The KJ Show

It's one of the biggest comeback stories of the decade. Nuclear energy, in multiple configurations, is now being touted as the most logical way to achieve a clean energy future. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: "Nuclear is the perfect antidote to the energy challenges facing Britain – it's green, cheaper in the long term and will ensure the UK's energy security for the long term. The emergence of...

From Washington to Warsaw, a 'greenlash' is picking up steam. In recent months, state laws restricting the use of environmental, social, and governance factors have swept across the U.S. In Europe, signs of a green political backlash have also started surfacing as businesses and citizens feel the costs of the energy transition. These technologies also create pushback from local residents because t...

Whether it's tapping energy from deep in the earth or just in your back year, geothermal energy is gaining attention as a clean energy source. Several jurisdictions are tapping into their hot springs to generate energy to power nearby cities. Homeowners are weighing the advantages of a geothermal heat pump compared to more traditional heat pumps. On today's show, our host, Dr. Katherine Johnson, w...

The climate debate has spilled into our dinner tables. From farmers protesting EU regulations that have cut their profits to carbon footprint calculators, people are being urged to cut down on meat consumption and “buy local.” But on today’s show, our host, Dr. Katherine Johnson, will discuss how these facts are misconceptions. New studies have shown that urban farms and farmers’ markets have high...

Solar net metering has been described as one of the ways to make solar power truly affordable for residential customers, but the reality isn't playing out as expected. On today's show, our host, Dr. Katherine Johnson, will share some lessons from the field based on the experiences of two residential California solar PV homeowners. Their insights will be both informative and perhaps a bit shocking....

Rising energy costs in Europe have led to devastating circumstances, as citizens cannot afford to heat their homes due to rising natural gas prices. Alternative energy sources are limited, as nuclear power plants have been shut down, and solar and wind don't provide reliable power. On today's show, our host, Dr. Katherine Johnson, will discuss the conundrum haunting energy experts: renewable energ...

Fleet electrification is a critical element of the transition from ICE to EV vehicles. 15 million EVs are expected to be part of corporate fleets in the US by 2040. Fleets from ICE vehicles are responsible for close to 25% of total GHG emissions. More than 63 million fleet vehicles in Europe account for over 20% of all vehicles. But EV fleet electrification also brings challenges, including the up...

Demand Response (DR) programs are becoming more common for utilities to reduce energy demand during peak usage hours. They may involve reducing energy usage and shifting it to low-demand, off-peak periods. This enables utilities to supply continuous and reliable power for homes and buildings. Water heaters play an essential role in utility DR programs. On today’s show, our guest, Josh Sisson of Tr...

Demand Response (DR) programs are becoming more common for utilities to reduce energy demand during peak usage hours. They may involve reducing energy usage and shifting it to low-demand, off-peak periods. This enables utilities to supply continuous and reliable power for homes and buildings. Water heaters play an essential role in utility DR programs. On today’s show, our guest, Josh Sisson of Tr...

Today's show features some unbelievable "breaking news" items combined with predictions for promising new energy technologies that may gain traction in 2024. Her show will focus on some of the outrageous demands made by climate protesters, including proposed bans on human breathing. Other topics covered in today's show include predictions regarding fossil fuels' continued dominance as an energy so...

Today's show provides updates on some of Katherine Johnson's favorite energy stories. Dr. Johnson, host of The KJ Show, will revisit some of her favorite energy stories—from championing beavers to exposing the dark truths about carbon indulgences. She will also recap some of the most surprising energy stories, such as cutting down orchards and old-growth forests to make way for clean energy resour...

Today's show provides updates on some of Katherine Johnson's favorite energy stories. Dr. Johnson, host of The KJ Show, will revisit some of her favorite energy stories—from championing beavers to exposing the dark truths about carbon indulgences. She will also recap some of the most surprising energy stories, such as cutting down orchards and old-growth forests to make way for clean energy resour...

