Are Solar Companies Just as Sexist and Exclusive as Everyone Else?

Energy Gang

Wood Mackenzie

Tech News, Environment, Sustainability, Innovation, Renewable Energy, Technology, Alternative Energy, Energy, News, Cleantech, Wind Energy, Business, Climate Change, Solar Energy

4.6 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 30 May 2014

⏱️ 46 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In theory, solar PV is the ultimate democratized energy technology. But is it living up to its potential? Historically, solar has been accessible to wealthy environmentalists, utilities and large corporations. But it has been less available to low-income people who most need relief from their rising utility bills. And while the industry fares better than others in diversity, it is still lagging in employment of women. So how can this be changed? In this week's podcast, we'll talk with Erica Mackie, the CEO of GRID Alternatives, about the need to develop new models for making solar accessible to everyone. Then, we'll discuss what the recent court ruling against FERC Order 745 will mean for the future of demand response, and we'll debate the impact of a recent slew of Wall Street analysis warning about the decline of utilities. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Media Editor Stephen Lacey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Transcript

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0:00.0	For the week of May 29th, 2014, this is the Energy Gang from Green Tech Media.
0:17.0	Welcome to the show.
0:18.0	I'm Stephen Lacey, a senior editor with Green Tech Media, perched in my usual place behind the microphone in Washington, D.C.
0:25.6	On her perch to the east of me in Northeast D.C. is Catherine Hamilton, a partner with the Clean
0:31.0	Energy Consulting Firm 38 North Solutions.
0:34.0	Catherine, in true policy wonk fashion, it sounds like your life has been consumed
0:39.1	by obscure FERC orders over the last week.
0:42.4	Yeah, it's awesome. I love FERC. over the last week. Yeah, it's awesome.
0:43.4	I love FERC.
0:44.3	But mostly I had a great time over this three day weekend
0:47.7	at a wedding and Schenectady.
0:50.0	So you're saying you have a life outside of Burke?
0:52.9	I just want people to know that, that I don't just Wank.
0:57.4	Well, we'll Wank out about that because it is a very important story
1:00.5	and a lot of developments have happened around FERC in the last week.
1:05.0	Jigger Shaw actually has a life as well.
1:08.0	He is back after his vacation.
1:10.0	You know him as the founder of Sun Edison and as a clean tech investor.
1:14.0	Jigger, what did you do on your vacation?
1:16.6	I understand you were in Crimea helping all those wind and solar plant developers renegotiate
1:22.1	contracts after getting stranded by the
1:23.9	Russian government right? Exactly, Crimea River. But no it was fun. I was in
	...

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