
101 episodes

The Squeaky Clean Energy Podcast NC Sustainable Energy Association
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4.7 • 32 Ratings
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Welcome to the Squeaky Clean Energy Podcast, a fresh take on North Carolina’s evolving clean energy policy landscape. Covering technologies such as solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, biogas, electric vehicles, battery storage, and the whole nine yards. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele on behalf of NC Sustainable Energy Association.
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Episode 99: Bringing Millions to NC – One Organization’s Quest to Cash in on Federal Funding
In the last episode before #100, we’re joined by the team at the NC Clean Energy Fund, who share how they’re positioning North Carolina to take advantage of the significant federal clean energy investments to further accelerate the energy transition here in the region. Specifically, Jen Weiss and Melissa Malkin-Weber talk to us about programs like Solar for All and how they’re partnering with financial institutions across the state to ensure families from all walks of life have the opportunity to invest and participate in the clean energy economy.
Additional resources from today’s episode:
Making Energy Work: www.makingenergywork.com
Solar for All: https://bit.ly/3LCP9tE
NC Clean Energy Fund: https://www.nccleanenergyfund.com/
This episode is brought to you by Solarize the Triangle: https://bit.ly/3NRPoRL
Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele)
Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast. -
Episode 98: Duke Files Carbon Plan, Clean Energy Experts Respond.
In August 2023, Duke Energy filed their proposal for the next iteration of the Carbon Plan, also known as the CPIRP. We’re joined by Katharine Kollins of the Southeastern Wind Coalition, Steve Levitas of Pine Gate Renewables, and Dave Rogers of the Sierra Club, who break down the filing and share what it means for short- and long-term clean energy deployment in the state. This is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
Additional resources from today’s episode:
Making Energy Work: www.makingenergywork.com
Duke Energy’s 2023 Carbon Plan Filing: bit.ly/45TVXuy
This episode is brought to you by Solarize the Triangle: https://bit.ly/3NRPoRL
Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele)
Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast. -
Episode 97: FERC Sets Out to Fix the Interconnection Backlog
Caitlin Marquis of Advanced Energy United joins this episode of the Squeaky Clean Energy Podcast to share the details of FERC Order 2023 and how it sets out to untangle the backlog of renewable projects in interconnection queues. Specifically, we talk about how the order outlines a new ‘cluster study’ approach to speed up studying grid impacts for proposed projects. Should the order move forward with implementation, it’ll address one of the many barriers the country is facing with interconnection and transmission – an important topic of conversation for expediting clean energy deployment.
Additional resources from today’s episode:
Making Energy Work: www.makingenergywork.com
NC Building Code Update: https://bit.ly/44hJ3Fz
FERC Order 2023: https://bit.ly/3YKI67x
NCUC Duke Energy Carolinas Interconnection Report: https://bit.ly/45Fivir
NCUC Duke Energy Progress Interconnection Report: https://bit.ly/3PaCqR9
Duke University Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability Report on FERC Order 2023: https://bit.ly/47KkpQC
This episode is brought to you by Solarize the Triangle: https://bit.ly/3NRPoRL
Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele)
Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast. -
Episode 96: Harnessing the Energy from the Heavens Above
On episode 96, we’re joined by Susannah Tuttle and Ren Martin of North Carolina Interfaith Power & Light to talk about the role that communities of faith play in advancing the clean energy transition in the state of North Carolina. In the conversation, we talk about the issues they’re tracking and advocating for including solar rebates, building codes, and church-specific rate structures with Duke Energy. In addition, we highlight the fact that many houses of worship across the state have also invested themselves in clean energy with their own solar installations.
Additional resources from today’s episode:
Making Energy Work: www.makingenergywork.com
Houses of worship across the state with solar: bit.ly/3QFvmgl
This episode is brought to you by Solarize the Triangle: https://bit.ly/3NRPoRL
Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele)
Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast. -
Episode 95: Not as SEEMless as Some Thought…
On episode 95, we’re joined by Maia Hutt of the Southern Environmental Law Center to break down the latest status of the Southeast Energy Exchange Market in light of a recent appeals court ruling. What does this ruling mean for SEEM moving forward? Tune in to hear what the future looks like for this trading market in the southeast.
Additional resources from today’s episode:
Making Energy Work: www.makingenergywork.com
Solar Surpasses Coal Generation: https://bit.ly/3rOG8Xm
This episode is brought to you by Solarize the Triangle: https://bit.ly/3NRPoRL
Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele)
Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast. -
Episode 94: Bill McKibben - Meeting our Carbon Goals
On episode 94, we’re joined by an icon of the sustainability and clean energy movement – legendary author, organizer, and educator Bill McKibben. You’ve probably followed his work starting with his book The End of Nature, and most recently as the founder of Third Act.
In our conversation, we cover the challenges currently standing in the way of the clean energy transition from ‘regulatory capture’ to local opposition of projects like wind and solar. But fortunately, these challenges have solutions. Tune in to hear how Bill envisions the clean energy future playing out and what it means for North Carolina.
Additional resources from today’s episode:
Making Energy Work: www.makingenergywork.com
Latest Updates on HB488: https://bit.ly/46O4ArD
Third Act: https://thirdact.org/
This episode is brought to you by Solarize the Triangle: https://bit.ly/3NRPoRL
Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele)
Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast.
Customer Reviews
Must listen for clean power issues in NC
I’ve been reviewing North Carolina policy issues for years and I really wish I had discovered this show sooner. Excellent discussions and analysis of legislative and regulatory topics relevant to utilities and energy.
Relevant beyond North Carolina
Although the podcast often focuses on North Carolina, the issues are relevant to all the bigger clean energy community. Issues in North Carolina are the microcosm of the other communities that are focused on a clean energy transition. The hosts are respected clean energy leaders. The podcast offer great insights, lessons and is making a meaningful impact on the our clean energy transition. Great work!
Utility bias
The show has become a bit of a utility defender and really not defending clean energy in NC. Heavily noticed this in the episode on Net Metering 2.0 (NEM 2.0) where they defended the new policy, as not much worse than existing net metering policy in the state. This is really not the case. The new net metering policy is a huge win for Duke Energy and a huge loss in benefits for residential solar customers in NC. Moving to the avoided cost rate compensation in net metering during for basically all solar generation hours wipes out a huge portion of the benefit for solar customers.
Otherwise the show does a good job of keeping up to date on current NC clean energy topics. Just a bit of a utility plug piece as well.