Behind The Switch: Recent Episodes
An educational podcast about the electric industry presented by Synapse Energy Economics and Climable.org
Welcome to Behind The Switch! We are an energy industry podcast focusing on communicating complex and current issues in the electricity industry to a wide audience in stand-alone mini-series. Sponsored by Synapse Energy Economics and Climable.org, our goal is to harness a unique expertise in the energy world to be able to elaborate upon all of the ways that decisions behind your electricity switch impact your life on a day to day basis.
Welcome back to Behind The Switch with Deylin! This is a mini-series within Behind the Switch, a podcast produced by Climable. In this episode, our guest host, Deylin, catches up with former Climable intern, Pepper Schneekloth. Pepper had a great time with Climable and, at the time of recording this episode (spring 2023), she was in the midst of another internship experience. She's now finishing up her degree at Northeastern University where she is studying environmental and sustainability science. Tune in to hear more about her time with Climable, how it shaped her career aspirations, and what her plans for after college!As always, thanks to our guests, Team Climable, and Izaak Biewald for their efforts in pulling this episode together!
Welcome back to Behind the Switch with Deylin! In this episode, Deylin will be interviewing Emma Hibbard, a former Climable intern. Emma just finished up her Masters of Engineering and Environmental Planning and Policy at Tufts University. Tune in to find out more about how she got started at Climable and how her experience introduced her to her career path!
As always, thanks to our guests, Team Climable, and Izaak Biewald for their efforts in pulling this episode together!
Welcome back to Behind the Switch with Deylin! In this podcast, Deylin will be interviewing Alana York, a former intern with Climable. Alana just finished her Masters of Business Administration at Endicott College. Tune in to find out more about her work at Climable and how it helped shape her professional aspirations!
As always, thanks to our guests, Team Climable, and Izaak Biewald for their efforts in pulling this episode together!
Welcome to Behind The Switch With Deylin! In this podcast, Deylin will be interviewing previous Climable interns to learn more about their experiences post-internship. In this episode, we will learn about how our host, Deylin, came to be a part of the Climable Team.
As always, thanks to our guests, Team Climable, and Izaak Biewald for their efforts in pulling this episode together!
Episode 9 is the final episode of Behind the Switch's "Building a Microgrid" series. The team and all the series's guests share some final thoughts on microgrids and the importance of community involvement.As always, thanks to our guests, Team Climable, and Izaak Biewald for their efforts in pulling this episode together!
In Episode 8 of Behind the Switch's "Building a Microgrid" series, Alex Papali, Dave Dayton, and Lee Matsueda talk to the team about federal funding opportunities, the Justice40, and how these projects can be commercially viable. Complex topics! Tune in to hear their thoughts.As always, thanks to our guests, Team Climable, and Izaak Biewald for their efforts in pulling this episode together!
In Episode 7 of Behind the Switch's "Building a Microgrid" series, Alex Papali and Lee Matsueda explain the important roles laborers play in building a community microgrid!As always, thanks to our guests, Team Climable, and Izaak Biewald for their efforts in pulling this episode together!
Episode 6 of Behind the Switch's "Building a Microgrid" series gives you the rundown on our Chelsea Microgrid Project. As always, thanks to our guests, Team Climable, and Izaak Biewald for their efforts in pulling this episode together!
Episode 5 of Behind the Switch's "Building a Microgrid" series gives you an update on our Chinatown project. There have been a lot of exciting developments in the last year or so and we're excited to share this part of the story with you.As always, thanks to our guests, Team Climable, and Izaak Biewald for their efforts in pulling this episode together!
Episode 4 of Behind the Switch's "Building a Microgrid" series explains to you, dear listener, what RUN-GJC is. In truth, the team has been working together for so long it feels more like a family, but we figured we should spell it out a bit more for you so you can understand how a diverse group like ours came together.As always, thanks to our guests, Team Climable, and Izaak Biewald for their efforts in pulling this episode together!
