Electrify This!

Electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles are on the rise around the world as more businesses electrify their fleets and delivery vehicles — global electric truck sales grew by almost 80% in 2024. But what does it take to build multi-megawatt charging stations to support electric fleets? Jason Berry, Vice President of Terawatt Infrastructure, joins host Sara Baldwin to discuss the challenges and in...

The One Big Beautiful Bill is a big bad deal for U.S. households, businesses, and the climate. The law repealed numerous clean energy, efficiency, climate, and electrification incentives and funding, among other major changes. Energy Innovation’s modeling shows that the law will result in the U.S. foregoing 340 gigawatts of new electricity capacity by 2035, and an increase in wholesale electricity...

Federal lawmakers and the Trump Administration are trying to put the breaks on clean electric vehicles that save people money and clear the air we breathe. What does it all mean for consumers and the burgeoning U.S. EV market? Host Sara Baldwin speaks with Mary Nichols, former chair of the California Air Resources Board and renowned leader on clean air and transportation to discuss the impacts of...

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 marked the single largest investment in climate and energy in American history, supporting homegrown clean energy, electrification, and manufacturing. It has generated $600 billion in private investment across 750 clean energy projects, creating more than 406,000 new jobs. The IRA is now under threat, with calls to repeal federal funding and tax credits, risking...

In this special valentine to the electric grid, Electrify This! host Sara Baldwin speaks with grid expert, Ric O’Connell of GridLab, about a topic front of mind for more people, utilities, and policymakers around the world: grid reliability. Demand for electricity is on the rise after decades of relatively flat load growth as more end-uses seek to connect to the grid. Simultaneously, the grid’s po...

Did you know that nearly a third of households in the U.S. face an uphill climb to drive and benefit from an EV simply because they live in multifamily housing? This is not only a climate and public health issue, but also an equity issue. Research shows that access to reliable, convenient, and affordable EV charging is one of the biggest factors for consumers considering owning or leasing an EV. B...

In the last installment of our three-part series on industrial decarbonization, we explore industrial sector decarbonization and the role electrification can play in achieving net zero goals for a stable climate. Host Sara Baldwin speaks with Blaine Collison of the Renewable Thermal Collaborative about the barriers to electrifying industrial heat processes in the U.S., and the policy, regulatory,...

Transitioning the industrial sector to run on clean energy through electrification is a critical strategy to decarbonize one of our economy’s largest-emitting sectors. But electric utilities and the power grid must be able to meet increased demand from electrified industries. Effectively managing electrified load from industry requires new strategies and reliance on tried-and-true methods. This ep...

Did you know that industrial activity around the world is responsible for one-third of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions? In the U.S. alone, direct emissions from the industrial sector make up 23% of our total GHG emissions. The industrial sector is also essential for producing the tools and products we need for our daily lives – from food and beverage products, textiles and paper, steel and c...

Season 4 of Electrify This!   kicks off the new year to unpack a big question: “What’s really needed to cut U.S. emissions faster this decade?” Guests Ed Rightor and Sue Tierney are co-authors of a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine titled Accelerating Decarbonization in the United States: Technology, Policy, and Societal Dimensions , which evaluates how...

2023 was an action-packed year for the clean energy transition and electrification. From the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to myriad actions on EVs, buildings, hydrogen, and renewable energy, 2023 was no sleeper! What were the top electrification headlines of the year?  And what policy developments will have the biggest impact on the year ahead...

A year after the landmark Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) became law, the federal government and states are moving quickly to deploy $8.8 billion in rebates for home energy efficiency and electrification projects. The goal is to help American households save money on energy bills, upgrade to clean energy equipment, improve energy efficiency, and reduce indoor and outdoor air pollution. The IRA also...

States have been long-time leaders in the transportation electrification space, and more states than ever before are taking action to accelerate transportation electrification with the adoption and implementation of EV-friendly policies, regulations, and programs. This episode of Electrify This! explores what states are doing to support robust EV markets, attract the EV supply chain, and ensure mo...

