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The Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 58: 100% Clean Energy Is Possible Now with Stanford Professor Mark JacobsonCan we reach 100% clean energy with technologies that already exist — or are we still waiting for a miracle breakthrough? In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge, Stanford professor Mark Jacobson discusses his book Still No Miracles Needed and makes the case that we already have 97% of the technology required to transition away from fossil fuels. We cover: • Why wind, water, and solar can power the entire grid • Why nuclear, carbon capture, blue hydrogen, and bioenergy are not necessary • How electrifying transportation, buildings, and industry reduces energy demand by over 50% • Why clean...
2026-02-2626 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 57: The Truth About Fossil Fuel Subsidies and Energy CostsYou often hear that wind and solar only work because of subsidies. But what about fossil fuels? In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ Bates breaks down the long history of fossil fuel subsidies, favorable tax treatment, federal land leasing, and policy support that continues to shape today’s energy markets. Drawing on decades of experience in fossil fuel power generation and clean energy development, Russ explains: • What counts as a subsidy • How taxpayer dollars support oil and gas • The history of federal fossil fuel incentives • Wh...
2026-02-2404 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 56: Sustainability and Profit: How Smart Companies Reduce Risk and Cut CostsSustainability is one of the most misunderstood words in business today. Is it a compliance burden? A political issue? A cost center? Or a competitive advantage? In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ Bates sits down with Laura Steinbrink, CEO of Emerald Built Environments, to break down what sustainability actually means for businesses in practical, financial terms. This conversation goes beyond buzzwords and focuses on ROI, long-term risk mitigation, emissions reporting, net zero planning, building performance, energy modeling, and capital planning decisions that impact the bottom line.
2026-02-1922 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 55: 100,000 Subscribers and Just Getting StartedWe just crossed 100,000 subscribers on YouTube. In this milestone episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ Bates reflects on how the podcast started, why it was created, and what this community has built together. This wasn’t launched with a growth strategy or viral plan. It started with a simple goal: bring clear, fact-based conversations to the energy industry — cutting through misinformation around clean energy, fossil fuels, EVs, and energy policy. After decades in fossil fuel power generation and now working in clean energy, solar, storage, and EV infrastructure, Russ shares why this...
2026-02-1704 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 54: Why AI Data Centers Are Overwhelming the Grid (It’s Not Just Generation)AI data centers are being announced and built at a pace the U.S. electric grid was never designed for — and the biggest constraint isn’t generation. It’s substations and grid infrastructure. In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ Bates is joined by Ben Watkins, P.E., Vice President at ARM Group, to break down what’s really happening behind the scenes as AI-driven load reshapes the power system. This conversation goes beyond headlines to explain why AI data centers are fundamentally different from traditional data centers, how extreme load volatility stresses...
2026-02-1222 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 53: Clean Energy Isn’t Expensive — It’s MisunderstoodIn this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ Bates breaks down the persistent misunderstandings surrounding clean energy — and why many of the most common talking points simply don’t hold up when you look at the data. The episode explains how utility-scale solar and onshore wind are now the cheapest sources of new electricity globally, even without subsidies, and why utilities continue to deploy clean energy at record levels based on cost alone. Russ also addresses the myth that clean energy only exists because of government incentives, contrasting temporary clean-energy credits with the century-long subsidies that...
2026-02-1003 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 52: Why Clean Energy Deals BreakClean energy projects don’t usually fail because the technology doesn’t work. They struggle because the financing assumptions break. In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, host Russ Bates sits down with Rob Sternthal, Managing Partner at Expedition Infrastructure Partners (XIP), to break down what’s really happening in clean energy project finance right now — and why more projects are becoming stalled, stressed, or distressed in today’s market. With capital tightening, higher return thresholds, policy uncertainty following the Big Billionaire Bill, and shifting tax credit dynamics, even solid clean energy projects a...