Episode 3 of Behind the Switch's new series–Building a Microgrid–features RUN-GJC's team members, Jeannie Ramey and Jen Stevenson Zepeda of Climable and Dave Dayton of Clean Energy Solutions, Inc. In this episode, we explain what a microgrid IS and how the RUN-GJC is innovative and unique.Many thanks to our guests, Team Climable, and Izaak Biewald for their efforts in pulling this episode together!
Short answer: justice has EVERYTHING to do with it. Episode 2 of Behind the Switch's new series–Building a Microgrid–features two of RUN-GJC's team members, Lydia Lowe from Chinatown Community Land Trust and Chinatown Power and María Belén Power from GreenRoots. We are digging into environmental justice and connecting the dots between clean energy community microgrids and frontline communities. Tune in, it's a good one!Special thanks to Liddy Grossman and Livia Costa for writing and interviewing and Izaak Biewald for sound editing.
Behind the Switch is launching a new series- Building A Microgrid. Join us as we tell the story of the RUN-GJC community microgrids being built in Chelsea, MA and Boston's Chinatown!
We were able to sit down with the superbly talented Aldra who performed at Climapalooza IV and will be gracing us with her presence again this year for Climapalooza V. Tune in to hear a little more about what drives Aldra's music and her single "Lullabies." And join us on Friday, September 16th from 6-9pm at University Park Commons on 65 Sidney Street in Cambridge for a live Aldra performance!
Recently, we were able to sit down with a fab performer from Climapalooza IV — Katie Lynne Sharbaugh — who was kind enough to reflect on our event AND share her latest single "Amelia" with us!
In this final episode of Resilient Puerto Rico, we are solarizing Puerto Rico one step at a time with special guests Amalia Saladrigas and Agustín F. Carbó. Join us for part 2 of this important conversation about the opportunities that solar and microgrid technologies have in making Puerto Rican communities healthier and more resilient in the face of climate change.
In this episode of Resilient Puerto Rico, we are solarizing Puerto Rico one step at a time with special guests Amalia Saladrigas and Agustín F. Carbó. Join us for this important conversation about the opportunities that solar and microgrid technologies have in making Puerto Rican communities healthier and more resilient in the face of climate change. Stay tuned for part 2 coming soon!
In this episode, we continue our conversation with Luz Rivera on her community resilience work in Culebra, a small island municipality off the east coast of Puerto Rico. Luz shares how she provides essential information and how neighbors help each other during an emergency.
“Community resilience is the key for all communities to start working and organizing for their own needs and bringing the resources to cover those needs the best they can.”
In this episode, we speak with Luz Rivera on her community resilience work in Culebra, a small island municipality off the east coast of Puerto Rico. Luz shares how she provides essential information and how neighbors help each other during an emergency.
“Community resilience is the key for all communities to start working and organizing for their own needs and bringing the resources to cover those needs the best they can.”
Our Resilient Puerto Rico series has explored topics like energy justice, solar energy accessibility, and community resilience, all within the context of Puerto Rico. In this episode, we are joined again by Captain Richard Birt, a veteran of the Las Vegas Fire and Rescue Department. In the name of community resilience and safety, he has taken the initiative to develop microgrids for emergency response centers in municipalities of Puerto Rico including San Juan, San Sebastián, and Humacao.
Welcome back to our podcast series, Resilient Puerto Rico, where we have been diving into topics including energy justice, solar energy accessibility, and community resilience, all within the context of Puerto Rico. In this episode, we are joined by Captain Richard Birt, a veteran of the Las Vegas Fire and Rescue Department. In the name of community resilience and safety, he has taken the initiative to develop microgrids for emergency response centers in municipalities of Puerto Rico including San Juan, San Sebastián, and Humacao.
In this episode, we feature Ceida Fernandez, a Puerto Rican resident who has taken the initiative of adding solar panels to her residential home. The conversation focuses on obstacles, benefits, and recommendations.
