The Clean Energy Edge

Solar panels on water may sound unusual, but they're becoming one of the fastest-growing innovations in clean energy. In this episode, Russ explains why floating solar is attracting attention around the world, where it's being deployed, and how it can generate clean electricity while making smarter use of existing infrastructure.

As electricity demand continues to grow, one of the most common criticisms of utility-scale solar is that it requires too much land. But what if that's no longer true? In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ explores how innovative utility-scale solar deployment approaches are helping developers generate significantly more power from the same footprint while opening opportunities on...

Solar and agriculture don't have to compete for the same land. In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ explores agrivoltaics—a growing approach that combines farming with solar energy. Learn how farmers can continue raising crops or livestock while generating electricity, creating new revenue opportunities, and making better use of their land. It could be one of the most practical e...

Electricity demand is growing rapidly. AI. Data centers. Manufacturing. Grid modernization. Electrification. Everyone is talking about the need for more power generation. But there's a question that doesn't get asked often enough: How fast can we actually build it? In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ Bates explores one of the biggest challenges facing the energy industry today—d...

Everyone is talking about the need for more electricity. AI. Data centers. Manufacturing. Grid expansion. But almost nobody is talking about the equipment required to actually build the infrastructure that delivers that power. From transformers and substations to steam turbine generators and switchgear, critical equipment shortages and long lead times are becoming a growing challenge across the po...

As electricity demand continues to grow from AI, data centers, manufacturing, electrification, and grid modernization, the energy industry faces a challenge that doesn't get nearly enough attention: Who's going to build it all? In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ discusses the growing labor constraints impacting utility-scale solar and energy infrastructure projects across North...

Have you looked at your electric bill lately and wondered what happened? You're not alone. Across the country, households and businesses are seeing higher electricity costs, and many are looking for answers. The reality is that several major trends are colliding at the same time—from growing electricity demand and aging infrastructure to AI, data centers, and the need for new generation. In this e...

Electricity is no longer just a utility expense—it's becoming a strategic business issue. As AI, data centers, electrification, and rising electricity demand place increasing pressure on the grid, organizations face growing risks related to reliability, resilience, and energy costs. Yet many business leaders still aren't thinking about energy strategically. In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge...

Electricity demand is rising faster than it has in decades. AI data centers are consuming enormous amounts of power. Manufacturing is returning to the United States. Electric vehicles are growing. Utilities are warning about future capacity challenges. So why are critical energy projects being delayed, canceled, or slowed down? In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ examines the gr...

The biggest challenge in solar today isn’t demand—it’s speed. Projects are taking too long to deploy, and that’s becoming a major bottleneck as electricity demand continues to rise from AI, data centers, electrification, and more. So what if there was a way to build solar faster… without sacrificing quality? In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ Bates sits down with David Griffin,...

Artificial Intelligence is driving one of the biggest increases in electricity demand in modern history, and most people have no idea what’s coming. As AI data centers multiply across the United States, utilities are being forced to rethink how they generate, deliver, and prioritize power. In Nevada, a growing dispute involving utility service and rapidly expanding data center demand is raising qu...

Electricity demand is surging from AI, data centers, electrification, and aging infrastructure — yet many renewable energy assets are still underperforming and leaving valuable power on the table. In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ Bates sits down with Gareth Brown of Clir Renewables to discuss why “every electron counts” in today’s energy environment and how AI, analytics, and...

What if renters, apartment residents, and condo owners could generate their own electricity without needing rooftop solar? In this episode, Russ explores the growing rise of plug-in balcony solar systems already expanding across parts of Europe and now beginning to gain attention in the United States. These compact solar systems can mount directly to balcony railings, patios, or small outdoor spac...

While the United States continues fighting political battles over clean energy, China is rapidly building the industries that are shaping the future of global power generation, battery storage, electric vehicles, and manufacturing. In this episode, Russ Bates breaks down: • how China became dominant in solar, batteries, and EV production • why rising oil prices and global instability still expose...

For years, critics of renewable energy have relied on one core argument: “What happens when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing?” In this episode, Russ breaks down why that argument is rapidly becoming outdated. Battery costs have collapsed nearly 90% over the last decade, utility-scale storage deployment is accelerating across the U.S., and clean energy paired with storage is now com...

The rules around clean energy tax credits are more complicated. Between the Inflation Reduction Act and the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill,” developers, businesses, and project owners are trying to figure out: 👉 What actually changed 👉 What deadlines matter 👉 And how to make sure projects still qualify for valuable incentives In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ Bates sits...

Everyone says the same thing about clean energy: “That money is just going to China.” But is it? In this episode, we break down what’s really happening—and why that argument completely misses the bigger picture. Here’s the reality: Clean energy is a one-time investment that produces power for 25–30+ years Fossil fuels require continuous spending—every day, every month, every year And a massive por...

Electricity demand is rising—and so are utility bills. So what can homeowners actually do about it? In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ Bates sits down with clean energy strategist Jame Zaiyouna to break down the reality of residential solar—what works, what doesn’t, and what most people get wrong. We cover: When residential solar actually makes sense (and when it doesn’t) Why s...

Electricity costs are rising—and for many organizations, it’s becoming one of the hardest expenses to control. But there’s a solution most people overlook: Parking lots. In this episode, we break down how solar canopies (carports) can turn underutilized space into a revenue-generating energy asset—helping reduce electricity costs, stabilize budgets, and support EV infrastructure. We cover: Why ele...

Wind energy is one of the most debated topics in clean energy today—and there’s no shortage of misinformation surrounding it. In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ Bates sits down with utility-scale wind expert Matthias Weigel to break down fact vs fiction using real-world experience and data. We cover: Wildlife impacts (birds, whales, and environmental concerns) Grid reliability...

Cities across the country are facing rising costs, aging infrastructure, and increasing pressure on budgets. But there’s one major issue hiding in plain sight: They’re overpaying for electricity. In this episode, we break down how municipalities are overspending millions on electricity—and why that directly impacts taxpayers, public services, and long-term infrastructure planning. We cover: Why en...

What if the entire conversation around clean energy is being framed the wrong way? Most people think this is about climate policy… or solar vs fossil fuels. It’s not. It’s about a much bigger shift—from fuel-based energy to electric systems—and it’s already happening. In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ Bates sits down with Nadim Chaudhry, energy transition advisor and author of...

If your electric bill has been going up… this is another big reason why. Most people understand that global conflicts can drive up oil prices and what you pay at the pump. But what many don’t realize is that natural gas is now becoming a global commodity too—and it plays a major role in how your electricity is priced. Right now, the Iran war is impacting global energy markets in a very real way: •...

Clean energy isn’t struggling because of the technology. It’s struggling because of how we talk about it. The economics work. The technology works. And yet—projects are getting delayed, misinformation is everywhere, and communities are pushing back harder than ever. So what’s really going wrong? In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ Bates sits down with Jacob Yang—a clean energy m...

School districts across the country are facing tighter budgets, rising costs, and difficult decisions—cutting programs, stretching staff, and delaying upgrades. But there’s one major expense that rarely gets the attention it deserves: Energy. In this episode, we break down how schools are quietly overspending millions on electricity—and why that money could be redirected back into classrooms, teac...