Clean Energy Today

In December 2023, a winter storm hit Highland Park, Michigan, and the ensuing power outage lasted four days – a common occurrence in the community, which has a high poverty rate. Partially in response to the outages, Juan Shannon created Parker Village, with plans to provide clean, low-cost local energy to the residents, including net zero homes, two solar microgrids and an electric transportation loop. Another goal is to keep wealth in Highland Park, which covers three square miles close to Detroit and ranks in the 94th percentile for low-income status in the U.S., with 45% of the population living at or below the poverty line. About the Guest: Juan Shannon, executive director, Parker Village Foundation   Send podcast episode ideas to [email protected] Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts Learn about host Lisa Cohn's energy writing at CleanEnergyWriters.com    

Under the first-of-a-kind Oregon Power Act, data centers served by the state's two investor-owned utilities can't drive up utility bills or undermine Oregon's clean energy goals. The law has attracted interest from other states considering similar measures. While Portland General Electric and PacifiCorp are required to follow the provisions of the law, the state's public utilities do not, and in Umatilla Electric Cooperative territory--home to many data centers--emissions have increased by about 570% over the last 15 years, said Joshua Basofin, Oregon clean energy program director at Climate Solutions.  Oregon is attracting data center development because it has relatively low energy costs, access to undersea data cables and offers incentives to draw businesses to the state. Data centers hae been a major factor in driving up utility rattes by 50% since 2021, said Charlotte Shuff, communications director at the Oregon Citizens' Utility Board. Ideas for helping Oregon meet clean energy goals include asking data centers to deploy energy storage during peak hours. Another proposal offered by Rewiring America: Require data centers to pay for residential customers' heat pumps and rooftop solar to free up capacity on the grid for data centers. Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Send podcast episode ideas to [email protected] Learn about host Lisa Cohn's energy writing at CleanEnergyWriters.com

Temperatures, altitude, snow, wind, sunshine and road surfaces can significantly shorten or lengthen how far an electric vehicle (EV) driver can go on a charge. Lasse Lumiaho, head of automotive at Vaisala Xweather, which provides weather data and intelligence for many Fortune 500 companies, describes a recent study about the factors that affect EV range.  Read the study here. About the guest: Lasse Lumiaho leads automotive product development and strategic initiatives at Vaisala Xweather. He has experience working with autotive OEMs and technology suppliers, including Audi, BMW, Bosch, Cerence, Hyundai, KIA, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen to integrate weather intelligence solutions that make roads safer. He focuses on developing innovative solutions that enhance vehicle safety and optimize routing. Send questions, comments or podcast episode ideas to [email protected] Learn more about host Lisa Cohn at CleanEnergyWriters.com      

With oil prices at the time of this interview–April 2026–close to $100/ barrel because of the war in Iran, will we see higher deployment of renewable energy and electric vehicles (EV)? Wesley Herche, co-founder of Sustainability Decoded and director of energy and sustainability solutions at Prologis, where he deploys solar, battery storage and commercial EV charging infrastructure for the world's largest companies, provides a global perspective on the status of clean energy and the effects of high oil prices. Topics discussed include: Why large U.S. companies are investing in renewable energy and how high oil prices could affect them. EV purchases make up 80% to 90% of new car sales in certain parts of the world. Will this trend continue? How China's aggressive deployment of solar will impact oil prices there. How Pakistan is insulated to some degree by its solar deployment. Why gasoline prices have jumped so quickly in the U.S. Learn more about host Lisa Cohn at https://cleanenergywriters.com/ Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts 

Enel North America's Blue Jay Agrivoltaics project in Grimes County, Texas spans 2,700 acres, produces 270 megawatts (MW) of solar and includes a 59-MW battery storage system. It uses sheep for vegetation management and includes pollinator habitat, veteran-managed apiaries and drone maintenance. Jesse Puckett, director of sustainability projects and community affairs at Enel North America describes how the project helps improve the company's business, bottom line, the environemnt and the local community.   Learn more about the Blue Jay project and Jesse Puckett Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts   Check out host Lisa Cohn's energy writing at CleanEnergyWriters.com