Welcome to our brand new podcast series called Resilient Puerto Rico where we will be looking into topics including energy justice, solar energy accessibility, and community resilience, all within the context of Puerto Rico. We are opening the series with Tom Llewellyn, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Shareable, a nonprofit media outlet, action network, and consultancy with the mission to share important stories that the world should know about. Tom produced the short documentary “The Response: How Puerto Ricans Are Restoring Power to the People,” which explores Puerto Rico’s growing network of mutual aid centers in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.
Welcome to our brand new podcast series called Resilient Puerto Rico where we will be looking into topics including energy justice, solar energy accessibility, and community resilience, all within the context of Puerto Rico. We are opening the series with Tom Llewellyn, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Shareable, a nonprofit media outlet, action network, and consultancy with the mission to share important stories that the world should know about. Tom produced the short documentary “The Response: How Puerto Ricans Are Restoring Power to the People,” which explores Puerto Rico’s growing network of mutual aid centers in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.
Welcome to our brand new podcast series called Resilient Puerto Rico where we will be looking into topics including energy justice, solar energy accessibility, and community resilience, all within the context of Puerto Rico. We are opening the series with Tom Llewellyn, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Shareable, a nonprofit media outlet, action network, and consultancy with the mission to share important stories that the world should know about. Tom produced the short documentary “The Response: How Puerto Ricans Are Restoring Power to the People,” which explores Puerto Rico’s growing network of mutual aid centers in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.
Join Climable in a fun and inspiring conversation with Skylar Deitch on our newest installation of the Behind The Switch series, Youth In Action. Over the next few months, we talk to some amazing people ranging from local fashion designers in the Boston Area, college campus leaders, and composting aficionados, to high schoolers in Cambridge showing folks that climate action can start small. We are bringing you a conversation with Skylar Deitch, student at Clark University and former student and student leader in Oregon's Outdoor Education Program. In this episode, we discuss the accessibility of outdoor school and the important lessons Skylar learned as a student leader.
Join Climable in a fun and inspiring conversation with Skylar Deitch on our newest installation of the Behind The Switch series, Youth In Action. Over the next few months, we talk to some amazing people ranging from local fashion designers in the Boston Area, college campus leaders, and composting aficionados, to high schoolers in Cambridge showing folks that climate action can start small. We are bringing you a conversation with Skylar Deitch, student at Clark University and former student and student leader in Oregon's Outdoor Education Program. In this episode, we discuss the accessibility of outdoor school and the important lessons Skylar learned as a student leader.
Join Climable in a fun and inspiring conversation with Skylar Deitch on our newest installation of the Behind The Switch series, Youth In Action. Over the next few months, we talk to some amazing people ranging from local fashion designers in the Boston Area, college campus leaders, and composting aficionados, to high schoolers in Cambridge showing folks that climate action can start small. We are bringing you a conversation with Skylar Deitch, student at Clark University and former student and student leader in Oregon's Outdoor Education Program. In this episode, we discuss the history of the program, how and why it exists, and its importance in fostering respect and love for nature.
Join Climable in a fun and inspiring conversation with Kayla Vestergaard on our newest installation of the Behind The Switch series, Youth In Action. Over the next few months, we talk to some amazing people ranging from local fashion designers in the Boston Area, college campus leaders, and composting aficionados, to high schoolers in Cambridge showing folks that climate action can start small. We are bringing you a conversation with Kayla Vestergaard, Voter Suppression Project Coordinator at Global Center for Climate Justice (GCCJ). GCCJ is a Boston-based non-profit launched in early 2021 that aims to popularize climate justice among the general public and pull them into activism and urban planning projects in their communities.
ClimateJustice #VoterRights #VoterSuppression #YouthInAction
Join Climable in a fun and inspiring conversation with Kayla Vestergaard on our newest installation of the Behind The Switch series, Youth In Action. Over the next few months, we talk to some amazing people ranging from local fashion designers in the Boston Area, college campus leaders, and composting aficionados, to high schoolers in Cambridge showing folks that climate action can start small. We are bringing you a conversation with Kayla Vestergaard, Voter Suppression Project Coordinator at Global Center for Climate Justice (GCCJ). GCCJ is a Boston-based non-profit launched in early 2021 that aims to popularize climate justice among the general public and pull them into activism and urban planning projects in their communities.
