Energy Gang

U.S. Natural Gas is being touted as a tool to weaken Russian President Vladimir Putin's influence in Europe. But how effective would an export strategy really be? In this week's show, we'll look at the reality of using American natural gas as a geopolitical tool. We'll also discuss the push among Democrats to talk about climate change in the lead up to the 2016 elections, and we'll look at the significance of recent venture activity in off-grid solar for developing countries. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Media Editor Stephen Lacey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As expected, 2013 was yet another record year for solar in the U.S. With 5.1 gigawatts of PV and CSP coming online, the solar industry was the second largest provider of electricity capacity behind natural gas. But how long will it continue? With a tax credit expiration looming, conflicts over net metering and a brewing solar trade war, it is far from assured that this boom will go on forever. This week, we’ll talk with Rhone Resch, president of the Solar Energy Industries Association, about how the industry is positioning itself in the face of these challenges. Then, we’ll talk about Opower’s coming IPO and ask what it will take for the company to continue dominating the efficiency sector. In our final segment, we’ll look at whether the “energy crisis” episode in season two of House of Cards is based at all in reality. (Note: there will be minor spoilers.) The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Media Editor Stephen Lacey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This month, the U.S. government agreed to take up another case against China for its solar trade practices. The complaint was filed by German solar producer SolarWorld, but most of the solar industry agrees that the case could be terrible for the U.S. solar market. So will we reach a settlement? In this week's show, the Energy Gang will debate the consequences of the U.S.-China solar trade war. We're joined by solar expert Shayle Kann, who's been watching the case closely. Also in the show, we'll discuss Tesla's plans for a battery mega-factory and the meaning behind its secret conversations with Apple. And finally, we'll ask whether the "valley of death" is getting any smaller for cleantech entrepreneurs. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

ARPA-E was modeled after a successful defense research agency called DARPA, which helped create the foundation of the internet. So can the government's energy innovation agency do something equally groundbreaking for clean energy? This week, we'll talk with ARPA-E's director, Dr. Cheryl Martin, who describes how she thinks about developing groundbreaking energy technologies. We'll also debate the solar industry's aggressive tactics used to hit back against utilities that are attempting to limit PV on the grid. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The electricity sector in the U.S. is nearing a tipping point for clean energy. But transportation isn't seeing the same level of change. In this week's podcast -- recorded live at the Department of Transportation -- we'll look at where the tipping points may occur in electric vehicles, car sharing, public transport and freight. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In his latest State of the Union address, President Obama once again called natural gas a "bridge" to the clean energy future. But is the resource really all the industry claims? We'll take a nuanced look at dynamics in the natural gas market, and ask whether it's helpful or hurtful to renewable energy. We'll also discuss the energy and climate piece of Obama's State of the Union Speech, as well as dissect the forces behind the booming solar jobs market. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The clean energy industry may soon face some hard choices about tax incentives. Should it continue to push for short-term extensions of the production and investment tax credits, or does it need to lead the conversation on tax reform? It may look to do both in 2014. In this week’s podcast, the Gang will look at the prospects for tax reform in Washington, and ask what it means for the future competitiveness of clean energy. We'll also dig into the President's latest strategy to develop manufacturing clusters, and talk about some very candid words from a parting utility commissioner. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Google has invested billions of dollars in clean energy projects and startups. Is the internet giant positioning itself to be the next energy giant? In this week's show, we'll look at Google's cleantech investment strategy and ask what the end game may be. Then, we'll examine the recent rise U.S. CO2 emissions, and ask if the global coal industry has reached its peak. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 2006, the small wind industry was poised to take off in the U.S. But then solar surged ahead, leaving small wind in the dust. What happened? In this week's show, we'll look at how the small wind industry can regain its footing and live up to its potential. Small wind pioneer Andy Kruse joins us to chat about the ups and downs in the market, and draw some parallels to distributed solar. We'll also talk about the latest developments in the SolarWorld trade complaint against Chinese solar manufacturers, as well as what the widening divide between red and blue states means for energy policy. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On Sunday, the popular CBS news magazine "60 Minutes" aired a story on a supposed "cleantech crash." Reporter Lesley Stahl looked at the troubles in venture capital, and used them to declare government cleantech investments a virtual failure. In this podcast, we’ll look at the quality of the "60 Minutes" reporting, parse the reactions within the cleantech sector, and fill in some crucial gaps left by the story. Then, we'll ask why Energy Information Administration projections are so far from reality, and ask whether Ford's new solar concept car actually makes sense. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We may not have been able to predict Time Magazine's person of the year, or Google's most searched term of 2013. But the Energy Gang was on top of the big happenings in cleantech this year. In our year-end podcast, we'll outline our favorite stories of 2013 and make predictions for the coming year. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There convergence of solar and distributed batteries is underway. Although the use of storage is still very limited in the solar sector, more companies are looking to bring new value to customers by pairing the two technologies. In this week's podcast, the Gang will look at some new business models for customer-sited storage, which include targeting buyers of solar PV. We'll also look at the progress of California's cap and trade market one year after implementation, and speculate about whether President Obama's latest staff shakeup will influence energy policy. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Everyone agrees Germany is a renewable energy powerhouse. But not everyone agrees on how that’s benefitted the country. The web is littered with conflicting opinion pieces on the German experience – some claiming the country’s aggressive promotion of renewables is an oncoming economic disaster, and some saying those concerns are far overblown, if not totally false. So what are we to believe? In this week's show, we'll look at Germany's evolving relationship with renewables, the impact on electricity prices and the outlook for its nuclear phase-out. Then we'll travel to Japan, which is undergoing a rapid transition after a sudden phase out of nuclear in the wake of the Fukushima disaster. We'll ask if the country can make up for the nuclear gap. Finally, we'll travel to Ontario, where we'll look at the phase out of coal power and changes to the province's troubled feed-in tariff program. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

