Volts podcast: the challenges of building transmission in the US, and how to overcome them, with Liza Reed

By now, you’ve probably heard that tons of new renewable energy projects are “stuck in the interconnection queues,” unable to connect to the grid and produce electricity until grid operators get around to approving them, which can take up to five years in some areas. And you might have heard that FERC recently implemented some reforms of the interconnection queue process in hopes of speeding it up.It all seems like a pretty big deal. But as I think about it, it occurs to me that I don’t really know what an interconnection queue is or why they work the way they do. So I’m going to talk to an expert — Chaz Teplin, who works on carbon-free grids with RMI — to get the lowdown.We’re going to talk through the basics of interconnection queues, why they’re so slow, what RTOs and FERC are doing to reform them, and what remains to be done (namely some friggin’ regional transmission planning). Get full access to Volts at www.volts.wtf/subscribe

By now, you’ve probably heard that tons of new renewable energy projects are “<a href="https://www.utilitydive.com/news/energy-transition-interconnection-reform-ferc-qcells/628822/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">stuck in the interconnection queues</a>,” unable to connect to the grid and produce electricity until grid operators get around to approving them, which can take up to five years in some areas. And you might have heard that FERC recently <a href="https://ferc.gov/news-events/news/ferc-transmission-reform-paves-way-adding-new-energy-resources-grid" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">implemented some reforms of the interconnection queue process</a> in hopes of speeding it up.It all seems like a pretty big deal. But as I think about it, it occurs to me that I don’t really know what an interconnection queue is or why they work the way they do. So I’m going to talk to an expert — Chaz Teplin, who works on carbon-free grids with <a href="https://rmi.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">RMI</a> — to get the lowdown.We’re going to talk through the basics of interconnection queues, why they’re so slow, what RTOs and FERC are doing to reform them, and what remains to be done (namely some friggin’ regional transmission planning). Get full access to Volts at <a href="https://www.volts.wtf/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=CTA_4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.volts.wtf/subscribe</a>

What's the deal with interconnection queues?

Voluntary carbon offsets are headed for a crash

Enhanced geothermal power is finally a reality

What's next for clean energy and climate mitigation

The depthless stupidity of Republicans' anti-ESG campaign

How can AI help with climate change?

Making shipping fuel with off-grid renewables

Steps toward a unified electricity market in the western US

Will the US have the workforce it needs for a clean-energy transition?

Volts is a podcast about leaving fossil fuels behind. I've been reporting on and explaining clean-energy topics for almost 20 years, and I love talking to politicians, analysts, innovators, and activists about the latest progress in the world's most important fight. (Volts is entirely subscriber-supported. Sign up!) www.volts.wtf

Everyone agrees Democrats suck at messaging. How can they do it better?

Hey Voltrons! I’ve got no guest today, just a couple of little announcements.First: At long last, we have gotten serious about transcripts around here. I hired a company called Fanfare and they are methodically going back through the Volts catalogue and transcribing everything. I believe they’re back to May 2022. Before too long, every pod will have transcripts. Also, they are transcribing new episodes quickly — usually within a day or two of posting.Each transcript comes in three forms. The first is full text on the episode page; the second is a downloadable PDF, in case you want to print it out or send it to someone; and the third is an “active transcript,” where you can play the sound file and it will follow along in the text for you. The active transcripts are really cool, especially for hearing-challenged subscribers; I encourage you to check them out.(As an example, here's the geothermal pod: text transcript; PDF; active transcript. Once transcripts are done, I add links to the different versions at the top of each episode page.)I considered making the active transcripts available to paid subscribers only, but ultimately, I came back around to the same reasoning I've used thus far: I want this content to be as available to as many people as possible. So they are free to everyonelWhich I guess is a good time to remind everyone that the only way I can keep doing this, keep adding features like this, is through the generosity of my paid subscribers. My gratitude to each and every one of you remains unbounded. (If you’d like to make a one-time donation, you can do so here.)The other thing I wanted to note is for listeners in the Seattle area. On June 28th, Canary Media will be holding a live event in Seattle, at the headquarters of the radio station KEXP. In addition to some other speakers and some mixing and mingling, the main event will be my onstage discussion with Ramez Naam, a well-known clean energy analyst, about the state of the clean energy industry.For those who can't make it, the conversation will be recorded and released as a podcast. But if you are in the area, I encourage you to drop by and say hi. Tickets are $49, which will help raise money for Canary, the best thing to happen to clean energy journalism in ages.I’m cooking up some other cool stuff here in the Volts kitchen, but that’s probably enough for now. As always, to all you listeners, paid and unpaid, thank you so much for your time and attention. I know there's lots of content out there, new outlets clamoring for your subscription dollars, so rest assured that I never take that time for granted.Onward and upward. Get full access to Volts at www.volts.wtf/subscribe

