Climate Positive

In this Climate Positive episode (our 100th!), Chad and Guy talk with Matt Loszak, CEO and co-founder of Aalo Atomics, about their innovative approach to building factory-made advanced micro reactors to power the AI-driven energy demand surge. Matt shares his unconventional journey from nuclear engineering student to software entrepreneur to nuclear startup founder, explaining why he believes we're entering a "second atomic age" for clean energy. Matt discusses Aalo's strategy of vertical integration and mass manufacturing, inspired by SpaceX and Tesla, to deliver compact, liquid metal-cooled nuclear reactors that can be deployed rapidly for data centers and other applications. He explains how the regulatory environment has evolved with recent executive orders streamlining pathways to criticality, the company's ambitious timeline to achieve zero power criticality by July 2026, and their vision for 3-cent-per-kilowatt-hour nuclear energy at scale. Matt also addresses public safety perceptions, the advantages of particular reactor technologies, and how their 50-megawatt "Aalo Pod" architecture provides the redundancy and incremental buildout that hyperscalers need. Links: Aalo Atomics Website Matt Loszak on LinkedIn Email your feedback to Chad, Gil, Hilary, and Guy at climatepositive@hasi.com.

In this episode of Climate Positive, Kenny Gayles talks with Vinnie Campo, CEO and co-founder of Haven Energy, about their unique batteries-as-a-service approach that reduces barriers to affordable, reliable backup power by integrating home storage into virtual power plants (VPPs) to support the electric grid.  Vinnie shares Haven’s journey as a rapidly growing operator of distributed energy assets. He discusses the effects of California’s policy impacts on battery adoption, the influence of electrification and AI-driven demand on utilities, and why batteries are vital for grid resilience. He also discusses regulatory and market trends transforming residential energy, and what it takes to scale integrated energy infrastructure solutions.  Links: Haven Website Vinnie Campo on LinkedIn Haven Blog: “Raising New Funds to Speed Distributed Power” LADWP Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) Email your feedback to Chad, Gil, Hilary, and Guy at climatepositive@hasi.com.

In this episode of Climate Positive, Gil Jenkins speaks with Malcolm Woolf, President and CEO of the National Hydropower Association (NHA). They discuss the current state of the U.S. hydropower industry, its role in providing carbon-free electricity, and the challenges and opportunities facing the sector. A central focus of the conversation is the hydropower relicensing process -- how it works, where projects can stall, and how lengthy reviews can delay investment, upgrades, and in some cases lead facilities to shut down.Malcolm shares real-world examples to illustrate what’s at stake, while also exploring the potential to add generation to non-powered dams, the role of pumped storage in supporting grid reliability, and emerging marine energy technologies.Links:NHA WebsiteMalcom Woolf LinkedInNHA on LinkedInPress Release: The Hydropower Foundation and NHA Align to Strengthen Workforce Development EffortsArticle: US hydropower is at a make-or-break momentArticle: Google to buy up to 3 GW of hydro power from BrookfieldVideo: Whooshh Innovations' "Salmon Cannon" Gives Fish A Boost Over Dams Email your feedback to Chad, Gil, Hilary, and Guy at climatepositive@hasi.com.

Patrick Sullivan, CEO of EV Realty, brings decades of renewable energy experience to the electric trucking revolution. He discusses the vital need for industrial-scale charging solutions amid the challenges of fleet electrification. Patrick shares insights on the complexities of the freight supply chain, the barriers posed by incumbency, and how his company effectively models land and grid capacity. He highlights the importance of community engagement and the innovative partnerships that will help streamline the transition to cleaner trucking.

Brandon Welch discusses the profitability of financing regenerative agriculture, tackling the challenges of conventional farming. He highlights how economic incentives can transform farmers' outlooks and discusses the vital role of financial support in transitioning to sustainable practices. The conversation explores the gap between organic demand and supply, the benefits of regenerative methods in stabilizing yields, and the importance of consumer demand in driving change. Welch shares insights on the certification process and emphasizes the need for patience in agricultural transitions.