ClimateJustice #VoterRights #VoterSuppression #YouthInAction
Join Climable in a fun and inspiring conversation with Charlotte Whittle on our newest installation of the Behind The Switch series, Youth In Action. Over the next few months, we talk to some amazing people ranging from local fashion designers in the Boston Area, college campus leaders, and composting aficionados, to high schoolers in Cambridge showing folks that climate action can start small. We dive deep into the world of agriculture, in particular, composting! We will be examining topics ranging from a more circular approach to waste, to issues of accessibility and food justice, while simultaneously exploring how to make our vision of Reseeding The Future a reality.
ClimateJustice #ReseedingTheFuture #YouthInAction
Join Climable in a fun and inspiring conversation with Charlotte Whittle on our newest installation of the Behind The Switch series, Youth In Action. Over the next few months, we talk to some amazing people ranging from local fashion designers in the Boston Area, college campus leaders, and composting aficionados, to high schoolers in Cambridge showing folks that climate action can start small. We dive deep into the world of agriculture, in particular, composting! We will be examining topics ranging from a more circular approach to waste, to issues of accessibility and food justice, while simultaneously exploring how to make our vision of Reseeding The Future a reality.
ClimateJustice #ReseedingTheFuture #YouthInAction
Join Climable in a fun and inspiring conversation with Charlotte Whittle on our newest installation of the Behind The Switch series, Youth In Action. Over the next few months, we talk to some amazing people ranging from local fashion designers in the Boston Area, college campus leaders, and composting aficionados, to high schoolers in Cambridge showing folks that climate action can start small. We dive deep into the world of agriculture, in particular, composting! We will be examining topics ranging from a more circular approach to waste, to issues of accessibility and food justice, while simultaneously exploring how to make our vision of Reseeding The Future a reality.
ClimateJustice #FutureOfFashion #YouthInAction
Join Climable in a fun and inspiring conversation with Ava Rognlien and Randall Gee on our newest Behind The Switch series, Youth In Action. Over the next few months, we talk to some amazing people ranging from local fashion designers in the Boston Area, college campus leaders, and composting aficionados, to high schoolers in Cambridge showing folks that climate action can start small. To kick off the series we dive deep into the environmental costs of fashion, examining topics ranging from the waste circuit, greenhouse gas emissions, workers’ rights, and the tension between consumption and the climate crisis, while exploring our vision for The Future of Fashion.
ClimateJustice #FutureOfFashion #YouthInAction
Join Climable in a fun and inspiring conversation with Ava Rognlien and Randall Gee on our newest Behind The Switch series, Youth In Action. Over the next few months, we talk to some amazing people ranging from local fashion designers in the Boston Area, college campus leaders, and composting aficionados, to high schoolers in Cambridge showing folks that climate action can start small. To kick off the series we dive deep into the environmental costs of fashion, examining topics ranging from the waste circuit, greenhouse gas emissions, workers’ rights, and the tension between consumption and the climate crisis, while exploring our vision for The Future of Fashion.
ClimateJustice #FutureOfFashion #YouthInAction
Join Climable in a fun and inspiring conversation with Ava Rognlien and Randall Gee on our newest Behind The Switch series, Youth In Action. Over the next few months, we talk to some amazing people ranging from local fashion designers in the Boston Area, college campus leaders, and composting aficionados, to high schoolers in Cambridge showing folks that climate action can start small. To kick off the series we dive deep into the environmental costs of fashion, examining topics ranging from the waste circuit, greenhouse gas emissions, workers’ rights, and the tension between consumption and the climate crisis, while exploring our vision for The Future of Fashion.
ClimateJustice #FutureOfFashion #YouthInAction
Join Climable in an enlightening and uplifting conversation with guest, Shalanda Baker. Shalanda is a professor of Law, Public Policy, and Urban Affairs at Boston’s Northeastern University and co-founder of the Initiative for Energy Justice. Her honest and reflective storytelling threads together complex concepts like sustainable energy systems, racial justice, and environmental racism, centering the voices of those who are often ignored and silenced. This six part series will cover a wide variety of topics from the social dimensions of energy to anti-resilience and we are so excited to share Shalanda's words with you all!