Millions of people are driving electric vehicles (EV) which, with bidirectional charging, can provide value to the electrical grid and back up homes and businesses during outages. What's standing in the way of unlocking these benefits? Steve Letendre, an  energy economist, senior advisor to the Vehicle-Grid Integration Council and the founder and editor of V2G News, says bidirectional charging technology is trapped behind one-way rules. He offers policy ideas that could advance bidirectional charging. About the Guest: Steve Letendre's work centers on unlocking the value of distributed energy resources, especially bidirectional EVs to accelerate the clean energy transition. He has led regulatory affairs at two leading V2G companies (Fermata Energy and Nuvve), where he developed and executed cross-functional strategies to shape state and federal policy, influence regulatory proceedings and align market rules with emerging technologies. Subscribe to and rate this podcast on Apple Podcasts Learn about host Lisa Cohn at CleanEnergyWriters.com

Since 2021, Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G), New Jersey's largest utility, has added 30,000 electric vehicles (EV) to its system, in part by offering rebates and other incentives. Before January 2026, the growth rate was double-digit, but is now flat, because of the loss of the federal EV tax credit and changes in the market. Dawn Neville, senior manager of electric transportation at PSE&G, describes the program's successes and challenges. How to get more chargers installed at multi-family housing complexes? How much do demand response programs for EV drivers help out in the summer? And how might a new time-of-use rate that varies from 9 cents/kWh (off peak) to 60 cents/kWh (on peak) help save money for people who charge at home? About the guest: Dawn Neville, an environmental engineer who transitioned from working on hazardous waste sites to transportation electrification at PSE&G's EV charging program   Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts Visit host Lisa Cohn at CleanEnergyWriters.com Email [email protected] with news tips and episode ideas.                  

Elliott Steele, a researcher at the UC Davis Wild Energy Center, is now studying how a floating solar array at the Nelson Family Vineyards in Mendocino County, Calif. affects birds. He's also studying how a 6-MW floating solar array–Califronia's largest– in Sonoma County is influencing wildlife. In Florida, he says, alligators and other animals hang out on the solar systems. Wildlife can also affect the floating solar panels, by defecating on them, for example, and lowering the solar output. This is a follow up to my last podcast episode about Nelson Family Vineyards' floating solar array. Guest: Elliott Steele, Ph.D, solar postdoctoral scholar, Wild Energy Center   Subscribe and rate this podcast on Apple Podcasts Submit podcast ideas, questions or comments to [email protected] Learn about host Lisa Cohn's writing at CleanEnergyWriters.com  

Nelson Family Vineyards in Mendocino County, Calif., will soon power up its floating solar system, deployed on pontoons on an irrigation pond, expecting to cut utility costs, which jumped 180% over the last three years, by about $90,000 annually. Researchers at the University of California Davis are studying how the system will affect wildlife–the focus of our next podcast, which will touch on how songbirds at the farm are affected by the system–and how alligators in Florida climb onto these systems. The Nelsons are looking into selling or transferring a 30% investment tax credit to help pay for the system. Guests Tyler Nelson, vice president, Nelson Family Vineyards Tate Tussing, business development manager at Noria Energy. Email host Lisa Cohn at [email protected] with podcast episode ideas. Learn more about Lisa at CleanEnergyWriters.com      

Itanna and Yosafe Murphy are working to use agrivoltaics--co-locating solar PV energy production with agricultural activities on their 160-acre farm--to provide healthy, fresh and tasty food to their community, along with STEM education and energy resilience.  In addition to agrivoltaics, the project, located in Oregon's Willamette Valley, will integrate vertical farming and hydroponics. Oregon State University, Ecotrust, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and others have joined the effort as technical partners. Despite the loss of funding sources from the federal government under the Trump administration, the pair are moving forward with a "blank canvas and a really big idea," hoping to create a model for other farmers. Visit Sheba Farm to learn more. Background: Hay Farming Doesn't Pay the Bills. Agrivoltaics Does Oregon Agrivoltaics-Based Microgrid Tackles Crop Warming from Climate Changge--and May Improve the Taste of Lettuce.   Visit host Lisa Cohn at CleanEnergyWriters.com            

