The Clean Energy Show

• Electric Vehicle Range May Need to Equal Gas Cars

  A massive blackout brought Spain and Portugal to a standstill this week, reminding us just how deeply modern life depends on electricity. The outage disrupted everything from subways and air traffic to ATMs and elevators, leading to scenes of chaos in Madrid and emergency water deliveries by tractor. We break down the moment-by-moment collapse of daily life—and what it tells us about resilience and infrastructure. See our Patreon page for our social media posts and ways to support our work! In the UK, the Labour government is pushing forward with new overhead power lines, despite public opposition to their visual impact. A study endorsed by Labour shows burying cables is 4.5 times more expensive than pylons—read more from The Guardian. Also in Britain, protesters frustrated with the lack of textile recycling options are mailing their worn-out clothes back to the CEOs of the companies that sold them. One PhD student’s protest kicked off a wave of “postal activism”—full story here. We also respond to a heartfelt listener email from California about EV range anxiety. Is it time EVs matched gas vehicles for range? We talk bladder size, cold weather, spousal tolerance, and battery waste. Plus, another listener from Swift Current updates us on his repaired Hyundai Ioniq 5—and reveals a surprise connection with last week’s mailbag guest from Japan. In the Lightning Round: Scientists develop a tool that could let courts hold oil companies accountable for climate damages—via Bloomberg. New York lawmakers push to shut down Tesla stores. A startup is turning methane into butter. China approves 10 new nuclear reactors—again. 📧 Email us at [email protected] 🎙️ Leave a voicemail: speakpipe.com/cleanenergyshow 💸 Donate to the podcast via PayPal: paypal.com/donate  

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• Pope Francis: The First Climate Pope

  Pope Francis had become one of the most influential voices on the moral side of climate change. Back in 2015, he released an encyclical called Laudato Si', where he framed environmental issues not just as scientific or political problems, but as deep moral and spiritual ones. He emphasized that climate change affects everyone—but especially the poor and vulnerable who contribute the least to the problem yet suffer the most from its effects. At the end of the show, we look back. All links to items mentioned on our show can be found on our Patreon page. 🔋 CATL’s Battery Breakthrough China’s battery giant CATL just unveiled technology that can charge an EV in just five minutes while also performing well in cold weather and offering over 500 km (320 miles) of range. They're even rolling out sodium-ion batteries to replace traditional 12V batteries, reducing fire risk and cost. 🎒 Chicago Teachers Union Bargains for the Planet In a groundbreaking new contract, the Chicago Teachers Union added climate initiatives to their demands. If approved, the deal will bring solar to 30 schools, heat pumps, and clean energy job training — all in partnership with local labor unions. 🗣️ Thomas L. Friedman on China: “We’re Screwed”  🏢 Climate Action in NYC A Manhattan housing co-op has gone fully electric.  📬 Listener Mail: Greetings from Japan ⚡ The Lightning Round New York injects $30M more into EV rebates. Robots are fixing China's grid. Tesla’s mega-charger (168 stalls!) is coming to California. Pope Francis and the climate. 📩 We love your feedback! Email us: [email protected] Leave a voicemail: speakpipe.com/cleanenergyshow Join our community and support the show: Patreon.com/c/cleanenergypod 💸 Donate via PayPal: paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VMDCRPHLNR8YE See you in one week!  

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• Solar Saving Lives in Emerging Economies (Remixed)

  In Sierra Leone, solar power is saving lives—literally. A neonatal intensive care unit that once faced constant blackouts is now powered by a solar microgrid with lithium-ion batteries. The result? A surge from 10 newborns a month in 2013 to 140 today, with hundreds of lives saved each year thanks to reliable, renewable power. (Sorry, we had to remix this episode twice! James does NOT have a brain tumor.) Watch Michael Liebreich's documentary from his Cleaning Up YouTube channel: https://www.patreon.com/posts/solar-hospital-126744571?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link A historic win for climate accountability: the UN's maritime agency has passed the first international emissions cap for global shipping. Also this week: New research shows that cleaner air boosts solar power generation. Plus: A U.S. jury has ordered Greenpeace to pay $660 million in damages over its role in the Dakota Access Pipeline protests.  Florida has overtaken California It’s illegal to bike your kids to school in Ontario. J.D. Vance called the people of China "peasants." We had thoughts. Links Mentioned: Solar Brightening Boosts Power Output – Bloomberg Greenpeace Verdict and the Future of Activism – Bloomberg UN Shipping Emissions Vote – BBC Support the Show: Donate via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VMDCRPHLNR8YE Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/cleanenergypod 📩 Contact us: CleanEnergyShow@gmail.