Join Climable in an enlightening and uplifting conversation with guest, Shalanda Baker. Shalanda is a professor of Law, Public Policy, and Urban Affairs at Boston’s Northeastern University and co-founder of the Initiative for Energy Justice. Her honest and reflective storytelling threads together complex concepts like sustainable energy systems, racial justice, and environmental racism, centering the voices of those who are often ignored and silenced. This six part series will cover a wide variety of topics from the social dimensions of energy to anti-resilience and we are so excited to share Shalanda's words with you all!
Join Climable in an enlightening and uplifting conversation with guest, Shalanda Baker. Shalanda is a professor of Law, Public Policy, and Urban Affairs at Boston’s Northeastern University and co-founder of the Initiative for Energy Justice. Her honest and reflective storytelling threads together complex concepts like sustainable energy systems, racial justice, and environmental racism, centering the voices of those who are often ignored and silenced. This six part series will cover a wide variety of topics from the social dimensions of energy to anti-resilience and we are so excited to share Shalanda's words with you all!
Video Editing by: Kelsey Linden Original Artwork Illustrated by: Malia Shen
Join Climable in an enlightening and uplifting conversation with guest, Shalanda Baker. Shalanda is a professor of Law, Public Policy, and Urban Affairs at Boston’s Northeastern University and co-founder of the Initiative for Energy Justice. Her honest and reflective storytelling threads together complex concepts like sustainable energy systems, racial justice, and environmental racism, centering the voices of those who are often ignored and silenced. This six part series will cover a wide variety of topics from the social dimensions of energy to anti-resilience and we are so excited to share Shalanda's words with you all!
Video Editing by: Kelsey Linden Original Artwork Illustrated by: Malia Shen
Join Climable in an enlightening and uplifting conversation with guest, Shalanda Baker. Shalanda is a professor of Law, Public Policy, and Urban Affairs at Boston’s Northeastern University and co-founder of the Initiative for Energy Justice. Her honest and reflective storytelling threads together complex concepts like sustainable energy systems, racial justice, and environmental racism, centering the voices of those who are often ignored and silenced. This six part series will cover a wide variety of topics from the social dimensions of energy to anti-resilience and we are so excited to share Shalanda's words with you all!
Video Editing by: Kelsey Linden Original Artwork Illustrated by: Malia Shen
Join Climable in an enlightening and uplifting conversation with guest, Shalanda Baker. Shalanda is a professor of Law, Public Policy, and Urban Affairs at Boston’s Northeastern University and co-founder of the Initiative for Energy Justice. Her honest and reflective storytelling threads together complex concepts like sustainable energy systems, racial justice, and environmental racism, centering the voices of those who are often ignored and silenced. This six part series will cover a wide variety of topics from the social dimensions of energy to anti-resilience and we are so excited to share Shalanda's words with you all!
Video Editing by: Kelsey Linden Original Artwork Illustrated by: Malia Shen
Join Climable in an illuminating conversation with guest Jennie Stephens, director of the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs and Dean’s Professor of Sustainability Science and Policy at Northeastern University. We are covering so many topics in this four part series, from intersectional environmentalism to social-political aspects of the renewable energy movement and more!
Video Editing by: Kelsey Linden Original Artwork Illustrated by: Malia Shen
Join Climable in an illuminating conversation with guest Jennie Stephens, director of the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs and Dean’s Professor of Sustainability Science and Policy at Northeastern University. We are covering so many topics in this four part series, from intersectional environmentalism to social-political aspects of the renewable energy movement and more!
Video Editing by: Kelsey Linden Original Artwork Illustrated by: Malia Shen
Join Climable in an illuminating conversation with guest Jennie Stephens, director of the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs and Dean’s Professor of Sustainability Science and Policy at Northeastern University. We are covering so many topics in this four part series, from intersectional environmentalism to social-political aspects of the renewable energy movement and more!
