The Squeaky Clean Energy Podcast

On episode 114 of the Squeaky Clean Energy Podcast, we speak with an expert on land use and zoning to talk about solar farm development across the state of North Carolina. Tom Terrell of Fox Rothschild breaks down the benefits that solar brings to farmers across the state with the unique perspective of being a farmer himself. Additional Resources: NCSEA Increased NC County Tax Revenue from Solar Development Report: https://bit.ly/3WlR2z8 NCSEA NC Solar Land Use and Agriculture Report: bit.ly/3WB2Xe1 Northampton Enacts Solar Farm Moratorium: bit.ly/3WzmJqi Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele) Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast.

For Episode 113 we talk with John Larson of Dominion Energy about the development efforts currently underway on the 176 turbine, 2.6GW Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project. John shares how this project has fueled significant economic development in the region while helping the utility diversify their generation portfolio and save on fuel costs. Additional Resources: NCSEA/CICE CVOW Tour: https://www.chambersforinnovation.com/insights/dominion-osw-tour Dominion Acquires Kitty Hawk North: https://prn.to/3W0KHch BOEM Greenlights Additional Leasing Areas: https://bit.ly/45YmOH0 Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele) Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast.

On this episode, Justin Somelofske shares the details of NCSEA’s expert testimony filed in the 2024 Carbon Plan (CPIRP) proceedings with a focus on generation resources that require longer development timelines. In particular, Justin outlines the need for expedited offshore wind development activities in the state, along with the need for authorization of funding for early development of these facilities in NC’s current wind leasing areas. This is a can’t miss episode to stay up to date with the latest happenings in the 2024 CPIRP proceedings. Additional Resources: More details on Carbon Plan proceedings: https://energync.org/carbon-plan/ Energy News Network CPIRP Coverage: https://bit.ly/3xLSZg2 NCSEA’s Testimony on Long Lead Resources: https://bit.ly/4bk3epJ Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele) Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast.

On Episode 111, Katie Southworth of the Clean Energy Buyers Association and John Burns of the Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association join the podcast to highlight the current demand for clean energy by large commercial utility customers across the state of North Carolina and the current lack of available programs to serve that demand. We also talk about the current state of Duke Energy’s Green Source Advantage program, data centers, and the importance of reliability for businesses in NC. Additional Resources: NCUC Green Source Advantage (GSA) Docket: https://bit.ly/3Rth4iF Energy News Network Story on GSA: https://bit.ly/3VK3D0h Clean Energy Buyers Institute Report: https://bit.ly/3XpvSTg Clean Energy Buyers Association: https://cebuyers.org/ Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association: https://carolinasceba.com/ Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele) Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast.

On Episode 110, Rob Gramlich of Grid Strategies LLC helps us breakdown FERC Order 1920 and what it means for transmission planning across the country. In particular, we talk through how this order may accelerate renewable deployment and what it may mean for utilities in the Carolinas like Duke Energy. We also cover the procedural process and when the order may go into full effect. Additional Resources: FERC Order 1920 Fact Sheet: bit.ly/3R5VuAs RMI FERC Order 1920 Overview: bit.ly/3yGzkhN Grid Strategies LLC: https://gridstrategiesllc.com/ Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele)

On Episode 109, we’re bringing you the live keynote conversation from the 2024 State Energy Conference focused on distributed energy resources in North Carolina. On this live episode we feature a panel of experts that break down the current state of behind the meter resources and the opportunities that lie ahead with new incentive programs like PowerPair and Solar for All. Tune in to hear from Caitlin Vincent of the Solar Energy Industries Association, Shelley Robbins of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, and Hannah Elliott of Renu Energy Solutions. Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele) Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast.

On Episode 108, we’re talking about a topic that has become more prevalent as residential solar has taken off across the country - consumer protection. As the industry grows and matures, it’s incredibly important that the clean energy ecosystem is focused on protecting and educating consumers to help them make well-informed, financially advantageous decisions. On this episode, Amir Yazdi from the Solar Energy Industries Association shares some resources their association has put together for installers and customers alike, and Stew Miller from Yes Solar Solutions shares some of their keys to success in being a highly reputable local installer. Additional resources from today’s episode: SEIA Solar Consumer Protection Resources: https://www.seia.org/initiatives/consumer-protection NC Consumer Guide to Solar Electricity: https://www.ncsolarconsumerguide.com/ NCSEA Solar Code of Conduct: https://energync.org/solarcode/ Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele) Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast.

On Episode 107, Jen Banks, Permitting & Development Director for TotalEnergies joins the podcast to talk about offshore wind development efforts currently underway in the state of North Carolina and the importance of the Carbon Plan proceedings to determining how future investments could continue to play out moving forward. We talk at length about TotalEnergies’ offshore wind projects further in the development pipeline in the Northeast and how they are already paying significant dividends to local communities through jobs and investments, and how North Carolina can capitalize on that same success with regulatory certainty to help attract a thriving, robust offshore wind supply chain. Additional resources from today’s episode: Carolina Long Bay Leasing Area: https://carolinalongbay.com/ TotalEnergies: https://corporate.totalenergies.us/wind Southeastern Wind Coalition Resource on NC OSW: https://bit.ly/4aIKxg9 Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele) Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast.

On Episode 106, we talk with Don Moreland of the Georgia Solar Energy Association about everything taking place at the Georgia legislature and Public Services Commission. For clean energy policy aficionados, this is a can’t miss episode as we talk about community solar, solar consumer protections, integrated resource planning, and economic development. Additional resources from today’s episode: Georgia Solar Energy Association: https://www.gasolar.org/ Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele) Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast.

