Go Green Radio

The global clean energy marketplace is expanding rapidly, but the competitive position of American industry is at risk because of increased competition abroad and uncertain policies at home, according to a report to be released Jan. 17 by The Pew Charitable Trusts. The study, Innovate, Manufacture, Compete: A Clean Energy Action Plan, states that revenue in the clean energy sector worldwide could total $1.9 trillion from 2012 to 2018. Yet roundtable discussions with more than 100 U.S. industry leaders reveal that the country is at a crossroads: Private investment, manufacturing, and deployment of renewable power have been constrained because of the lack of a long-term, consistent energy policy. To strengthen America’s global competitiveness in this growing economic sector, the report outlines several policy actions recommended by industry participants for the 113th Congress. Tune in as we discuss the findings and recommendations for federal policy makers.

The global clean energy marketplace is expanding rapidly, but the competitive position of American industry is at risk because of increased competition abroad and uncertain policies at home, according to a report to be released Jan. 17 by The Pew Charitable Trusts. The study, Innovate, Manufacture, Compete: A Clean Energy Action Plan, states that revenue in the clean energy sector worldwide could total $1.9 trillion from 2012 to 2018. Yet roundtable discussions with more than 100 U.S. industry leaders reveal that the country is at a crossroads: Private investment, manufacturing, and deployment of renewable power have been constrained because of the lack of a long-term, consistent energy policy. To strengthen America’s global competitiveness in this growing economic sector, the report outlines several policy actions recommended by industry participants for the 113th Congress. Tune in as we discuss the findings and recommendations for federal policy makers.

One of the drawbacks of solar and wind energy is the intermittency of power generation, and the inability of our current electricity grid to handle an inconsistent flow of electrons. If solar and wind power were coupled with large-scale energy storage capacity, this could create the steady flow of electricity that is optimal for our grid. One of the promising technologies for mass energy storage is vanadium flow batteries (VFB’s). Today we’re joined by the CEO of American Vanadium, a Canadian mining company preparing to launch operations to extract vanadium in Nevada. Currently, there is no other source of vanadium in the U.S. Tune in to learn more about vanadium, and why having a domestic supply of this critical element could impact national security.

For as long as anyone can remember, waste management in U.S. neighborhoods has been paid for by residents and commercial ratepayers. What would happen if we turned that system upside down, and required the companies that produce things that end up in our waste stream to deal with it? What do you think would happen to products and packaging if the producers had to take it back, disassemble it, recycle it, turn it into something new, or as a last resort, pay for it to be landfilled? It might result in less packaging, fewer disposable goods, more sustainable products. This concept is called “Extended Producer Responsibility,” and there are state and local governments already passing laws requiring EPR for certain industries. Tune in today as we talk with the Executive Director of the California Product Stewardship Council, Heidi Sanborn.

Today we’re joined by Marisa Miller Wolfson, director of the award-winning documentary, Veducated. Part sociological experiment and part adventure comedy, the documentary, Veducated, follows three meat- and cheese-loving New Yorkers who agree to adopt a vegan diet for six weeks. Lured by tales of weight lost and health regained, they begin to uncover the hidden sides of animal agriculture that make them wonder whether solutions offered in films like Food, Inc. go far enough. This entertaining documentary showcases the rapid and at times comedic evolution of three people who discover they can change the world one bite at a time.

According to my guests today, we may be witnessing the dawn of a new industrial revolution. But instead of raw ingredients like coal, steel, and lumber, this century’s boom is likely to be fueled by lithium, tantalum, vanadium, and a host of other rare earth minerals and metals. These are the elements that will make possible infinite vs. finite energy technologies, medical device advances, and communication capabilities that will touch all people around the globe. Because these elements are only feasible to mine from a few places on earth, there is the distinct possibility that supply of rare earth materials could become inequitable – if not contentious, and hence, the opportunities for countries to be part of the new global economic boom could be severely limited. My guests today are Ron MacDonald, former member of the Canadian Parliament, and Executive Chairman of Critical Elements Corporation; and Jean-Sébastien Lavallée, President & CEO of Critical Elements Corporation. We will discuss breakthroughs i

Can solar energy compete with cheap natural gas? Will the U.S. solar industry suffer without a reliable, domestic source of raw materials to manufacture solar panels? Will there be sufficient public and private funding for solar installations after the “fiscal cliff” plays out in Washington? Today we’re joined by Gary Gerber, founder & CEO of Sun Light & Power, to discuss the latest trends in solar technology and policy. Gary also serves as President of the board of the California Solar Energy Industry Association, a state wide non-profit organization working to support the solar energy industry, and is a co-founder of Build it Green, a statewide green building non-profit. Tune in to learn about solar’s future from one of the industry’s most respected veterans.