State electricity regulators are as diverse as the regions they come from. So their thinking on the future of energy varies wildly. With worries about the disruptive threat of efficiency and distributed generation growing, how are these regulators thinking about looming changes? In this podcast, we'll talk with energy consultant Cameron Brooks, who reports on the themes coming out of a major national regulatory meeting. We'll also talk about the net metering compromise in Arizona, as well as the Obama Administration's proposal to scale back the renewable fuels standard. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What does the nation's top energy regulator, FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff, think about the future of solar? "I think we're seeing the Moore's Law cost curve together with the entrepreneurial spirit coming into an industry in a way that is going to overtake a monopolistic, non-innovative structure." This week, we feature a live podcast from the MDV-SEIA Solar Focus 2013 conference in Washington, DC. The Gang took the stage and discussed the merits of East Coast solar policy, innovative business strategies, and chatted with Chairman Wellinghoff about the "creative destruction" caused by distributed generation. Many thanks to MDV-SEIA for inviting the Energy Gang for its first live show! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The wind industry is facing another expiration of the production tax credit at the end of the year, and this time it likely won't get extended quickly. So is the wind industry prepared for a post-PTC future? This week, the Energy Gang will debate the merits of the PTC, whether the industry can thrive without it, and question whether the wind lobby has screwed up the opportunity to develop policy beyond the tax credit. We'll also look at the significance of SolarCity's recent effort to securitize rooftop solar projects, and examine the impact of this week's local elections on energy issues. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The largest international development banks have made it a priority to deliver energy to the 1.3 billion people without access to the modern grid. But are they approaching a 21st-century market with 20th-century solutions? In this week's show, the gang will discuss whether organizations like the World Bank are botching investment in energy access by ignoring the full potential of distributed energy and mobile infrastructure. The Sierra Club's Justin Guay will join the gang to chat about how to break old ways of thinking about energy access in the developing world. Then, we'll chat about changes on the grid one year after Superstorm Sandy, and explore the coming business model shift within one of Europe's largest utilities. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's been four decades since Arab oil producers shut off the oil spigot to America, creating price shocks, gas lines and economic hardship. It also spawned the modern political definitions for "energy security" and "energy independence." So 40 years later, are we really better off? The Gang will look at what's changed, and talk with an energy economist from the EIA about how the availability of information on energy has improved. We'll also take a look at the implications of California's new energy storage mandate, and discuss Arizona Public Service's admission that it gave money to political groups producing anti-solar ads. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The clean energy industry is headed for yet another dip in global investment. Meanwhile, venture investors are shifting their money toward more "capital-lite" businesses. Should we be worried? The Energy Gang looks at the complex picture behind the numbers. We'll also ask what SolarCity's recent acquisitions mean for M&A activity in downstream solar, and we'll look at how effectively the push toward municipalizing the grid will leverage microgrids and distributed energy. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

No one denies the immense potential of geothermal. Despite that potential, the industry has grown incrementally over the years and failed to attract strong investment flow, particularly in the U.S. So what's keeping growth so low? In this week's podcast, the Energy Gang will look at the industry's two main problems: drilling risk and messaging. Both are holding back growth. We'll also look at the challenges for another "forgotten renewable" -- solar thermal. And finally, we'll ask how ESCOs can continue expanding energy performance contracts for efficiency. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, we'll forget the political train wreck in Washington (for a little while) and instead turn our attention to the business leaders helping build new wealth opportunities in clean energy. Energy Gang co-host and SunEdison Founder Jigar Shah is out with his new book, Creating Climate Wealth. We'll discuss his philosophy on what it takes for entrepreneurs to succeed in the market. But we can't help ourselves. We'll also turn back to Washington and examine how the political shutdown will impact the clean energy sector. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Almost everyone admits it: utilities are going to be in for some serious trouble if they don't start thinking about how to properly manage the coming surge in distributed energy. But we can't entirely blame the utilities for moving slowly; regulators play a key role in setting the rules for how power companies operate. In this week's show, we'll look at a comprehensive new report aimed at these decision makers, called America's Power Plan, which lays the foundation for the future of electricity. We'll also discuss a few tremendous improvements in renewable energy economics, as well as the coming surge in Home Energy Management tools that are making houses into virtual power plants. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After failing to pass a climate bill in 2010, the environmental movement has seen a new surge of activism mobilized by the fight against Keystone XL. So what are the implications for the clean energy sector? And are advocates and business leaders learning anything from this new movement? This week, the Energy Gang will debate the effectiveness of the environmental movement, and look at its relationship with the clean energy business community. Then, we'll look at the political fight around Ron Binz, the man tapped by President Obama to run the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. FERC is not usually in the news, but new fears about the death of coal are infusing Binz's confirmation with partisan politics. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

