PODCAST

Energy Matters with Claire and Dan

Claire Broido Johnson & Dan Kammen

The business and science of energy... All around the world.

news business news

All Episodes

22:28

Petrostates vs Electrostates: The Fight for the...

Energy Matters with Claire and Dan ·

2026/03/25

In this episode of Energy Matters, Claire and Dan explore the growing divide between petrostates and electrostates. From tensions in the Strait of Hormuz to rising electricity demand and China's rapid clean energy expansion, they examine how geopolitics and energy systems are colliding. The question is simple but urgent: are we investing in the future, or holding onto the past?

23:59

Energy and Turmoil: Iran, Oil Prices, and the Future...

Energy Matters with Claire and Dan ·

2026/03/10

Global conflict is once again colliding with global energy markets. In this episode of Energy Matters, Claire and Dan examine how escalating tensions involving Iran could disrupt the Strait of Hormuz, where roughly 20 percent of the world's oil and LNG flows. If shipping through the region is interrupted, oil prices could rise sharply and gasoline prices could climb across the United States. The conversation then turns to nuclear energy. Dan shares insights from a recent visit to Fukushima on the

31:44

Buildings at the Center of the Energy Transition

Energy Matters with Claire and Dan ·

2026/03/03

Buildings account for roughly one-third of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and up to 80 percent in major cities. In this episode of Energy Matters, Claire speaks with Véronique Bugnion, co-founder and CEO of Clearly Energy, about how building performance standards, electrification, and grid design are reshaping the role of buildings in the clean energy transition. They discuss the difference between electrification and true decarbonization, how cities like New York and Washington, D.C. are enforcing

27:07

Carbon Counts: Investing on the Right Side of Climate

Energy Matters with Claire and Dan ·

2026/02/17

Is carbon counting the smartest investment strategy in a changing energy landscape? In this episode of Energy Matters, Claire and Dan sit down with Jeff Eckel, former CEO and current Chair of Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure, to explore what it really takes to finance decarbonization over the long term. Jeff shares his unconventional path from startup setbacks to building one of the largest climate-focused investment platforms in the country. He reflects on the early days of energy

34:21

Financing the Energy Transition with Richard Kauffman

Energy Matters with Claire and Dan ·

2026/02/10

In this episode of Energy Matters with Claire and Dan, Claire is joined by Richard Kauffman, CEO of the Coalition for Green Capital and a longtime leader at the intersection of finance, government, and clean energy deployment. Richard's career spans Wall Street, the U.S. Department of Energy, NYSERDA, and now the creation of a $5 billion National Green Bank. Together, Claire and Richard unpack what has — and hasn't — changed in clean energy over the last two decades, from the politicization of the

25:41

Data, Transparency, and the Future of Power with...

Energy Matters with Claire and Dan ·

2026/02/03

Electricity markets are more volatile than they have been in decades, and most customers are still being asked to make billion-dollar decisions by looking in the rearview mirror. In this episode of Energy Matters, Claire and Dan are joined by Deirdre Lord, co-founder of The Megawatt Hour (https://home.themwh.com/) and a longtime leader in energy analytics and market transparency. Together, they unpack why today's energy markets are behaving so wildly, from AI-driven demand growth and

14:14

Critical Materials, Ukraine, and the New Energy...

Energy Matters with Claire and Dan ·

2026/01/20

As the world accelerates toward clean energy, a new form of geopolitics is taking shape... One defined not by oil fields, but by lithium mines, rare earths, and battery supply chains. In this episode of Energy Matters, Claire and Dan talk about how critical materials are reshaping global power dynamics, with a focus on Ukraine. They explore how Russia's occupation of mineral-rich regions intersects with the clean energy transition, why China's dominance in processing lithium and cobalt rivals OPEC's

21:20

Venezuela and Greenland: Energy Power Grabs of the...

Energy Matters with Claire and Dan ·

2026/01/13

In the Season Two premiere of Energy Matters, Claire and Dan step back from technology and markets to examine the geopolitics now shaping the global energy system. From U.S. intervention in Venezuela's oil sector to growing interest in Greenland's critical minerals, this episode explores how raw power politics are colliding with the energy transition. Claire and Dan unpack why Venezuela's heavy crude matters at a time of global oversupply, what it would really take to revive its oil industry, and

25:49

What The FERC is going on?

Energy Matters with Claire and Dan ·

2025/12/09

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission shapes how electricity generation and transmission connect to the grid, yet most people rarely think about its impact. In this episode, Claire and Dan unpack the FERC's expanding authority over large load interconnection and what it means for renewable energy, data centers, reliability, and consumer costs. Claire and Dan examine how massive project backlogs are delaying clean energy deployment, why billions are being spent to keep aging coal plants online,

20:25

Energy Across the Pond

Energy Matters with Claire and Dan ·

2025/12/02

In this episode, Claire and Dan compare the energy landscapes of Europe and the United States and explore why the two regions have taken such different paths. They discuss how geography, underground resources, policy stability, and political priorities shape everything from fracking to solar adoption. The conversation moves from Europe's dependence on Russian gas to America's rise as the top fossil fuel exporter, the evolution of feed in tariffs versus renewable portfolio standards, and the

28:16

COP 30 Turmoil, Gates' Climate Letter, and the State...

