Clean Energy Today

Lisa Cohn
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How innovators, businesses and consumers are shaping the clean energy transition. Hosted by longtime energy writer Lisa Cohn.

  1. 3D AGO

    How are High Oil Prices Affecting Clean Energy? A Global Perspective

    With oil prices at the time of this interview–April 2026–close to $100/ barrel because of the war in Iran, will we see higher deployment of renewable energy and electric vehicles (EV)? Wesley Herche, co-founder of Sustainability Decoded and director of energy and sustainability solutions at Prologis, where he deploys solar, battery storage and commercial EV charging infrastructure for the world's largest companies, provides a global perspective on the status of clean energy and the effects of high oil prices. Topics discussed include: Why large U.S. companies are investing in renewable energy and how high oil prices could affect them. EV purchases make up 80% to 90% of new car sales in certain parts of the world. Will this trend continue? How China's aggressive deployment of solar will impact oil prices there. How Pakistan is insulated to some degree by its solar deployment. Why gasoline prices have jumped so quickly in the U.S. Learn more about host Lisa Cohn at https://cleanenergywriters.com/ Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts

    36 min

  2. APR 8

    270 MW Solar, Sheep Grazing, Beekeeping: Enel's Agrivoltaics Project

    Enel North America's Blue Jay Agrivoltaics project in Grimes County, Texas spans 2,700 acres, produces 270 megawatts (MW) of solar and includes a 59-MW battery storage system. It uses sheep for vegetation management and includes pollinator habitat, veteran-managed apiaries and drone maintenance. Jesse Puckett, director of sustainability projects and community affairs at Enel North America describes how the project helps improve the company's business, bottom line, the environemnt and the local community.   Learn more about the Blue Jay project and Jesse Puckett Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts   Check out host Lisa Cohn's energy writing at CleanEnergyWriters.com

    21 min

  3. MAR 17

    To Accelerate Bidirectional Charging, Overcome One-Way Rules with These Policy Ideas

    Millions of people are driving electric vehicles (EV) which, with bidirectional charging, can provide value to the electrical grid and back up homes and businesses during outages. What's standing in the way of unlocking these benefits? Steve Letendre, an  energy economist, senior advisor to the Vehicle-Grid Integration Council and the founder and editor of V2G News, says bidirectional charging technology is trapped behind one-way rules. He offers policy ideas that could advance bidirectional charging. About the Guest: Steve Letendre's work centers on unlocking the value of distributed energy resources, especially bidirectional EVs to accelerate the clean energy transition. He has led regulatory affairs at two leading V2G companies (Fermata Energy and Nuvve), where he developed and executed cross-functional strategies to shape state and federal policy, influence regulatory proceedings and align market rules with emerging technologies. Subscribe to and rate this podcast on Apple Podcasts Learn about host Lisa Cohn at CleanEnergyWriters.com

    30 min

  4. FEB 28

    A Utility's Effort to Boost EV Use--Before and After Tax Credit Loss

    Since 2021, Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G), New Jersey's largest utility, has added 30,000 electric vehicles (EV) to its system, in part by offering rebates and other incentives. Before January 2026, the growth rate was double-digit, but is now flat, because of the loss of the federal EV tax credit and changes in the market. Dawn Neville, senior manager of electric transportation at PSE&G, describes the program's successes and challenges. How to get more chargers installed at multi-family housing complexes? How much do demand response programs for EV drivers help out in the summer? And how might a new time-of-use rate that varies from 9 cents/kWh (off peak) to 60 cents/kWh (on peak) help save money for people who charge at home? About the guest: Dawn Neville, an environmental engineer who transitioned from working on hazardous waste sites to transportation electrification at PSE&G's EV charging program   Subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts Visit host Lisa Cohn at CleanEnergyWriters.com Email Lisa@CleanEnergyWriters.com with news tips and episode ideas.

    24 min

  5. FEB 11

    How Does Floating Solar Affect Birds, Alligators and Other Animals?

