The Clean Energy Edge

russbp
  • 3.0 (2)
  • EDUCATION

The Clean Energy Edge is your go-to podcast for insightful discussions on the evolving energy landscape. Hosted by industry expert Russ Bates, the podcast delves into topics centered around clean energy while also exploring broader aspects of the energy sector. From renewable technologies and policy developments to traditional energy sources and emerging innovations, Russ provides in-depth analysis and real-world insights to help listeners navigate the complexities of the energy transition. Whether you’re an industry professional, policymaker, or energy enthusiast, The Clean Energy Edge delivers the knowledge and perspectives you need to stay informed and ahead in the dynamic world of energy.

  1. 9H AGO

    Episode 57: The Truth About Fossil Fuel Subsidies and Energy Costs

    You 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 • Why solar and wind are often the cheapest new sources of electricity today • Why the subsidy debate is often selective This is not a political argument — it’s an economic and structural one. If we’re going to debate energy subsidies, we need to apply the standard consistently.

    5 min

  2. 5D AGO

    Episode 56: Sustainability and Profit: How Smart Companies Reduce Risk and Cut Costs

    Sustainability 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. 🔍 In this episode: What sustainability really means for business leaders Why short-term quarterly thinking creates long-term financial risk How climate events and power reliability impact operations The real cost of ignoring emissions reporting requirements Global regulatory pressures vs. U.S. political uncertainty How companies avoid greenwashing and move toward measurable action How sustainability affects workforce attraction and retention Why energy efficiency upgrades (windows, HVAC, chillers) must be strategically sequenced How behind-the-meter solutions and renewable systems improve resilience Where CEOs should begin if they are just starting a sustainability strategy Laura shares real-world examples, including how proper energy modeling can reduce equipment oversizing and deliver long-term cost savings across the lifecycle of a building. Sustainability is not just environmental. It is about people, profitability, and long-term operational stability. 🔗 Learn More About Emerald Built Environments Emerald Built Environments helps organizations integrate sustainability strategy across buildings, operations, emissions reporting, and long-term capital planning. 🌐 Website: https://www.emeraldbe.com/?utm_campaign=38780574-Nextgen%20Podcast&utm_source=Nextgen&utm_medium=email&utm_term=sustainability&utm_content=2026%20february%20podcast Explore resources, case studies, and strategic insights directly on their site.

    22 min

  3. FEB 17

    Episode 55: 100,000 Subscribers and Just Getting Started

    We 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 platform exists, how it has evolved, and why clarity matters in conversations about the global energy transition. Thank you to the 100,000 subscribers who made this milestone possible. Here’s to the next 100K.

    4 min

  4. FEB 12

    Episode 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 substations and transmission systems, and why grid upgrades are becoming the pacing item for development across the U.S. 🔍 What this episode covers: The key differences between traditional vs. AI data centers Why AI training workloads create massive, near-instantaneous load swings How substations actually work — and why they’re a critical bottleneck Why upgrading one substation can trigger cascading grid impacts New vs. existing substation upgrades and siting challenges Supply-chain and equipment lead-time constraints (transformers, breakers, insulators) Why engineering decisions are increasingly driven by timeline, not optimization The role of batteries and fast-ramping generation in managing AI load Why early engineering coordination is essential for successful projects What developers, utilities, municipalities, and communities should understand before approving AI data centers Ben works at the intersection of substation engineering, grid infrastructure, and large-scale project execution, supporting complex energy and industrial projects across the U.S. 🔗 About ARM Group ARM Group provides multidisciplinary engineering, environmental, and project support services for complex energy, infrastructure, and industrial projects nationwide. 🌐 Website: https://www.armgroup.net/ 📧 Email: info@armgroup.net

    23 min

  5. FEB 10

    Episode 53: Clean Energy Isn’t Expensive — It’s Misunderstood

    In 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 continue to support the fossil fuel industry despite record oil and gas profits. The conversation then turns to China, where misinformation is especially common. Contrary to popular claims, China has more installed solar and wind capacity than any country in the world and deploys more clean energy each year than the rest of the globe combined. China is not just manufacturing clean energy technology — it is using it at massive scale as part of an industrial strategy focused on cost, competitiveness, and energy security. The takeaway is clear: clean energy economics are already driving the global energy transition. The question facing the United States is no longer whether the transition is real, but whether it chooses to lead — or explain later why it didn’t.

