Inevitable

Elise Joshi, executive director at Gen-Z for Change, discusses the impact of the Willow Pipeline project on young people's perception of the Biden administration's climate record. The episode explores Gen Z activism, effective climate change communication, engaging Congress, and the funding model of Gen-Z for Change. They also explore the distinction between raising awareness and advocating for specific policies in climate activism.

Peter Light is the CEO and Co-founder of Lumen Energy. Lumen Energy's software enables commercial real estate portfolio managers to identify the optimal clean energy mix for their buildings, then deploy via their marketplace. Lumen's Auto PPA product automatically generates power purchase agreements via software, eliminating the drudgery of bespoke underwriting. In this conversation, Peter notes that many companies want to improve portfolio emissions for competitiveness but don't know where to start or invest in building-by-building analysis.  He explains how energy responsibilities vary by lease and tenant type, and touches upon the motivation behind pursuing clean energy projects, all while drawing from his extensive experience in the clean energy sector.In this episode, we cover: [02:38]: Peter's perspective on addressing climate problems[05:37]: His background in clean energy[14:44]: How he met his Lumen co-founder Dave through the MCJ community[18:22]: Overview of difference in energy billing structures by building type[20:43]: Increasing demands from investors and tenants to decarbonize buildings[28:45]: Key actors in commercial real estate decarbonization[30:00]: Lumen’s customer base[37:32]: Details of Lumen's financial modeling software for buildings[40:05]: Lumen's use of public data to provide initial analysis for customers[41:45]: The company's AutoPPA product for streamlined PPAs across portfolios[47:39]: Lumen's Series A and current prioritiesGet connected: Peter Light LinkedInCody Simms X / LinkedInMCJ Podcast / Collective / Instagram*You can also reach us via email at info@mcjcollective.com, where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded on Oct 6, 2023 (Published on Oct 26, 2023) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Chris Hook, Global Sustainability Strategy Lead at Uber, discusses Uber's initiatives to reduce emissions and waste. They leverage their scale to negotiate better EV rental rates and introduce new products. Uber aims to become a zero-emissions platform by 2040 and promote EV adoption among drivers.

Shreya Mishra, CEO and Co-founder of SolarSquare, discusses the growth of residential rooftop solar in India, covering topics such as consumer sentiment, financing options, government subsidies, net metering policy, and system maintenance. She shares how SolarSquare is supporting or innovating in each area, addressing the unique challenges of Indian rooftops. This episode explores Shreya's journey in the solar industry, the evolution of the Indian solar market, permitting processes, sectors with high solar adoption rates, and more. The podcast also delves into the development of modular and prefabricated solutions for affordability, the social aspect of rooftop solar systems, financing options, and the maturation of the residential solar market in India.

Rebecca Carland, Chief Investment Officer at Builders Asset Management, discusses her journey to impact investing and the role of market forces in driving change. They explore Builders Vision as an impact platform and the shift from family office to impact platform. They also touch on the importance of ESG investing and the launch of their inaugural Impact Report.

Tobias Ruckstuhl, Managing Partner at Persistent, and Bim Adisa, CEO at Beacon Power Services, discuss the startup funding landscape, geographic hubs, and role model companies in Africa. They also highlight the importance of functional grids, the state of venture capital, growing climate funds, and challenges of early-stage investing in Africa.

David Holtzclaw, founder of Transduction Technologies, talks about the history and evolution of home energy auditing, the differentiation between Home Energy Scores for existing homes and new construction, the unique energy landscape of Nebraska, the benefits of air-sealing and insulating homes, designing energy-efficient houses, and advice for weatherization and home electrification.

David Helgason, partner at Transition, discusses Transition's efforts in accelerating the climate transition through investments in climate tech. They focus on software and hardware, including batteries, synthetic biology, and industrial tech. They explore the challenges of investing in climate tech within the capitalist system and discuss their investment criteria. They envision a future post-transition and the impact on human life, emphasizing the importance of abundance and enjoyment in working towards a sustainable future.

Ari Matusiak, founder and CEO of Rewiring America, discusses the importance of electrification and home energy efficiency. Topics include tax credits and rebates, management of electric vehicle incentives, engaging in electrification programs, and renters embracing renewable energy options.

Clean energy tax credits play a crucial role in financing clean energy projects. The Inflation Reduction Act has expanded tax credits to cover various project types and made them transferable. Reunion serves as a marketplace for clean energy tax credits, connecting buyers and sellers. Andy discusses his background in clean energy and how tax credits function. The podcast explores the decision-making process for buyers, the value of Reunion in the tax credit marketplace, and Reunion's financing and expansion plans.