2026-02-0531 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 51: America Is Falling Behind on EVsIn this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ Bates breaks down one of the most persistent myths in the U.S. energy conversation: that struggles at Tesla mean electric vehicles are failing. They don’t. While U.S. headlines focus on slowing EV sales, the end of federal tax credits, and Tesla’s declining margins, the global EV market tells a very different story. Across China, Europe, and emerging markets, electric vehicles are scaling, improving, and becoming mainstream transportation — driven by industrial strategy, affordability, and long-term investment. Russ explains why Tesla’s curren...
2026-02-0307 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 50: Can You Afford to Wait for the Grid? Electricity Costs, Blackouts, and Clean Energy DecisionsWhat happens when electricity costs rise so fast they force layoffs or cancel critical capital projects? What happens when blackouts stop being rare events and become recurring risk? In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge, Russ Bates breaks down a question more organizations need to be asking: can you afford to wait for the grid to catch up? With electricity demand from AI, electrification, and economic growth already here — and grid upgrades and transmission taking a decade or more — waiting has become a risky strategy. This episode explains: Why grid upgrades and...
2026-01-2903 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 49: How Organizations Are Opting Out of Transmission Delays and Grid RiskTransmission delays, congestion, and aging infrastructure are driving up electricity costs and increasing blackout risk — and waiting for the grid to catch up isn’t a plan. In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge, Russ Bates explains what organizations can actually do to protect themselves from transmission bottlenecks, rising power prices, and reliability risk — without waiting a decade for grid upgrades. Instead of betting on long-distance transmission, more businesses, campuses, hospitals, schools, and municipalities are turning to behind-the-meter clean energy to serve their own load first. This episode breaks down: Why tr...
2026-01-2704 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 48: Why the Grid Keeps Saying “Wait” — And How Smart Energy Users Opt OutYou can’t gamble on a billion-dollar power plant — which is why large energy projects don’t move forward until the grid says yes. And right now, the grid is saying wait for years. In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge, Russ Bates explains why interconnection delays have quietly become one of the biggest constraints on grid reliability and new power generation. Across the U.S., billions of dollars in utility-scale projects are stuck in 5–10 year interconnection queues, even as electricity demand from AI data centers, electrification, extreme weather, and industrial growth continues to surge. This i...
2026-01-2203 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 47: Blackouts, Price Spikes, and the Speed Gap Breaking the GridWhat happens when electricity demand grows faster than generation, transmission, and infrastructure can be built? In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge, Russ Bates breaks down why the biggest threat to grid reliability in the 2020s isn’t a lack of ideas — it’s speed. Electricity demand from AI data centers, electrification, and extreme weather is arriving all at once, while traditional solutions like fossil fuel plants, nuclear projects, and transmission upgrades operate on timelines measured in decades. That mismatch shows up as blackouts, price spikes, congestion, and emergency grid measures — and it’s why centra...
2026-01-2003 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 46: AI Is Driving Electricity Costs Up — Here’s How Businesses Take Back ControlAI data centers are driving electricity demand at a scale the grid was never designed to handle — and the consequences are already showing up as higher power prices, grid congestion, and growing blackout risk. In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, we shift the focus from panic to solutions. Instead of waiting years for new generation, transmission, and grid upgrades, forward-looking companies, municipalities, and institutions are taking control of their energy future today. We break down how behind-the-meter solar, battery storage, and microgrids allow large energy users to reduce exposure to volatile electricity pr...
2026-01-1504 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 45: Why Clean Energy Is More Reliable Than Fossil Fuels“Clean energy isn’t reliable” is one of the most repeated myths in the energy debate — and it’s also one of the most outdated. In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge, we break down what grid reliability actually means in today’s electricity system and why the old baseload model no longer matches how demand, weather, and power flows behave. For most of the last century, reliability meant large power plants running continuously — coal, gas, and nuclear providing steady baseload power. But today’s grid doesn’t fail because it lacks energy overall. It fails because s...
2026-01-1303 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 44: Rising Electricity Costs Explained: Why Businesses Are Opting Out of Grid Price VolatilityElectricity costs are rising across the U.S., and for many businesses, municipalities, and institutions, power has become a top-three operating expense. Even organizations that haven’t changed their energy usage are paying more — and it’s not temporary. In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge, we break down why electricity prices keep climbing and why waiting for political or regulatory fixes won’t protect your budget. Exploding demand from AI data centers, electrification, population growth, and extreme weather is forcing utilities to build new infrastructure — and those costs are being passed on to everyone through higher rat...