Video Editing by: Kelsey Linden Original Artwork Illustrated by: Malia Shen
Join Climable in an illuminating conversation with guest Jennie Stephens, director of the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs and Dean’s Professor of Sustainability Science and Policy at Northeastern University. We are covering so many topics in this four part series, from intersectional environmentalism to social-political aspects of the renewable energy movement and more!
Video Editing by: Kelsey Linden Original Artwork Illustrated by: Malia Shen
What would the Green New Deal mean for our planes, trains, automobiles, and other forms of transit? We explored the basics of the GND in part 1 of this series, and part 2 dives into what a carbon-free transportation future could look like under the GND.
What exactly IS the Green New Deal (GND) everyone's talking about? Why is it important, and what would it look like if it was implemented? In part 1 of our GND series, we break down the basics and dive into what the GND means for the energy sector.
It's been quite the journey, learning about food sustainability from the lab to the farm field, and everywhere in between. Let's bring this thing full circle and speak with Shantelle Gary, a vegan blogger, to learn how to incorporate more plants in our diets, and reflect on making smart choices moving forward.
For a variety of reasons, the way people think about and consume food is shifting rapidly, and the food industry is moving with them. In episode three of Edible Emissions, we'll take a look into just a few of the transformative companies making our food future more sustainable and healthy.
In episode two, we're exploring the story of forgotten food; uneaten and tossed in landfill, spoiled on its way to the store, discarded because of aesthetic imperfections. Americans throw away one-third of all edible food, and the environmental impacts are simply staggering.
In the first episode of our new miniseries "Edible Emissions", Spencer and Andrew, along with two terrific guests, set the scene for what promises to be a fascinating journey researching the environmental impacts of global agriculture.
After enduring months of incredible hardship and loss after Hurricane Maria devastated the island's energy infrastructure, Puerto Rico appears to be rebuilding its electricity grid better, smarter, and more resilient. We bring you up to date on the developments in this week's Good News Minute.
After years of delays, three east coast states have announced major plans to expand their offshore wind capacity, with several more states poised to follow their lead. These exciting initiatives stand to change the game for renewable generation along the east coast of the U.S., and Climable.org's Emma Hibbard and Andrew Grandahl bring you the details on this week's Good News Minute.
Six months ago, Tesla installed a record-breaking battery storage facility in South Australia to help improve their local electricity grid reliability. Half a year later, how has South Australia fared? Spencer and Andrew bring you up to date, in this week's Good News Minute.
Costa Rica has a new president with big plans for the next few years: the complete decarbonization of their economy. Andrew brings you up to date in this week's Good News Minute!
This March, Portugal set a new bar for renewable energy production. Using mostly hydroelectric and wind power, the country was able to produce a whopping 103.6% of its electricity demand through clean energy. Andrew looks into the details in this week's Good News Minute.
In Oklahoma, one utility company's efforts to revive an aging coal plant is being met with resistance from consumer and environmental advocates, and now, from the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Climable.org Executive Director Jean Ann Ramey and Andrew Grandahl go over the details in this week's Good News Minute.
Spencer and Andrew sit down and discuss what they're excited about with the upcoming Behind the Switch series, Edible Emissions. From the farm field, to the laboratory, to our kitchen stoves, we're going from the ground up (literally) in this series to investigate the impacts of the agricultural sector, and of our dietary decisions.
Off the coast of western Canada, a First Nations community is taking their energy future into their own hands. We look into the remarkable transformation of Skidegate in this week's Good News Minute.
A major American city powered completely by renewable energy by 2030: sounds too good to be true? It's surprisingly achievable, and in this special episode, Behind the Switch host Spencer Fields fills us in on his recent trip out to L.A. where he explained to local utilities, political groups and community advocates just how this could be done.
Spencer co-authored a study by Synapse Energy Economics entitled "Clean Energy for Los Angeles", and we recently sat down to talk over the details.
