history and background
How cleantech has changed in the years since Rodrigo last focused on it
Key lessons learned from Cleantech 1.0
Amazon’s Climate Pledge
Role of big companies like Amazon in the climate fight
Role of policy and regulation vs innovation
Role of activism
Future of capitalism

Links to topics discussed in this episode:

The Climate Pledge: https://www.theclimatepledge.com/
Amazon’s Carbon Footprint: https://sustainability.aboutamazon.com/environment/sustainable-operations/carbon-footprint
Amazon Sustainability: https://sustainability.aboutamazon.com/
Climate Friendly Badge: https://www.forbes.com/sites/prakashdolsak/2020/10/06/will-amazons-climate-pledge-friendly-label-transform-online-shopping/#743aa58ef9e5
Chamath Palihapitiya Tweet: https://twitter.com/chamath/status/1318910679856807937
Amazon PAC: https://www.eenews.net/stories/1063716163
Carbon Pricing: https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2018/7/20/17584376/carbon-tax-congress-republicans-cost-economy

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*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Ep 128: Adam Browning, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Vote Solar Oct 26, 2020

Show notes

Today's guest is Adam Browning, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Vote Solar.

We cover a lot in this episode from Adam’s beginnings to the future of solar in the U.S. We also dive into how solar works and the potential drawbacks of it. Finally, Adam talks in depth about policy advocacy on the local level and how Prop B came to fruition.

In today’s episode, we cover:

What is Vote Solar and its mission?
How Adam found himself at Vote Solar and in climate.
The origins of Vote Solar.
How the passage of Prop B was a watershed moment in the solar movement in California.
Factors driving down the cost of solar energy.
The organization’s early mission of making solar cheap.
The task of disintermediating the decision-makers to saying ‘yes’ to solar.
The history and progress of clean energy compliance and regulations.
Vote Solar’s definition of success.
Adam’s thoughts on the intermittency problem associated with solar energy.
Adam’s views on sustainability challenges with solar panels.
How most energy regulation is set at the state-level.
Wins Vote Solar has had.
Adam’s belief in the need for a Federal clean energy standard.

Links to topics discussed in this episode:

Vote Solar: https://votesolar.org/
Power for All: https://www.powerforall.org/
Prop B: https://www.sfgate.com/green/article/S-F-could-be-leader-on-solar-energy-Props-B-2864444.php
Bifacial solar panels: https://solarmagazine.com/solar-panels/bifacial-solar-panels/

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*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Ep 127: Andrei Cherny, CEO & Co-Founder of Aspiration Oct 19, 2020

Show notes

In today’s episode, we cover:

What is Aspiration?
Cherny's background & experiences that led him to the idea of Aspiration
Cherny's time working for Al Gore
How banks operate?
Aspiration's model of success
Challenges Aspiration is faced with
Cherny's perspective on fossil fuels & how it applies to banking
Discussion on "do no harm"
Collectivism versus individualism
Divestment versus advocating within the existing systems
How to create change within banking
The power of consumers

Links to topics discussed in this episode:

Banks & The Fossil Fuel Industry: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/mar/18/global-banks-climate-crisis-finance-fossil-fuels
Banks & investments: https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidrvetter/2020/03/18/jpmorgan-chase-tops-dirty-list-of-35-fossil-fuel-funding-banks/#6ef48c215dfe
Carbon Offsets & their controversy: https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/story/carbon-offsets-are-not-our-get-out-jail-free-card

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*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Ep 126: Daniel Kammen, Professor of Energy at the University of California, Berkeley Oct 12, 2020

Show notes

Today's guest is Daniel Kammen, Professor of Energy at the University of California, Berkeley.

We have a long form discussion in this episode about Dan's background, how his perspective on the problem of climate change has evolved over the years and how he thinks about the problem today. Dan's perspective is particularly unique given the diverse background that he brings, which I find super interesting given the systems nature of the problem.

In today’s episode, we cover:

Daniel’s background and early academic career in energy research.
How Daniel’s research has been implemented outside of his lab.
Origins and history of nuclear energy.
The question of nuclear energy as a solution to climate change.
The stigma around nuclear energy and reasons for it.
Tension between proponents of nuclear and advocates of solar.
The possibility and feasibility of going 100% renewable energy.
The prospects of long-term energy storage.
The need for more and lower-cost storage.
The importance of moving climate from the development of science and technology into a social movement.
Daniel’s thoughts on a price of carbon.
The implications of switching from a “dirty” economy to a “clean” one.
How clean energy is aligned with the objectives of social justice.
His recommendations for the next U.S. President in addressing climate change.
Links to topics discussed in this episode:
Daniel’s website: http://kammen.berkeley.edu/
Joe Biden’s Climate Plan: https://joebiden.com/environmental-justice-2/#
Circular economy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circular_economy

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*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Ep 125: Michael Skelly, Sr. Advisor at Lazard and Co-Founder of Horizon Wind Energy Oct 05, 2020

Show notes

In today’s episode, we cover:

Skelly’s background and journey as a renewable energy entrepreneur.
His formative experience in canopy tourism.
The reasons and motives that drove Skelly to get into wind energy.
His reflection on the Industrial Revolution.
What has changed in renewable energy since he first began working in it.
Texas’ experience with renewable energy.
Skelly’s thoughts on existing nuclear energy power plants.
The prospect of putting a price on carbon.
The importance of transmission line infrastructure and the current impediments.
Skelly’s experience running for Congress in Texas.
The Green New Deal and its viability.
The role of big fossil fuel companies in renewable energy.

