ENERGY SWITCH

#601 Wildfires

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There are more wildfires in some areas, though globally they’re down. Climate change contributes, but there are other factors which have made forests and cities more fire prone and fires more damaging -- while millions of Americans now live in fire areas. We explore with Lori Moore-Merrell, the US Fire Administrator, and Brian Buma, Senior Climate Scientist at Environmental Defense Fund.

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Why wildfires are more damaging and more areas now prone to burn.


#602 Small Modular Nuclear Reactors

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Small reactors have been used on aircraft carriers for decades. Similar designs are now proposed for power generation and industrial heat. They could be built in factories and assembled on site, with potential economies of scale, but face challenges. We explore with Jose Reyes, Chief Technology Officer of NuScale, and Adam Stein, Director of Nuclear Energy Innovation at Breakthrough Institute.

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SMRs promise scalable carbon-free power but face challenges in deployment.


#603 Population

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The common narrative about human population -- that it will grow forever -- is dead wrong. Demographic experts now agree that population will peak soon and begin to decline, with profound impacts on every aspect of global society, including energy and the environment. Explore these surprising revelations with Darrell Bricker, author of Empty Planet, and Dean Spears, author of After the Spike.

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Human population will peak soon and begin to decline, with profound impacts on society.


#604 Climate Adaptation

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To curb global warming, governments often focus on reducing CO2 emissions. But many are now also adapting to a changing climate, from expanding air conditioning and passive cooling techniques, to engineered and nature-based solutions to counter sea-level rise. We discuss with Vijaye Limaye from the National Resources Defense Council, and Susan Asam, VP of Climate Planning at ICF, a consultancy.

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Solutions for cooling and sea-level rise, to adapt to a warming climate. Climate Adaptation


#605 Carbon Markets, part 1

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Carbon markets were created to try to reduce CO2 emissions. There’s a compliance market, in which governments set emission limits and companies comply, often by trading credits. And a voluntary market, where companies and consumers voluntarily buy credits. We’ll explore both with Jamie Keech, Executive Chairman of Vida Carbon, and Kaya Axelsson from University of Oxford Net Zero.

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Explore compliance and voluntary carbon markets with two experts with differing views.


#606 Carbon Markets, part 2

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In part 1, we explored compliance and voluntary markets. Now we look at brokers and traders, market forces that help set prices, the emissions reduction potential of low vs. high price credits, and the importance of better regulation and verification. Expert guests again are Kaya Axelsson, Head of Policy and Partnerships at University of Oxford Net Zero, and Jamie Keech of Vida Carbon.

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The emissions reductions of low vs. high price credits, and a call for better regulation.


#607 Hydropower

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Using water to generate power has been a staple in our electricity system for a century. We look at conventional reservoir dams and pumped hydro storage; the state of hydropower in the US, Canada and internationally; and challenges that hydro faces. With expert guests Malcolm Woolf from the US National Hydropower Association, and Debbie Gray of the International Hydropower Association.

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A review of hydroelectric power and the state of the industry in the US and Canada.


#608 Energy Justice

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Energy is so intertwined with the functioning of society that it’s a basic need. Yet not all Americans have equal access to safe, reliable, affordable energy. We’ll discuss energy justice initiatives that aim to spread the benefits of energy to more Americans, with Margo Weisz, Executive Director of Texas Energy Poverty Research Institute, and Monisha Shah from the EPA’s Solar For All program.

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Non-profit and government initiatives spread the benefits of energy to more Americans.


#609 Grid-Scale Batteries

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Large-scale batteries on our power grid could balance the intermittency of wind and solar, along with the normal irregularities of the grid. And they’re becoming ever more affordable. I’ll discuss the potential benefits and challenges with John Zahurancik, President of the Americas for Fluence, a battery storage company, and Paul Denholm, a Senior Energy Analyst at National Renewable Energy Lab.

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Grid batteries could back up wind and solar and they’re becoming more affordable.


#610 Energy Subsidies

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Subsidies support energy infrastructure and development to benefit consumers. And we pay for them. In tax credits for producers and investors. Direct payments and mandates for low carbon technology. Accelerated expense schedules for oil and gas. And R&D funding. We explore with Jonathan Lesser, President of Continental Economics, and Ryan Kellogg, Professor at the University of Chicago.

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Subsidies support energy for our benefit, but we pay a great price for them.