California is a bellwether for the solar industry, which is why a new bill being considered in the state could have wide-ranging impacts around the country. The state is currently considering a bill that would make significant changes to electricity pricing structures that could eat into the value of solar. But the industry is cautiously backing the bill because it also extends net metering policies. The end result could have equally positive and negative consequences. We'll look at the entire picture, as well as parse the true value of solar on the grid. We'll also discuss the viability and cleanliness of Bloom Energy's fuel cells, and talk about the slew of positive efficiency news in recent weeks. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features engaging discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and GTM Editor Stephen Lacey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Venture investments in cleantech have taken a nosedive after bringing in poor returns. But the problem isn't in cleantech -- it's in the investment strategy. On this week's podcast, The Gang will talk with Rob Day of Black Coral Capital about how the "next wave" of investment is bringing innovative and realistic opportunities for the industry. Then we'll talk about what the coming closure of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant says about the state of nuclear power in the U.S., as well as discuss the coming dark clouds for clean energy in Congress this fall. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features engaging discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Utilities are on the verge of a "death spiral" as more customers leave the grid and implement distributed energy technologies like solar. The same thing happened in Telecom as the rise of mobile phones made copper lines nearly obsolete. We'll ask what lessons the utility sector can learn from telecom companies that have already navigated the shift to distributed technologies. We'll also discuss why the Tea Party and other unlikely groups are supporting renewables, as well as ask what we've learned about grid management ten years after the notorious 2003 Northeast blackout. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features engaging discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Filmmaker and activist Josh Fox has just released his new film on the U.S. natural gas fracking industry, Gasland 2. As expected, environmental activists are holding it up as gospel and the natural gas industry is frantically trying to discredit Fox’s claims. And we’re all left wondering who to believe. We'll review the film and talk about what we do and don't know about natural gas. The Gang will also discuss the debate around peak oil. The popular website the Oil Drum recently closed down, and we'll ask what it means about the peak oil discussion. Finally, we'll talk about the prospects for a major energy efficiency bill moving through Congress. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features engaging discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With a heat wave gripping the central and eastern U.S., concerns about the impact of water supplies on the power sector are growing. This week, the Gang will discuss a detailed new report looking at how to break the nexus between power generation and water consumption. We'll also look at the factors behind the high cost of gasoline and their impact on the cleantech business. Finally, we'll look at another powerful study that makes a counterintuitive conclusion on the value of siting renewable energy in low-resource areas. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features engaging discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

America is kicking butt at energy efficiency. Well, sort of. It depends on which way you look at the issue. In this week's show, the Energy Gang will discuss the economic, technology and policy trends helping -- and hurting -- America's efficiency. Then, we'll ask if a new agreement between the U.S. and China represents a positive shift in stalled climate negotiations. Plus, we'll debate whether the fossil fuel divestment campaign is a worthy or lost cause. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features engaging discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The International Energy Agency has once again revised its figures for renewable energy upward, showing that the industry continues to outperform previous projections. But is the industry truly ready to address climate change? This week, the Energy Gang will look at which sectors are leading and why. We'll also analyze the international clean energy trade dispute between China and the U.S. and take a look at the political reaction to Obama's recent climate speech. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features engaging discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Editor Stephen Lacey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After promising to deal with climate change in his second term, President Obama unveiled a comprehensive climate plan this week. But how comprehensive is it? We'll take a look at the details and debate its effectiveness. We'll also take a look at the importance of data privacy issues in the energy sector in the aftermath of revelations about the NSA data mining program, and ask whether the U.S. has hit "peak car." The Energy Gang is produced by GreentechMedia.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this week's show, the Energy Gang talks about the strong growth in U.S. solar PV, debates the future of offshore wind, and asks whether utilities are prepared for true "grid resiliency" in the face of extreme weather. (Ironically, the episode was recorded in Washington, DC just minutes before a short, powerful storm overtook the region and knocked out power to thousands.) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to the first episode of the Energy Gang -- an energy digest hosted by cleantech journalist Stephen Lacey, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and energy futurist Jigar Shah. In this week's show we'll talk about leadership changes in Washington, the health of leading electric vehicle companies, and whether attacks on state-level renewable energy programs are backfiring. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.