Shift Key with Robinson Meyer and Jesse Jenkins

Happy new year! On this week’s episode of Shift Key, Rob and Jesse answer some of the questions they’ve received from readers throughout the year. Hot topics include: What happened to the Green New Deal, and is the Inflation Reduction Act part of its legacy? Should U.S. policy prioritize solar manufacturing or solar deployment? And how can normal people keep AI-driven data centers from blowing up the grid?  Shift Key is hosted by Robinson Meyer, the founding executive editor of Heatmap, and Jesse Jenkins, a professor of energy systems engineering at Princeton University. Mentioned:  How vehicle-to-grid works [https://www.evconnect.com/blog/what-is-vehicle-to-grid-for-electric-vehicles] Carnegie Endowment report on which clean energy supply chains should be prioritized [https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2024/12/focusing-industrial-strategy-which-clean-energy-supply-chains-should-have-priority?lang=enr] Jonathan Koomey’s skeptical take on AI load growth [https://heatmap.news/podcast/shift-key-episode-10-ai-data-centers] A new pitch for off-grid solar-powered AI data centers (with gas backup) [https://www.offgridai.us/] Jesse’s upshift [https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/solar/chart-solar-power-is-shattering-global-records]; Rob’s upshift [https://atb.nrel.gov/electricity/2024/geothermal]. -- This episode of Shift Key is sponsored by … Intersolar & Energy Storage North America is the premier U.S.-based conference and trade show focused on solar, energy storage, and EV charging infrastructure. To learn more, visit intersolar.us [https://www.intersolar.us/]. Music for Shift Key is by Adam Kromelow. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The rise of artificial intelligence and the associated expansion of data centers is driving surging demand for new power supply. Earlier this fall at the annual meeting of Princeton University’s Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Jesse sat down with a panel of experts to discuss how society can meet the growing energy demands of AI while staying on track broader decarbonization efforts. How will we power the growing demand from AI and data centers? What role can nuclear power really play? Will AI lock us into a new generation of gas power plants? Are regulators prepared for what's coming? Jesse dives into all this and more with Allison Clements [https://acee.princeton.edu/2024-annual-meeting/speakers/#clements], former commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Matt DeNichilo [https://acee.princeton.edu/2024-annual-meeting/speakers/#denichilo], partner at energy investment firm ECP, and Lucia Tian [https://acee.princeton.edu/2024-annual-meeting/speakers/#tian], head of clean energy and decarbonization technologies at Google. Shift Key is hosted by Robinson Meyer, the founding executive editor of Heatmap, and Jesse Jenkins, a professor of energy systems engineering at Princeton University. Rob is off this week. Mentioned: More on the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment [https://acee.princeton.edu/2024-annual-meeting/agenda/] Previously on Shift Key: A Skeptic’s Take on AI and Energy Growth [https://heatmap.news/podcast/shift-key-episode-10-ai-data-centers] Rob on AI and energy demand [https://heatmap.news/technology/ai-energy-consumption] -- This episode of Shift Key is sponsored by … Watershed’s climate data engine helps companies measure and reduce their emissions, turning the data they already have into an audit-ready carbon footprint backed by the latest climate science. Get the sustainability data you need in weeks, not months. Learn more at watershed.com [https://watershed.com/]. As a global leader in PV and ESS solutions, Sungrow invests heavily in research and development, constantly pushing the boundaries of solar and battery inverter technology. Discover why Sungrow is the essential component of the clean energy transition by visiting sungrowpower.com [https://en.sungrowpower.com/]. Music for Shift Key is by Adam Kromelow. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Jennifer Granholm has long been one of the most interesting figures in the Democratic Party. A former federal prosecutor, she was the governor of Michigan from 2003 to 2011, leading the state during the Great Recession and subsequent auto bailout. Since 2021, she has been the 16th U.S. Secretary of Energy. While there, she has overseen the department’s transformation from an R&D-focused agency to an aspiring engine of industrial strategy.  On this week’s episode of Shift Key, Rob sits down with Secretary Granholm in person in New York to conduct an exit interview, of sorts. What climate policies is she most proud of — and what does she hope Democrats do better next time? What does she wish that Democrats understood about fossil fuels? And what does she think the outlook for clean energy is in the years to come?  Shift Key is hosted by Robinson Meyer, the founding executive editor of Heatmap, and Jesse Jenkins, a professor of energy systems engineering at Princeton University. Jesse is off this week. Mentioned:  Biden’s long game on climate change [https://heatmap.news/politics/biden-climate-policy], by Rob The DOE’s Earthshots initiatives [https://www.google.com/search?q=earthshots+doe&oq=earthshots+doe&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBwgAEAAYgAQyBwgAEAAYgAQyCAgBEAAYFhgeMggIAhAAGBYYHjIICAMQABgWGB4yCAgEEAAYFhgeMggIBRAAGBYYHjIICAYQABgWGB4yCAgHEAAYFhgeMggICBAAGBYYHjIICAkQABgWGB7SAQgxOTQ3ajFqN6gCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8] The DOE’s new Office of Technology Transitions [https://www.energy.gov/technologytransitions/office-technology-transitions] and its liftoff reports [https://liftoff.energy.gov/] A Governor’s Story [https://www.perseusbooks.com/titles/jennifer-granholm/a-governors-story/9781610391856/], by Jennifer Granholm And here’s a transcript of the episode [https://heatmap.news/podcast/shift-key-s2-e18-jennifer-granholm-transcript] -- This episode of Shift Key is sponsored by … Watershed’s climate data engine helps companies measure and reduce their emissions, turning the data they already have into an audit-ready carbon footprint backed by the latest climate science. Get the sustainability data you need in weeks, not months. Learn more at watershed.com [https://watershed.com/]. As a global leader in PV and ESS solutions, Sungrow invests heavily in research and development, constantly pushing the boundaries of solar and battery inverter technology. Discover why Sungrow is the essential component of the clean energy transition by visiting sungrowpower.com [https://en.sungrowpower.com/]. Music for Shift Key is by Adam Kromelow. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Chinese electric automaker BYD is entering a new stage in its history. Last month, it sold [https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/byd-track-top-2024-sales-goal-outsell-ford-honda-2024-12-09/] more than half a million electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. BYD has already shipped more cars this year than Ford and Honda, and it is fast coming for Volkswagen, GM, and Toyota’s crowns as the world’s three largest automakers. Earlier this year, Rob and Jesse spoke with Ilaria Mazzocco [https://www.csis.org/people/ilaria-mazzocco], a senior fellow with the Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. She has watched China’s EV industry grow from a small regional experiment into a planet-reshaping juggernaut. On this week’s episode of Shift Key, we’re re-running that conversation — one of our favorites ever to happen on the show. We’ll be back with a new episode next week. Shift Key is hosted by Robinson Meyer, the founding executive editor of Heatmap, and Jesse Jenkins, a professor of energy systems engineering at Princeton University. Mentioned: Why Ford and GM are scared of Chinese electric cars [https://heatmap.news/electric-vehicles/ford-gm-stellantis-byd] President Biden’s announcement of new tariffs on Chinese EVs [https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/05/14/fact-sheet-president-biden-takes-action-to-protect-american-workers-and-businesses-from-chinas-unfair-trade-practices/]. The EU’s lower tariffs on Chinese EVs [https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/eu-impose-multi-billion-euro-tariffs-chinese-evs-ft-reports-2024-06-12/] Trouble for Gotion's Michigan plant [https://www.bridgemi.com/business-watch/chinese-ev-battery-factory-planned-near-big-rapids-faces-renewed-scrutiny] Rob on the Biden administration’s China thought [https://heatmap.news/politics/biden-china-climate] Rob’s upshift [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-10/electric-vehicle-battery-packs-see-biggest-price-drop-since-2017]. -- This episode of Shift Key is sponsored by … Watershed’s climate data engine helps companies measure and reduce their emissions, turning the data they already have into an audit-ready carbon footprint backed by the latest climate science. Get the sustainability data you need in weeks, not months. Learn more at watershed.com [https://watershed.com/]. As a global leader in PV and ESS solutions, Sungrow invests heavily in research and development, constantly pushing the boundaries of solar and battery inverter technology. Discover why Sungrow is the essential component of the clean energy transition by visiting sungrowpower.com [https://en.sungrowpower.com/]. Intersolar & Energy Storage North America is the premier U.S.-based conference and trade show focused on solar, energy storage, and EV charging infrastructure. To learn more, visit intersolar.us [https://www.intersolar.us/]. Music for Shift Key is by Adam Kromelow. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Inflation Reduction Act, President Joe Biden’s landmark climate law, is the biggest investment in clean energy in American history. It is also in danger. In January, the Trump administration and a GOP Congress will take over the federal government — and they have made a variety of promises about how they’ll disrupt the law, ranging from full repeal to a more “surgical” reform approach. On this week’s episode of Shift Key, Rob and Jesse talk with Kristina Costa [https://www.aspenideas.org/speakers/kristina-costa], who has worked since 2022 to implement the IRA’s climate provisions at the White House. She joins us to discuss what went right about the Biden administration’s rush to implement the law, why state government capacity is holding back Democratic policy goals, and why the federal government needs more tools to support energy innovation if it wants to keep up with China. She also discusses how the administration is trying to Trump-proof the law. Shift Key is hosted by Robinson Meyer, the founding executive editor of Heatmap, and Jesse Jenkins, a professor of energy systems engineering at Princeton University. Mentioned:  Biden has obligated more than $100 billion in IRA grants [https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/biden-pushes-out-over-100-billion-clean-energy-grants-term-winds-down-2024-12-03/] The administration’s three big tax credit goals by the end of the year [https://heatmap.news/economy/final-hydrogen-tax-credit-45v]: hydrogen, advanced manufacturing, and technology-neutral clean electricity Jesse’s upshift [https://newatlas.com/aircraft/heart-aerospace-electric-x1-test-flight-2025/]; Rob’s upshift [https://heatmap.news/climate/giving-tuesday-climate-change].  (And here’s what’s 250 miles from three cities: Newark [https://milesofme.com/newark-nj/250], Chicago [https://milesofme.com/chicago-il/250], Las Vegas [https://milesofme.com/las-vegas-nv/250].) -- This episode of Shift Key is sponsored by … Watershed’s climate data engine helps companies measure and reduce their emissions, turning the data they already have into an audit-ready carbon footprint backed by the latest climate science. Get the sustainability data you need in weeks, not months. Learn more at watershed.com [https://watershed.com/]. As a global leader in PV and ESS solutions, Sungrow invests heavily in research and development, constantly pushing the boundaries of solar and battery inverter technology. Discover why Sungrow is the essential component of the clean energy transition by visiting sungrowpower.com [https://en.sungrowpower.com/]. Intersolar & Energy Storage North America is the premier U.S.-based conference and trade show focused on solar, energy storage, and EV charging infrastructure. To learn more, visit intersolar.us [https://www.intersolar.us/]. Music for Shift Key is by Adam Kromelow. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.