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Ella Nilsen, Vice President at Echo Communications Advisors and former CNN climate and energy reporter, joins Jon Powers to discuss rising energy costs, the politics of affordability, and how the clean energy industry can better communicate its role in delivering affordable, reliable power.

In this episode of Experts Only, Jon Powers sits down with Marguerite Wells, Executive Director of the Alliance for Clean Energy New York (ACE NY), to discuss the intersection of renewable energy, agriculture, and rural economic development. Drawing on her experience as a farmer, clean energy developer, and advocate, Marguerite explores community engagement, agrivoltaics, farmer choice, and what it takes to build clean energy projects that work for rural communities.

In Episode #140 of the Experts Only Podcast, host Jon Powers sits down with Governor Tim Pawlenty, President and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, to discuss the future of solar and storage in America. Governor Pawlenty shares how his experience in public service shaped his approach to energy policy, why bipartisan support is essential for durable progress, and how the solar industry can help address rising electricity demand, affordability, reliability, domestic manufacturing, and permitting reform. The conversation also explores how the industry can strengthen its message beyond Washington, build a broader political coalition, and better communicate solar’s role in meeting America’s growing energy needs. Governor Pawlenty closes by reflecting on his own career and the advice he would give his younger self: make room for courage, take risks, and think bigger.

In this episode of Experts Only, host Jon Powers sits down with Laura Lightbody of The Pew Charitable Trusts to discuss how distributed energy resources can help shape a cleaner, more reliable, and more affordable power system. Laura shares her unexpected path into climate and energy advocacy — from growing up in Michigan’s auto culture to working on fuel efficiency campaigns and now leading work through Pew’s Energy Modernization Initiative. Jon and Laura explore Pew’s new distributed energy policy playbook, the role of DER in meeting rising electricity demand, and why state policymakers have a critical opportunity to modernize the grid. They also discuss affordability, reliability, resilience, microgrids, virtual power plants, and how clean energy solutions can move forward across red, blue, and purple states. Tune in for a timely conversation on the future of distributed energy and what it will take to scale practical clean power solutions across the country.

How do we keep electricity affordable while meeting rising demand? In this episode of Experts Only, Jon Powers sits down with Allison Clements, former Commissioner at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, for a timely conversation on the growing electricity affordability challenge. They discuss what is driving higher power costs, how aging grid infrastructure and extreme weather are straining the system, and why the rapid growth of data centers is accelerating the need for solutions. Allison also shares insights from her time at FERC, including the importance of transmission planning, interconnection reform, and creating rules that allow new technologies to compete. The conversation also explores what states, regulators, and industry leaders can do now to improve reliability, expand capacity, and build a more efficient and affordable grid. This episode covers: - the root causes of the electricity affordability crisis - how data centers are changing grid planning and power demand - the role of transmission, storage, and distributed energy resources - where federal and state policy can move faster - what it will take to build a more reliable, affordable energy system Listen now to hear Allison’s perspective on one of the most important energy issues facing the country today.

Abigail Ross Hopper joins Experts Only for her final interview as CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association. In this conversation with Jon Powers, she reflects on nearly a decade leading SEIA through extraordinary growth, political turbulence, and the transformation of solar from a fast-rising technology into a central force in America’s energy future. Jon and Abby discuss the industry’s evolution over the past 10 years, from trade fights and policy uncertainty to the rise of domestic manufacturing, storage, and stronger political engagement across the clean energy sector. They also talk candidly about what the industry still needs to do to compete, communicate its value, and build lasting influence in Washington and beyond. It’s a thoughtful look back at one of the most consequential eras in solar—and a forward-looking conversation about what comes next.

In this episode of Experts Only, host Jon Powers sits down with Sara Kane, Executive Vice President, Power & Renewables Practice Leader at CAC Group, part of The Baldwin Group. While insurance may not be the first thing people associate with climate solutions, it plays a critical role in enabling the growth of renewable energy. Sara shares how the insurance industry evaluates risk for solar, wind, and energy storage projects—and why that risk management is essential for financing and scaling clean energy infrastructure. Jon and Sara discuss the evolution of renewable energy insurance, how natural disasters and extreme weather are reshaping risk models, and why closer collaboration between insurers and developers is key to building more resilient energy systems. The conversation also explores Sara’s career path from studying environmental science at Duke and Yale to becoming one of the early underwriters in the renewable energy insurance market. Finally, Sara shares powerful stories from her volunteer work with GivePower, including recent projects bringing solar power and clean water to communities in Nepal, Kenya, and the Philippines. Topics covered include: - Why insurance is essential to financing renewable energy projects - How climate risk is reshaping the insurance industry - Lessons from underwriting early solar and wind projects - Building more resilient clean energy infrastructure - Expanding energy access through solar microgrids Thank you for listening!

On the podcast Experts Only, host Jon Powers interviews Jennifer Granholm, former Michigan Governor and U.S. Secretary of Energy, about her journey from civil rights law to political leadership focused on job creation and clean energy innovation. She discusses her efforts to transition Michigan’s automotive sector toward clean energy and her later work in the federal government to strengthen U.S. clean energy manufacturing. Granholm emphasizes the importance of federal policy in competing globally—especially with China—and highlights the Inflation Reduction Act’s role in spurring a wave of new clean energy factories across the U.S. She also addresses challenges around electricity pricing, rising demand from data centers, and the need for regulatory reforms that incentivize utilities to prioritize efficiency. Closing the conversation, Granholm reflects on leadership and the importance of fighting for policies that advance affordability, innovation, and long-term clean energy progress.

