The Clean Energy Show

This week, we're bringing a special treat to the public: a previously exclusive Patreon bonus episode! Brian and James take a October, 2024 road trip in Brian's Tesla Model Y, which was recently upgraded with Full Self-Driving Beta. Yes, the car drove itself—and we captured the whole experience.

The hosts discuss:

• Transferring FSD Beta from the Model S to the Model Y

• A 30-minute test drive across town with no human input

• Real-time impressions and commentary during the drive

• Reactions to Tesla's autonomous driving performance

• The weird, the smooth, and the occasional sudden stop

This is not just a conversation—it's a rolling commentary from inside the car while the AI takes the wheel. Buckle up for this unique episode!

Back next week with an all-new show!

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Copyright 2025 Sneeze Media.

New groundbreaking new data on solar-plus-battery affordability, community-driven efforts to fight wildfire smoke, and the global decline of coal power. Brian prepares for a trip to London, and James shares his latest air quality observations from the smoky Canadian prairies.

They also touch on some big global issues: India's indoor air pollution crisis, New York's unexpected plans for new nuclear power, and China's rapid solar and blimp tech progress. Plus, an update on fusion energy from a listener email and the usual dose of humour, clean tech insight, and righteous frustration.

• Support The Clean Energy Show on Patreon!

Episode Highlights:

• A Saskatchewan First Nation installs air scrubbers in homes to combat wildfire smoke

• Grid-scale batteries have become cheap enough to enable true 24/7 solar in sunny cities

• Ireland shuts down its last coal plant—only to convert it to oil

• New York State proposes a new nuclear plant amid rising demand from data centers

• Lightning Round

Links:

• 🔋 Solar + battery now 24/7 cheap (Electrek)

• ⚛️ Fusion tech breakthrough (Latitude Media)

• 🏭 Ireland ends coal (Power Magazine)

• ⚡ Arctic lightning rising (Yale e360)

• 🍃 Electric lawn tools catch on (Canary Media)

• 🛩️ China's electric blimp (iThome)

• 🚗 Car ownership hits $12.3k/year (Bilello Blog)

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Smoke from wildfires in the Canadian prairies drifts all the way to Switzerland, ruining a listener's hike—and James feels personally responsible. Meanwhile, Brian reports that global banks continue to pump money into fossil fuels, all while hiking credit card interest rates. He sums up their attitude perfectly: "We're evil, we just can't help it."

Join The Clean Energy Show's CLEAN CLUB on Patreon for exciting perks! Get a monthly bonus podcast, early access to our content, behind the scenes content, access to our members-only Discord community and thank-yous in the credits of videos and shoutouts on our podcast! Starting at just one dollar per month!

The Clean Energy Air Quality Project continues with a new discovery—our local landfill is a serious pollution source. James calls it a "foul, disgusting place," and the data seems to back him up.

Plus, the UK is sweating through a major heat wave just as Brian plans a visit. Will his timing cool things down? King Charles seems to think so.

Also on this episode:

• Global banks' greenwashing hypocrisy

• Citizen science and the ongoing Clean Energy Air Quality Project

• The unexpected reach of prairie wildfire smoke

• Climate change and travel plans colliding in real time.

Articles

1. Nepal's EV Leapfrog – CleanTechnica

2. Tesla vs. NHTSA Autopilot Probe – The Verge

3. 25-Year Solar Panel Warranty – Electrek

4. Tesla Battery Recall & Fire Risk – InsideEVs

5. EV Idle Payment via Smart Grid – Canary Media

Let me know if you'd like this in a different format (e.g., for YouTube or Instagram).

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Our listeners bought an air quality monitoring station for the podcast and we plan to make the most out of it! Already, James is learning about some bad air from industry in his Canadian city.

💚 Support the show: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/cleanenergypod Donate via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VMDCRPHLNR8YE E-transfer [email protected]

• Free link to the chapter Ungovernable by Patricia W. Elliott from the book Unjust transition: The future for fossil fuel workers (pp. 88-116), Fernwood Publishing, 2024.

Also on this episode:

• Saskatchewan's air pollution is under the microscope — literally. James sets up a $500 air quality monitor near the Regina refinery and shares his findings with the world. Could data transparency change local air policy?

• The UK announces its biggest nuclear investment in a generation.

• South Korea's new government ditches fossil fuels for an electrified future.

• John Vaillant, author of Fire Weather, pens a powerful op-ed: zombie fires are now surviving two Canadian winters.

In The Lightning Round:

• Protesters torch 5 Waymo robotaxis in L.A.

• BYD plans megawatt EV chargers across Europe.

