We're back with a timely Experts Only podcast episode. Host Jon Powers recently interviewed Jonathon Monken, Principal of Converge Strategies, about the devastation taking place in Texas. Hear from an industry expert on how a polar vortex could cause this chain of disasters impacting power, water, and other major infrastructure. Learn about the failures that took place within the grid, and most importantly, how experts are planning for this to never happen again.

Episode 85: Understanding the Texas Grid with Jonathon Monken

Exploring the intersection of energy, finance, and innovation

News

Welcome back to Experts Only Podcast! There’s been a lot of excitement about unleashing a community solar market in California, and the potential to make it one of the most equitable community solar programs in the country.

However, a March 4th proposed decision by the California Public Utilities Commission has put a community-solar plan backed by lawmakers, pro-solar groups, environmental-justice advocates, unions and homebuilders in jeopardy.

This episode, our guest host, Scott Elias, better known as "ScottySolar," welcomes Derek Chernow from the Coalition for Community Solar Access, Matthew Freedman from The Utility Reform Network, and Alexis Sutterman from the California Environmental Justice Alliance to unpack the effort to revamp California's community solar market amidst the CPUC's proposed decision.

Thank you for listening!

For more information:
- Comments of the Coalition for Community Solar Access on Proposed Decision Modifying Green Access Program Tariffs and Adopting a Community Renewable Energy Program: https://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Efile/G000/M527/K884/527884666.PDF

- Former FERC Chair and CCSA challenge Proposed Decision on California community solar in opening comments: https://communitysolaraccess.org/news/former-ferc-chair-and-ccsa-challenge-proposed-decision-on-california-community-solar-in-opening-comments

- Our Sun. Our Power. California: https://oursunourpower.com/state/california/

#127: Unpacking the Proposed Decision on Community Solar in CA

Welcome back to Experts Only for our annual interview about the 2024 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook!

Our host Jon Powers welcomes Lisa Jacobson, President of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE), back to the show for her 7th appearance! He also welcomed Tara Narayanan, Lead Analyst, US Regional Trends at BloombergNEF, for her inaugural interview!

They discuss the Factbook, which is published by the BCSE, in partnership with BloombergNEF. This Factbook is the best compilation of data in our industry in terms of investment, manufacturing, production, mobility, and more.

You can download the Factbook at https://bcse.org/market-trends/.

Thanks for listening!

#126: The 2024 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook with Lisa Jacobson and Tara Narayanan

Happy Women's History Month! 

Welcome to the show Lynn Abramson, President of the Clean Energy Business Network.

Lynn and her organization annually release a report on the state of clean energy, which dives into the numbers of how we are impacting states at the local level for jobs, investment, and deployment.

Tune in to hear Lynn and Jon's conversation around advocacy, the industry's impact, and challenges we're facing.

Check out the report at cebn.org.

Thank you Lynn for being on the show, and thank you for listening!

#125: with Lynn Abramson, Expert in Understanding the State of Clean Energy

Thank you for being on the show, Kelly Worden, VP, ESG and Investing for Health at IWBI!

Kelly and our host Jon Powers dive into the world of ESG and healthy buildings, a space in which Kelly is an expert. Tune into have a better understanding of the connection between public health and our buildings, as well as the emergence of ESG, and how we measure those things -- both at the portfolio level for investors and the building level so people can demand better buildings to work in.

The progress that we are making in this space is important for all of us. Thank you for tuning in!

#124: with Kelly Worden, Expert in Investing in Healthy Sustainable Buildings

Welcome back, Rob Diamond, Partner, Capitol Counsel!

Rob and our host Jon Powers worked together in the Obama Administration. Rob is focused on building an infrastructure practice to help people understand the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, the IRA, and how to access those dollars and get them moving into your community.

Rob and Jon discuss where we are today in terms of the implementation of these generational pieces of legislation.

Thank you for listening!

Episode 85: Understanding the Texas Grid with Jonathon Monken

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