CONFESSIONS OF AN ECO-TERRORIST is the true, no holds barred story of 30 years of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) campaigns leading up to the hit show Whale Wars. It’s a feature documentary that reveals the true odyssey of the most wanted environmentalist today, Captain Paul Watson. Filmmaker and longest-serving SSCS crew member Peter Jay Brown documented the mythic deeds of the organization while acting as the cinematographer, first mate, deckhand, quartermaster, Zodiac driver and officer/captain in Watson’s absence starting in 1980. Peter Brown, a Sea Shepherd insider expertly exercises aikido with his camera by turning a negative accusation into a positive confession of influential activism. He gives us an intimate and honest look at what really goes on behind the scenes on some of the most infamous environmental campaigns ever.

In this episode we’ll take a look at what causes drought, how climate change may impact the intensity and frequency of droughts in the U.S., and what we can do to make our communities more resilient during extremely dry periods. We are joined by Steve Fleischli, Director of Water & Climate for the Natural Resources Defense Council, who will discuss a new report that rate each of the 50 U.S. states according to their disaster preparedness plans as they relate to water issues that are expected to be exacerbated by climate change. We’ll discuss strategies that drought-likely states can employ to optimally manage water resources under a variety of extreme weather scenarios.

Forty percent of the greenhouse gas emissions in the state of California come from transportation. In an effort to both reduce emissions and air pollution, the California Energy Commission (CEC) has developed the Alternative and Renewable Fuel & Vehicle Technology Program. This program funds a variety of fuel technologies and the infrastructure needed to make those fuels available to California drivers. The program also funds manufacturing capacity, enabling the state to create more jobs in the alternative energy sector. Tune in as we talk with CEC Commissioner Carla Peterman about this landmark investment in 21st century transportation in the Golden State

Power failure on the scale we recently saw with Super Storm Sandy does NOT have to happen. But it will happen, over and over again, unless antiquated energy infrastructure is updated. Today we are joined by Dr. Massoud Amin, a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and member of the IEEE Computer Society's Task Force on Security and Privacy. In the aftermath of the tragic events of 9/11, he directed all security-related research and development at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) in Palo Alto, California, including the Infrastructure Security Initiative (ISI) and the Enterprise Information Security (EIS). We will discuss the implications of the power outages along the East Coast; what U.S. utilities need to do to improve their power grid infrastructure; and how green energy alternatives or the smart grid help to prevent/limit future outages.

For as long as anyone can remember, waste management in U.S. neighborhoods has been paid for by residents and commercial ratepayers. What would happen if we turned that system upside down, and required the companies that produce things that end up in our waste stream to deal with it? What do you think would happen to products and packaging if the producers had to take it back, disassemble it, recycle it, turn it into something new, or as a last resort, pay for it to be landfilled? It might result in less packaging, fewer disposable goods, more sustainable products. This concept is called “Extended Producer Responsibility,” and there are state and local governments already passing laws requiring EPR for certain industries. Tune in today as we talk with the Executive Director of the California Product Stewardship Council, Heidi Sanborn.