Links to topics discussed in this episode:

Clean Line Energy Partners: https://www.cleanlineenergy.com/
HBS Profile (with mention of Skelly’s experience in canopy tourism): https://www.alumni.hbs.edu/stories/Pages/story-bulletin.aspx?num=5899
“Factfulness”: https://www.amazon.com/Factfulness-Reasons-World-Things-Better/dp/1250107814
ERCOT: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_Reliability_Council_of_Texas
Form Energy: https://formenergy.com/

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*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Ep 124: Nicolas Pinkowski, Co-Founder of Nitricity Sep 28, 2020

Show notes

Today's guest is Nicolas Pinkowski, Co-Founder of Nitricity.

We cover a lot in this episode, including how Nitricity came to be, the impetus for its founding, progress made to date, and some of the twists and turns along the way. We also discuss the company’s longterm vision and what's coming next. We also touch upon the experience of starting a company within an academic environment and the pros and cons of doing so. Finally, we delve into what society can do to foster more of this type of innovation, that holds promise of delivering both impact and profit.

In today’s episode, we cover:

What is Nitricity?
The background of the team and how they came to work together.
How traditional fertilizers contributes to GHG emissions.
How Nitricity arrived at the problem and discovered a solution.
Experience with taking an entrepreneurial class and how it inspired Nitricity.
The skills needed in developing their prototype.
Pros and cons of prototyping on the farm versus in the lab.
Nitricity’s pitch and value proposition for the farmer.
Nitricity’s business model, expenditures and dependencies.
The company’s financing efforts.
Nitricity’s product vision moving forward.

Links to topics discussed in this episode:

Nitricity: https://www.nitricity.co/
Stanford Energy Ventures: https://energy.stanford.edu/energy-transformation-collaborative
CalTech’s FLOW Competition: https://rocketfund.caltech.edu/
Check out another interview with Nico on the MIT Energy Initiative podcast: http://energy.mit.edu/podcast/2020-mit-clean-energy-prize-winners/

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*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Ep 123: Jason Bordoff, Professor of Professional Practice at Columbia University Sep 21, 2020

Show notes

In today’s episode, we cover:

Jason’s work at SIPA and Center of Global Energy Policy.
Jason’s time in policy in the Clinton and Obama Administrations and Brookings Institute.
SIPA’s mission and how it serves as a resource for decision-makers in the energy industry.
How the challenge among energy and climate policymakers is making research useful and actionable for industry.
How Jason found his way in working on energy at Columbia.
The early-optimism in Obama’s first-term to pass bipartisan legislation to address climate change.
The optimal role for the U.S. in addressing climate change.
What Jason would advocate a potential Biden Administration focus on to address climate change.
The importance of bilateral cooperation, in particular with China, in tackling climate change.
The significance of equity and justice in solving climate change.
The implications of the U.S. passing a carbon price.
How global sentiment toward climate change is encouraging and leading to social mobilization.
The role of the big fossil fuel companies in the clean energy transition.

Links to topics discussed in this episode:

Jason’s Faculty Page: https://sipa.columbia.edu/faculty-research/faculty-directory/jason-bordoff
Columbia’s SIPA: https://sipa.columbia.edu/
Columbia’s Center on Global Energy Policy: https://energypolicy.columbia.edu/
“Earth Day at 50 Reveals What’s Missing in Climate Change Fight”: https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/04/21/earth-day-50th-anniversary-climate-change/

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*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Ep 122: Tim Latimer, Co-Founder & CEO of Fervo Energy Sep 14, 2020

Show notes

Today's guest is Tim Latimer, Co-Founder and CEO of Fervo Energy.

This is the first episode that I've done putting geothermal front and center, and Tim does a great job in this discussion of providing an overview of geothermal technology. I learn why it matters, where it is in its evolution, where it needs to get to and the barriers holding it back. We also talk a bunch about Tim's journey from starting as a drilling engineer, working in the Permian and Eagle Four Basins, to now being laser-focused on thermal technology and the clean energy transition. I really enjoyed this one and I hope you do as well.

You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at info@myclimatejourney.co, where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.

In today’s episode, we cover:

What is Fervo and what was its genesis?
The origins of Tim’s interest in climate change.
Tim’s early work experience in the fossil fuel industry as an oil-drilling engineer.
How the vision of energy independence and coal-alternatives enticed him to enter the oil industry.
The epiphany that prompted him to leave the fossil fuel industry and explore geothermal energy.
Tim’s realization that the bottleneck for geothermal development is financing not research.
Tim’s experience at Stanford Graduate School of Business and his decision to go all in on Fervo Energy.
How geothermal systems work and what has historically hampered development outside of select countries.
Fervo’s new horizontal-drilling approach and heat-flow distribution technique.
Fervo Energy’s business model and its services.
How geothermal offers a carbon-free renewable energy without the challenges of intermittency.
Goal of developing first operational facility by 2021.
How lands rights are treated.
How geothermal can compensate for the night-time intermittency issue that has come with the growth of solar energy.
The role of storage as it relates to geothermal energy.
How Tim sees areas of risk for Fervo.
What success looks like for Fervo.

Links to topics discussed in this episode:

Fervo Energy: https://www.fervoenergy.com/
MIT: “The Future of Geothermal Energy”: http://energy.mit.edu/research/future-geothermal-energy/
TomKat Center at Stanford: https://tomkat.stanford.edu/
Cyclotron Road: https://www.cyclotronroad.org/
California’s SB100 Regulation: https://www.energy.ca.gov/sb100
Geothermal Risk Mitigation Fund For East Africa: https://grmf-eastafrica.org/

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*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

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