The Squeaky Clean Energy Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 46: B1 (with the Force) of Clean Energy [Part 2] Apr 07, 2021

Show notes

On this episode, we’re continuing our conversations on the stakeholder processes directed by the NC Clean Energy Plan. This time around though we’re focused on the North Carolina Energy Regulatory or B1 process. We sat down with Josh Brooks, formerly of RMI and now with Brooksform LLC to talk about the stakeholder processes that took place over the past year and the final report of recommendations published right before the end of 2020. If you’re interested in the topic of regulatory reform, than this episode is for you. To read the final B1 report, check out the NC DEQ website: https://files.nc.gov/ncdeq/climate-change/clean-energy-plan/2020-NERP-Final-Report.pdf Also, we’re introducing a new segment this time around – The North Carolina Solar Traveler. Daniel Pate, NCSEA’s Energy Program Manager will take us on a virtual tour of clean energy projects installed throughout the state of North Carolina and share some fun facts about the region along the way. On today’s episode we’re focused on Duplin County and the 65MW Warsaw solar project: https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/coastal/news/2016/04/6/warsaw-solar-facility Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele)

Episode 45: A1 - We're Talking Carbon, Not the Steak Sauce (Part 1) Mar 18, 2021

Show notes

On this episode, we’re chatting with Kate Konschnik, Climate & Energy Director at the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions about the A1 recommendation from North Carolina’s Clean Energy Plan – decarbonizing the electric sector. Kate dives in and tells us more about the process and stakeholders in the room, along with some highlights from the final report titled ‘Power Sector Carbon Reduction: An Evaluation of Policies for North Carolina.’ To read the report that provides a menu of potential policy options to help the state reach our carbon goals, visit the link here: https://nicholasinstitute.duke.edu/sites/default/files/publications/Power-Sector-Carbon-Reduction-An-Evaluation-of-Policies-for-North-Carolina-Revised.pdf Stay tuned for part 2 of this episode focused on the B1 stakeholder process coming out two weeks from now! Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele)

Episode 44: Real Talk – Equity Diversity and Inclusiveness in Clean Energy Mar 04, 2021

Show notes

On this episode, we’re talking about a topic that has been top of mind for a lot of people since the senseless killing of George Floyd last summer – systemic racism. We’ll address this topic and how it relates to clean energy. We have a chance to talk with Yuri Horwitz, CEO of Sol Systems, along with Sarah Slusser, CEO of Cypress Creek about the Renewables Forward Initiative and their efforts to address these issues through an industry-wide collaboration. We’ll also talk with Rebecca Chilton and Allan Odour at Leyline Renewable Capital about their recently instated Leyline Addressing Racism program. To find out more about the current status and accomplishments of the program, you can check out Leyline’s recently published Q4 2020 report on racial equity, environmental impact, and social change: https://leylinecapital.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Leyline-ESG-Report-Q4-2020.pdf Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele)

Episode 43 – We’re Off to the Offshore Races (Part 2) + Texas Takeaways Feb 18, 2021

Show notes

We’re jumping right back in and diving in deep on the topic of offshore wind. Make sure you check out part 1 of this episode, before giving this a listen. In part 2, we continue our conversation with Abby Watson of Siemens Gamesa to talk about offshore wind manufacturing and the importance of a robust supply chain to the growth of the industry in the United States. We wrap up by talking to John Hardin of the NC Department of Commerce to highlight some of the recent developments from the state in support of the offshore wind industry. And in a special addition to this week's episode - Ivan Urlaub of NCSEA joins us to break down what really happened in Texas this week. More information on the offshore wind supply chain analysis and NC’s offshore wind MOU: https://www.nccommerce.com/business/key-industries-north-carolina/energy/offshore-wind-industry Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele)

Episode 42: We're Off to the Offshore Races (Part 1) Feb 08, 2021

Show notes

On episode 42 we’re exploring the depths of offshore wind and covering all the angles. On this episode, we talk with Eric Thumma of Avangrid Renewables, who provides an update on the current status of offshore wind development in the state and a quick recap of the already developed wind farm in Eastern North Carolina. We also sit down with Abby Watson of Siemens Gamesa to talk about offshore wind manufacturing and the importance of a robust supply chain to the growth of the industry in the United States. More information on the offshore wind supply chain analysis and NC’s offshore wind MOU: https://www.nccommerce.com/business/key-industries-north-carolina/energy/offshore-wind-industry #PateOnThePod News Articles: http://my40.tv/news/local/coalition-wants-to-use-group-purchase-campaign-to-make-solar-power-affordable-in-buncombe-county?utm_source=Energy+News+Network+daily+email+digests&utm_campaign=c182ecad7a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_05_11_11_39_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_724b1f01f5-c182ecad7a-89273063 https://www.charlotteagenda.com/245663/demand-for-solar-panels-surges-in-north-carolina/ The 42nd episode is brought to you by Moseley Architects, a full service architecture & engineering firm with offices in both Raleigh and Charlotte. Moseley Architects is a 2018 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year and has designed more than 140 LEED certified buildings. For more information check out @MoseleyArch on Twitter or visit moseleyarchitects.com. Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele)