    4 min

  6. FEB 5

    Episode 52: Why Clean Energy Deals Break

    Clean 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 are facing new risks. This conversation cuts through the noise and explains, in plain terms, how capital is actually evaluating projects today. 🔍 Topics covered in this episode include: Why clean energy projects fail financially (not technically) How rising interest rates and ITC uncertainty are reshaping project economics What “project distress” really means in clean energy Early warning signs developers and C&I project owners often miss How capital evaluates stressed or underperforming projects Why execution risk matters more than ever The difference between distressed projects vs. distressed platforms How developers can think more clearly about exits, valuation, and capital stacks Where advisory firms like XIP can help — and when to engage Rob brings a rare perspective from the intersection of infrastructure, power markets, capital, and restructuring, helping developers, sponsors, and investors understand what’s fixable — and what isn’t — before projects reach a breaking point. 🏗️ About Expedition Infrastructure Partners (XIP) According to the XIP–Gordian joint advisory overview, XIP was launched in 2025 as a mission-driven merchant capital firm, backed by The Hunt Companies, with a focus on bespoke advisory services across clean energy and infrastructure. XIP and Gordian Group have formed a joint platform to support companies facing market disruption, valuation compression, liquidity constraints, and delayed pipelines — challenges now affecting a wide range of renewable energy stakeholders XIP-Gordian_JV-Tearsheet_202601… . Their advisory services include: Strategic and capital advisory Refinancing and restructuring support M&A and asset sales Creative deal structuring Capital raising and balance-sheet solutions 🔗 Connect with Rob Sternthal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-sternthal-548b287/   Firm: Expedition Infrastructure Partners (XIP) Website: https://xipllc.com/

    31 min

  7. FEB 3

    Episode 51: America Is Falling Behind on EVs

    In 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 current challenges are self-inflicted, not a failure of EV technology. From shrinking profits and repeated price cuts to the decision to end Model S and Model X production and pivot factory capacity toward robots and AI, Tesla is signaling a shift away from being an EV-first automaker. Combined with Elon Musk’s growing reputational impact, Tesla’s brand struggles are increasingly being misused as proof that EVs don’t work — a conclusion the data does not support. The episode also explores: Why U.S. EV demand is uneven, not collapsing How Canada opening its market to Chinese EVs signals the next global battleground: affordability Why U.S. automakers cheering regulatory rollbacks risk falling behind global competitors How leadership stuck in a 1960s mindset is misreading a modern transportation transition The takeaway is clear: the future of transportation is still electric. The real question is whether the United States chooses to lead — or import that future later.

    7 min

  8. JAN 29

    Episode 50: Can You Afford to Wait for the Grid? Electricity Costs, Blackouts, and Clean Energy Decisions

    What 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 transmission timelines are years behind demand Why policy always lags physics in the power system Which organizations cannot afford to wait for grid fixes Why electricity is now a strategic input, not just another utility How doing nothing is still a decision — and an exposed one Who might be able to wait, and why that list is shrinking every year Russ walks through why businesses, manufacturers, campuses, hospitals, schools, and municipal facilities are increasingly choosing to act — not because the grid is “broken,” but because it’s slow, and slow systems create winners and losers. The episode also explores how behind-the-meter clean energy — including solar, battery storage, and microgrids — gives organizations a way to reduce exposure to rising electricity costs and reliability risk instead of betting on timelines they don’t control. Sponsored by NXTGEN Clean Energy Solutions, helping organizations evaluate behind-the-meter solar, storage, and microgrid strategies that hedge volatility, improve reliability, and reduce dependence on grid delays. 📩 Learn more: info@nxtgencleanenergy.com

    4 min
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Ratings & Reviews

3
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The Clean Energy Edge is your go-to podcast for insightful discussions on the evolving energy landscape. Hosted by industry expert Russ Bates, the podcast delves into topics centered around clean energy while also exploring broader aspects of the energy sector. From renewable technologies and policy developments to traditional energy sources and emerging innovations, Russ provides in-depth analysis and real-world insights to help listeners navigate the complexities of the energy transition. Whether you’re an industry professional, policymaker, or energy enthusiast, The Clean Energy Edge delivers the knowledge and perspectives you need to stay informed and ahead in the dynamic world of energy.

Information

  • Creator
    russbp
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    54
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Clean Energy Edge