On Episode 105, we talk with Chris Carmody of the Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association about the current legislative session in South Carolina and what it means for energy in the state moving forward. In particular, there are a few significant pieces of legislation they’re tracking related to new natural gas assets and a bill focused on carrying forward the conversation on market reform. Additional resources from today’s episode: Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association: https://carolinasceba.com/ SC’s Ten Year Energy Transformation Act: https://bit.ly/4c4dRi0 SELC Statement on SC Market Reform Bill: bit.ly/3vaRBCm Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele) Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast.

On Episode 104, we talk to Blair St. Olson-Ledger from Climate Cabinet Action about the legislative session currently underway in Virginia. In particular, we dive into the significant number of clean energy related bills that have been introduced this session and the potential impact they’d have moving forward. Additional resources from today’s episode: Shared Solar Bills in Virginia: bit.ly/4bNqFZU Climate Cabinet Action: https://climatecabinet.org/ Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele) Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast.

On Episode 103, we talk with Graham Alexander of Southern Energy Management about the recently approved PowerPair solar and storage incentive pilot program. We dive into the details of the incentives, timing, and program capacity. Make sure to tune in for can’t miss details of this new monumental program here in North Carolina. Additional resources from today’s episode: NCSEA’s Clean Energy in the Mountains: https://bit.ly/3Uwk14h SEM’s Webpage on PowerPair: https://bit.ly/3SxAiDl Duke Energy’s PowerPair Webpage: bit.ly/3SAQ7Jj Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele) Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast.

Now that 2024 is underway, we’re joined by the policy team at NCSEA to talk about what’s in store for the year ahead. On this episode we’re joined by Cassie Gavin, Ethan Blumenthal, Justin Somelofske, and Michael Fairrington, who all recap some of the top moments of 2023 and highlight the potential opportunities over the course of the next 365 days. If North Carolina energy policy is important to you, then this episode is a can’t miss. Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele) Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast.

We're bringing back an episode from 2021 featuring North Carolina's role in the energy storage supply chain highlighting the Western part of the state's spodumene resources. We also briefly touch on the recently approved PowerPair solar and storage incentive approved by the NCUC. The order can be found here: https://bit.ly/3O3wjNw We’re kicking off a mini-series focused on North Carolina’s role in the storage industry, starting from supply-chain, then highlighting research and innovation, and finishing off with markets and policy. On this episode, we’re highlighting the supply chain of storage and batteries here in North Carolina. We sit down and talk with Brian Risinger of Piedmont Lithium to highlight western North Carolina’s spodumene resource – a mineral used to make lithium ion batteries. We’ll talk about the process of extracting and refining this resource, along with the advantages of onshoring this industry that’s so important to the future of electric vehicles and storage. On this episode we also provide some short highlights from the NC legislative session to date and bills introduced. We also briefly touch on the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack. To wrap us up, Daniel Pate, NCSEA’s Energy Program Manager takes us on another virtual tour of installed clean energy projects on the NC Solar Traveler. On today’s episode we’re focused on Hertford and Northampton counties. Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele)

On Episode 101, we’re joined by the top official at North Carolina’s leading economic development arm, the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, to talk about recent clean energy investment announcements, the reasons that make the state so attractive to outside businesses, and what’s in our pipeline for future investments. Additionally, Chris Chung shares why energy is such an important part of the conversation when recruiting new businesses to the state. This is an episode you won’t want to miss to finish out 2023. Additional resources from today’s episode: NCSEA’s End of Year Campaign: https://energync.org/2023-annual-giving-campaign/ EDPNC: https://edpnc.com/ Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele) Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast.

On Episode 100, we’re joined by three innovative leaders who talk about the power of inclusive utility investment and how this can be a tool for transformation in communities of most need across the country. We’re joined by Dr. Holmes Hummel of Clean Energy Works, Marshall Cherry of Roanoke Cooperative, and Claire Williamson of the NC Justice Center, who each outline what the NC Utilities Commission recent order authorizing a statewide tariffed on-bill program could mean for NC. Join us in celebrating this monumental decision and 100 episodes of the podcast. Additional resources from today’s episode: NCSEA’s End of Year Campaign: https://energync.org/2023-annual-giving-campaign/ NCUC Order on TOB: https://starw1.ncuc.gov/NCUC/ViewFile.aspx?Id=c1010fb1-05a9-4c60-a4a7-4a2d3a38e465 Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele) Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast.

On this bonus episode, we’re bringing you Governor Roy Cooper’s speech from NCSEA’s recent Making Energy Work conference which took place November 2-3 in Raleigh. In this speech, Governor Cooper reflects on the transformational progress that has already been made to recruit billions of dollars of clean energy investments to the state, while reemphasizing the statutory requirements to reduce carbon emissions in the electricity sector by 70% by 2030. Presented by the NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele) Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast.

On this bonus episode, we’re joined by Zach Amittay, Southeast Advocate at E2, to discuss the latest results of North Carolina’s annual clean jobs report and how the state continues to see year over year growth in this incredibly strong sector of the economy. We break down the latest numbers, while also diving into the some of the policies fueling the growth, including the Inflation Reduction Act. Additional resources from today’s episode: E2’s IRA Announcement Tracker: https://e2.org/announcements/ Presented by the NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele) Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast.

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.

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.