Shayle’s ​‘ask me anything’ episode

We’re reversing roles today by fielding some questions listeners have posed to our host, Shayle Kann. He’s usually the one interviewing our guests, but he also has expertise (and maybe a few hot takes) to share. He leads a $350 million fund that invests in early-stage climate startups, so he spends most of his time trying to figure out which technologies and businesses will help us decarbonize as quickly as possible.

GreenBiz senior energy analyst Sarah Golden joins the show to ask Shayle your questions and dissect the answers with him. 

They cover:

• The causes of rising solar costs and other troubles in the solar industry.

• The biggest bottlenecks in climatetech.

• The startups working to reduce the carbon-intensity of fertilizing crops amid a global fertilizer crisis.

• The overhyped hate for crypto mining.

• The race between synthetic fuels (aka synfuels) and biofuels.

• The implications for deployment of direct air capture if power grids are slower to decarbonize than expected.

Plus, Shayle’s owl tattoo and the drinking game Shayle’s wife made up for whenever he begins listing things. 

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Catalyst is supported by Advanced Energy Economy. AEE is on the front lines of transforming policy that accelerates the move to 100 percent clean energy and electrified transportation in America. To learn how your business can play a key role in transforming policy and expanding markets, visit aee.net/join.

Catalyst is brought to you by Arcadia. Arcadia allows innovators, businesses and communities to break the fossil fuel monopoly through its technology platform, Arc. Join Arcadia’s mission and find out how you or your business can help turn a fully decarbonized grid into a reality at arcadia.com/catalyst.