The Squeaky Clean Energy Podcast

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

On episode 93, we’re joined by two experts who have been at the intersection of energy efficiency, building codes, and policy for quite some time. Julie Robinson of Robinson Consulting Group and Rob Howard of Howard Building Science share the latest on efforts to update NC’s significantly outdated residential energy efficiency standards and how those updates could save homeowners some serious cash. We’ll also hear about efforts at the NC General Assembly to stall updates to the code until 2031. Tune in to hear how the saga is playing out and how you can get involved. Additional resources from today’s episode: Current NC Codes: https://bit.ly/3CNjh0h HB 488 Action Alert: https://bit.ly/42Mcvn4 Latest Building Code Council News: https://bit.ly/3XiELf4 Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele) Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast.

Ever since the $8.5 Billion VC Sumner nuclear plant failure in South Carolina, the region has been exploring ways to better protect ratepayers from utility overreach and unchecked spending. This led to the introduction and passage of a bill in SC to study the benefits of market reform for the state. And the results are in…South Carolina ratepayers could save upwards of $360M a year by joining a regional wholesale market. Earlier this year, NC experienced our own utility challenges with Winter Storm Elliott, which knocked out power to more than 500k customers. These reliability concerns led to the NC General Assembly introducing our own version of a study bill to explore potential savings and reliability improvements that would come with alternative market structures. In fact, some third parties already authored a study that showed NC could save nearly $593M/year by joining an RTO market. On this episode, we discuss the latest developments on related to market reform in the southeast and the potential benefits it could bring to ratepayers. We’re joined by Chris Carmody of the Carolinas Clean Energy Business Alliance and Reese Rogers of the Clean Energy Buyers Association who break down the latest! Additional resources from today's episode: SC Brattle Study: bit.ly/43LShtR NC Brattle Study: bit.ly/42tAaHU Presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association. Hosted and produced by Matt Abele (Twitter: @MattAbele) Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @squeakycleanpodcast.