Food is one of the most basic things that all human beings have in common. We don’t all eat the same types of food, but we are all linked to one another in our need for nourishment. Modern agriculture has increased the amount of food that is produced, yet even in America, there are hungry, malnourished children. Additionally, the environmental footprint of modern agriculture places it in direct competition with other industries and consumers for limited resources like oil, water, and minerals. On top of that, the way we as consumers handle our food compounds the environmental impact of our food supply. What we purchase and what we waste can have very negative effects on our air, water and soil quality. Tune in today as we talk with Jonathan Kaplan, the Director of Food and Agriculture and Senior Policy Specialist at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and Andrea Northup

Today we’ll be joined by Major General Anthony Jackson, USMC (ret.), Lt. General John Castellaw, USMC (ret.), and retired Republican Senator John Warner, who also served in the Marine Corps and as the Secretary of the Navy from 1972-74. Each will discuss his views on America’s energy future and the need for advanced biofuels in the military. Tune in to hear what our armed forces are doing to conserve energy in every facet of their operations, and how military bases are generating impressive amounts of clean, green energy. Most importantly, listen in to learn why today’s military leaders are so driven to help our nation become self-sufficient in meeting our energy needs, and in the words of Maj. General Jackson, why we need to decide as a nation that we will no longer be content to shed American blood for oil.

Our nation, and our world, is transitioning to a green economy. But what about those people whose livelihoods are intertwined with carbon emissions: coal miners, oil rig operators, etc.? What happens to their families as the economy transitions to one that is less carbon intense? If they are retrained for a “green” job, will it pay as well, or will their family have to relocate? AFL-CIO, the umbrella federation for U.S. unions, with 56 unions representing more than 12 million working men and women, is working on these issues. Today we’re joined by Bob Baugh, Director of the AFL-CIO Working for America Institute (WAI). The institute is a union think tank/technical assistance organization for worker training/education, technology and economic development and is home to the Center for Green Jobs

Today we’re joined by Marisa Miller Wolfson, director of the award-winning documentary, Veducated. Part sociological experiment and part adventure comedy, the documentary, Veducated, follows three meat- and cheese-loving New Yorkers who agree to adopt a vegan diet for six weeks. Lured by tales of weight lost and health regained, they begin to uncover the hidden sides of animal agriculture that make them wonder whether solutions offered in films like Food, Inc. go far enough. This entertaining documentary showcases the rapid and at times comedic evolution of three people who discover they can change the world one bite at a time.

Imagine a world where nothing is discarded into the land, air or water that could harm humans, animals or the planet. That is the goal of a “zero waste” philosophy. Today we are joined by Leslie Lukacs, who has presented at the Zero Waste International Association (www.zwia.org) conference for the past 3 years, and is a founder and principal of L2 Environmental (www.L2environmental.com). Leslie will help us understand how businesses, communities, and venues can implement zero waste principles, and what everyday people can do to make strides toward a zero waste lifestyle.

In this episode we’ll take a look at what causes drought, how climate change may impact the intensity and frequency of droughts in the U.S., and what we can do to make our communities more resilient during extremely dry periods. We are joined by Steve Fleischli, Director of Water & Climate for the Natural Resources Defense Council, who will discuss a new report that rate each of the 50 U.S. states according to their disaster preparedness plans as they relate to water issues that are expected to be exacerbated by climate change. We’ll discuss strategies that drought-likely states can employ to optimally manage water resources under a variety of extreme weather scenarios.

Suppose someone told you your entire country would likely be submerged in a few short decades. How would you plan for future generations of your family? These are some of the many issues facing millions of people from Fiji, Grenada, the Marshall Islands, the Maldives and hundreds of islands off Panama. As the Arctic rapidly melts, rising sea levels are forcing entire countries to consider relocation and other drastic measures. One of the greatest uncertainties is their legal status if their countries disappear. Will they be able to have a sovereign government if they are displaced, and will other countries make space for the island peoples to form new boundaries on the mainlands? Tune in as we discuss these issues with young attorney and activist, Brook Meakins, www.drowningislands.com

“We are not helpless,” was the message from Ken Alex, Senior Policy Advisor to Governor Brown and Director of the Office of Planning and Research, at the recent press conference announcing the release of California’s historic body of research assessing the state’s vulnerabilities to the effects of climate change. Over 120 scientists organized into 26 research teams have completed over 30 studies that demonstrate the likelihood of certain climate changes in California over the next several decades; what regions, systems, and communities are most vulnerable to the changes; and steps that communities and individuals can take to increase their resilience and ability to adapt to these changes. Our guests today are Dr. Robert Weisenmiller, Chairperson of the California Energy Commission, which is the organization that commissioned the studies; and Dr. Susanne Moser, one of the leading scientists involved in the research.