2026-01-0804 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 43: Why Clean Energy Still Wins in 2026Electricity costs are rising, demand is accelerating, and the grid is under more strain than at any point in modern history. In this January kickoff episode of The Clean Energy Edge, we shift from diagnosing the problem to explaining why clean energy still makes sense in 2026 and beyond. December focused on what’s breaking in the electricity system — rising power prices, AI-driven demand growth, interconnection backlogs, transmission delays, and growing reliability risks. This episode zooms out to look at the bigger picture and explains why clean energy isn’t a fringe solution, but a practical response to how th...
2026-01-0605 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 42: Why Nuclear Can’t Solve Today’s Grid Crisis (Timelines, Cost, and Reality)After a recent episode on nuclear power sparked intense discussion, one issue became clear: many people are still confusing what works in theory with what can actually be delivered on real-world timelines. In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ Bates steps back from ideology and focuses on execution. This isn’t a pro- or anti-nuclear argument — it’s a reality check on what the grid can finance, permit, build, and rely on in the 2020s. This episode breaks down: -Why nuclear scores well on physics but struggles on delivery -The...
2025-12-3104 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 41: Why Clean Energy Is Still Misunderstood — and Why That’s Costing Us MoneyClean energy isn’t failing — it’s being misunderstood. In this solo episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ Bates explains why clean energy still feels unfamiliar and uncomfortable to so many people — even though the technology itself has been around for decades. Drawing on his own background in traditional power generation, Russ walks through how clean energy challenges the century-old model of centralized, fuel-based electricity and replaces it with something fundamentally different: local control, price stability, resilience, and energy independence. This episode covers: Why clean energy feels “untraditional” — and why that’s int...
2025-12-2905 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 40: The Transmission Crisis: Why Electricity Prices Keep Rising Even When Power ExistsEven when new power plants are planned… Even when projects are approved… Even when electricity is actually being generated… The grid often can’t deliver that power where it’s needed. In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ Bates breaks down one of the most overlooked problems in the U.S. electricity system: the transmission bottleneck. High-voltage transmission lines are the backbone of the grid, yet new lines can take 7–12 years to plan, permit, and build — far too slow for today’s rapidly growing demand. As electricity cons...
2025-12-2405 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 39: Why Cheap Power Can’t Connect to the Grid (And Your Bills Keep Rising)Electricity prices keep rising — but it’s not just about fuel costs or power plants. The real problem is something almost no one explains clearly: grid interconnection delays. Across the U.S., thousands of gigawatts of fully developed power projects — including solar, battery storage, wind, fossil fuel, and even nuclear — are stuck waiting years just to get permission to connect to the grid. The power exists. The financing exists. The equipment exists. But the electricity can’t turn on. In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, we break down: -What interconnection actually i...
2025-12-2204 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 38: The Nuclear Power Problem: Too Slow, Too Expensive, Too RiskyNuclear power is often framed as the clean, reliable solution to America’s electricity crisis — but the reality is far more complicated. In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ Bates breaks down why nuclear power struggles to address today’s grid challenges, focusing on the three issues that matter most right now: cost, schedule, and risk. Drawing on recent U.S. nuclear projects and real-world examples, the episode explains why nuclear plants take decades to deliver power, why costs routinely spiral into the tens of billions, and why high-consequence risks — from accidents to security threats...
2025-12-1705 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 37: Why Fossil Fuel Power Plants Can’t Fix the Electricity CrisisIn this episode, Russ — an IBEW electrician who spent decades inside fossil fuel power plants — explains why more gas and coal plants won’t solve America’s accelerating electricity crisis. After working on every part of these facilities, from coal yards to steam turbine generators to stack lights, he lays out exactly why fossil fuel generation cannot keep up with today’s demand curve. Electricity demand is rising right now — driven by AI, data centers, electrification, and extreme weather — but fossil fuel plants take 5–10 years to build. And the turbine that actually produces electricity? It can take 5–7 years just to manu...
