The Squeaky Clean Energy Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 85: Cutting-Edge Innovations in EVs & Energy Storage in North Carolina’s Backyard Feb 03, 2023

Show notes

Imagine a future where EVs can travel 50% further with batteries that are cheaper than they are today. What if that future was being led by research and development stemming out of North Carolina? Well that’s exactly what we’re covering on this episode of the Squeaky Clean Energy Podcast, where we feature an interview with Dr. Glen Merfeld, Chief Technology Officer with Albemarle. Tune in to hear about the exciting investments they’re making right here in North Carolina, and the innovations they have in store for the next generation of storage technologies. Additional resources from today’s episode: Albemarle Technology Park Announcement: https://prn.to/3DD56vI NCSEA’s CLE Event: https://bit.ly/3joHgfS Building Code Council Meeting: https://bit.ly/3wT2ztD Customer Clean Energy Programs Filed: https://bit.ly/3l5ZCmO Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele) Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast.

Episode 84: What Caused the Elliott Outages? Renewables? Nope…guess again. Jan 19, 2023

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On episode 84, we’re highlighting what really happened during Winter Storm Elliott, which led to millions of customers without power across the southeast. Despite some who were quick to blame renewables, the outages actually were caused by natural gas and coal plants, forecasting miscalculations, and issues importing power from neighboring states. We talk with Simon Mahan of the Southern Renewable Energy Association about what really happened and what can be done in the future to prevent similar outages from occurring. Additional resources from today’s episode: NCSEA’s CLE Event: https://bit.ly/3joHgfS Winter Storm Elliott Coverage: https://bit.ly/3wgnUgo Southern Renewable Energy Association: https://www.southernrenewable.org/ Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele) Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast.

Episode 83: North Carolina’s Carbon Plan is Here – All the Deets Jan 13, 2023

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Episode 83 of the Squeaky Clean Energy Podcast is the episode you’ve been waiting for. The Carbon Plan order from the NC Utilities Commission is finally here and we’re diving into all the details. How does it compare to what advocates asked for? Does it set us on a path to 2030 emissions reduction compliance? Does this mean more fossil generation in North Carolina? All your questions and more answered by Tyler Norris of Cypress Creek Renewables, Taylor Jones of NCSEA, and Ben Smith of Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton. Additional resources from today’s episode: NC Utilities Commission Carbon Plan Order: https://bit.ly/3GiiMwE SELC/NCSEA Press Release on Carbon Plan Order: https://bit.ly/3i9OyUA Carbon Plan Analysis from CPSA: https://bit.ly/3QFOcSk NCSEA’s Carbon Plan Webinar: https://bit.ly/3XyQZiN Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele) Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast.

Episode 82: Green Light— North Carolina is Ready for EVs, Are You? Jan 05, 2023

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The first episode of 2023 features a conversation with Shakaya Cooper, Program Associate at Generation180. We delve into findings from the organization’s recent report ‘North Carolina Drives Electric 2022’ to highlight consumer readiness for EVs across the state. In fact, over half of North Carolinians are likely to consider an EV for their next vehicle, getting us one step closer to Governor Cooper’s goal of 1.25 million EVs on the road by 2030. Tune in to learn more about the report, effective mechanisms to incentivize EV adoption, and the many benefits that transportation electrification offers our state moving forward. Generation180’s North Carolina Drives Electric Report: https://bit.ly/3QfjRdl NC Utilities Commission Carbon Plan Order: https://bit.ly/3GiiMwE SELC/NCSEA Press Release on Carbon Plan Order: https://bit.ly/3i9OyUA Duke Energy’s Rolling Blackouts: https://bit.ly/3ZaRW23 NCSEA’s CLE Event: https://bit.ly/3joHgfS Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele) Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast.

Episode 81: Middle of the Pack— NC’s Energy Efficiency Report Card Dec 22, 2022

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On the final episode of the year, we are joined by Sagarika Subramanian, Senior Research Analyst at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). She shares results from the most recent report card on North Carolina’s energy efficiency efforts and discusses the common threads of top performing states. Our conversation covers the latest in energy efficiency trends and the roles that policy, building codes, utility market structure, and equity play for national leaders in the space. Tune in to learn how North Carolina stacks up and discover ways that we can improve moving forward. Additional resources from today’s episode: NC Utilities Commission Carbon Plan Docket: https://bit.ly/3WiwPci NCSEA’s CLE Event: https://bit.ly/3joHgfS Past Clean Energy Champions Episodes: https://bit.ly/3WxY1ng, https://bit.ly/3VpHFwc Clean Energy Champions Event Winners: https://bit.ly/3FPIZCH ACEEE State Energy Efficiency Scorecard: https://bit.ly/3WjlSrd North Carolina’s Scorecard: https://bit.ly/3G8jjCD Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele) Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast.