Federal and state policies are reshaping how people and goods travel, while cutting harmful greenhouse gas emissions and pollutants from cars and trucks. Vehicle electrification is accelerating thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, and state policies. In addition, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s newly proposed tailpipe pollution standards for light-, medi...

The Inflation Reduction Act allocates billions for home and building upgrades over the next ten years; these rebates and incentives can cut energy bills, reduce energy burdens, improve public health, and slash emissions, but state and tribal governments must work quickly to develop and implement well-designed programs to realize their full potential. This episode features energy policy researchers...

Three national climate policy stars kick off Season 3 to recap 2022 successes, predict what’s in store for 2023 on the policy front, and outline how the Inflation Reduction Act will benefit states, households, and the climate. U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, U.S. Representative Kathy Castor of Florida, and Kelly Speakes-Backman of Invenergy share their insights on how we made major pro...

At the COP27 Climate Change Conference, governments representing more half of the global economy announced an action plan to speed the decarbonization of power, road transport, steel, hydrogen, and agriculture. The U.S., Canada, Germany, Japan, and other nations backed a set of 25 "Priority Actions" to decarbonize industry, including scaled deployment of net-zero industrial plants and st...

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) is the most significant climate legislation in United States history—$370 billion in climate and clean energy investments could help cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions roughly 40 percent by 2030. The IRA will transportation and building electrification, invigorate the U.S. clean energy supply chain, and enhance U.S. global competitiveness. But, how will it...

Did you know the gas that heats many of our buildings, cooks our food, and dries our clothes causes air pollution? Recent studies demonstrate the climate and health harms of burning gas indoors, particularly in our kitchens. Gas stoves can emit up to 1.3 percent of the gas as unburned methane—a powerful greenhouse gas—along with other health-damaging air pollutants. Fortunately, electrified stoves...

The hydrogen buzz is getting louder. Carbon-free hydrogen is part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s strategy to achieve President Biden’s net-zero by 2050 target, and the bipartisan infrastructure law earmarked $8 billion for regional clean hydrogen hubs. Meanwhile, natural gas and electric utilities in more than a dozen states are proposing hydrogen-blending for use in buildings and natural gas...

Russia’s unprovoked Ukraine invasion sent shockwaves across the world and shined a spotlight on the true costs of our global fossil fuel reliance, especially for the European Union (EU). The EU’s 27 members buy a quarter of their oil and more 40 percent of their gas from Russia, and EU households are facing high energy bills and accelerating impacts from the climate crisis. On this episode of Elec...

What burning questions do you have about what it takes to remove fossil fuels from your home or workplace and switch to all-electric appliances and equipment? What should you know before you choose a contractor? For example, do heat pumps work in cold climates? And what is a mini split, and is it right for my building? In part two of our how-to series, Electrify This! host Sara Baldwin speaks with...

Want to electrify your life and not sure where to start? Then tune in to a special two-part series of Electrify This! to find out how you can cut pollution and save money by making the switch to clean, efficient electric alternatives. Host Sara Baldwin speaks with Joel Rosenberg, the author of the new e-book called Electrify Everything in Your Home : A Guide to Comfy, Healthy, Carbon-Free Living,...

An all-star line-up closes out the year with reflections on 2021 and predictions for 2022. Host Sara Baldwin speaks with electrify everything pioneer Saul Griffith, policy expert and former Energy Gang podcast co-host Katherine Hamilton, and leading climate and clean energy commentator David Roberts. Tune in to hear three electrification dynamos recap 2021’s biggest developments in the transition...

The landmark $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will restore and expand the United States infrastructure. From improving roads, bridges, and rail, to expanding electric vehicle charging, to developing a more resilient grid and more efficient buildings, or to ensuring clean drinking water for all—this historic investment will spur construction in nearly every community...