Byron Kominek, founder of Jack's Solar Garden in Boulder, Colo., an agrivoltaics site that attracts thousands of visitors annually, says hay farming doesn't pay the bills. But installing solar panels above crops and selling the solar to the utility is a revenue generator for the solar garden.   Not only can agrivoltaics--the practice of co-locating solar panels with agricultural activities-- generate revenue, but it can also address climate warming by providing shade. Kominek educates students and community members about the benefits of agrivoltaics as director of the Colorado Agrivoltaics Learning Center.   It's important to think long-term about how to adapt to climate change, said Kominek, who received an Ashoka Fellowship for his work as a social entrepreneur.     Learn more about Jack's Solar Garden here.   Send podcast episode ideas to [email protected]   Visit host Lisa Cohn at CleanEnergyWriters.com   Subscribe to and rate this podcast on Apple Podcasts.  

A virtual power plant (VPP) is a collection of small-scale energy resources that, aggregated and coordinated with grid operations, can provide the same reliability and economic value to the grid as a traditional power plant, according to the nonprofit organization RMI. And VPPs can help utility customers earn money. Large energy users can earn up to $100,000 a year through CPower Energy's program, said Mike Smith, CEO of CPower. A recent report from RMI identified some of the gains VPPs have made recently. For example, 10 legislatures introduced VPP bills and four states passed VPP legislation in 2024. But more action is needed to meet the organization's goal of ensuring all US electricity consumers have access to VPP programs by 2035. Action is also needed to accelerate VPP adoption to meet booming energy demand. Guests: Gabriela Olmedo, head of policy and regulatory affairs at EnergyHub. Mike Smith, CEO at CPower.   Background Reading: RMI progress report, "From Awareness to Action."   Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts  Send podcast episode ideas to host Lisa Cohn at [email protected] Learn more about Lisa's energy writing at CleanEnergyWriters.    

Tim Nesbitt, former chief of staff to Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski, claims bragging rights for charging his Chevy Bolt EV solely with solar power on his small farm, which is carbon neutral--and sometimes carbon negative. He has 84 ground-mounted solar panels that generate 18-19 kWh daily. Batteries provide some resilience for critical systems such as the internet and refrigeration. Nesbitt's friend, another farmer, is earning $1,500 per acre for selling solar installed on his farm by a third party--more than he can make by growing certain crops. Through the EVmath program, Nesbitt tells his story to help other rural residents understand the benefits of driving EVs. Related podcast: Crunching the EV Numbers in Rural Areas with EVmath Send podcast episode ideas to [email protected] Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Learn more about host Lisa Cohn's writing at CleanEnergyWriters.com        

Whether you're a consumer who hoards old photos or a company that hangs onto unusable data, you're boosting data centers' energy costs. By focusing on reducing hoarded--or "junk" data--and improving efficiency, data centers can slash power consumption by 40% to 60%, according to Simon Ninan, senior vice president, business strategy, Hitachi Vantara. Ninan provides details about how data centers can achieve this kind of savings.  Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts Email host Lisa Cohn at [email protected] Learn more about her at CleanEnergyWriters.com Background reading: Oregon Legislature Passes Power Act, Targeting Industrial Energy Users Like Data Centers Energy Solutions for Data Centers Aren't Always Obvious. Take These Ideas

At the Sun Day event Sept. 21 in Portland, Ore.--a rally for clean energy--attendees shared their opinions about the Trump administration's policies targeting clean energy.  They described the energy savings and resilience they're experiencing installling solar and storage at home. One atttendee started to shed tears recalling her involvement in the first Earth Day and the clean-energy inroads that effort yielded. A representative from the Sunrise Movement explained why it's important for youth to be included in clean energy discussions. And two solar prosumers outlined the benefits they're experiencing from their solar and storage deployments. A team of women sporting solar panel outfits marched around the park where the event was held. The organizers of the event included Third Act and Indivisible.  Divest Oregon also partcipated in the event. Visit CleanEnergyWriters to learn about host Lisa Cohn. Email her at [email protected]          