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• Hydrogen Cruise Ship Sails Next Year; Delhi Bans Gas and Diesel

  Texas offers billions to build gas power plants—but no one wants the cash. Developers say renewables are just too cheap. Meanwhile, Delhi cracks down on combustion cars, Viking unveils a zero-emission cruise ship, and salmon are swimming free thanks to dam removal. Join The Clean Energy Show's CLEAN CLUB on Patreon for exciting perks! Get a monthly bonus podcast, early access to our content, behind the scenes content, access to our members-only Discord community and thank-yous in the credits of videos and shoutouts on our podcast! You can support us for as little as one dollar per month with a custom Patreon pledge or with PayPal. In this episode: Texas’ Energy Gamble: A $5B loan program for new gas plants is falling apart. Developers say costs and market risks are too high. Read more Viking's Hydrogen Cruise Ship: The Viking Libra launches in 2026 as the world's first zero-emission hydrogen-powered cruise ship. Details Barcelona's All-Electric Ferry: New ferry runs 21 hours on a single charge. Story Delhi’s Combustion Crackdown: Starting April 15, vehicles older than 10–15 years can’t refuel. Big bans are coming by 2035. Read UK Adjusts Its Ban: ICE vehicle sales end in 2030, hybrids get a 5-year extension. Details Salmon Return to the Klamath: Four dam removals bring salmon back to Oregon and California rivers. Watch the doc Fleet EV Update: James reflects on EV truck adoption and fights battery myths. CATL eyes Nio’s battery swap network. More Lightning Round: Russia struggles as oil nears $50/barrel Toyota plans 10 new EVs by 2027 (link) Audi halts U.S. deliveries due to tariffs BYD sells 6,500 EVs in March in the UK (+750%) Pakistan multiplies solar capacity 17x in 2024 Illinois EV adoption up 50%, fueled by $4,000 rebate Solar power is doubling globally every 3 years Over 100 oil refineries face shutdown by 2035 Clean electricity surpassed 40% globally in 2024 Source 💬 Email: [email protected] 💰 Support the show: Donate via PayPal | Join us on Patreon

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• Lives Changed by a Solar Panel; USB-C for Ebikes

  Welcome to episode 256 of The Clean Energy Show! This week, we explore the challenges of allowing Chinese EVs into Canada, the arrival of USB-C charging for electric bikes, and how small amounts of solar power are transforming lives in Africa. Plus, Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions are trending downward, and James Whittingham claims full credit. The Downside of Chinese EVs in Canada China is testing whether the prospect of big EV investments could sway Canada’s trade policies. The country’s ambassador to Canada has expressed concerns over restrictions that have hindered BYD’s expansion into Canada. Critics argue that China’s trade proposals could reduce Canada to a resource exporter while China dominates global tech and manufacturing. Is this the kind of economy Canada wants? Read more USB-C Charging for E-Bikes Read more Electrification in Africa Gains Momentum Plunging solar panel prices and increased international funding are fueling the rise of mini-grids in Africa. These solar-powered microgrids are transforming rural communities, enabling businesses, improving education, and even providing street lighting for safety. The impact is profound, with villages experiencing economic and social growth thanks to electricity access. Read more Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Decline Read more The Lightning Round EV sales in China have likely caused gasoline consumption to peak. Read more Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are emerging as major markets for Chinese solar panels. Read more Uruguay’s EV market is booming, with battery-electric vehicles reaching over 15% market share. Read more Hyundai’s Georgia EV plant is now operational, ready to launch the three-row IONIQ 9. Read more Waymo’s self-driving cars now use external speakers to alert passengers about forgotten items. Read more Volvo’s latest electric truck boasts a 600km range, 44-ton capacity, and rapid 40-minute charging. Read more Chinese battery manufacturer Cornex has improved grid-scale battery storage by 50%, with mass production beginning in June. Read more Eric from the Bay Area recommends the documentary The White House Effect, which is premiering at a local film festival in Sebastopol, California. Join our Patreon for exclusive content, including bonus episodes and ad-free listening! Sign up at https://www.patreon.com/c/cleanenergypod. Donate via PayPal at https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VMDCRPHLNR8YE We love hearing from you! Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/CleanEnergyShow.

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