Inevitable

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Ep 121: Bryce Smith, Founder & CEO at LevelTen Energy Sep 07, 2020

Show notes

Today's guest is Bryce Smith, Founder & CEO at LevelTen Energy.

We have a great discussion in this episode about Bryce's career and experience, what brought him into the energy world, and what led him to founding LevelTen. We talk about the vision of LevelTen, the company’s origin story, the products they've had to date, and what types of things are coming next. And we have a great discussion about the energy marketplace and how the projects LevelTen facilitates are helping to usher the transition to renewable energy.

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 LevelTen Energy and its mission?
The pain point of the renewable energy developers LevelTen serves.
What is a PPA and why it’s sought by energy developers?
The role of the utility companies in renewable energy development.
Why the analogy of the “Zillow for energy contracts” is apt.
LevelTen’s value proposition for energy developers and energy-seeking companies.
Why it matters what type of energy is entered into the electricity grid.
How Bryce thinks of carbon reduction in the electricity grid.
What has motivate the corporate shift to renewable energy.
The technical and political challenges to growing renewable energy adoption.
The role carbon pricing might play in driving renewable energy innovation
What Bryce sees as the future prospects of renewable energy.
The NIMBY-ism that developers have had to contend with.
The varied landscape of the renewable energy developer market.
How the next movement in climate tech will be in carbon capture.
How support from policy and government is critical to advance renewable energy.

Links to topics discussed in this episode:

LevelTen Energy: https://leveltenenergy.com/
Power Purchase Agreement (PPA): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_purchase_agreement
One Energy: https://www.oneenergyrenewables.com/

Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@ovr.vc.

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

Ep 120: Nan Ransohoff & Ryan Orbuch, Stripe Climate Team Sep 04, 2020

Show notes

Today's guests are Nan Ransohoff & Ryan Orbuch, members of Stripe’s Climate team.

Nan and Ryan work on the Climate team at Stripe, and I was very excited for the opportunity to interview them. While it’s not a climate company, Stripe recognizes that climate change poses a long term risk to its mission of growing the GDP of the Internet. As a result, Stripe is doing a number of things that I think are fascinating. For one, it’s treating the climate team like a product team. The company embraces a culture of experimentation and, as part of that, it’s leaning into negative emissions. The company has been transparent in its efforts, open sourcing much of its work. Second, Stripe is figuring out how to include merchants in its efforts to decarbonize. I can't wait to see what Stripe does in climate over time. It's a fascinating company, and a great discussion.

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 discussion, we cover:

Nan’s and Ryan’s respective backgrounds and how it lead them to climate.
What is Stripe and its mission?
Stripe’s negative emissions commitment.
How did Stripe go about learning about climate?
The Stripe Climate team and how it operates.
Purchasing an offset vs. a negative emission.
Stripe’s project purchases and its selection process.
How Stripe thinks of the policy landscape and its role in it.
How much focus is spent on helping other businesses with negative emissions and reducing its own emissions.

Links to topics discussed in this episode:

Stripe’s 2019 negative emissions announcement: https://stripe.com/blog/negative-emissions-commitment
Ryan’s climate blog post (lists project purchases): https://stripe.com/blog/first-negative-emissions-purchases
45Q Tax Credit: https://www.betterenergy.org/blog/primer-section-45q-tax-credit-for-carbon-capture-projects/
Stripe Negative Emissions Source Material on Github: https://github.com/stripe/negative-emissions-source-materials
Stripe is looking to add a designer and operations manager to the climate team: climate@stripe.com

Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@ovr.vc.

