Behind The Switch

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.