Episode 80: Aligning Customer & Utility Interests: Lessons from PG&E’s Shortcomings Nov 04, 2022

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On the 80th episode of the podcast, we bring on Wall Street Journal Reporter Katherine Blunt to unearth the issues that arise when a utility neglects grid maintenance and community resilience in pursuit of profits. On this episode we cover how a series of regulatory and corporate missteps led to the deadliest wildlife in California’s history. We then contextualize this situation for the grid and energy system in North Carolina and the southeast, and talk more about our own challenges with increasingly severe flooding and hurricanes. Additional resources from today’s episode: 2022 North Carolina Clean Jobs Report: https://bit.ly/3h9D3M7 Governor Cooper’s EO 271: https://bit.ly/3U0R3WV NC MHD MOU: https://bit.ly/3t0rh9i WFAE Story on EO271 and NC’s Advanced Clean Trucks Rule: https://bit.ly/3sW3lE8 Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele) Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast.

Episode 79: #InflationReductionAct – Getting the Funds to Those Who Need it Most Oct 21, 2022

Show notes

Earlier this fall, we headed down to Atlanta for the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance’s (SEEA) Southeast Energy Summit to delve into the complexities of distributing funds from the IRA, environmental and housing justice, and considerations for overarching systemic change. In this live-recorded conversation, we are joined by Joe Gehrdes, Director of Community Relations for Huntsville Utilities, and Odetta MacLeish-White, Director of Georgia Initiatives at the Center for Community Progress, to discuss solutions to these pressing issues. Check out this episode to learn more about the importance of equitably engaging with historically disadvantaged communities and how to effectively address the energy burden in the southern US and beyond. Additional resources from today’s episode: Making Energy Work (Oct. 25-27, 2022): https://www.makingenergywork.com/ Huntsville Utilities: https://www.hsvutil.org/ Center for Community Progress: https://communityprogress.org/ Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele) Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast.

Episode 78: The Big Fix—A Citizen’s Guide to Carbon Neutrality Sep 29, 2022

Show notes

On this episode, Justin Gillis of The New York Times and Hal Harvey of Energy Innovation talk about their new book, The Big Fix: 7 Practical Steps to Save Our Planet. In the conversation, the authors highlight inspirational carbon emission reduction stories at the state and local level and ways in which clean energy solutions can transcend political divide. We also discuss the interplay of the seven areas most critical to focus carbon cutting efforts — electricity, transportation, buildings, industry, urbanization, use of land, and investment. Tune in to hear these stories and how they offer comprehensive, scalable strategies for clean energy policy in North Carolina! Additional resources from today’s episode: The Big Fix: 7 Practical Steps to Save Our Planet by Hal Harvey and Justin Gillis: https://bit.ly/3Svrnk0 Making Energy Work: www.makingenergywork.com NCUC Carbon Plan Proceedings: https://bit.ly/3dPhLlt Episode presented by: https://kilpatricktownsend.com/ Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele). Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast.

Episode 77: Conserving the Clean Energy Future Sep 12, 2022

Show notes

On episode 77, Representative John Szoka reflects on his time in the NC General Assembly and how clean energy has become a staple of his legacy in the state. We talk through his journey from being a non-supporter to strong supporter of clean energy technology and the important role it plays in the generation mix to ensure reliability while keeping prices low. We also talk about the path both HB589 and HB951 took to receive the Governor’s signature. Tune in to find out what’s next for Representative John Szoka! Additional resources from today’s episode: Making Energy Work: www.makingenergywork.com Episode presented by: https://kilpatricktownsend.com/ Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele) Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast.

Episode 76: From the Ground Up - Better Plans to Achieve a Carbon-Free 2050 Aug 26, 2022

Show notes

On the latest episode, we’re joined by a group of carbon plan intervenors who discuss more cost-effective pathways to achieving meaningful emissions reductions in North Carolina. Tyler Norris of Cypress Creek Renewables, David Neal of the Southern Environmental Law Center, and Adrienne Mouton-Henderson of the Clean Energy Buyers Association break down why Duke Energy’s proposed carbon plan doesn’t go far enough. Further, our guests talk about the importance of proactive transmission planning and large customer renewable programs, as well as the cost-effectiveness of clean energy as compared to other generation sources. Making Energy Work: www.makingenergywork.com Synapse Carbon Plan: https://bit.ly/3cqmBVO Brattle Group Study: https://bit.ly/3AVxHLN CEBA Carbon Plan Comments: https://bit.ly/3R6hE3i Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele) Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast.

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