Hey Voltrons! I’ve got no guest today, just a couple of little announcements.First: At long last, we have gotten serious about transcripts around here. I hired a company called <a href="https://www.withfanfare.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fanfare</a> and they are methodically going back through the Volts catalogue and transcribing everything. I believe they’re back to May 2022. Before too long, every pod will have transcripts. Also, they are transcribing new episodes quickly — usually within a day or two of posting.Each transcript comes in three forms. The first is full text on the episode page; the second is a downloadable PDF, in case you want to print it out or send it to someone; and the third is an “active transcript,” where you can play the sound file and it will follow along in the text for you. The active transcripts are really cool, especially for hearing-challenged subscribers; I encourage you to check them out.(As an example, here's the geothermal pod: <a href="https://www.volts.wtf/p/whats-going-on-with-geothermal#details" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">text transcript</a>; <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wopt2ypfwmzneeu/AADlO8fDFsj65IZx2_Ox9pQEa/volts23.03.31%28jamie.beard%29.pdf?dl=0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PDF</a>; <a href="https://transcripts.volts.wtf/what-s-going-on-with-geothermal" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">active transcript</a>. Once transcripts are done, I add links to the different versions at the top of each episode page.)I considered making the active transcripts available to paid subscribers only, but ultimately, I came back around to the same reasoning I've used thus far: I want this content to be as available to as many people as possible. So they are free to everyonelWhich I guess is a good time to remind everyone that the only way I can keep doing this, keep adding features like this, is through the generosity of my paid subscribers. My gratitude to each and every one of you remains unbounded. (If you’d like to make a one-time donation, you can do so <a href="https://www.volts.wtf/p/donate-to-volts" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>.)The other thing I wanted to note is for listeners in the Seattle area. On June 28th, <a href="https://www.canarymedia.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Canary Media</a> will be holding <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/canary-live-seattle-tickets-616481582007" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">a live event in Seattle</a>, at the headquarters of the radio station KEXP. In addition to some other speakers and some mixing and mingling, the main event will be my onstage discussion with <a href="https://rameznaam.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ramez Naam</a>, a well-known clean energy analyst, about the state of the clean energy industry.For those who can't make it, the conversation will be recorded and released as a podcast. But if you are in the area, I encourage you to drop by and say hi. Tickets are $49, which will help raise money for Canary, the best thing to happen to clean energy journalism in ages.I’m cooking up some other cool stuff here in the Volts kitchen, but that’s probably enough for now. As always, to all you listeners, paid and unpaid, thank you so much for your time and attention. I know there's lots of content out there, new outlets clamoring for your subscription dollars, so rest assured that I never take that time for granted.Onward and upward. Get full access to Volts at <a href="https://www.volts.wtf/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=CTA_4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.volts.wtf/subscribe</a>

Transcripts and a live event

Maryland finds a more just & politically durable way to fund offshore wind

California's coming transit apocalypse

How to make small hydro more like solar

The trouble with net zero

It's up to states to implement IRA. Are they ready?

A clean energy transition that avoids environmentally sensitive land

Washington state Democrats are tackling the housing crisis

Getting rooftop solar onto low- and middle-income housing

Volts is a podcast about leaving fossil fuels behind. I've been reporting on and explaining clean-energy topics for almost 20 years, and I love talking to politicians, analysts, innovators, and activists about the latest progress in the world's most important fight. (Volts is entirely subscriber-supported. Sign up!) <a href="https://www.volts.wtf?utm_medium=podcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.volts.wtf</a>

Volts

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