Bill McKibben, author and renowned climate activist, dives into his book, Here Comes the Sun, highlighting the explosive growth of solar energy. He discusses the cultural and emotional connections people have with the sun and shares fascinating insights on how solar is reshaping geopolitics and local economies. McKibben emphasizes the resilience solar brings to conflict zones like Ukraine while celebrating innovative community initiatives in Texas and Pakistan. His reflections on intergenerational activism and faith’s role in the climate movement add a unique perspective on hope for the future.

In this episode of Climate Positive, Guy Van Syckle and Gil Jenkins sit down with Caroline Spears, Executive Director of Climate Cabinet, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting clean energy and climate policy leaders at state and local levels. These often-forgotten races are sometimes decided by a couple hundred votes and can also decide the fate of billions of dollars of decarbonization investment. Caroline explains how Climate Cabinet strategically identifies target candidates through data science and political expertise, aiming to elect climate champions with the highest potential ability to shape positive change. Through real-world examples, she demonstrates the organization's effectiveness in close political races and the tangible difference their support can make.LinksClimate Cabinet Website Sign up for a monthly donation to help Climate Cabinet find and elect the highest ROI clean energy champions in state and local elections across the U.S. Caroline Spears on LinkedInEpisode recorded on October 2, 2025   Email your feedback to Chad, Gil, Hilary, and Guy at climatepositive@hasi.com.

In this episode of Climate Positive, Gil Jenkins and Kenny Gayles speak with Heikki Pöntynen, CEO of Norsepower, about how rotor sails are helping the maritime industry cut fuel use and emissions. By harnessing the Magnus effect with spinning cylinders mounted on cargo ships, Norsepower is delivering 5–25% fuel savings today—sometimes even more. Heikki discusses the company’s rapid growh, including a new factory in China to scale production, the evolving policy landscape at the IMO and EU, and why ship owners are increasingly open to wind propulsion. LinksNorsepower WebsiteNorsepower on LinkedInVideo: How do Norsepower Rotor Sails work?Press Release: COSCO Shipping partners with Norsepower to enable a step change in the global rotor sail marketArticle: How wind tech could help decarbonize cargo shipping | MIT Tech Review |January 2, 2025Article: These 150-foot-high sails could help solve shipping’s climate problem | The Washington Post | April 22, 2024Episode recorded on September 3, 2025  Email your feedback to Chad, Gil, Hilary, and Guy at climatepositive@hasi.com.

In this conversation, Matt Traldi, co-founder and CEO of Greenlight America, shares his expertise in grassroots advocacy for clean energy. He discusses how local dynamics significantly influence renewable energy projects, highlighting the importance of community engagement. Matt illustrates strategies for mobilizing local support, addressing opposition, and reducing permitting friction. He emphasizes the need for teamwork against misinformation and encourages listeners to embrace hope and action for a sustainable future.

In this episode of Climate Positive, host Hilary Langer speaks with Aadith Moorthy, founder and CEO of Boomitra, a global soil carbon marketplace that pays farmers for adopting regenerative agriculture. Boomitra’s AI-powered platform uses satellite data to measure and verify carbon sequestration, turning healthier soil into long-term income for farmers. Aadith shares how attending a farmer’s funeral in India sparked the idea for Boomitra, how their marketplace is already increasing farm revenues, and when they expect to reach gigaton-scale carbon removal. A winner of the Earthshot Prize and a Time100 Next inductee, Aadith is helping redefine how we fight climate change—from the soil to the sky.Links:Boomitra websiteAadith Moorthy on LinkedInEarthshot Prize | BoomitraTime100 Next 2024Boomitra’s South America Grassland Restoration Project Achieves Verra Registration Episode recorded February 19, 2025 Email your feedback to Chad, Gil, Hilary, and Guy at climatepositive@hasi.com.