Energy Matters with Claire and Dan

Claire Broido Johnson & Dan Kammen

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The business and science of energy... All around the world.

EPISODE 18

Venezuela and Greenland: Energy Power Grabs of the Past and the Future

In the Season Two premiere of Energy Matters, Claire and Dan step back from technology and markets to examine the geopolitics now shaping the global energy system. From U.S. intervention in Venezuela's oil sector to growing interest in Greenland's critical minerals, this episode explores how raw power politics are colliding with the energy transition. Claire and Dan unpack why Venezuela's heavy crude matters at a time of global oversupply, what it would really take to revive its oil industry, and who stands to benefit economically. The conversation then shifts north to Greenland, where melting ice, shipping routes, and mineral resources are turning a once-remote landscape into a geopolitical flashpoint. Along the way, Claire and Dan connect these moves to China's clean energy dominance, rising global tensions, and the question at the heart of today's energy debate: are we investing in the energy system of the past, or the one we'll need for the future?

21 min
EPISODE 19

Critical Materials, Ukraine, and the New Energy Geopolitics

As the world accelerates toward clean energy, a new form of geopolitics is taking shape... One defined not by oil fields, but by lithium mines, rare earths, and battery supply chains. In this episode of Energy Matters, Claire and Dan talk about how critical materials are reshaping global power dynamics, with a focus on Ukraine. They explore how Russia's occupation of mineral-rich regions intersects with the clean energy transition, why China's dominance in processing lithium and cobalt rivals OPEC's influence, and what these shifts mean for energy security in a post-fossil-fuel world. The conversation also examines Europe's decarbonization strategy, the hidden energy costs of refining critical materials, and the growing role of conflict zones as testing grounds for advanced technologies — including drones and smart weapons systems. From recycling and circular economies to the ethical risks of innovation driven by war, this episode offers a sober, deeply informed look at the materials powering both the energy transition and modern conflict.

14 min
EPISODE 20

Data, Transparency, and the Future of Power with Deirdre Lord

Electricity markets are more volatile than they have been in decades, and most customers are still being asked to make billion-dollar decisions by looking in the rearview mirror. In this episode of Energy Matters, Claire and Dan are joined by Deirdre Lord, co-founder of The Megawatt Hour (https://home.themwh.com/) and a longtime leader in energy analytics and market transparency. Together, they unpack why today's energy markets are behaving so wildly, from AI-driven demand growth and electrification to aging infrastructure, weather extremes, and the uneven pace of the energy transition. Deirdre explains why data and forecasting, not intuition or market hype, are now essential tools for commercial, industrial, and institutional energy users. She shares how better access to utility data can empower customers to manage risk, plan long term, and make smarter decisions about renewables, storage, and load management. The conversation also explores reliability myths, the limits of fossil fuel "certainty," the rise of winter peaking, and why transparency may be one of the most powerful and underestimated forces shaping the future of the grid. If you have ever wondered why your energy costs feel unpredictable, what is really driving market volatility, or how data can turn confusion into strategy, this episode is for you.

26 min
EPISODE 21

Financing the Energy Transition with Richard Kauffman

In this episode of Energy Matters with Claire and Dan, Claire is joined by Richard Kauffman, CEO of the Coalition for Green Capital and a longtime leader at the intersection of finance, government, and clean energy deployment. Richard's career spans Wall Street, the U.S. Department of Energy, NYSERDA, and now the creation of a $5 billion National Green Bank. Together, Claire and Richard unpack what has — and hasn't — changed in clean energy over the last two decades, from the politicization of the DOE loan program after Solyndra to the rise of corporate buyers, private credit, and infrastructure investors. They explore why the biggest challenge in clean energy today isn't technology, but financing the "messy middle" — projects that are too small for large infrastructure funds and too complex for traditional lenders. The conversation also digs into community solar, offshore wind, utility business models, and why reducing soft costs may matter more than subsidizing hardware. Finally, Richard shares why he remains cautiously hopeful: how growing electricity demand, affordability pressures, and global deployment trends could force long-overdue changes in how energy is financed and delivered.

34 min
EPISODE 22

Carbon Counts: Investing on the Right Side of Climate

Is carbon counting the smartest investment strategy in a changing energy landscape? In this episode of Energy Matters, Claire and Dan sit down with Jeff Eckel, former CEO and current Chair of Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure, to explore what it really takes to finance decarbonization over the long term. Jeff shares his unconventional path from startup setbacks to building one of the largest climate-focused investment platforms in the country. He reflects on the early days of energy efficiency finance, the evolution of renewable energy markets, and why decarbonization was always going to be a long and difficult fight. At the center of the conversation is a simple but powerful idea: if carbon truly counts, then capital should flow toward the most impactful investments — not just the most photogenic ones. The discussion ranges from multi-asset securitization and government-backed efficiency projects to renewable natural gas and the risks of greenwashing in ESG investing. Jeff explains why clean energy will ultimately win not because of politics or virtue, but because of physics and economics. In a world shaped increasingly by climate risk, this conversation asks a fundamental question: if capital is scarce and carbon matters, how should we invest?

27 min

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The business and science of energy... All around the world.

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Claire Broido Johnson & Dan Kammen
Episodes

22
Seasons

2
Rating

Clean
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Energy Matters with Claire and Dan