August 2020 Clean Energy Headlines
* California’s rolling blackouts
* A plan for the world’s most efficient lithium-metal batteries
* The continuing global decline of coal
* Plus articles and podcasts from the Freeing Energy team
July 2020 Clean Energy Headlines
* A new consumer-friendly in-home energy storage solution
* The positive feedback loop between lockdowns and solar generation
* A McDonald’s that could run 100% on solar energy
* Plus articles and podcasts from the Freeing Energy team
June 2020 Clean Energy Headlines
* Amazon’s new Climate Pledge Fund
* More hurdles facing the Vogtle nuclear plant
* A group fighting to take control over rooftop solar away from states
* Plus articles and podcasts from the Freeing Energy team
Podcast 041: James Marlow – Are rules and regulations keeping pace with innovation in solar energy?
James Marlow shares his insights as a solar pioneer and explains how regulations and policy help and impede the growth of solar energy.
Podcast 040: Dr. Nick Engerer – How does having precise weather data change the way we manage solar energy?
Dr. Nick Engerer explains how Solcast uses satellite data to provide 5-min interval forecasts on hyper-local cloud and irradiance data, helping boost solar profits.
Straight facts on the environmental impact of coal: CO2 emissions, pollution, land, and water
Burning coal creates CO2, NOx, SO2, mercury, and uranium. Coal also uses large amounts of land and water. See how 1 MWh of coal power impacts the environment.
May 2020 Clean Energy Headlines
* Solar and Wind replacing Gas and Coal worldwide
* A surprise hiding the battery of Tesla’s Model 3
* The world’s largest wind turbine
* Plus articles and podcasts from the Freeing Energy team
Podcast 039: Nussey and Easterby – How Is COVID-19 Impacting the electric grid and renewable energy?
Hosts Bill Nussey and Sam Easterby unveil 4 surprising insights on how COVID-19 is affecting the energy business, from crude oil and coal to the growth of solar power.
Podcast 038: John Powers – Can software supercharge financial returns for commercial solar projects?
Host Bill Nussey interviews Extensible Energy’s CEO John Powers about how software can coordinate solar and HVAC to dramatically reduce expensive demand charges.
April 2020 Clean Energy Headlines
* The COVID-19 pandemic slows the growth of the renewable energy industry
* The amount of coal in the US energy portfolio continues its nosedive
* A sharp decline in oil demand tests storage limits
* Plus articles and podcasts from the Freeing Energy team
Podcast #037: Laura Sartore – What happens when we ditch panels and let our roofs, walls, and windows make affordable solar directly?
Bill Nussey talked with Ecoprogetti CEO Laura Sartore about the revolution in affordable and beautiful building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV).
Podcast #036: Joshua Rhodes – How will massive new data sets and some rational thinking shape the future of clean local energy?
When we think about a cleaner grid, we immediately think of solar and wind. But Joshua Rhodes explains the critical role of data and how it is transforming the way we operate the world’s most sophisticated machine.
Introducing our Myths of Solar series
Solar needs subsidies to survive. Solar energy is diffuse and requires too much land. Rooftop solar will raise prices on low-income families. Retired solar panels will overrun our landfills. Solar has a list of genuine challenges but there is an even longer list of myths and misunderstandings floating around. Now you can drink your morning […]
When it comes to land impact, does solar, wind, nuclear, coal, or natural gas have the smallest footprint?
Renewable energy technologies like solar, hydro, and wind require a lot of land. But, how does their impact compare to coal, nuclear, and natural gas?
March 2020 Clean Energy Headlines
* The EPA announces a temporary loosening of regulations due to COVID-19
* Coal just had its worst year since the 70’s, while storage saw healthy growth
* Florida approves the biggest community solar program in the US
* Plus articles and podcasts from the Freeing Energy team
Podcast #035: Ashvin Dayal – How is the Rockefeller Foundation using mini-grids to tackle energy poverty in Africa and India?
Ashvin Dayal, the SVP Power Initiative of the Rockefeller Foundation, talks with host Bill Nussey about how clean energy mini-grids are lifting Africa and India out of energy poverty.
Will rooftop solar drive up the cost of electricity, particularly for low income households?
Will your neighbor’s solar panels make your electric bill higher? We take a look at the research, data, and regulatory options behind the growing debate on the real cost impact of rooftop solar.
Podcast #034: Andy Klump – An insider’s look at how COVID-19 is impacting the global clean energy supply chain
Global supply chain expert, Andy Klump, CEO of Clean Energy Associates, shares his unique insights on how the COVID-19 outbreak is affecting Chinese manufacturing and the entire global supply chain for renewable energy.
February 2020 Clean Energy Headlines
* Tesla’s battery costs continue to drop
* Jim Cramer declares fossil fuels dead
* US energy production is expected to outpace demand
* Plus articles and podcasts from the Freeing Energy team
Podcast #033: Dr. Peter Fox-Penner – What must change to move our electric power system beyond carbon?
Dr. Peter Fox Penner shares insights from his new book with host Bill Nussey. Listen in to learn about the big grid vs small grid, the future role of utilities, and a roadmap for policymakers in the power industry “After Carbon.”