2025-12-1505 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 37: Ohio’s Electricity Demand Is ExplodingOhio is facing one of the fastest electricity demand surges in the Midwest — driven by data centers, manufacturing growth, electrification, and aging baseload generation. In this episode, Russ Bates sits down with Mryia Williams of Solar United Neighbors of Ohio to break down what this demand spike means for communities, what “community energy” actually is, and why local generation could play a critical role as Ohio heads toward projected shortfalls as early as 2027. We unpack how renters, farmers, small businesses, schools, churches, and local governments can participate in smaller, faster-to-build energy projects that strengthen the grid, lower bills...
2025-12-1526 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 36: Why Electricity Prices Keep Rising — The Supply & Demand Crisis ExplainedElectricity prices are climbing, reliability is slipping, and utilities across the U.S. are warning about future shortages. But the reason behind it all is surprisingly simple: supply and demand are moving in opposite directions. In this episode, Russ breaks down why electricity is the most sensitive market in the economy — and why even small imbalances create higher prices, instability, and blackout risks. We explain why supply is lagging: • Retiring coal and gas plants without replacing them fast enough • Fossil fuel plants taking years to build • Nuclear taking decades • Clean ener...
2025-12-1004 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 35: How AI & Data Centers Are Driving Up Your Power BillAI is exploding — and so is the electricity demand behind it. This episode breaks down how modern data centers and AI workloads are reshaping the U.S. power grid, driving up electricity costs, and putting new stress on already aging infrastructure.   We cover what most people never hear: • Why AI data centers require massive amounts of power • How utilities shift the cost of new infrastructure onto regular customers • Why states are approving gigawatts of new load with no long-term plan • What it means when data centers equal the power u...
2025-12-0804 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 34: Why Power Bills Are SurgingElectricity prices are rising faster than at any point in recent history — and there’s a clear reason why. In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ Bates breaks down the real drivers behind the 2025 electricity spike: exploding demand from AI and data centers, extreme weather, aging infrastructure, stalled transmission, and policy shifts that have slowed the fastest, most economical sources of new power. Drawing from data highlighted in the episode, Russ explains how the U.S. is adding demand at 21st-century speed while building new supply at 20th-century pace, creating the grid crunch hitting both...
2025-12-0305 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 33: The Solar Waste Crisis: What’s Really Going OnSolar’s biggest criticism has always been what happens at the end of a panel’s life — and for years, that concern was valid. Most panels were landfilled, true recycling was rare, and the industry had no consistent plan. But that’s changing fast. In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ Bates sits down with Dr. Janette Freeman, Vice President of Business Development at FabTech Solar Solutions, to break down the real story behind solar end-of-life: reuse, resale, true recycling, and how the industry is building a sustainable circular economy. In thi...
2025-12-0129 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 32: 2025 Clean Energy Crisis: Policy Chaos, Grid Pressure & Why Renewables Are Still WinningIn 2025, the clean energy sector faced one of its toughest years—policy reversals, Investment Tax Credit changes, more interconnection issues, and a renewed federal push toward fossil fuels. But despite the chaos, renewables are still outperforming every other generation source. In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge, Russ breaks down what really happened this year, why the grid needs clean energy more than ever, and the surprising momentum behind solar, storage, domestic manufacturing, and behind-the-meter systems. Whether you’re in solar development, energy policy, utilities, or just following America’s grid transition, this episode covers...
2025-11-2604 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 31: Transmission Chokehold: Why Behind-the-Meter Solar & Storage Win the 2020sAmerica’s clean energy boom is running into a grid bottleneck. Utility-scale solar and storage projects are getting stuck for years in interconnection queues, transmission upgrades are crawling, and new ITC deadlines under the “Big Billionaire Bill” are adding even more pressure. In this episode, Russ Bates breaks down why behind-the-meter solar + storage—for commercial, industrial, and residential systems—is the smart, fast, and realistic play for the rest of the decade. Learn how distributed clean energy: ⚡ Protects businesses and homeowners from rising rates and grid instability ⚙️ Reduces strain on the grid during peak...
