Send us a text I almost decided to name this episode, "so this is why we can't have nice things." On our last episode, Doug Houseman and Mark Jacobson showed us what's possible albeit challenging from a technical perspective. This episode Eric Beightel (Federal Strategy Director, Environmental Science Associates) and Josh Kaplowitz (Senior Counsel, Troutman Pepper Locke LLP) walk us through grid decarbonization and renewables development from a legal and policy perspective. Simply put, our cu...
Send us a text For a project to be sustainable it must factor in the economic, social, and environmental impacts of its scope before its built, in order to minimize any detrimental impacts and maximize benefits. But backing up another step, for a project to be built at all, it must first have a handle on associated logistical constraints and how they factor into timelines and budgeting. My two guests this week are energy experts who have decades of experience around the world. Mark Jaco...
Send us a text I start every EJ or climate talk that I give with a photo of my children. They are the reason why I am so passionate about all of this, they are why I do this work. The same can be said for many of those in environmental advocacy; over time it becomes a family affair, and we often see children joining efforts that their parents have worked on for decades. On the episode this week, I tell a story of late last year, I was moderating a panel in Chicago with Cheryl Johnson, daughte...
Send us a text Season 2!!! As with last year, we are starting this season on climate change. There is no bigger issue that we discuss on these podcasts. The risks are real, the costs of impacts mounting, and our time for action is dwindling to avert surpassing tipping points that will do irrevocable harm. This is not a political issue, and it does not have to be a subjective one. Objectively look at what the modeling is telling you and start making some informed decisions on long term p...
Send us a text For this episode Chris was joined by Jeremy Orr (Director of Litigation and Advocacy Partnerships, Earthjustice) and Sean Moriarty (Director of Strategic Regulatory Affairs, Archer Public Affairs). Both men are leaders in their states on EJ and environmental topics, and helped advance critical legislation that is now shaping the discussion. Our discussion touched on a lot of issues, including; EJ policy developmentBeing a first mover on complex topicsWater policyLi...
Send us a text For this episode we are joined by Abby Watson (President and Co-Founder of The Groundwire Group) and Professor Raphael Heffron (University of Pau and Adour Countries (France)) to discuss energy justice. Abby and Raphael are well-known for their innovative thought leadership on energy issues. Our discussion started around objective realities of cost and reliability always coming first, but then stemmed off to multiple areas of progress around the world in taking on these ...
Send us a text In our first two episodes we covered climate change and environmental justice issues. I hope they filled you with a sense of wanting to do something about it. The "doing something about it" on a policy end takes time, and having a sound economic model (or models) included is imperative. Join us for a fun discussion with Dr. Ken Richards of the University of Indiana and the Gnarly Tree Sustainability Institute. Dr. Richards is the Fullbright Canada Research Chair in Envir...
Send us a text Environmental justice work has become my passion. After working technically in air quality for over 16 years, and projecting the potential impact of the New Jersey EJ Law, I began to see EJ issues almost everywhere I looked. The data is clear and so is the lived experiences of citizens living in overburdened communities, which act as a clear indicator of potential problems in those areas. Join me, Arielle King and Julius Redd as we discuss some of the most pressing curre...
Send us a text Chris Whitehead sits down with Andy Bochman, Senior Grid Strategist from Idaho National Labs and Marisol Maddox (Sr Artic Analyst from the Woodrow Wilson Institute. Topics covered: Climate change tipping points, health impacts, climate justice, national security and supply chain implications, and infrastructure. Andy and Marisol's tips for other opportunities tp learn more on these topics: America Adapts: https://www.americaadapts.org/ Adapt: https://www.listennotes.com/podc...
Send us a text Hosted by Chris Whitehead. Climate change and environmental justice are two of the largest drivers in environmental regulation and sustainable development. This podcast will bring together subject matter experts on major topics to discuss these issues and how we potentially avoid major problems going forward. The first episode will be released on April 15 with further episodes following every two weeks thereafter. The format of each episode will be similar; opening monologue f...