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

Ep 119: Rep. Sean Casten, Illinois’ 6th Congressional District Aug 31, 2020

Show notes

In today’s episode, we cover:

Sean’s experience as an entrepreneur.
Sean’s background in science and his interest in climate change.
How business revealed to him the regulatory and legislative barriers related to climate development.
How his father and his work in cogeneration plants influenced his interest in biofuels and climate.
The challenges faced by mission-driven energy companies.
Why he feels, in general, the tech component is overstated as a barrier.
Why deployment of technology is the real challenge.
How Sean transitioned from business to politics.
Why framing climate change, in a way that appeals to constituents’ specific interests, is key.
The specific areas of the Green New Deal he takes issue with.
How the needs of addressing climate change far exceed what’s politically possible currently.
Why critical issues, like climate change, cannot be decided by the majority.
What Sean recommends concerned citizens should do to address climate change.
What Sean believes the U.S. needs to do to address climate change.

Links to topics discussed in this episode:

Website: https://casten.house.gov/about
Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Casten
Recycled Energy Development: http://www.recycled-energy.com/
IMF Fossil Fuel Subsidy Report: https://www.imf.org/en/Topics/Environment/energy-subsidies
Green New Deal: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_New_Deal

Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@ovr.vc.

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

Ep 118: Andrew Salzberg, Loeb Fellow at Harvard University Graduate School of Design Aug 24, 2020

Show notes

Today's guest is Andrew Salzberg, Loeb Fellow at Harvard University Graduate School of Design.

I was excited for this one, because transportation is such a key lever in decarbonization and one that we haven't yet spent enough time talking about here on the pod. We cover a lot in this episode, including an overview of the transportation ecosystem, where we are today, where we need to go and what are some of the barriers that have been holding us back. We also talk about the arc of Andrew's career and his time at Uber. I enjoyed this one a lot 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:

Andrew’s early passion in transit and transportation.
His background in civil engineering and urban planning.
His experience working in China on urban development.
Andrew’s time at Uber.
His perspective on where the U.S. is with respect to climate change.
How transportation behavior is hampering progress on emissions.
The role of ride share companies and the impact of autonomous vehicles.
His impetus for leaving Uber.
The importance of localizing action to improve transportation.
The big transportation levers that should be pulled to address climate change.
The challenges around local regulations and NIMBYism and the need to overcome it.
Lyft’s recent announcement to go 100% EV by 2030.
How the government needs to lead the decarbonization of transportation.

Links to topics discussed in this episode:

Loeb Fellow Profile: https://loebfellowship.gsd.harvard.edu/fellows-alumni/fellows-search/andrewsalzberg/
Transport for London: https://tfl.gov.uk/
House Democrats’ climate proposal: https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/06/30/pelosi-climate-plan/
Lyft’s pledge to go 100% EV by 2030: https://www.lyft.com/blog/posts/leading-the-transition-to-zero-emissions

Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@ovr.vc.

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

Ep 117: H2 Debate with Gene Berdichevsky & Jigar Shah Aug 17, 2020

Show notes

In today’s debate, we cover:

What is hydrogen?
How is it used and why is it important?
Jigar’s and Gene’s respective background as it relates to hydrogen
The applications and costs associated with hydrogen
What competes with hydrogen in the energy market
The necessity of a price on carbon as it relates to hydrogen
What the natural gas boom says about hydrogen’s future
Initiatives Jigar and Gene would respectively recommend the government to employ
Predictions of hydrogen looking a decade out

Links to topics discussed in this episode:

“Power To The People”: https://www.amazon.com/Power-People-Revolution-Transform-Industry/dp/0374236755
“Helping Walmart Meet Sustainability Goals with Fuel Cell Technology”: https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/sustainability/20140516/helping-walmart-meet-sustainability-goals-with-fuel-cell-technology

Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@ovr.vc.

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

Ep 116: Philip Behn, CEO of Imperfect Foods Aug 10, 2020

Show notes

Today's guest is Philip Behn, CEO of Imperfect Foods.