    Elliott Steele, a researcher at the UC Davis Wild Energy Center, is now studying how a floating solar array at the Nelson Family Vineyards in Mendocino County, Calif. affects birds. He's also studying how a 6-MW floating solar array–Califronia's largest– in Sonoma County is influencing wildlife. In Florida, he says, alligators and other animals hang out on the solar systems. Wildlife can also affect the floating solar panels, by defecating on them, for example, and lowering the solar output. This is a follow up to my last podcast episode about Nelson Family Vineyards' floating solar array. Guest: Elliott Steele, Ph.D, solar postdoctoral scholar, Wild Energy Center   Subscribe and rate this podcast on Apple Podcasts Submit podcast ideas, questions or comments to Lisa@CleanEnergyWriters.com Learn about host Lisa Cohn's writing at CleanEnergyWriters.com

    22 min

  6. JAN 29

    Vineyard's Floating Solar To Slash its Utility Costs in Northern California by About $90k/Year

    Nelson Family Vineyards in Mendocino County, Calif., will soon power up its floating solar system, deployed on pontoons on an irrigation pond, expecting to cut utility costs, which jumped 180% over the last three years, by about $90,000 annually. Researchers at the University of California Davis are studying how the system will affect wildlife–the focus of our next podcast, which will touch on how songbirds at the farm are affected by the system–and how alligators in Florida climb onto these systems. The Nelsons are looking into selling or transferring a 30% investment tax credit to help pay for the system. Guests Tyler Nelson, vice president, Nelson Family Vineyards Tate Tussing, business development manager at Noria Energy. Email host Lisa Cohn at Lisa@CleanEnergyWriters.com with podcast episode ideas. Learn more about Lisa at CleanEnergyWriters.com

    31 min

  7. JAN 6

    These Farmers Want to Use Agrivoltaics to Supply Healthy Food to their Community

    Itanna and Yosafe Murphy are working to use agrivoltaics--co-locating solar PV energy production with agricultural activities on their 160-acre farm--to provide healthy, fresh and tasty food to their community, along with STEM education and energy resilience.  In addition to agrivoltaics, the project, located in Oregon's Willamette Valley, will integrate vertical farming and hydroponics. Oregon State University, Ecotrust, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and others have joined the effort as technical partners. Despite the loss of funding sources from the federal government under the Trump administration, the pair are moving forward with a "blank canvas and a really big idea," hoping to create a model for other farmers. Visit Sheba Farm to learn more. Background: Hay Farming Doesn't Pay the Bills. Agrivoltaics Does Oregon Agrivoltaics-Based Microgrid Tackles Crop Warming from Climate Changge--and May Improve the Taste of Lettuce.   Visit host Lisa Cohn at CleanEnergyWriters.com

    23 min

  8. 12/15/2025

    Hay Farming Doesn't Pay the Bills. Agrivoltaics Does--and Helps Address Climate Warming

    Byron Kominek, founder of Jack's Solar Garden in Boulder, Colo., an agrivoltaics site that attracts thousands of visitors annually, says hay farming doesn't pay the bills. But installing solar panels above crops and selling the solar to the utility is a revenue generator for the solar garden.   Not only can agrivoltaics--the practice of co-locating solar panels with agricultural activities-- generate revenue, but it can also address climate warming by providing shade. Kominek educates students and community members about the benefits of agrivoltaics as director of the Colorado Agrivoltaics Learning Center.   It's important to think long-term about how to adapt to climate change, said Kominek, who received an Ashoka Fellowship for his work as a social entrepreneur.     Learn more about Jack's Solar Garden here.   Send podcast episode ideas to Lisa@CleanEnergyWriters.com   Visit host Lisa Cohn at CleanEnergyWriters.com   Subscribe to and rate this podcast on Apple Podcasts.

    22 min
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About

How innovators, businesses and consumers are shaping the clean energy transition. Hosted by longtime energy writer Lisa Cohn.

Information

  • Creator
    Lisa Cohn
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    Clean Energy Today