Send us a text About four years ago I was giving a talk in Ohio and someone in the crowd asked me, "EJ just kind of sprang up, where did it come from, how did this start?" At first I was pretty taken back by the comment since the environmental justice movement began around the time I was born, but this gentleman simply had not heard about it until that point, until it was tied into his operations. My two guests this episode are Vernice Miller-Travis (EVP of the Metropolitan Group and Co...
Send us a text There's a common fallacy out there that public policy that is protective of public health is likely bad for bottom lines. That could not be further from the truth. Sound policy is protective but in a sustainable way that also promotes economic growth. For this episode, who better to talk about taking on complex policy development, than two people who have done it at the highest levels? Sandra Whitehead is an expert on cumulative health impacts, a professor at GW, and form...
Send us a text It feels appropriate that this episode is posting in the middle of a heat wave in much of the United States, with four straight days of heat index readings at or above 110F. While we were planning for the episode a glacier in Europe gave way, burying the town of Blatten, Switzerland. Our world is warming, and that has many difficult implications. With all the changes of the last six months, we had many options for episode names on this one, but something one of our guests said ...
Send us a text In 2018 the US processed roughly 292.4 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW), or 4.9 pounds/person per day, which equates to an increase of 93% from 1980. Of that amount, 69 million tons were recycled and 25 million composted. In 2021 the US recycled 58.6 million tons of metals, iron, steel. These figures have only increased over the last few years, and project continued increases in coming years due to population growth. It is a massive problem and responsibility for tho...
Send us a text Climate change impacts are mounting across the world, and it has been difficult to watch. From cloud bursts, to drought, to stronger hurricanes, and longer heat waves, the economic and public health impacts are mounting and costing us all a lot more. The 2025 California wildfires alone are estimated to have cost $250B. How do insurance companies factor in climate change? How do they incur rising associated costs? How do these rising impacts affect major project siting and devel...
Send us a text This week Chris was joined by James May (Distinguished Professor of Law, Washburn University) and Dana Johnson (Chief Movement Advisor, Strategic Movement Collective, LLC). The topic for this episode is environmental justice and dignity rights. Taping this made us think of the golden rule, you know the one that most of us learn around Kindergarten, "treat others as you want to be treated". Policy choices over decades have led to environmental justice areas and associated elevat...
Send us a text Yes, we did a 90 minute Season finale. You will thank me later. I dedicated this episode to my mom, Lois Whitehead, who sadly passed away earlier this year from leukemia. During her professional career, for a time, she worked for a nonprofit in Trenton, NJ that addressed food insecurity issues and helped people get back on their feet. She taught me a great deal in 41 years, but this issue stands out as it was something we went back to often in the last couple years as I did mo...
Send us a text No matter what your climate goals look like, where your project is located, or who is in office at the time, your project will not happen if the financing is not in order. Projects have to make money, and have to usually incur levels of risk through development. Whether a clean energy startup or billion dollar offshore wind developer, there is great opportunity right now, but also great risk, and fluctuations in supply chain, interest rates, and other outside forces, can direct...
Send us a text One of the topics that I have been asked about most over the last few years from community members is how they can get their own community air monitoring. Many are concerned over possible contamination in their air, and want to see improvements. As we often say, their lived experiences are the ultimate screening tool. They know if there's a problem. There is a direct link between air contamination and health impacts, and objective tools like ambient air monitors can help inform...
Send us a text Anyone who has listened to past episodes likely knows that I am an offshore wind (OSW) energy advocate. I am a renewable energy advocate, and I am an advocate for smart answers to complex problems. There is no better example than the need to urgently modernize our transmission systems. My guests for this week, are Theodore Paradise (Energy Partner at K & L Gates) and Dane Pehrman (Director of Strategy & Growth - Power and New Energy, Worley Consulting). Both men have b...