We are back with a new episode of Experts Only, a podcast exploring innovative climate change solutions through conversations with industry leaders, hosted by Jon Powers, co-founder of CleanCapital and former chief sustainability officer under President Obama. We’re excited to relaunch the podcast with a compelling discussion with Thomas Byrne, co-founder and CEO of CleanCapital. They'll reflect on CleanCapital’s ten-year journey, highlighting our strategy of organic growth and operational efficiency that has led to over 500 megawatts of operating assets, with a projection of 700-800 megawatts by year-end. Key achievements include early financing from John Hancock, partnerships with major investors like BlackRock, and a recapitalization of our corporate debt facility from $300 million in 2021 to $800 million in 2023. Our credibility is built on transparent collaboration with developers and partners. With advancements in battery storage and community solar, CleanCapital is poised to raise billions in corporate capital by 2030, reinforcing our leadership in the clean energy sector. Thank you for joining us! Enjoy the conversation.

Welcome back to the show, Roger Ballentine, President, Green Strategies, Inc. Our show has been on a  bit of a hiatus but we are coming back with a vengeance, driven by the conversation you're about to listen to. We are following what's happening in Washington constantly, as the tax bill and the Trump Administration are trying to drive change to our industry. But there's a secondary fight that we're tracking now - major changes are coming to green house gas emission accounting. This is critical in terms of how companies buy and measure their renewable energy. If these changes go forward, they can be as detrimental to our market as losing the investment tax credit or some of the anti-IRA efforts that are being pushed in Washington today.  Please also read our blog on how to take action as soon as you can. The timing is really important, and it has to happen now. Thank you for tuning in! We hope you enjoy the conversation.

In our first episode of 2025, Experts Only host Jon Powers speaks with Lynn Abramson, President of the Clean Energy Business Network (CEBN), about effective advocacy strategies for engaging the 119th Congress and Trump Administration. CEBN is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that serves as a bridge to federal energy policies and programs for more than 8,200 small business and community leaders across the nation. In this conversation, Lynn particularly focuses on combatting divisive narratives around clean energy tax incentives. She highlights the decades of bipartisan support that have led to these credits, and the fact that the majority of these investments have gone to Republican districts. She also discusses the transformational impact they have had on small businesses—and the need for business and community leaders to express their priorities to their elected officials. Learn more about these topics in this accompanying post from CEBN. Tune into the conversation and learn more about CEBN’s strategy and impact in their 2024 Annual Report. (Note: This episode was recorded a week prior to the inauguration so does not touch upon any developments in the early days of the Trump Administration.)

The maturation of clean energy policy, technology, and finance has paved the way for a sustainable future. Now, in the face of escalating weather events that are placing our energy infrastructure at risk, we all have an important role to play in advancing decarbonization efforts. By leveraging investments and policy frameworks, there's an opportunity to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and foster the growth of clean energy sources. This interactive session will highlight case studies demonstrating both feasibility and economic viability in transitioning to renewables, even in the most unconventional of cases. Moderator: - Jon Powers, President, CleanCapital Panelists: - Jaime Carlson, Head of Commercialization and Market Risk, SB Energy - Sean Gallagher, Senior Vice President, Policy, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) - Peter Muhoro, PhD, SEPA Board Member & Chief Strategy, Technology and Innovation Officer, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative - Marta Stoepker, Senior Director of Corporate Communications, Qcells

Host Jon Powers sits down with Jenn Miller, CEO of Renewable IPP, an Alaska-based renewable energy developer that we partner with at CleanCapital. Under Jenn's leadership, RIPP is creating the next frontier of opportunities in Alaska. They discuss the challenges Jenn and her team are facing in Alaska, the opportunities that solar presents, and how to grow and scale a company like RIPP in the current market. Both Jon and Jenn will be at RE+ in September. To set up a meeting, please visit cleancapital.com/re-plus-2024.

Welcome back Abby Hopper, President & CEO at Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), to the show! Abby and our host Jon Powers reflect now that we're two years into the Inflation Reduction Act. They discuss what it was like to see it pass, the opportunities and challenges of the past two years, and how it's going. We're looking forward to joining SEIA at RE+ in Anaheim, CA this September! Make sure you register for this conference. It's the go-to event to engage with the solar and storage industry. See you there!

Our guest host, ScottySolar, is back by popular demand! This week, he welcomes COSSA's Mike Kruger, President & CEO, and Ellen Kutzer, General Counsel, to the show. This year, Colorado passed several bills and a suite of policy changes that will expedite the deployment of distributed energy resources and help the state meet its ambitious decarbonization targets. You'll hear from the dynamic duo at the front lines of Colorado's march toward a carbon-free energy future. Mike and Ellen unpack what happened during the 2024 legislative session and explore the emerging opportunities in Colorado's clean energy economy. Thanks for tuning in!