S12 Ep10: What Next: How do we keep power flowing to our light switches?

In the second episode of a series we are calling “What Next,” where we explore where the possible activity or action is on climate change and adjacent issues, we take a look at the somewhat mystifying issue of energy transmission. How does power get from power-generating utilities to our light switches? What are the obstacles to transmitting clean, zero-carbon energy? And most critically, how would a modernized transmission network help to make energy in the U.S. more resilient, efficient and cheaper? Guest Rachel Levine is the Senior Transmission Policy Analyst for Niskanen Center’s Climate and Energy team, where she leads work on high-voltage transmission development in the U.S. Her research focuses on interregional transmission planning, marketplace governance, high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technologies and federal permitting reform. And for those who want to nerd out, here is a research brief she wrote on the science behind direct current power.

Author and climate scientist Norm Leo on what inspired his new book "Look At It This Way: Climate Change Solutions Will Benefit Your Health And Wealth.”

Author and climate scientist Dr. Norm Leo gives a climate change example for his new book "Look At It This Way."

Canadian climate scientist and author Norm Leo had an epiphany: we are looking and talking about climate change all wrong. Instead of focusing on scare tactics and the sacrifices people need to make in order to be part of the solution, Leo flips the narrative to focus on the benefits of climate action. In Leo's book, "Look At It This Way: Climate Change Solutions Will Benefit Your Health And Wealth," he gives a clear, relatable tour of how climate change touches five areas of daily life, your health, wealth, food, water, and home. You can catch the book trailer here and his TEDx talk here. One lucky listener will have a chance to win a copy of his book at the end of the episode! 

The Evangelical Environmental Network's Dr. Rev. Jessica Moerman on their work regarding data centers and how their impact on local communities.

Led by Dr. Rev. Jessica Moerman, The Evangelical Environmental Network has been connecting with communities on the topic of data centers. EEN is working to ensure that the build-out of these energy and water-thirsty structures are done in a way that is thoughtful of the electricity costs on neighbors and takes into consideration the climate change impacts from the associated increase in emissions from these centers. She is also recently featured in the film The [Conserv]atives, which premiered at the DC Environmental Film Festival on March 23.

Niskanen Center's Liza Reed on whether she thinks a carbon border adjustment mechanism is a real possibility to address climate change.

After several listener requests to feature someone from the Niskanen Center on the podcast, we are excited to have Liza Reed join us this week! She walks us through Niskanen's climate and energy priorities, including designing an efficient and effective carbon border adjustment mechanism in the U.S., updating our electricity transmission so that the lights do indeed turn on when you need them. She also touches on how technology can and will provide for resiliency and reliability, while also being lower carbon than the energy sources of the past.

Alliance for Market Solutions' Alex Flint discusses the durability of a carbon tax and the opportunity to tie one to Social Security.

In the first of a series we are calling “What Next,” we explore where there is potential action on climate change. Our friend Alex Flint from the Alliance for Market Solutions gives the bad news— we have very little time to save Social Security. But he also has some good news — a carbon tax can be part of that solution."Resolving the coming Social Security crisis will require confronting a taboo that has shaped American politics for decades: new federal revenue. Lawmakers will debate raising the retirement age, cutting benefits, increasing the payroll tax rate, eliminating the cap on taxable wages and other possible remedies. Every option will be fiercely contested, politically treacherous and deeply unpopular. Millions of Americans will pay more, receive less or both," Alex writes. "In that context, a carbon tax — dismissed as politically impossible since the 1990s — may represent something different: not an ideal solution, but a viable contributor." To check out the work on the Alliance for Market Solutions, visit their website. You can find the full text of Alex’s recent op-ed on this topic in The Invading Sea.