Renewable Energy SmartPod

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When you think of the company 3M, you probably think of Post-it notes. But 3M produces a lot more products than Post-it notes. In fact, 3M is very active in the energy sector.
Terry Collier, Vice President of Research and Development for 3M's Electrical Markets Division, joins the show to spend some time talking about the grid. Transmission queues are a well known problem for the energy sector, with some new projects expected to take years before the power they generate can be integrated into the grid. But as you all know, we need more power now. So Terry shares some of the solutions that 3M is developing to help get the most out of existing grid infrastructure.
With events like extreme weather putting a strain on grids, Terry also outlines technologies already in the marketplace that aim to enhance grid stability and resiliency. We also discuss cutting-edge innovations to help wind farms, utilities and distributed energy resources (DERs) control their costs, reduce downtime, and optimize performance.
More resources from 3M
The Future of Our Grid3M.com/ForwardHighlights from Terry CollierChallenges to electrifying everything - (5:13)
3M's activities surrounding EVs - (6:43)
Addressing the problem of lengthy transmission queues - (7:47)
Deplying sensors to boost grid performance and resiliency - (9:03)
More solutions to enhance grid resiliency - (15:41)
The role of AI in modern grid management - (18:55)
3M's activities in the wind and solar sectors - (21:42)
Terry's bold predictions about the movement to electrify everything - (24:10)
The 'One Thing' related to energy that Terry spends the most time thinking about - (26:30)

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Carbon emissions offsets can be a touchy subject. Some people think offsets are just a price businesses can pay to keep generating emissions. But the truth is, there are many industries where the technology needed to decarbonize doesn’t even exist yet.
So if you're a business leader who wants to offset the emissions from your operations, how exactly do you go about doing that? Or if you are an individual who wants to buy offsets for the emissions you create in your daily life, would you know how to do it? And perhaps most importantly, with accusations of greenwashing flying around everywhere, how does one offset emissions in a transparent and responsible way?
Blake Lawrence from Cool Effect joins today's show to answer those questions and more. The team at Cool Effect works to use science expertise and transparency to give people the confidence to purchase carbon offsets that will deliver positive results for the world around us.
For those of you who are new to carbon markets, Blake and I are going to walk through a list of 5 questions every person should ask before buying carbon offsets. You’ll even learn how much it would cost you to offset your OWN emissions ... or give offsets to others as a gift!
More resources

Cool Effect Model
Seller's Pledge
Offsetting Travel
Business Offset Calculator

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When most people think of batteries these days, they probably think of lithium-ion batteries. But serious questions are starting to be asked about lithium-ion batteries; questions safety, sustainability, performance and the supply of the rare earth materials that go into those batteries.

So with all those battery questions swirling, today's show features Hugh McDermott, the senior vice president of business development and sales at ESS. The team at ESS has pioneered a different kind of battery: iron flow batteries. Hugh shares some of the basics about iron flow batteries and how they stack up when it comes safety, sustainability and performance. Hugh details how the Inflation Reduction Act is a game-changer for the battery sector and how batteries from ESS are already ... yes already ... playing a role in the long-duration energy storage market.

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The upfront costs associated with residential renewables and energy efficient technologies often act as a roadblock to deployment in millions of US homes. Greg Hopkins, a Manager within RMI’s Carbon-Free Buildings Program, joins the show to talk about how green mortgages can play help put those expensive home improvements within the reach of millions of homeowners. Just how much potential is there for green mortgages? Well, as Hopkins explains, tweaks to the housing finance system could grow the single-family green mortgage market from $170 million to potentially $2.2 TRILLION.
Oh yeah ... and along the way green mortgages could save homeowners $12 billion, enhance the comfort and resiliency of 8.7 million homes and generate 650,000 jobs.
Resources - RMI report: "Build Back Better Homes - How to Unlock America’s Single-Family Green Mortgage Market."

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Sponsored by: ExxonMobilClimate Week is about to kick off in New York, so Lauren Collins and Michael Joyce, who are both partners at the law firm of Vinson and Elkins, join the show to talk about what to expect from Climate Week, what kinds of news and announcements they will be keeping an eye on and how the overall conversation about Climate Week -- and climate coverage in general -- has evolved over the years.
We also mark the one year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act with a deep dive on the impact that legislation, particularly the tax credits it contains, has had on the energy sector. Lauren and Michael discuss how the IRA will continue to reshape the energy mix and what to watch for as US government agencies continue to release related tax and regulatory guidance. They also share insights about Basel III and other headwinds that might slow the momentum of the IRA. Finally, Lauren and Michael offer their bold predictions about what lies ahead for the IRA in the next few years.
Check out the Sustainability SmartPod
Highlights
How the conversation around Climate Week has evolved - (3:14)
News to watch for coming out of Climate Week - (6:09)
How and where firms are investing in renewables - (10:21)
The IRA's impact on specific energy sectors - (16:24)
Headwinds the IRA is facing - (20:23)
The threat Basel III poses to tax equity and renewables investing - (21:38)
US Treasury's much-anticipated guidance on hydrogen - (25:53)
Questions developers are asking before closing deals - (29:09)
The need for more talent throughout the industry - (30:46)
Tax issues that continue to fly under the radar - (33:05)
'Stacking' tax credits takes off - (37:09)
Biggest takeaways from the first year of the IRA - (38:11)
Lauren and Michael's bold predictions - (41:44)

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