In today’s episode, we cover:

What is Imperfect Foods and its mission
Imperfect Foods’ achievements in terms of customers-served and food waste recovered
The company’s origin story
Philip’s journey in food and how he joined Imperfect Foods
What he learned during his stints at McKinsey and Walmart
Imperfect Foods’ value proposition
The landscape of the food waste problem
How the resources spent on food waste has compounding effects
The artificial standards of produce “beauty” that lead to some food waste
How Imperfect Foods’ mission is aligned with addressing climate change
Why there’s controversy with Imperfect Foods’ business
Imperfect Foods’ current and future portfolio of offerings
The specific overlap between food waste and climate change
The role of government in addressing climate change
Philip’s perspective on carbon offsets

Links to topics discussed in this episode:

Imperfect Foods: https://www.imperfectfoods.com/
Food Recovery Network: https://www.foodrecoverynetwork.org/
(Yale Climate Connection) “Food waste starts long before food gets to your plate”: https://www.yaleclimateconnections.org/2019/05/food-waste-has-crucial-climate-impacts/

Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@ovr.vc.

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

Ep 115: May Boeve, Executive Director & Co-Founder of 350.org Aug 03, 2020

Show notes

Today's guest is May Boeve, Executive Director & Co-Founder of 350.org.

We have a great discussion in this episode about May's roots in activism and in fighting to combat global warming, where that came from, how it came about, and how her thinking on these topics has evolved over the past decade. We also talk about the current state of affairs in the climate movement and in the world, where we need to go, and what are some of the things that can be most impactful for helping us get there. Enjoy the show!

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 350.org and its mission?
May’s early experience in activism at Middlebury College.
How the climate crisis and the movement to address has changed over the past decade.
The intersectionality of climate change with other social ills.
The silver-lining of the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of global attention on a singular problem.
How 350.org’s focus has centered on divestment from fossil fuel companies.
The role of 350.org, its team and its volunteers play in its activism.
Why the climate risk to financial markets represents an opportunity to advance the goals of a “just transition.”
How clean energy can be a solution to “energy poverty.”
Why the transition of the fossil fuel industry to clean energy is not enough to reverse the damage the industry inflicts on the world.
Divestment in fossil fuel companies vs. engagement.
Why the fossil fuel industry is a dishonest broker and unreliable partner in addressing climate change.
Solutions that excite and give May hope.
How the focus of 350 has been influenced by the recent tension and movement for racial justice.

Links to topics discussed in this episode:

350.org: https://350.org/
“Just Transition”: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_Transition
“Energy Poverty”: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_poverty
Belt and Road Initiative: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belt_and_Road_Initiative
Bill McKibben’s pieces in Rolling Stone Magazine: https://www.rollingstone.com/author/bill-mckibben/
As You Sew: https://www.asyousow.org/
“Two-Year Long Investigation: What Exxon Knew About Climate Change” (Columbia Journalism School): https://journalism.columbia.edu/two-year-long-investigation-what-exxon-knew-about-climate-change
The Solutions Project: https://thesolutionsproject.org/
Overton Window: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overton_window

Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@ovr.vc.

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

Ep 114: Phil Bredesen, Former Governor of Tennessee Jul 27, 2020

Show notes

Today's guest is Phil Bredesen, Former Governor of Tennessee.

This is a fascinating discussion because I haven't come across many people who have made the transition from entrepreneurship to politics back to entrepreneurship. But Governor Bredesen has danced back and forth in both of these areas quite successfully over a long illustrious career. We also have a great discussion about climate change, its impact, the best path forward and what levers we've got to solve it. And which ones governor Bredesen is most excited about. Enjoy the show!

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:

His motivation for getting involved in climate change
How his interest in climate evolved from his upbringing and his tenure as governor working on conservation
His realization that solar was more than just a source of renewable energy
How electrical generation and transportation represent the lowest-hanging and largest GHG-reduction opportunity
The mission behind founding Clearloop
His thoughts on the role of the private sector in addressing the emissions crisis
His career beginning as a healthcare entrepreneur to politics
His founding of Silicon Ranch, the company’s mission and the interests of its customers
What he saw as being broken in the landscape of offset solutions
How attempting to address climate change with lifestyle changes is an uphill battle
How improving battery storage and nuclear represent impactful solutions to climate
His skepticism that a price on carbon will make a measurable difference
The role of government in addressing climate change
The need to frame the benefits of renewables and clean technologies
How the Manhattan Project analogy is not appropriate given what needs to happen with climate
Why he views the Green New Deal as impracticable

Links to topics discussed in this episode:

Silicon Ranch: https://www.siliconranch.com/
Clearloop: https://clearloop.us/
Green New Deal: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_New_Deal
“Disarming ourselves in the fight against climate change”: https://www.greenbiz.com/article/disarming-ourselves-fight-against-climate-change

Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@ovr.vc.