Energy Matters with Claire and Dan ·

2025/11/25

Claire and Dan break down why COP 30 in Brazil is struggling, with low turnout, fading commitments, and growing influence from fossil fuel interests. They explain what this means for global climate cooperation and the challenges facing the next round of negotiations. Claire and Dan also examine the reaction to Bill Gates' recent climate letter, clarifying what he actually argued and why many of his points about tradeoffs and green premiums are being misinterpreted. They highlight where renewable

29:12

Ducks, Curves, and Batteries

Energy Matters with Claire and Dan ·

2025/11/18

In this episode, Claire and Dan break down one of the most misunderstood challenges in modern energy: the duck curve. They explain why solar-heavy grids create steep late afternoon ramps in demand, how utilities currently struggle to manage them, and why battery storage is emerging as the critical solution. They explore examples from California, Spain, Portugal, and beyond, and walk through the economics, developer challenges, and policy dynamics shaping solar-plus-storage today. If you have heard

24:16

Data Centers, AI, and the Coming Power Crunch

Energy Matters with Claire and Dan ·

2025/11/11

In this episode of Energy Matters, Claire and Dan unpack one of the most urgent and fast-evolving issues in the energy world: the explosive growth of data centers and the massive electricity demands driven by AI. From skyrocketing grid stress and 250% energy cost spikes in some regions to the surprising role of 747 jet engines as makeshift power plants, this conversation cuts through the noise and delivers clarity. Whether you work in tech, energy, or policy — or you're just curious about why your

22:37

From Idea to Impact: How Climate Tech Startups Scale...

Energy Matters with Claire and Dan ·

2025/11/04

In part two of Energy Matters' series on what works—and what doesn't—in climate tech, Claire and Dan dig into how startups move from promising ideas to scalable, sustainable businesses. They explore the building blocks of success: operational excellence, smart capital strategy, competitive awareness, and proactive engagement with regulators and utilities. Through candid insights and real-world examples, Claire and Dan reveal how founders can avoid common pitfalls, adapt to shifting markets, and

24:44

What Makes Climate Tech Startups Thrive — and Why So...

Energy Matters with Claire and Dan ·

2025/10/28

In this episode of Energy Matters, Claire and Dan take a candid look at what separates successful climate tech startups from the ones that never make it past the prototype. Drawing from decades of experience in both business and science, they unpack real stories from companies like Enphase, CleanCapital, MiaSolé, and Ada Energy—exploring what great leadership, realistic market sizing, and sound unit economics look like in practice. From visionary founders and ego-free C-suites to flawed

21:44

Transportation Revolution: Claire Buys a Car

Energy Matters with Claire and Dan ·

2025/10/21

After a recent accident totaled her Prius Prime, Claire is in the market for a new car — but with a 6'5" husband, a narrow Baltimore parking pad, and strong opinions about trillionaire tech CEOs, the decision isn't simple. In this episode, Claire and Dan go head-to-head on hybrids vs. full EVs, cost of ownership myths, charging infrastructure reality (yes, even in small towns), and whether environmental impact truly favors electric. They dig into cobalt-free batteries, carbon payback timelines, and

19:45

Climate Week 2025: Winners, Losers, and Lost Ground

Energy Matters with Claire and Dan ·

2025/10/14

At Climate Week 2025, the gap between climate tech innovation and U.S. policy has never felt wider. Claire and Dan unpack the week’s biggest moments—from the president’s incendiary comments to shifting ESG priorities, the rise of pragmatic energy realism, and how renewables continue to defy political narratives. Plus, insights from the Clinton Global Initiative and projects giving hope amid global backsliding. Hosts: Claire Broido Johnson and Dan Kammen

36:19

Nuclear Power: Promise or Peril?

Energy Matters with Claire and Dan ·

2025/10/07

Claire and Dan explore whether nuclear power can truly help solve the climate crisis. They unpack the promise of small modular reactors, the reality of aging plants, and the long-term hope of fusion—balancing innovation, cost, and risk in one of energy’s most polarizing debates. Hosts: Claire Broido Johnson and Dan Kammen

29:46

Energy: East Coast vs. West Coast

Energy Matters with Claire and Dan ·

2025/09/30

In this episode, Claire and Dan dive into the long-standing East Coast vs. West Coast debate... This time, it’s all about energy. From California’s pioneering climate policies, solar and EV mandates, and wildfire-driven grid challenges, to the East Coast’s regional planning, offshore wind ambitions, and coastal resilience, we explore how each side of the country is shaping the future of clean power. Along the way, we unpack successes, setbacks, and surprising lessons each coast can learn from the

28:54

Why Energy Efficiency Matters Now More Than Ever

Energy Matters with Claire and Dan ·

2025/09/23

Energy efficiency has been called the “first fuel” of the clean energy transition—cheap, effective, and proven. So why do Americans still overlook it? In this episode of Energy Matters, Claire and Dan unpack the history of efficiency from the 1970s oil crises to today’s grid congestion and data-driven energy demand. They explore why utilities resist selling less power, why homeowners skip upgrades, and why low-income communities face the steepest bills. From 1970s tree-planting programs to today’s

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Energy Matters with Claire and Dan

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