The Charm City is taking their sustainability efforts to a whole new level with bills banning crude oil terminals and styrofoam containers. Climable's Jen Stevenson and Andrew Grandahl investigate in this week's Good News Minute!
A few weeks ago, members of the Climable team hosted a microgrid workshop in Providence, Rhode Island. Climable Director of Research and Operations Jen Stevenson and Behind the Switch co-host Andrew Grandahl sit down in this episode to reflect on the workshop, and discuss the benefits of microgrids and why they have the potential to reshape the energy landscape as we know it.
We've been noticing quite a lot of news recently pertaining to battery technology, and thought we'd catch you all up with this week's Good News Minute!
In a new report, Bloomberg has gathered experts from around the globe to comprehensively project how the face of electricity generation will continue to shift leading into 2040. We're happy to say, the future of energy is looking very bright indeed. Andrew and Spencer dig into the details in this week's Good News Minute.
In Part II of our look into Dr. Frank Ackerman's recent work from his new book "Worst-Case Economics", we're moving forwards from the topics covered in Part I. How can our predictive models change to better account for unpredictable events, and how can everyone stand to gain from more holistic ways of thinking? Andrew and Spencer explore these ideas, and much more, in this special edition of Behind the Switch.
Great news coming out of Chile! In collaboration with NGO Tompkins Conservation, the nation has just added a whopping ten million acres of wildlife sanctuary stretching down the beautiful southern half of the country. Climable.org's Director of Research and Operations Jen Stevenson joins Andrew Grandahl for this uplifting Good News Minute - give it a listen!
Cargo shipping is one seriously dirty business. But that is starting to change. Spencer and Andrew explain in today's Good News Minute.
Why do humans seem to have such a poor understanding of risks? Why do we struggle to collectively quantify the chances of extreme scenarios? How have our economic methodologies caused us to downplay worst-case scenarios not just in finance, but in climate change and ecology as well?
Dr. Frank Ackerman is Principal Economist at Synapse Energy Economics, and has just released a fantastic book named "Worst-Case Economics" which examines these very questions. Frank goes in depth as to the origins of these biases in modeling that seem to come back to harm us time and time again. His work is insightful and provocative, and we were fortunate enough to sit in on a webinar Frank gave on his new book. We'll be bringing you some of our favorite excerpts in the coming weeks in two special editions of Behind the Switch. Hope you enjoy!
On January 10th, New York City mayor Bill DeBlasio announced the city was divesting its pension funds from fossil fuels, in addition to suing five major fossil fuel firms. New York is the first major U.S. city to divest from fossil fuels, and its actions may well be replicated by other cities. Hannah and Andrew give you the full story in this weeks Good News Minute!
Last September, U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry introduced proposed regulatory rule changes to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, in an attempt to prop-up the fading coal industry. After months of review, FERC has unanimously rejected Perry's proposal, a massive victory for renewable energy, the environment, and public health. Spencer and Andrew explain in this special Good News Minute,
In the final episode of "What Happens When the Grid Goes Dark?", Andrew and Spencer look into the solutions that can help make our electrical grids more stable, secure, and democratic. First, Synapse Energy Economics principal associate Max Chang gives a rundown of what "storm hardening" really means. Then, founder and chairman of Clean Energy Solutions Inc. David Dayton sits down to talk about exciting microgrid technologies, how organizations and communities can come together to promote energy democracy, and why the renewables revolution won't be slowing down. We're really excited for this one, and hope you enjoy!
The information organizations use to create financial models for energy investments in developing economies is so important. In the rapidly changing world of renewable energy technology, the cost of off-grid solar and storage units can change overnight. It's hugely important that we use accurate, up-to-date data when we assess the feasibility of these projects. Spencer and Andrew look into how a British company has been updating these metrics, and what that might mean for international clean energy development.
In Episode 3 of "What Happens When The Grid Goes Dark?" Spencer and Andrew delve into the complexities of large scale blackouts, such as those caused by hurricanes in Puerto Rico and Houston this past year. Synapse Energy Economics principal associate Max Chang sits down to provide them with the insight they're looking for.