• Canada's oil sands emissions fall — but not for in situ operations.A $1.60-per-passenger electric flight lands at JFK.

• Hong Kong launches drone-based McDonald's delivery.

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-clean-energy-show/id1498854987 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7nIGJi8pZ9EmiJTPY4VOr5

💬 Contact us: Email: [email protected] Voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/cleanenergyshow

Our city had the worst air quality in the world at the time of recording, with an Air Quality Index of 446 (that's like smoking over 60 cigarettes a day). We explore what led to these hazardous conditions, how wildfires are affecting our communities and even reaching Europe, and why Canada's air quality reporting system needs a 21st-century overhaul.

• Join The Clean Energy Show's CLEAN CLUB on Patreon for exciting perks! Our monthly bonus podcast is coming up this week!

The Clean Energy Show received two sustainability awards from the Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE), a United Nations University network promoting Education for Sustainable Development.

The fast fashion industry gets a sustainability report card. H&M tops the chart with a B+ thanks to its real investment in decarbonization. But most brands are still failing. Read more from Bloomberg:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-03/h-m-outperforms-zara-and-shein-on-green-report-card-for-fashion

Swiss authorities averted disaster by evacuating the town of Blatten before a monitored glacier collapsed. But such preventative infrastructure is rare globally. More from Bloomberg: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-03/swiss-glacier-collapse-is-a-lesson-on-climate-disaster-management

Jason Cook-Studer of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band is building microgrids and district heating with salvaged wood while fighting fires threatening his traplines. We share his inspiring work in a featured clip.

Andrew Johnson from One School, One Farm—building bridges between classrooms and climate resilience: We play a clip from his RCE presentation!

⚡ In the Lightning Round:

• Used solar panels get second life through Search4solar http://dlvr.it/TL6xmA

• Port of L.A. cuts ship emissions 24% with OpenTable-style scheduling https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-03/how-to-cut-shipping-pollution-quickly-and-cheaply

💨 Support our air quality monitor fundraiser: Donate via PayPal:

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Penguin poop might be cooling the planet by seeding clouds over Antarctica! A new study shows how ammonia from penguin guano helps form reflective cloud cover. Meanwhile, a $10 billion geoengineering plan proposes to deploy 500,000 undersea drones to regrow Arctic sea ice. Can technology save the poles—and should it?

• Support our podcast on Patreon and get exciting perks!

We also bust myths about EV fires after The Telegraph claims they're on the rise.

Plus, an Edmonton pilot project is using secret tech to stop EV charger cable theft—and it's already working.

Also in this episode:

• Solar fences at Zurich Airport could boost solar production 20x by 2040. Read more

• Quebec investors rescue Lion Electric, keeping Canadian school bus EV dreams alive. Full story

• The new Pope Leo vows to continue Francis's environmental legacy.

Lightning Round:

• Global EV sales rose 35% in Q1 2025. IEA report

• Climate change has reduced global wheat yields by ~10%. Source

• Hyundai's robotic EV chargers are live at a Korean airport. Details

• Macdonald-Laurier Institute says Canada doesn't need new oil pipelines. More

• Edmonton's secret anti-theft tech leads to arrests at EV chargers. Read

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The Clean Energy Show Store.

Copyright 2025.

This week on a special encore episode of The Clean Energy Show, Brian is recovering from surgery, and James wonders if he's truly on the mend—or if it's a Schrödinger's host situation. Either way, they've queued up a listener-favorite episode for your enjoyment!

Join The Clean Energy Show's CLEAN CLUB on Patreon for exciting perks! Get a monthly bonus podcast, early access to our content, behind the scenes content, access to our members-only Discord community and thank-yous in the credits of videos and shoutouts on our podcast! Starting at just a couple dollars per month!

In this replay of Episode 166, Brian and James dive into some wild, worrying, and hilarious developments in the clean energy world:

• Climate scientists—especially women—are receiving increasing death threats, but remain determined to keep speaking truth to power.

• Ford shocks the auto world by announcing it will adopt Tesla's charging port standard in North America.

• Toyota appears baffled by the concept of a charging network.

• Siemens designs a wind turbine just for Americans—complete with baseball fandom and gunfire (well, figuratively).

• Australia delays the reopening of a coal power plant… that exploded. (Yes, really.)

Catch all this and more clean energy news, commentary, and comedy in this classic episode of The Clean Energy Show.

Contact Us

[email protected] or leave us an online voicemail: http://speakpipe.com/clean

WATCH our hour-long weekly video podcasts and other videos on:

TikTok | YouTube | Instagram

PayPal Donate offers one-time or regular donations.

