Inevitable

In today’s episode, we cover: Jason’s work at SIPA and Center of Global Energy Policy. Jason’s time in policy in the Clinton and Obama Administrations and Brookings Institute. SIPA’s mission and how it serves as a resource for decision-makers in the energy industry. How the challenge among energy and climate policymakers is making research useful and actionable for industry. How Jason found his wa...

Today's guest is Tim Latimer, Co-Founder and CEO of Fervo Energy. This is the first episode that I've done putting geothermal front and center, and Tim does a great job in this discussion of providing an overview of geothermal technology. I learn why it matters, where it is in its evolution, where it needs to get to and the barriers holding it back. We also talk a bunch about Tim's journey from st...

Today's guest is Bryce Smith, Founder & CEO at LevelTen Energy.  We have a great discussion in this episode about Bryce's career and experience, what brought him into the energy world, and what led him to founding LevelTen. We talk about the vision of LevelTen, the company’s origin story, the products they've had to date, and what types of things are coming next. And we have a great discussion abo...

Today's guests are Nan Ransohoff & Ryan Orbuch, members of Stripe’s Climate team.  Nan and Ryan work on the Climate team at Stripe, and I was very excited for the opportunity to interview them. While it’s not a climate company, Stripe recognizes that climate change poses a long term risk to its mission of growing the GDP of the Internet. As a result, Stripe is doing a number of things that I think...

In today’s episode, we cover: Sean’s experience as an entrepreneur. Sean’s background in science and his interest in climate change. How business revealed to him the regulatory and legislative barriers related to climate development. How his father and his work in cogeneration plants influenced his interest in biofuels and climate. The challenges faced by mission-driven energy companies. Why he fe...

Today's guest is Andrew Salzberg, Loeb Fellow at Harvard University Graduate School of Design. I was excited for this one, because transportation is such a key lever in decarbonization and one that we haven't yet spent enough time talking about here on the pod. We cover a lot in this episode, including an overview of the transportation ecosystem, where we are today, where we need to go and what ar...

In today’s debate, we cover: What is hydrogen? How is it used and why is it important? Jigar’s and Gene’s respective background as it relates to hydrogen The applications and costs associated with hydrogen What competes with hydrogen in the energy market The necessity of a price on carbon as it relates to hydrogen What the natural gas boom says about hydrogen’s future Initiatives Jigar and Gene wo...

Today's guest is Philip Behn, CEO of Imperfect Foods.  In today’s episode, we cover: What is Imperfect Foods and its mission Imperfect Foods’ achievements in terms of customers-served and food waste recovered The company’s origin story Philip’s journey in food and how he joined Imperfect Foods What he learned during his stints at McKinsey and Walmart Imperfect Foods’ value proposition The landscap...

Today's guest is May Boeve, Executive Director & Co-Founder of 350.org. We have a great discussion in this episode about May's roots in activism and in fighting to combat global warming, where that came from, how it came about, and how her thinking on these topics has evolved over the past decade. We also talk about the current state of affairs in the climate movement and in the world, where we ne...

Today's guest is Phil Bredesen, Former Governor of Tennessee. This is a fascinating discussion because I haven't come across many people who have made the transition from entrepreneurship to politics back to entrepreneurship. But Governor Bredesen has danced back and forth in both of these areas quite successfully over a long illustrious career. We also have a great discussion about climate change...

In today’s episode, we cover: The benefits of partnering with MIT in founding The Engine The mission and vision of The Engine The Engine’s focus on “tough tech” and the role it plays as a backer of it How The Engine compares with a typical VC firm and important differences that makes it unique How Katie landed at The Engine after a long career in technology and investing The role MIT plays at The...

Today's guest is Rebecca Henderson, John and Natty McArthur University Professor at Harvard University. We also talk a lot about climate change, how to think about the problem, the path forward, and most importantly how Rebecca came to be doing this work to begin with. She has a fascinating journey, and I know it was helpful for me as I'm navigating my own journey. I hope you find it helpful too....

Today's guest is Maggie Thomas, Political Director of Evergreen Action. I was very excited for this discussion, as Maggie is deep in climate policy and has done so on behalf of campaigns that have arguably the best climate policy around. We cover a lot of ground in this episode, including the key tenants of the Inslee policy plan, what it was like to be a part of the Inslee campaign and the Warren...

