Recent Episodes


Recycling batteries

275. What to do with the mounting heap of spent lithium-ion batteries – Recycle them!

Li-Cycle is a Canadian company from Ontario that is taking the mounting heap of battery waste and turning 95 per cent of it into gold – battery-grade raw materials for new batteries. This is the very definition of a circular economy and a secure supply of batteries for electric vehicles.

Dan Balaban, CEO of Greengate Power

274. Alberta’s solar boom – The biggest story you haven’t heard about

In spite of COVID-19 and economic chaos in the world there is a solar boom going on in Alberta, Canada’s oil-rich province. This is big news you probably haven’t heard about. The biggest solar project in Canadian history is just about finished, a project four times larger starts construction this year and there are 77 other projects in the development queue in the province.

Nukes or No Nukes

273. Nukes or no nukes – Nuclear’s role in a low carbon future

Is nuclear power the only way we can reach net-zero emissions or is it a threat to civilization and a distraction from the development of other low carbon sources of energy such as solar and wind? We discuss this with energy experts Ed Whittingham, Dr. David Keith, Dr. Sara Hastings-Simon and former Canadian Green Party leader and current MP Elizabeth May.

EV Revolution

272. 2020 Year of the EV Revolution

$300 billion in investment, 700 new EV models and numerous stunning trends mark 2020 as the tipping point for the EV Revolution. The only question is how fast the revolution will take hold and transform the transportation industry around the world. We look back on 2020 with Norman Crowley of the Cool Planet Group, Eddie Robar, transit boss in Edmonton, and Leon Milner e-bike enthusiast.

Renewable Revolution

271. 2020 – Year of the Renewable Revolution

PODCAST – As 2020 winds down we look back at the year when the renewable energy revolution past the tipping point. Renewable energy is now the cheapest energy money can buy and is attracting trillions in investment. In Canada the largest solar project in Canadian history was built unsubsidized in Claresholm Alberta. Before it was complete another solar project was announced four times larger for 2021, also in Alberta. Renewable energy is becoming a story of opportunity, investment, jobs and economic diversification.

Edmonton E-Bus Transit Garage with Art Installation

270. E-bus Revolution II – Batteries included at Edmonton’s artsy home for electric buses

Batteries Included – In part II of our series on Edmonton’s e-bus revolution, we visit the Kathleen Andrews Transit Garage for eletric buses which boasts a dramatic art installation on the roof of this stainless steel expanse of post-industrial design.

YEG Transit boss Eddie Robar in a long row or electric buses

269. E-Bus Revolution – Edmonton is a national leader

Edmonton has quietly become a national leader in electric buses and is counting on these zero-emissions vehicles to reduce operating costs.

Alberta Screw Piles crew

268. Solar screw piles – How a boom in solar is diversifying the economy

Bryce Bernhard came to Alberta from Texas in 2010 with little more than a half-ton and a bag of tools. Today he is the CEO of Alberta Screw Piles a business booming thanks to a booming solar industry.

Raymond Cardinal's solar-powered cabin

267. Into the wild – solar is revolutionizing life at Raymond Cardinal’s cabin in Canada’s north

Solar is revolutionizing life for indigenous people at their remote cabins in Canada’s north. Join us as we take a tour of Raymond Cardinal’s solar-powered cabin out on the Peace-Athabasca Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest inland delta in North America.

Blue Eyes Simpson

266. Hello solar, goodbye gas generator – Indigenous solar cabins

Blue Eyes Simpson is just one of 20 Indigenous and Metis people of Fort Chipewyan getting a custom-designed off-grid solar system to replace gas generators at their remote cabins out on the Peace-Athabasca Delta in Canada’s North. 

Chief Allan Adam

265. Community-owned Indigenous Solar for Diesel in Canada’s North

Three Indigenous Nations in northern Canada joined forces to build a 2.2-megawatt solar project to replace 25 per cent of the local diesel-generated electricity. What’s more, it’s completely community-owned which contributes to energy sovereignty while creating local jobs and training. 

TerraView net-zero

264. TerraView builds net-zero ready and only net-zero ready homes

This Canadian home builder now builds only net-zero ready and net-zero homes and the best part is – the homes are selling like crazy!

Electrifi making the classics zero emissions

263. Electrifi – back to the future with a 2000 hp electric Corvette Stingray

How a 2000 horsepower 1963 Corvette Stingray, energy efficiency and wisdom fits into Norman Crowley’s recipe for cooling the planet and tackling and taming the scourge of climate change.

Norman Crowley

262. Norman Crowley: Capitalist fights climate change

Norman Crowley was blown away when he discovered businesses waste $1.2 trillion worth of energy per year – so he started Crowley Carbon to make and save millions of dollars. Climate Capitalism Part I

261. How a boring church lawn was transformed into a food forest

Kenton Zerbin took a large slopped Church lawn that was not used much, except for mowing and transformed it into a public food forest park. 

Kenton Zerbin - Tiny Home

260. Tiny Home Tour – Living large super efficiently

Permaculturalist Kenton Zerbin is living large in his super-efficient tiny home. Join us as we take a tour of this amazing tiny home with big features.

Kent Rathwell - Carbon Plunk Parks

259. Carbon Plunk – Going Beyond Carbon Negative

Kent Rathwell’s new big idea is to create Carbon Plunk Parks near cities to plunk carbon back into the Earth where it came from by planting trees and actively sequestering carbon. 

Charge it!

258. How Kent Rathwell created a zero-emissions birdseed company and the world’s longest green highway for EVs

They said it couldn’t be done, but Kent Rathwell created the first zero-emissions wild bird seed company and then created the longest green highway in the world where you could charge your electric vehicle for free.

Richard Zurawski

257. HalifACT 2050 – How Halifax got its climate plan and a goal of carbon neutrality

First came evidence-based decision making, then Halifax declared a climate emergency and now HalifACT 2050 is their plan to get to carbon neutrality by 2050.

Edmonton's Solar Skydome

256. Solar as art – Edmonton’s solar skydome

We’re calling it Edmonton’s Solar Skydome! It’s the largest architectural solar installation in Canada and one of the most beautiful. We tag along with Adam Yereniuk of Kuby Renewable Energy for a tour of this amazing project.