Episode 41: We’ve Got a Lot of Solar…Now Let’s Talk Jobs Jan 21, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of the Squeaky Clean Energy Podcast, we’re joined by D’Artagnan Beets, Workforce Development Project Lead at the Center 4 Energy Education, to talk about jobs, education, and training within the clean energy industry in North Carolina. We dive in to urgent workforce needs in the state to support the continued development and growth of utility-scale solar, while outlining the need to continue to diversify the workers supporting these efforts. To find out more about workforce training programs in NC, including K-12 programs, visit center4ee.org. #PateOnThePod News Articles: https://www.publicnewsservice.org/2021-01-15/energy-policy/poll-most-nc-voters-support-offshore-wind-100-clean-energy/a72813-1 https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2021/01/19/duke-energy-sees-solar-rebates-claimed-immediately.html?ana=e_me_prem&j=90546808&t=Morning&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiT0dKa1pXVXhZekkzTnpRMiIsInQiOiJTREVBVnhZdkdQbXJ2S3djcGg4czlmcUgxdEtFU0xWS3BZYWxGZjNHWjFTNDNcL0h5MHZNNEVYNmhJNHNycVJpVkR2QUF4QmNJK2dPY1RMTUlTQlRcL2xjZVUxQWVaRk5oMHY0N0lsQllQUTJybENZYnJVZWI3a1dXRkxLK3AzRDdCIn0%3D The 41st episode is brought to you by Moseley Architects, a full service architecture & engineering firm with offices in both Raleigh and Charlotte. Moseley Architects is a 2018 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year and has designed more than 140 LEED certified buildings. For more information check out @MoseleyArch on Twitter or visit moseleyarchitects.com. Additional Support for this week’s podcast comes from TS Designs, a Burlington, North Carolina based company creating sustainable t-shirts from sustainable US supply chains since 1977. Learn more about TS Designs' newly launched Solid State Clothing and 10,000 Pounds of Cotton Project, created to transfer power to U.S. cotton farmers and to you as a conscious consumer. Learn more at tsdesigns.com. Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele)

Episode 40: Squeaky Clean is Over the Hill and We Had Quite the Guest List at our Birthday Party Dec 22, 2020

Show notes

Join us on the final episode of 2020, as we look back and recap the speakers who joined us in our ten-part, six month long Making Energy Work webinar series. On today’s episode we’re taking a clean energy train ride through topics from net metering to creative financing for LMI communities and wrapping up with a special keynote guest. Throughout this virtual 2020 journey we were joined by the likes of Jeff St. John from Greentech Media, Holmes Hummel of Clean Energy Works, Sushma Masemore of NC DEQ, Jigar Shah of the Energy Gang, and Amory Lovins of Rocky Mountain Institute. We’re tuning into the highlights of these webinars, but for full recordings you can join NCSEA as a member today: energync.org/join. Enjoy your Squeaky Clean holidays! We’ll see you in 2021! Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele)

Episode 39: Let’s Celebrate the End of 2020…and Some Clean Energy Champions Too! Dec 10, 2020

Show notes

On this episode of the Squeaky Clean Energy Podcast we’re joined by our friends Susan Monroe, Director of Economic Development with the Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy, and Laurie Barnhart, Executive Director of Conservatives for Clean Energy – North Carolina, to talk about some of the outstanding businesses and legislators supporting clean energy here in our state. We recap the award winners of the 2020 Clean Energy Champions event, talk a little bit of NASCAR, and salivate over the eastern North Carolina brewed beers from Mother Earth Brewery. To find out more about this year’s clean energy champions and to view the event, visit cleanenergyconservatives.com. In this episode, we also give a special shoutout to NCSEA’s Annual Member Award Winners as well. The 39th episode is proudly supported by CompostNow. With their home, office, and food service composting programs, CompostNow members have diverted over 26 million pounds of compostables from the landfill creating over 8 million pounds of nutrient-rich compost for local use! Get started on your composting journey at compostnow.org. Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele)

Episode 38: The Results are In…Clean Energy is a Winner Nov 20, 2020

Show notes

On this episode of the Squeaky Clean Energy Podcast we’re joined by NCSEA lobbyists Julie Robinson and Betsy McCorkle to break down the results of the 2020 elections in North Carolina and how those results might impact clean energy. Tune in to hear about the future of the Clean Energy Plan under a second term Cooper Administration, along with additional opportunities for clean energy legislation at the NC General Assembly. We say goodbye to some longtime clean energy friendly legislators, welcome back some clean energy champions, and say hello to the new faces at the General Assembly. The 38th episode is proudly supported by Larry’s Coffee, who would like to share that their Rockin Holiday blend is now available. Go to LarrysCoffee.com to explore! Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele)

Episode 37: We're Going Back to School Nov 05, 2020

Show notes

On episode 37, we’re sitting down with Katie Lebrato of NC GreenPower to learn more about their Solar+ Schools program. Collectively, the program has already installed PV systems at 42 schools across the state, leading to nearly 150 million pounds of greenhouse gases mitigated by these and other carbon offset projects. Even further, over 31,000 students have already had a chance to learn more about solar and clean energy through the grant program to date. Tune in to hear how voluntary contributions through utility bills to the Solar+ Schools program are inspiring the clean energy workforce of the future, while deploying more solar on the grid. To find out more about the Solar+ Schools program and to donate, visit: https://www.ncgreenpower.org/solar-schools/. Also, mentioned in today’s episode is the Duke Energy Renewable Advantage program: https://www.duke-energy.com/Business/Products/Renewable-Advantage?jur=NC01 Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele)

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