2025-11-1905 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 30: The Power CrunchU.S. electricity demand is rising faster than at any time in decades — and the question now is whether our generation capacity can keep up. In this episode, Russ Bates breaks down what’s driving the surge — from AI data centers and EV charging to new industrial manufacturing — and why the U.S. may need hundreds of new power plants or thousands of clean energy projects just to stay even. We’ll look at what the numbers from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) actually mean, explore why fossil fuel and nuclear options can’t scale fast...
2025-11-1205 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 29: How the U.S. Took Back Solar ManufacturingIn 2025, the impossible happened — every major part of the solar supply chain is now made in America. From polysilicon refining to module assembly, U.S. factories are once again powering the clean-energy revolution. In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ Bates breaks down how the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and 45X manufacturing tax credits reignited American solar manufacturing. Learn where billions are being invested, how over 50 GW of solar module capacity is coming online, and why 50,000+ jobs signal a real-world industrial revival — even as new policy headwinds threaten to slow it down. 📍 Topics...
2025-11-0504 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 28: The Real War on Clean Energy: Lies, Trolls & DisinformationLast week, we talked about how clean energy needs to do a better job telling its story. This week, we’re tackling one big reason why that story still isn’t breaking through — misinformation and disinformation. From “windmills kill all the birds” to “EV batteries can’t be recycled,” false claims about clean energy spread faster than facts. In this episode, Russ Bates breaks down the three types of people fueling the chaos —the misinformed, the trolls, and the disinformers — and how to deal with each. 🎙️ In This Episode: -Why misinformation about solar, wind, and EV...
2025-10-2904 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 27: Why Clean Energy Is Losing the Story (And How We Fix It)Clean energy has already won on cost, technology, and performance — but it’s still losing where it matters most: the story. In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ Bates breaks down how fossil fuels win with emotion, simplicity, and slogans — while clean energy buries its wins under jargon, stats, and PowerPoints. It’s not a technology problem anymore. It’s a messaging problem — and fixing it isn’t optional in the age of disinformation. 🎙️ In This Episode: How “Drill, Baby, Drill” became a storytelling masterclass Why “energy independence” is a myth that still sells
2025-10-2206 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 26: What Can I Do? | Individual Climate Action That MattersIn this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, host Russ Bates sits down with Kim Noguera Gabrielli, CEO of Worldview International Foundation, to answer one of the biggest questions in climate change — What can I do? When the scale of global warming, deforestation, and pollution feels overwhelming, Kim reminds us that meaningful change starts locally. From restoring one billion mangroves by 2035 to empowering 500,000 coastal residents, her organization proves that small, consistent actions can drive massive environmental impact. Together, Russ and Kim break down: 🌿 How to turn individual choices into systemic change ⚡ Simple energy and lifesty...
2025-10-1522 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 25: Trump vs. EVs - Why Electric Cars Are Still WinningDonald Trump has called electric vehicles a “hoax” and rolled back federal incentives - but the market tells a different story. In this episode, Russ Bates breaks down the facts about EV performance, cost savings, and why people are still going electric despite the politics. We’ll look at: -How EVs stack up against gas cars in performance, reliability, and cost -Why U.S. EV sales keep climbing even after federal tax credits ended -The impact of the ICE raid that shut down Hyundai’s Georgia battery plant -What...
2025-10-0807 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 22: Is Clean Energy Really Clean? Fossil Fuels vs Renewables ExplainedIs clean energy really clean? Or are skeptics right when they point to lithium mining, solar panel waste, or offshore wind turbines? In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ Bates takes on the myth that renewables are just as dirty as fossil fuels — and brings the receipts. We break down the science and data on: Offshore wind vs. whales: What NOAA and BOEM actually say. Lifecycle emissions: Wind (10–20 g CO₂e/kWh), Solar (30–60), Natural Gas (450–500), Coal (900–1,100). Carbon payback: Why renewables erase their upfront footprint in 1–3 years while coal and gas pollut...