Plug-in solar systems can be installed on balconies, sheds, walls and any other areas exposed to solar. Users plug them into standard wall outlets and immediately begin producing electricity. Bright Saver, a nonprofit organization that aims to make plug-in solar accessible to "everyone, everywhere," particularly to renters and those who can't access rooftop solar, seeks to overcome the legislative and regulatory barriers that prevent U.S. consumers from utilizing this technology, which is popular in Germany. Working with the Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG), Bright Saver has drafted legislation that it plans to introduce in the Vermont Legislature in January and is talking to other states about adopting the legislation, which would remove legislative roadblocks to plug-in solar. Bright Saver now offers a plug-in solar system for $400 and has a waitlist of 2,000 people. Paybacks can be as low as a few years, depending on the price of electricity, said Cora Stryker, co-founder of the nonprofit.  Guests: Cora Stryker, co-founder, Bright Saver. Ben Edgerly Walsh, climate and energy program director, VPIRG. Background reading: Why Can't Solar and Microgrids be Plugged in Just Like Hairdryers and Toasters?   Visit Clean Energy Writers to learn more about host Lisa Cohn Email her at [email protected]            

Hadron Energy says its micro modular reactors will produce power at 15 cents/kWh. How will the company make that possible? Do small modular reactors create more radioactive waste than conventional nuclear reactors? Which states have a moratorium on nuclear energy deployment? These are some of the questions my guests addressed in this podcast. Advanced nuclear reactors are seen as key to meeting soaring data center, AI and electrification demand because they provide baseload power and are carbon-free. But the advanced nuclear reactor industry faces a number of challenges, including regulatory delays, state bans on nuclear, high costs and waste-disposal issues. Guests: Samuel Gibson, founder and CEO at Hadron Energy Woody Hastings, program director at The Climate Center    Tom Bailey, vice president of energy at Flexential Background reading:' Google Announces Tennessee Site for Small Nuclear Reactor Small Modular Reactors Produce High Levels of Nuclear Waste How Geothermal Energy Can Fill in Solar and Wind Energy Gaps in Clean Microgrids   Visit CleanEnergyWriters.com to learn more about host Lisa Cohn Email: [email protected]      

In rural Oregon, electricity prices are low compared to those of gasoline and diesel fuel, as low as 6 cents/kWh. EVmath is a nonprofit that aims to help rural drivers crunch the numbers on buying EVs--beginning with Oregon and Washington. The nonprofit organization wants to show rural drivers that, whatever their politics, it might make sense economically to drive EVs.  Here's an example: A gasoline-fueled car that gets 25 miles per gallon costs about 20 cents per mile at current gas prices. An EV that goes 4 miles/kWh charged at a rate of 6 cents/kWh costs 1.5 cents per mile. Economics aside, EVs offer a number of benefits to rural residents and businesses. People are using bidirectional EVs, such as the Ford F-150 Lightning, to power pizza ovens, water pumps, power tools and other electric vehicles. Guests: Robert Wallace, EV convert who works with rural small businesses in Oregon at Wy'East. Steve Gutmann, co-founder, EV Math, along with Mark Jacobs    Background information: Crunch the EV numbers with this EVmath calculator.   Email host Lisa Cohn with podcast episode ideas or comments at [email protected] Visit her at CleanEnergyWriters        

The African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Georgia plans to build 18 resilience hubs--and eventually up to 482. Five are moving forward right now. Churches are being offered a menu of options, with the highest level of resilience including solar, storage, bidirectional electric vehicle (EV) charging and energy efficiency. Since this interview was recorded, the so-called "Big Beautiful Bill" law phased out investment tax credits for solar, wind and EVs, which is expected to undermine the church's ambitious efforts. But the first five hubs are set to be completed, providing sanctuaries for church members and their larger communities. Some Black community members may see the resilience hubs as "science fiction,"  so it's important to use the first hubs to educate people about their benefits, said James Gaymon, director of operations for social justice for the Sixth District AME Church in Georgia. He describes the numerous hurricane-sparked outages these communities face in Georgia--at least one a year, with a recent power loss lasting 18 days.  Background reading:  Where Black Communities Fit into the Energy Transition Low-Income Communities are the First to Lose Power. How RMI is Helping Deploy Resilience Hubs   Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts Visit CleanEnergyWriters.com to learn more about host Lisa Cohn

