volts

In this episode, we dive into the world of off-grid adventure tourism with Kyle Girgan, the Sustainability and Development Coordinator for Horne Lake Caves (Hidden Realm Adventures Inc.). Kyle shares their remarkable journey of harnessing the power of solar energy and energy storage to revolutionize their operations.

Their solar array and energy storage system have not only propelled them toward financial savings but also transformed their approach to environmental sustainability. Kyle discusses their substantial reduction in annual generator fuel expenses, and how the harmony of nature and the absence of constant generator noise contribute to a more peaceful and immersive experience for their adventure-seeking visitors.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One barrel of oil equals the manual labor energy of one human for five years.  This fact explains why humans are strapped to fossil fuels: entire economies and lifestyles are based on the easy availability of fossil fuels.  Humans don’t yet know how to live off of the Earth’s “energy budget” – fueled by the sun. 

We’re emitting more CO2 than at any time before.  What is the barrier to slowing this down?  Politics, and the difficulty humans have with change.  But change is afoot and hope is alive.

David Roberts is editor-at-large at Canary Media.  He writes about clean energy and politics at his newsletter, Volts.  Previously, he covered the same subjects for five years at Vox, and before that for 10 years at Grist. 

Today on Clean Power Hour, David joins Tim to discuss the progress made on technologies that extract carbon out of the atmosphere, make the clean energy we need to sustain us and store the extra.  David presents the three very attainable goals that will bring us most of the way to the solution.  Listen in for a veritable “clinic” on established clean energy technologies in place now and those in reengineering stage, like hydrogen, thermal, concentrated solar and more.  As David states, many solutions are surprisingly basic and simple.

Key Takeaways

How the global action humans have taken, while painfully slow, will likely save us from the most extreme outcomes previously considered possible

The rare jewel that is a climate science expert who speaks in plain language

How Nate Hagen’s quote, “Things are getting worse and worse and better and better, faster and faster” sums up human’s very slow adoption of climate solutions

The three changes we can make that will solve 75% of the problem

David’s take on why now is the most amazing time to be finding solutions in energy storage

Outside wind and solar, how non-intermittent solutions such as geothermal, smaller hydro, lithium-ion batteries, meltdown-proof nuclear and thermal energy are having a moment 

How the ecological principle of “carrying capacity” explains the problem humans have caused on Earth

What concentrated solar is, and how it’s a great example of replacing materials with intelligence

How one simple but clever insight waiting to be uncovered could be the answer

Connect with Dave

Dave on T

Connect with Tim

Clean Power Hour
Clean Power Hour on YouTube
Tim on Twitter
Tim on LinkedIn

Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com

Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts

The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com

Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

Listen To This Interview As A Podcast Instead🎙️: https://atlasgeographica.com/david-roberts-volts-interview/

David Roberts is, among many other interesting things, THE energy writer on substack @ volts.

He wrote a terrific article a while back on the Vox publication documenting Geothermal Energy. As you know – Geothermal Energy – is very close to my heart and in addition to my article ‘The Promise Of Geothermal Energy‘ this chat with David works to support my understanding of the real potential this clean energy proposes.

David now writes on substack under volts.wtf – The Volts Substack – and this is the place to read about clean energy online. The depth is fantastic and the breadth of understanding is impressive.

Jump In On My Newsletter 📋 🔑 - https://atlasgeographica.com/subscribe
-----

• 00:00 – Introduction
• 01:38 – A Bit About Dave
• 05:48 – The Link Between Philosophy & Climate Change
• 08:08 – David’s Problem With Academic Philosophy
• 12:08 – David’s Philosophical Worldview
• 19:38 – What Technologies & Innovations Are You Most Excited In The Public Sector?
• 28:36 – Everything Geothermal
• 47:29 – Country You Are Most Bullish On.
• 48:52 – Witness A Conversation Between Any Two People Of History.
• 53:00 – David’s 10 Year Political Forecast.

-----
LEAVE YOUR ENERGY IN THE ALGORITHM - 5 STARS & SUBSCRIBE!

Are you into Nassim Taleb? I run a Nassim Taleb podcast covering all the wonderful ideas found in the 5 part Incerto series.
View here - https://theincertonassimtalebpodcast.buzzsprout.com/

The Geopolitics & Power Podcast - This is my brand new podcast where we will cover everything from giant infrastructure projects, to natural resources, to other interesting stuff!
Check it out - https://geopoloticsandpowerpodcast.buzzsprout.com/

Also - I am writing a lot online, so visit the website and let me know what you think! - https://atlasgeographica.com/​

If you’ve ever looked at a calculus equation as it relates to DIY audio and wondered just how the heck is that going to correlate with the sound signature you want to achieve, you’re not alone. Darren talks about his experiences going through school to get his Electrical Engineering degree (EE), in the hopes of convincing some that an application-focused approach to audio design is completely valid and appropriate, and can sometimes lead you to a better understanding of the big picture.
 

Making audio equipment for yourself can result in unique rewards that aren’t possible when you’re simply buying cool gear, but the guys don’t pass up a chance to remind that it can also, sometimes, be a little dangerous. You have to keep your head on straight when you’re soldering new caps into a recently run amplifier, for instance, as Darren will attest.
 

One of the beautiful things about DIY audio is giving yourself a chance to listen to products that would never see the light of day at a normal, successful audio manufacturer for the sheer impracticality of it, or the difficulty in producing it at a reasonable scale and scope.
 

The guys round out the episode talking about their album pick of the week, which features a modern super group of sorts in the jazz department. Each member of this group gets a few moments of adoration as Darren and Duncan gush over this recent album full of intricate new fusion jazz.

This podcast is powered by CommonGround Cables Whisper power cable. Read customer reviews and order your own at www.commongroundcables.com.

Find all of our album recommendations in one place, at www.thehifipodcast.net.