2025-10-0112 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 23: The Future of Energy Storage | Electrostatic Graphene vs. Lithium BatteriesIn this episode of The Clean Energy Edge, Russ Bates and Brian Scott sit down with Stephanie Choi Brookes, Chief Marketing Officer at Emtel Energy USA, to explore a breakthrough in long-duration energy storage. Stephanie explains how Electrostatic Graphene Energy Storage (ELDES) is disrupting the market by eliminating the fire risks and degradation issues tied to lithium-ion batteries. She shares insights from her journey into clean energy, why storage is the “linchpin” of the renewable transition, and how Emtel is scaling projects from telecom to utility-scale. Topics covered include: Why lithium-ion batteries fall shor...
2025-09-1734 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 21: The Great Fossil Fuel Handout: 100 Years of Subsidies vs. Clean Energy TruthOpponents love to say “clean energy only survives because of subsidies.” But that’s projection. Fossil fuels have been on government life support for over a century , and the new Big Billionaire Bill just handed them billions more while cutting support for solar, wind, EVs, and storage. In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ Bates and Brian Scott bring the receipts: Direct subsidies still in place: Intangible Drilling Costs (~$4B/yr), Percentage Depletion (since 1926), Accelerated Depreciation, and below-market Federal Leasing. Indirect subsidies hidden in plain sight: $81B/yr military protection of oil...
2025-09-1033 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 20: From Promises to Pain The Politics of Rising Power BillsIn this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ Bates and Canadian co-host Brian Scott tackle the surging electricity prices gripping the U.S. in 2025 — and why the promises of cheaper energy have turned into pain for households and businesses. Eight months into President Trump’s second term, electricity bills are up an average of 10% nationwide, with some states like Maine seeing year-over-year spikes as high as 36%. We break down how supply and demand pressures, grid strain from AI data centers, aging infrastructure, and the administration’s war on renewable energy are driving costs higher. We c...
2025-08-2726 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 19: Energy Storage | Travis Eckert on Batteries, Policy Shifts, and Grid ResilienceIn Episode 19 of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ Bates and Brian Scott sit down with Travis Eckert, CEO and Co-Founder of Batricity, to explore the future of energy storage, EV charging, and grid reliability. Travis shares his journey from managing $60M in private banking to building companies at the forefront of clean energy—including Batricity, Enernuevo, and ChargeForward. He breaks down how falling battery costs, smarter supply chains, and new financing models are reshaping project economics, while also unpacking how the “Big Beautiful Bill” and shifting federal incentives impact the clean energy sector. Key topics...
2025-08-2040 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 18: AI, Data Centers & the Big Billionaire Bill: Rising Power Demand, Soaring Prices, and Grid RiskAI isn’t virtual — it’s physical, and it’s hungry for power. In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge, Russ Bates and Brian Scott uncover how U.S. data centers already consume 176 TWh a year (over 4% of national electricity) and are on track to double by 2030 and hit nearly 10% by 2035. We break down what that means in kWh per person, translate it into gigawatts of constant load, and compare it to the generation capacity the U.S. has online today. Then we examine how the Big Billionaire Bill could slash clean energy growth by more than 50%, just as PJM w...
2025-08-1339 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 17: Are Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) the future of clean energy — or just an expensive distraction?In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ Bates and co-host Brian Scott dive deep into the real story behind SMRs — exploring the cost per watt, deployment timelines, fuel supply challenges, and why no SMR is commercially operating yet in the U.S. or globally. We examine canceled projects like NuScale’s VOYGR, stalled efforts like TerraPower’s Natrium, and the hype around data centers and defense applications. Is nuclear power finally going modular — or is this just another decades-long promise? 👉 What you’ll learn in this episode: • What is an SMR and how does it...
2025-07-3133 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 16: The U.S. Chose Fossil Fuels. The World Chose the Future.In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ Bates and Brian Scott break down how the U.S. just made a massive strategic mistake by doubling down on fossil fuels. With the passage of the so-called Big Ugly Bill, clean energy tax credits are slashed while oil, gas, and coal get billions in new subsidies and AMT exemptions. Meanwhile, China, India, Europe, and Canada are racing ahead with wind, solar, EV infrastructure, battery storage, and grid modernization. As global energy demand soars — especially from AI data centers and EVs — the U.S. is clinging to outd...