Today's guest is Mindy Lubber, CEO and President of Ceres. She's been at Ceres’ helm since 2003 and, under her leadership, the organization and its powerful network have grown significantly in size and influence. I've had a couple of other Ceres people on the show: Alicia Seiger, who's on the board, and Barney Schauble, the Chair of the board. Both of them have raved to me about the work that Mind...

Today's guest is Danny Kennedy, CEO of New Energy Nexus. We have a great discussion in this episode, covering a wide range of topics including Danny's background and experience, what led him to become an activist, his interest in climate change and how that interest has manifested over the years. In addition, we touch on how his views on the problem have evolved and also where he's spending his po...

In today’s episode, we cover: What is Shopify What are its values Tobi’s thoughts on consumerism Tobi’s view that companies need to think of the world holistically Shopify’s journey and what it discovered purchasing carbon credits The misaligned incentives caused by poor quality carbon credits Tobi’s personal journey in learning about climate change and taking action on it The need to reform capit...

Today's guest is Sonia Aggarwal, Vice President at Energy Innovation. I was excited for this episode because so many guests on My Climate Journey have said that policy is the biggest lever we've got, but we haven’t really double clicked on that and dug into what that means and how to bring it about. It just so happens that filling in those gaps and educating lawmakers on what needs to happen is wh...

Today's guest is Davida Herzl, Co-Founder & CEO of Aclima Inc. This is the first episode that we're putting pollution front and center. It's an important topic and Aclima is one of the leaders in helping provide more visibility. Through Aclima’s data and reporting, we can better understand, measure and become more aware of the harm that pollution is having in our local communities and the world at...

In today’s episode, we cover: Varun’s wide-ranging background in academia, startups and public policy His career as a technologist beginning with Cleantech 1.0 How he moved from science to public policy How cooperation across sectors is critical to solve climate change. The need for aggressive increases in federal funding for energy innovation The lessons of Cleantech 1.0 How the missteps of VC cl...

In today’s episode, we cover: The focus and work of BNP Paribas Asset Management Mark’s role in sustainability research Sectors of focus for Mark’s team How ESG is used as a lens to analyze different sectors BNP Paribas Asset Management’s track record of Social Responsibility Investing Asset management industry’s shifting focus into more SRI and ESG investments The thesis that ESG investing will y...

In today’s episode, we cover: Origins of Scale Microgrid Solutions (SMS) What’s a “microgrid?” “Front of the meter” vs. “Behind the meter” microgrids The way utilities are setup in the U.S. How Tim found his way into the energy sector The value proposition of the microgrid How the company’s management software controls the grid components SMS’ modular solution SMS’ Energy-as-a-Service model The mo...

In today’s episode, we cover: Early learnings and thoughts on COVID-19 pandemic and parallels with climate change Alex’s role at BCG and his work in the energy industry His work with oil and gas companies in responding to climate change How oil and gas companies’ climate change strategies have evolved Oil and gas companies’ attitudinal change to accepting climate change as an existential issue Imp...

In today’s episode, we cover: Carbon Lighthouse, its business, vision and clientele The genesis of the company The opportunity of improving energy efficiency The early challenges of driving sales Carbon Lighthouse’s non-profit arm The substantial role commercial buildings play in emitting GHG Misaligned incentives of the many stakeholders involved Factors that led to a tipping point in the sales c...

In today’s episode, we cover: What is Kula Bio, its mission, and what it has developed The importance of nitrogen as an ingredient in fertilizer and agriculture The drawbacks and consequences of the Haber-Bosch process Kula Bio’s unique fertilizer and how it addresses carbon emissions The microbial process of developing the proprietary fertilizer Profile of customers, to which Kula Bio is catering...

In today’s episode, we cover: What is CalPERS, its origins and its mission? How its priorities and concerns about climate change is rooted in its fiduciary responsibility to pensioners current and future Anne’s career at CalPERS and early work focusing on corporate governance What CalPERS learned from the 2008 financial crisis and how it informs its perspective and priorities regarding climate cha...