Economic and technological barriers to a global clean energy infrastructure are toppling left and right. Isabel and Andrew take a look into one of the most important developments in utility-scale renewable energy: battery storage.
After a local power outage, what goes into bringing power back online? Spencer and Andrew investigate, interviewing Synapse Energy Economics principal associate Bob Fagan for some answers.
Isabel and Spencer recap the environmental implications of recent gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia
In episode one of "What Happens When The Grid Goes Dark?", Spencer and Andrew start at the beginning by investigating a simple question: What causes power outages? They sit down with Synapse Energy Economics CEO Bruce Biewald for a fascinating conversation about power generation, what goes in to keeping the power on, and the role of resource diversity in strengthening our electrical grid.
Series three of Behind the Switch premieres in just one week! We'll be looking into power outages, what causes them, how they're fixed, and what we can do in the future to make our electric grid more resilient and promote energy democracy. Get ready for another great series of episodes!
Spencer and Andrew discuss exciting advancements in offshore wind technology, and what it means for the future of wind energy in the U.S. and around the world.
In the final episode of Series 2, Sika and Anna interview Synapse Energy Economics senior associate Ariel Horowitz and principal associate Max Chang. Their question: What needs to be done on the part of citizens and politicians to bring us to a fully renewables-powered world? What ensues is a fascinating conversation filled with insight, real world pragmatism, and solutions.
In light of recent proposals from Secretary of Energy Rick Perry to subsidize the dying coal industry at ratepayer expense, Spencer Fields and Andrew Grandahl take a closer look at the industry as a whole, and where U.S. energy markets are really heading.
Sika Gadzanku and Anna Sciaruto continue their journey to understand the renewable energy transition. In episode three, they interview Synapse Energy Economics Founder and CEO Bruce Biewald, and industry expert Patrick Luckow on the nature of energy policies and how they effect sustainable energy. Listen in for truly insightful conversations!
Andrew Grandahl and Spencer Fields go in depth into the importance of energy efficiency day, as we prepare for EE Day 2017. Energy efficiency is a crucial factor to creating a sustainable world, and you're about to find out why.
Sika Gadzanku and Anna Sciaruto continue their journey to learn everything about renewable energy, and how we can get more of it. In this episode, they ask "what are the technical barriers holding back more renewable energy?". Patrick Luckow and Doug Hurley give some fantastic insights and encouraging answers.
Spencer Fields and Andrew Grandahl discuss the remarkable success of a Department of Energy initiative called SunShot in bringing down solar prices in the U.S.
Sika Gadzanku and Anna Sciaruto begin Series 2 with a simple question: What exactly is renewable energy? Thankfully, industry expert Doug Hurley has the answers they're looking for.
Podcast @ Synapse Energy Economics and Climable.org Music @ Spencer W Fields
Andrew Grandahl and Spencer Fields recap the continued success of the Northeast's Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI.
energy #environment #renewables #solar #wind #health #energyefficiency
Before we can compare electric rates in New England, we have to first understand what's actually on your electric bill every month. We introduce the podcast and hear from energy industry expert Doug Hurley.
Podcast © Synapse Energy Economics and EESI.us Music © Spencer W Fields
Now that we know what's on our electric bill, how does it compare to other parts of the country? And what about New England makes our electric rates so unique? We discuss electric rates and bills throughout the country with Tyler Comings and a couple of the reasons that New England is unique electrically with Paul Peterson.
Podcast © Synapse Energy Economics and EESI.us Music © Spencer W Fields
Given all we've learned about electric rates in the first two episodes, we ask the question of what comes next? Where do electric rates go from here? We cover the future of natural gas prices throughout the country with Paul Peterson, discuss one of the proposals for bringing more natural gas into New England with Dr. Liz Stanton, where rates might go from Tyler Comings, and how some of the smaller aspects of your bill can increase energy efficiency and renewable energy from Doug Hurley.
Podcast © Synapse Energy Economics and EESI.us Music © Spencer W Fields