2025-07-2335 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 15: Here Come the Blackouts-How the U.S. Sabotaged Its Own Energy FutureThe U.S. just slashed clean energy incentives and doubled down on fossil fuels — right as electricity demand is exploding. In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ Bates and Canadian co-host Brian Scott break down the fallout from the “Big Ugly Bill” and what it means for the grid, the economy, and your power bill. ⚡ Key Topics in Episode 15: • Why the U.S. just crippled clean energy and how it fuels a future of blackouts and brownouts • The real impact of gutting the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and pausing utility-scale solar projec...
2025-07-1629 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 14-Carbon Markets & Clean Energy: What the U.S. Reversal Means Globally | Shraddha NairIn this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ Bates sits down with climate finance expert Shraddha Nair to explore how carbon markets and energy markets are converging—and what that means for the global energy transition. We cover: -The evolving role of carbon credits in clean energy financing -Why Europe is surging ahead despite geopolitical challenges -How U.S. policy reversals—like the exit from the Paris Agreement and rollback of IRA incentives—are affecting international climate action -What’s next for voluntary and compliance carbon markets -The gap...
2025-07-0938 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 13-Dead on Arrival? GOP Gridlock & Red-State Job Threats From Clean Energy RollbacksThe Clean Energy Edge tackles one of the most critical energy policy battles of 2025: the showdown between the Republican-led Big Beautiful Bill (BBB) in the House and the Senate's more tempered version. Discover: 🔍 Policy deep dive — What clean energy tax credits are being slashed in both versions? 📊 Job loss data — SEIA warns ~330,000 U.S. clean‑energy jobs are at risk, many in red states like Texas (~34K), Florida (~21K), Arizona (~9K), with up to 830K losses on the table. 🧠 Political fault lines — Inside the GOP: 13 House Republicans push back, the Freedom Caucus doubles down, red‑state Senate Republ...
2025-06-2532 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 12: Elon vs. Trump: Musk’s Public Breakup & What It Means for His CompaniesElon Musk’s friendship with Donald Trump has gone nuclear. In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge, Russ and Brian unpack Musk’s explosive split—public impeachment threats, Trump’s retaliation, and federal contract shakeups. Discover: ⚡ How Musk went from Trump ally to outspoken critic—calling for impeachment and linking Trump to Epstein files—then quickly deleted the posts 🔥 Trump’s furious response: branding Musk “crazy,” threatening to revoke Tesla & SpaceX contracts worth $22 billion, and sending agencies to review federal deals 📉 The stock market reaction: Tesla shed $152 billion in market value in a single day, while S...
2025-06-1836 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 11: Building a Better Solar Carport – VCT’s Heliostation™ Comes to the U.S.In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge Podcast, Russ Bates sits down with Zac Jolliffe and Patrick Boot, the co-founders of VCT Group, to talk about the evolution of their innovative Heliostation™ solar canopy system. From the inspiration behind the product to the real-world pain points it solves, we explore how VCT is changing the way solar canopies are built — and scaled. We also dive into VCT’s expansion into the U.S. market, what they’re looking for in fabrication partners, and how their system supports EV charging and future infrastructure needs. Plus, Zac and Patrick...
2025-06-0436 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 10-Fighting for Fairness: The Truth About Clean Energy and SubsidiesIn this episode of The Clean Energy Edge, Russ and Brian break down one of the most persistent lies in energy: that clean energy only survives because of government subsidies. With fossil fuels receiving over hundreds of billions of dollars a year in hidden and direct subsidies, the playing field is anything but level. They dive into why fossil fuels are still propped up by the government, how political efforts to gut the Inflation Reduction Act are threatening clean energy progress, and why renewables already win on cost, reliability, and deployment speed. It’s a candid, fact-based look at wh...
