MCJ

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the world needs to invest $4 trillion annually in clean energy by 2030 to be on track for a new zero-energy system by 2050. Where’s that capital going to come from? 🤔 Green bonds are low-risk debt instruments issued by governments or corporations to fund environmentally beneficial projects, like renewable energy or sustainable infrastructure, with transparent impact reporting. 💸 This week, Zach Stein from Carbon Collective covers green bonds, their risks and potential for greenwashing, positive trends, and the role of central banks. Read the latest MCJ newsletter below!

Why let trucks have all the fun? Battery-electric rail is the new frontier in freight transport, and our next guest is leading the charge. 🎧 This week, Matt Soule, CEO and Co-founder of Parallel Systems, joins Cody to discuss how their automated battery-electric freight vehicles are re-imagining rail transport. These vehicles can operate independently, connect on-the-fly to form mini trains, and tackle shipping needs typically handled by trucks—all while utilizing existing rail infrastructure. 🚂 We dive into the economic benefits of battery-electrified rail, the challenges of short-haul rail transport, and how Parallel Systems is pioneering a new era for goods movement. Full episode: https://lnkd.in/gBMBQ7mP

⚡️ This week, Ted Ko from the Energy Policy Design Institute sheds light on a major bottleneck that could hinder climate progress—state-level roadblocks in the electric sector. Crucial delays in state public utilities commissions are stalling the deployment of renewables, energy storage, and essential software. 🚦 But there's hope! Innovative approaches like design thinking can streamline the policy implementation process, turning slow-moving regulations into actionable, transformative change. Maryland’s recent success in accelerating its energy storage goal is a prime example. 🔍 Explore Ted’s five key concepts for transforming energy policy across the U.S. and see how strategic investment in these areas could unlock new opportunities for climate tech companies—and our planet. Check out the full article and share your insights in the comments!

Electrification is here, and fleet managers are feeling the pressure to adapt. 🚚⚡ As they gear up for compliance, mastering the art of charging management is no longer optional—it's mission-critical. Suddenly, power procurement and energy efficiency aren't just buzzwords; they're key to staying competitive in a rapidly changing industry. In our latest MCJ Startup Series, Cody sits down with Katie Siegel, CEO & Co-founder of Flipturn, a platform that's helping fleets navigate this journey. 🌍🔌 We dive deep into the electrification of trucking, exploring the challenges and opportunities across different types of trucks and routes. Listen now at the link below. 🎧

At MCJ we recognize that a fully electrified economy requires trillions of dollars worth of energy infrastructure to be built quickly and efficiently. However, obstacles and a lack of transparency in site origination and due diligence processes need to be addressed to fully realize this potential. 💡 Paces offers a solution by addressing these critical inefficiencies with its advanced tooling and platform. ⚡️Paces supports the entire clean energy infrastructure, from generation to load. They back green projects like solar, wind, and battery storage, while also serving critical industries such as data centers, EV charging, and manufacturing. We are thrilled to announce our participation in Paces' successful $11 million Series A funding round, and look forward to supporting James McWalter, Charles Bai and the entire Paces team as they accelerate clean energy development. Read our investment announcement: https://mcj.news/paces

What’s better than one live MCJ podcast? Two! ⚡️ Join us on Sept 11 during Houston Energy and Climate Startup Week for a can't-miss session where Cody Simms will sit down with Vicki Hollub, CEO of Oxy. We'll dive into Oxy's strategy for navigating the energy transition, including their recent acquisition of Carbon Engineering and how they're advancing carbon removal efforts. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from one of the industry's top leaders. Plus, stick around for a networking happy hour afterward. 🗓️ Wednesday, Sept 11, 1:30pm CDT 📍 Ion Houston RSVP on Luma to secure your spot: https://mcj.news/hecw911

Energy and water form a fundamental nexus in our modern world. These resources are inextricably connected to economic development, food production, and environmental sustainability. 💧 This week in the MCJ newsletter, Sonora Hill from Imagine H2O dives into the complexities of the energy-water nexus and highlights the innovations that could help us strike the right balance. ⚡️ From reducing the water footprint of energy production (Infinite Cooling, Emrgy Inc., Natel Energy) to making water distribution more energy-efficient (ASTERRA, National Alliance for Water Innovation), there's a lot at stake—and a lot of progress being made. Check out the full article and share your thoughts in the comments!

The inaugural Houston Energy and Climate Startup Week is around the corner and we’re excited to host a special live recording of the MCJ Startup Series with the CEO and Co-founder of Base Power Company, Zach Dell. 🕒 When: Tuesday, Sept 10 at 3pm CDT  📍Where: Ion Houston Cody Simms and Zach will cover Base's product, distributed battery storage, the aging grid and backup power in Texas at large. The podcast recording will be followed by a networking happy hour with light snacks and refreshments. Don’t miss out! Reserve your spot: https://mcj.news/hecw910

Earlier this year, we witnessed the launch of the Symbiosis Coalition, a new initiative backed by Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Salesforce. Together, they’ve committed to purchasing up to 20 million tons of nature-based carbon removals. But why now? The forestry credit space has faced some tough challenges recently, sparking curiosity about how these tech giants plan to revitalize the sector. Enter Julia (Osterman) Strong, the Executive Director leading the charge behind Symbiosis Coalition. Cody invited her to the show to dive deep into the coalition's formation, what makes a high-quality credit, the roadblocks to bankability, and much more. Tune in to hear how this collaboration could reshape the future of carbon markets. Link below! 🌱🎧

This week on the MCJ podcast, Cody sat down with Joseph Daniel, a Principal on the Carbon-Free Electricity Team at RMI to cover "non-economic dispatch" of coal. This phenomenon occurs when coal-fired power plants deliver power to electricity grids even when their electricity is not the most cost-effective option, thereby disrupting the "merit order" of electricity dispatch. ⚡️ It's a complex topic, but Joe provides helpful insights into this intricate issue. Listen to the full episode: https://mcj.news/rmi