The cost of investing in clean energy is a moving target, even according to the exerts. One study estimated that it will take an annual investment of $320 billion through 2050 to meet these goals, which translates into a 43% to 286% annual electric bill increase. Other studies estimate the cost of one part of this ambitious plan—even those costs are skyrocketing. A consulting firm estimated that t...

The push for net zero faces one enormous challenge: building a grid capable of handling the increased electric demand caused by the surge in electrification. Progress towards a clean energy future will require more than $2 trillion in investment in a new electric grid. Researchers from Princeton University concluded that the United States must triple its transmission capacity to meet the increased...

Three climate fights will dominate COP28 as more than 70,000 delegates debate how fossil-fuel economies will meet the ambitious climate goal set in the Paris Accords. But isn't it ironic that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is hosting this discussion, a fact that has sparked international outrage? Recent reports have raised concerns regarding the pace at which these climate decisions have been made...

Energy policymakers are pushing hard to achieve net zero energy goals. However recent setbacks demonstrate how these goals remain out of reach. Clean energy technology projects are failing worldwide, whether in a downturn in wind turbine investments or declining demand for Electric Vehicles (EVs). There have been a few glimpses of a renewable energy future in Europe, but questions remain about the...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is fundamentally changing the energy sector. Its predictive capabilities can improve operations, especially in renewable energy sources like wind and solar. AI can also improve the overall efficiency of energy generation by creating neural networks that lead to gains in efficiency while reducing carbon emissions. However, like HAL in the movie 2001, AI also has some po...

Selling indulgences was a catalyst in the Reformation in Europe--- and it may be another catalyst in the move towards the Green New Deal. Environmental advocates have encouraged energy users to buy carbon offsets to represent "an emissions reduction or removal of greenhouse gases...in a manner calculated and traced to offset an entity's GHG emissions." The goal is to reduce emissions or remove and...

The transition to a clean and green energy future faces many obstacles, but policymakers are now grappling with a new set of challenges: The Climate Trilemma. Countries must make trade-offs between Energy Security, Energy Sustainability and Energy Affordability. The catch is that a country can have two of these three goals, but it cannot have all three simultaneously. So politicians and regulators...

Influencing customer behavior has become an important component of energy efficiency program portfolios for electric and gas utilities. These programs rely on innovative approaches, such as comparing customer energy usage to neighbors, and including energy savings suggestions with the monthly utility bill. On today’s show, our host, Dr. Katherine Johnson, will explain how behavioral programs influ...

On October 4, 2023, a growing network of advocates, companies, government agencies, utilities and others will showcase the benefits of energy efficiency during the 7th annual nationwide Energy Efficiency Day. Energy efficiency strategies need to be part and parcel of the transition to a net-zero economy, as homes and businesses powered by solar, and wind need to be as efficient as possible to maxi...

Electric Vehicles (EVs) are supposed to be the answer to reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and propel us into a clean-energy future. But EVs, both cars and trucks, continue to encounter "speed bumps" along the way to full-scale adoption. These challenges were recently highlighted in the DOE's EV Road Trip, which exposed the shortcomings of the current EV charging infrastructure. EV trucks, w...

The transition to a net zero economy depends upon the successful deployment of two technologies: carbon capture and battery storage. But are these technologies effective and affordable? Not yet. Carbon capture is viewed as "greenwashing," as ruptured pipelines caused severe CO2 leaks, while environmental justice organizations condemn the processes used to mine and manufacture electric batteries. O...

The world's richest countries have pledged up to $100 billion annually to fund investments that will reduce global warming. However, recent reports from media outlets and climate policy think tanks have uncovered the lack of accountability in climate finance investments. Government officials from Finland and The Philippines are raising concerns about the lack of transparency and accountability for...

Giant vacuum cleaners, moon mining, and gnome-friendly construction techniques are just some of the newest advances scientists are developing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). EV manufacturers have also made some technical breakthroughs regarding battery life. But how practical are these new solutions? In today's show, Dr. Johnson, our host, discusses some of the newest scientific breakthr...