2025-05-2138 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 9 – North American Energy Divorce?In this episode of The Clean Energy Edge, Russ Bates and Canadian co-host Brian Scott explore the growing energy tensions between the U.S. and Canada. With new U.S. tariffs targeting Canadian energy exports, Canada is rethinking its long-standing energy relationship with its southern neighbor. We break down what this shift means for energy trade, infrastructure, critical mineral supply chains, and clean energy collaboration across North America. Is this just a political standoff—or the beginning of a true energy separation?
2025-05-1430 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy Edge🎙️ Episode 8 Title: Gridlocked Growth: Powering AI, Data Centers & What Comes NextIn Episode 8 of The Clean Energy Edge, host Russ Bates is joined by Peter Kelly, Managing Partner at Red Tree Engineering, to tackle the rapidly growing energy demands of AI and data centers—and what it means for the grid and generation mix. From transmission bottlenecks to interconnection delays, Peter shares real-world insight from the front lines of project development and design. They discuss: Why power-hungry data centers are reshaping infrastructure planning The reality of grid constraints and temporary energy workarounds What a future-ready generation mix really looks like—including gas, batt...
2025-04-2332 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 7 – Coal-Fired Power: Trump’s AI Energy GambleIn Episode 7 of The Clean Energy Edge, Russ Bates and Brian Scott dive into President Trump’s executive orders aimed at reviving coal-fired power generation—a move pitched as essential to powering the AI boom. The announcement includes reclassifying coal as a “critical mineral,” extending the life of aging coal plants, and promoting U.S. coal technology. Coal stocks surged, but energy experts and economists are asking: Can coal really meet the needs of energy-hungry AI data centers? Is this sound energy policy—or a throwback to outdated infrastructure? What does it mean fo...
2025-04-1634 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 6-Tariffs Trigger Turmoil: Unpacking the Economic FalloutIn this episode of The Clean Energy Edge, hosts Russ Bates and Brian Scott delve into the recent implementation of sweeping tariffs by President Trump, announced during the so-called 'Liberation Day' event. They discuss the confusion surrounding the tariff calculations, which have left even seasoned trade economists puzzled. The conversation explores the immediate market reactions, including significant drops in major indices, the ambiguous goals of these tariffs, and their projected impact on global trade and the clean energy sector. Tune in to understand the far-reaching implications of these trade policies and what they mean for the future of clean...
2025-04-0745 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 4: EV Wars, BYD’s Breakthrough, and Tesla’s TumbleIn this episode, Russ and Brian tackle the intensifying global EV race, highlighting how China's BYD is outpacing Tesla in both innovation and momentum. The hosts explore BYD’s newly announced “flash charging” tech, capable of adding 250 miles of range in just five minutes, and what that could mean for EV skeptics and infrastructure demands. They also dive into Elon Musk’s shifting reputation and Tesla’s challenges—from missed innovation timelines to plummeting stock prices—and the broader implications for North American automakers like Ford and GM. The episode expands into a candid discussion of political influence, Tru...
2025-04-0341 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 5: Permits, Politics, and Progress – What's Holding Clean Energy Back?In this episode, Russ Bates and Brian Scott dive into the behind-the-scenes hurdles slowing down clean energy progress in North America, even as Asia surges ahead. With 92.5% of global new electricity generation in 2024 coming from renewables, the numbers are promising—but major permitting delays, inconsistent policies, and fossil fuel-funded misinformation are stalling real momentum in the U.S. and Canada. They explore why countries like China and India are moving faster, how North America's fractured regulatory systems create roadblocks, and what needs to change for clean energy to meet 2030 targets. It’s a candid conversation about energy inde...
2025-04-0330 minThe Clean Energy Edge
The Clean Energy EdgeEpisode 2 – “Tariffs, Trade Wars & Clean Energy Fallout”In this episode, Russ and Brian unpack the escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada, driven by President Trump's aggressive tariff strategy. They explore the political and economic consequences of the proposed electricity tariffs, their impact on cross-border relations, and the unexpected unity forming within Canada. The hosts also discuss how these developments may inadvertently accelerate clean energy adoption, energy independence, and public awareness. With real talk, practical insight, and some laughs along the way, this episode shines a light on the messy intersection of politics, power, and progress.
2025-03-3035 min