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

Ep 113: Katie Rae, CEO & Managing Partner of The Engine Jul 20, 2020

Show notes

In today’s episode, we cover:

The benefits of partnering with MIT in founding The Engine
The mission and vision of The Engine
The Engine’s focus on “tough tech” and the role it plays as a backer of it
How The Engine compares with a typical VC firm and important differences that makes it unique
How Katie landed at The Engine after a long career in technology and investing
The role MIT plays at The Engine
The relationship between The Engine and its portfolio companies
The cross-functional resources The Engine brings to bear on behalf of its companies
Katie’s perspective on balancing investor returns and organizational mission
The criteria The Engine uses in selecting companies in which to invest
How VC has become more MBA-driven than science-driven and the neglect of “tough tech”
The biggest gap in the financing landscape for “tough tech”
The overlap between The Engine’s style of investing and the style popularized on Sand Hill Road
What The Engine’s LPs think of the incubator’s hybrid impact and returns mission
What Katie thinks of “impact investing”
How Katie would allocate a $100B to deliver impact
The durability of “tough tech”

Links to topics discussed in this episode:

The Engine: https://www.engine.xyz/
Public Benefit Corporation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public-benefit_corporation
Blended Finance: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blended_finance

Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@ovr.vc.

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

Ep 112: Rebecca Henderson, John and Natty McArthur University Professor at Harvard University Jul 13, 2020

Show notes

Today's guest is Rebecca Henderson, John and Natty McArthur University Professor at Harvard University.

We also talk a lot about climate change, how to think about the problem, the path forward, and most importantly how Rebecca came to be doing this work to begin with. She has a fascinating journey, and I know it was helpful for me as I'm navigating my own journey. I hope you find it helpful too. Enjoy the show!

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:

Her work at the Harvard Business School
Her journey to research climate change and studying purpose-driven organizations
Her latest book, “Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire”
The genesis of her focus on climate change
Her work setting up the first course on sustainability at MIT
Her initial perspective that climate change is fixable and that business would be central to the solutions
How her views have changed since she first studied climate change
Why a price on carbon has not manifested
How the political dynamics and rampant denialism were unexpected barriers to a price on carbon
Her findings on the role of entrepreneurship, anti-trust and initial government demand in the progress of innovation
How carbon pricing has affected other countries
Optimism for policy opportunities to price and tax carbon
How job creation and credits can make a price on carbon more politically palatable
How the dominance of passive investing has contributed to more sustainable-focused investments
How individual behavior and consumption habits will have to change to respond to climate change
The role of fossil fuel companies in addressing climate change
The strategy of engagement versus divestment to influence corporations’ response to climate
How capitalism has become a “master” instead of a “servant” to delivering progress
Her views on the Green New Deal
Her assessment of the partisan and social divide when it comes to taking action on climate change
How climate education and political lobbying represent critical levers to moving the needle on climate change

Links to topics discussed in this episode:

“Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire” : https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/rebecca-henderson/reimagining-capitalism-in-a-world-on-fire/9781541730151
Prof. Henderson’s Faculty Page: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/profile.aspx?facId=12345
“Accelerating Energy Innovation: Insights from Multiple Sectors”: https://www.nber.org/papers/w16529
Harvard University’s Climate Action Plan: https://green.harvard.edu/campaign/harvards-climate-action-plan
Iberdrola: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iberdrola
Enel: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enel
Shell’s net-zero announcement: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/apr/16/shell-unveils-plans-to-become-net-zero-carbon-company-by-2050

Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@ovr.vc.

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

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