Store

Visit The Clean Energy Show Store for T-shirts, hats, and more!.

Copyright 2025 Sneeze Media.

Canada approves its first Small Modular Reactor (SMR), but critics argue it's a costly, high-risk distraction from cheaper, proven renewables. Ontario Clean Air Alliance explains the financial and security risks

Plug-and-play solar is finally coming to the U.S., launching in Utah this summer with no permits or installers required. EcoFlow's new modular solar kits, with similar kits already popular in Europe and China, they could revolutionize backyard and balcony power for American homeowners.

• Support The Clean Energy Show on Patreon for exciting perks!

Also this week: Thames Water warns that London may face water restrictions following the driest spring in nearly 70 years. As Brian plans his summer visit, the city's leaky infrastructure—losing enough water daily to fill 230 Olympic-sized pools—adds urgency to the crisis.

– EcoFlow's new "Stream" solar energy system starts at $599, with optional battery backup. See ZDNet.

– Manitoba's skyrocketing EV charging prices spark backlash—$700 for two hours?

– Mazda switches to Tesla's NACS charging plug in Japan, adding to the global shift.

The Lightning Round:

– U.S. budget cuts all tax incentives for new nuclear – Sweden hits 63.3% EV adoption – U.S. could be powered 1x over by solar-covered parking lots – GM unveils a lithium manganese-rich battery promising higher range and lower costs – Plus: A look at Onox, the all-electric tractor with swappable battery packs via Electrek

Email us at [email protected] or leave a voice message at speakpipe.com/cleanenergyshow

Donate via PayPal.

We dive into thorium nuclear reactors — a long-dormant technology with huge safety and environmental potential, now being revived by China. What are they, how do they work, and why aren't we using them already?

• Join The Clean Energy Show's CLEAN CLUB on Patreon for exciting perks! Get our monthly bonus podcast and more!

Meanwhile in Los Angeles, rebuilding after devastating wildfires has sparked controversy. The mayor rolled back an electric-only building mandate to speed up reconstruction — but a new report says building all-electric is faster and cheaper. We explore why gas-free homes make more sense, even in emergencies.

The longest-range electric vehicles on the market, sometimes topping 1,000 km.

Plus:

• Pittsburgh Airport is transforming a former landfill into a solar powerhouse.

• BC Hydro triples its EV charging network as British Columbia adds 200,000 EVs.

• Australia's rooftop solar boom, EV battery longevity, and gene-edited rice in India.

The Lightning Round:

• Uber expands robotaxi services globally with Chinese partners.

• Waymo robotaxis: up to 25x safer for pedestrians.

• 70% of ferries on order now electric.

• By 2027, nearly all new homes in England must include solar panels.

We explain how thorium reactors differ from traditional nuclear, their safety advantages, and why they may be key to a cleaner energy future.

Pittsburgh landfill solar: https://electrek.co/2025/04/30/pittsburgh-airport-landfill-solar/ LA rebuild & natural gas: https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/carbon-free-buildings/la-fires-electric-construction

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A massive blackout brought Spain and Portugal to a standstill this week, reminding us just how deeply modern life depends on electricity. The outage disrupted everything from subways and air traffic to ATMs and elevators, leading to scenes of chaos in Madrid and emergency water deliveries by tractor. We break down the moment-by-moment collapse of daily life—and what it tells us about resilience and infrastructure.

• See our Patreon page for our social media posts and ways to support our work!

In the UK, the Labour government is pushing forward with new overhead power lines, despite public opposition to their visual impact. A study endorsed by Labour shows burying cables is 4.5 times more expensive than pylons—read more from The Guardian.

Also in Britain, protesters frustrated with the lack of textile recycling options are mailing their worn-out clothes back to the CEOs of the companies that sold them. One PhD student's protest kicked off a wave of "postal activism"—full story here.

We also respond to a heartfelt listener email from California about EV range anxiety. Is it time EVs matched gas vehicles for range? We talk bladder size, cold weather, spousal tolerance, and battery waste. Plus, another listener from Swift Current updates us on his repaired Hyundai Ioniq 5—and reveals a surprise connection with last week's mailbag guest from Japan.

In the Lightning Round:

• Scientists develop a tool that could let courts hold oil companies accountable for climate damages—via Bloomberg.

• New York lawmakers push to shut down Tesla stores.

• A startup is turning methane into butter.

• China approves 10 new nuclear reactors—again.

📧 Email us at [email protected] 🎙️ Leave a voicemail: speakpipe.com/cleanenergyshow

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