At a July 10 conference, "The Great Transformation: A Data Center and Energy Innovation Summit,"  three panelists and attendees answered the question: Where do renewables go from here, given that the so-called "Big Beautiful Bill," will phase out the investment tax credit for solar and wind? Separate from the conference, longtime solar industry member Mike Hall, CEO at Anza, answered the question and provided details about how to deal with President Trump's tariffs. More on the industry members interviewed for this podcast episode: Adib Nasle, CEO and co-founder, Xendee Thomas Lang, CTO and director of business development, AccuSolar Laurel Hamilton, head of growth at Mayfield Renewables Mike Hall, CEO at Anza    

Musician AY Young has produced more than 950 renewable-energy powered concerts. The artist, who was recognized as one of 17 U.N. Youth Leaders for Sustainable Development Goals, was inspired by his parents, who were community leaders and activists. His father transformed his neighborhood--which had four drug houses--block-by-block and created a neighborhood development plan. His mother became a state representative. Young's aim is to produce 1,000 renewable-energy powered concerts and create an album, along with other artists. Each of 17 tracks will focus on a U.N. sustainable development goal. He also donates proceeds from his concerts to pay for clean energy in the communities he visits. His work is important to the music industry, which generally powers off-grid events with diesel and fossil-fuel generators. For example, producing the Coachella Music and Arts Festival requires about 26 MW of power for site lighting, sound systems, video walls, production offices and catering infrastructure for a site that's 1 mile wide and 1.5 miles long. Background reading: Visit Young at AYmusik.com To learn about the so-called "Big Beautiful Bill's" effect on clean energy, check out Bob Keefe's posts on LinkedIn Also, this is an interesting take on the measure from Elisa Wood: Energy Trends Inadvertently Unleashed by the Big Beautiful Bill Lower or Higher Prices for Renewable Energy in 2025?  Energy Changemakers Flexible Interconnection Programs from Utilities on the Rise Microgrid Knowledge

DER develoeprs, frustrated by interconnection delays, see the potential for cost and time savings through flexible interconnection programs. Pilot projects from Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) and other utilities are demonstrating the value of flexible interconnection programs in which utilities allow customers to interconnect to the grid much more quickly than they would under traditional interconnection programs. In exchange, the customers agree to scale back or eliminate consumption when the utility needs power. Jessie Bauer, ComEd's manager of DER engineering and capacity planning, and Alex Collins, PG&E's manager of DERMS execution and operations, describe their pilot programs. Two hardware and software providers explain what's needed on the customer side, and a customer deploying fast chargers points to the benefits of such programs. Background reading: The Latest Version of the Big Beautiful Bill in One Chart :  Energy Changemakers  With New Microgrid Funding, Texas Seeks to Avoid the Devastation of Storms Like Winter Storm Uri :  Microgrid Knowledge  Recent Climate Setbacks Will Not Derail the Green Transition:  World Resources Institute Visit CleanEnergyWriters.com to learn about host Lisa Cohn. Email her at [email protected] with clean energy news and trends.      

This Clean Energy Today preview describes some of the topics that will be covered in this podcast, including distributed energy, microgrids, bidirectional charging, equity, research and consumer choices. Background reading:  Do You and I Mean the Same Thing When We Say Local Energy? Microgrids Aren't What They Used to Be Deploying Bidirectional Vehicles to Support the Grid Takes a Leap Forward Low-Income Communities are the First to Lose Power. How RMI is Helping Deploy Solar & Storage Resilience Hubs Research Project Uses 2020 Nashville Tornado Simulation to Study (Solar and Storage) Microgrid Support for Essential Services How Renewables Can Start a Consumer Energy Revolution  Email [email protected] with feedback and episode ideas.  

Oregon solar companies describe how the Trump administration's policies are hurting them and say how they're coping. They also provide some good news. Interviews were conducted at the Oregon Solar and Storage Industries Association's conference May 15, 2025.  Visit CleanEnergyWriters.com. to learn more about host Lisa Cohn News stories mentioned during the episode: Oregon Bills Would Advance Microgrids by Creating Resiliency Corridors and Boosting Community Powers What Do All Big Power Outages Have in Common? A Big Grid Don't Mention Climate. Now Clean Energy is All About the Money Email [email protected] with ideas for episodes.