Plug-in solar systems can be installed on balconies, sheds, walls and any other areas exposed to solar. Users plug them into standard wall outlets and immediately begin producing electricity.

Bright Saver, a nonprofit organization that aims to make plug-in solar accessible to "everyone, everywhere," particularly to renters and those who can't access rooftop solar, seeks to overcome the legislative and regulatory barriers that prevent U.S. consumers from utilizing this technology, which is popular in Germany.

Working with the Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG), Bright Saver has drafted legislation that it plans to introduce in the Vermont Legislature in January and is talking to other states about adopting the legislation, which would remove legislative roadblocks to plug-in solar.

Bright Saver now offers a plug-in solar system for $400 and has a waitlist of 2,000 people. Paybacks can be as low as a few years, depending on the price of electricity, said Cora Stryker, co-founder of the nonprofit.

Guests:

Cora Stryker, co-founder, Bright Saver.

Ben Edgerly Walsh, climate and energy program director, VPIRG.

Background reading:

Why Can't Solar and Microgrids be Plugged in Just Like Hairdryers and Toasters?

Visit Clean Energy Writers to learn more about host Lisa Cohn

Email her at Lisa@CleanEnergyWriters.com

Hadron Energy says its micro modular reactors will produce power at 15 cents/kWh. How will the company make that possible?

Do small modular reactors create more radioactive waste than conventional nuclear reactors?

Which states have a moratorium on nuclear energy deployment?

These are some of the questions my guests addressed in this podcast.

Advanced nuclear reactors are seen as key to meeting soaring data center, AI and electrification demand because they provide baseload power and are carbon-free. But the advanced nuclear reactor industry faces a number of challenges, including regulatory delays, state bans on nuclear, high costs and waste-disposal issues.

Guests:

Samuel Gibson, founder and CEO at Hadron Energy

Woody Hastings, program director at The Climate Center

Tom Bailey, vice president of energy at Flexential

Background reading:’

Google Announces Tennessee Site for Small Nuclear Reactor

Small Modular Reactors Produce High Levels of Nuclear Waste

How Geothermal Energy Can Fill in Solar and Wind Energy Gaps in Clean Microgrids

Visit CleanEnergyWriters.com to learn more about host Lisa Cohn

Email: Lisa@CleanEnergyWriters.com

In rural Oregon, electricity prices are low compared to those of gasoline and diesel fuel, as low as 6 cents/kWh. EVmath is a nonprofit that aims to help rural drivers crunch the numbers on buying EVs--beginning with Oregon and Washington. The nonprofit organization wants to show rural drivers that, whatever their politics, it might make sense economically to drive EVs.

Here's an example: A gasoline-fueled car that gets 25 miles per gallon costs about 20 cents per mile at current gas prices. An EV that goes 4 miles/kWh charged at a rate of 6 cents/kWh costs 1.5 cents per mile.

Economics aside, EVs offer a number of benefits to rural residents and businesses. People are using bidirectional EVs, such as the Ford F-150 Lightning, to power pizza ovens, water pumps, power tools and other electric vehicles.

Guests:

Robert Wallace, EV convert who works with rural small businesses in Oregon at Wy'East.

Steve Gutmann, co-founder, EV Math, along with Mark Jacobs

Background information:

Crunch the EV numbers with this EVmath calculator.

Email host Lisa Cohn with podcast episode ideas or comments at Lisa@CleanEnergyWriters.com

Visit her at CleanEnergyWriters