Best Ag Engineering Podcasts (2025)

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From Wood Chips to Mulch: A Conversation on Lignocellulose Film with Aidan Williams 25:40

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17h ago25:40

25:40

In this episode we’re diving into a type of mulch you may not have heard much about—lignocellulose film (LCF). Joining me is Aidan Williams, who has been researching this bio-based biodegradable mulch made from renewable woody biomass. Aidan shares her journey into agroecology, how LCF is produced, and why it could be a promising alternative to pla…

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Is now the time for DERs to scale? 41:01

6d ago41:01

41:01

A decade ago, DERs were hot. The hype was that things like batteries, smart devices, and other distributed energy technologies would offset the need for expanding traditional grid infrastructure. But DERs never took off, at least not at the scale that many hoped for. They had high price tags and short track records compared to the existing substati…

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Defending the Human Body in an Engineered Age, feat. Annelise Barron 1:20:57

7d ago1:20:57

1:20:57

Annelise E. Barron is the W.M. Keck Associate Professor of Bioengineering at Stanford University. Her lab focuses on human host defense peptides (antimicrobial peptides), particularly LL-37, studying their biophysics, mechanisms of infection defense, and roles in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. The group also develops biostable peptoid mimics …

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Engineering Autonomy: John Deere’s AI-Powered Tractors at Work 14:50

7d ago14:50

14:50

Aaron Wells, Director of Engineering & Autonomy at Blue River Technology, a John Deere company, discusses the evolution of agricultural machinery—from traditional horsepower to advanced hardware and artificial intelligence. He explains how John Deere’s next-generation perception system, known as the “eyes and brain” of autonomous tractors, is trans…

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Rosa Fragomeni & Mathilde Tremblay from the Student Association for Geography and Environment 48:15

7d ago48:15

48:15

Take a break we’re on Smoko! This week we’re joined by Rosa and Mathilde, co-presidents of the Student Association for Geography, Geomatics, and the Environment (SAGE). Together, they share their passion for environmental science, their leadership journeys, and the transformative impact of building a thriving student community focused on sustainabi…

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Mushrooms, Veggies, Meat and More! From Farmers Market to on Farm Cider House at 1000 Stone Farm: EP33 1:34:24

8d ago1:34:24

1:34:24

Text me a message! Today’s Episode comes to you from Brookfield Vermont where we visit with Kyle Dodda and Betsy Simpson of 1000 Stone Farm. They’ve got many balls in the air with a wide range of crops from veggies to perennial fruit, eggs and meat, hard cider and a restaurant. They sell retail out of a farmstore, wholesale, CSA & go to a farmers m…

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How Charlie Kirk Inspired a Generational Movement, feat. Chandler Crump 34:20

12d ago34:20

34:20

Chandler Crump is a 20-year-old Gen Z commentator, artist, and activist whose political journey began at age 14 when he attended Turning Point USA’s Young Black Leadership Summit. At that event, TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk told him that he was his “No. 1 fan,” and that it didn’t matter how young he was, that he could still stand and fight for his be…

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When to colocate data centers with generation 36:32

12d ago36:32

36:32

The idea of colocating data centers with behind-the-meter generation is picking up steam, including large projects in Memphis, Texas, and Utah developing significant on-site capacity, mostly from combined-cycle gas plants. The main argument is speed to power. Building your own generation allows data centers to sidestep the challenges involved in gr…

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Telling Stories Nobody Else in Hollywood Will Touch, feat. Alex Lee Moyer 57:59

14d ago57:59

57:59

Alex Lee Moyer is a filmmaker, director, and editor best known for probing contemporary subcultures and difficult cultural topics. She started her creative career editing music videos and documentaries, including The New Radical (2017), and gained acclaim for her directorial debut TFW NO GF (2020), a documentary examining the lives of young men imm…

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Lindsay Reynolds: Civil Engineer, Women in construction advocate and Host of She Wears Work Boots Podcast 46:26

14d ago46:26

46:26

Take a break, we’re on Smoko! We’re joined by the multi-talented Lindsay Reynolds, the founding president of Hancock & MacArthur, and the host of the She Wears Work Boots podcast. From her early days studying civil engineering to finding her passion on active construction sites, Lindsay shares candid reflections on overcoming the fear of failure, …

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AMA: Geoengineering, nuclear, power prices, and more 42:06

20d ago42:06

42:06

You sent in great questions, and today we’re answering them. In this episode, Shayle hands it over to Lara Pierpoint, the managing director of Trellis Climate at the Prime Coalition and host of The Green Blueprint. Together they cover topics like: Whether solar radiation management will remain the “black sheep” of climate technologies What technolo…

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Clear Thinking and Changing How We Speak to One Another, feat. Kaizen Asiedu 1:13:06

21d ago1:13:06

1:13:06

Kaizen Asiedu is a Harvard Philosophy graduate, Emmy Award winner, and cultural commentator with 800,000+ followers across social platforms. Publicly endorsed by Elon Musk as a “clear thinker,” Kaizen walked away from his Emmy-winning career at Riot Games—where he helped architect League of Legends’ competitive formats and global esports policies—t…

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Emma Priestner: Welder, Technical Education Specialist at CWB Welding Foundation and founder of Hashiriya Ladies 40:12

21d ago40:12

40:12

Take a break, we’re on Smoko! We’re joined by Emma Priestner, a Technical Education Specialist with the Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB) Foundation and a driving force behind transformative initiatives like the Women of Steel program. Emma shares her inspiring journey, from her first welding certification experience at a Women of Steel workshop to bec…

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The mechanics of data center flexibility 36:07

27d ago36:07

36:07

Adding flexibility to data center loads could ease strain on the grid and reduce the need for costly new generation. And, according to one study, shaving off just a few megawatts during peak hours could also unlock unused capacity —as many as 98 gigawatts in the U.S — if those facilities reduced load by just 0.5% each year. The problem: data center…

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The Lawsuit That Could Reshape Vaccine Injury Accountability Forever, feat. Deb Conrad 1:03:37

28d ago1:03:37

1:03:37

Deborah A. Conrad is a physician assistant from Rochester, NY, who was dismissed from United Memorial Medical Center (Rochester Regional Health) in October 2021 after fulfilling her legal duty to report COVID-19 vaccine adverse events to VAERS. She has filed a landmark False Claims Act lawsuit against her former employer, challenging institutional …

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Carly Steiman: Electrician, Owner of Lady Electric, and Founder of Workbee 57:05

28d ago57:05

57:05

Take a break, we’re on Smoko! This week we sit down with Carly Steiman, an entrepreneur and a licensed electrician with nearly 20 years of experience, eight which operating her residential electrical business Lady Electric. Carly specializes in lighting consulting and smaller scale jobs. Carly shares her story of discovering her passion for electri…

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Microbial Innovation Meets Gene Editing: New Biological Solutions for Agriculture 13:56

28d ago13:56

13:56

Tom Williams, Director of Microbiology at BioConsortia, discusses how beneficial microbes are driving more sustainable agriculture by boosting nutrient availability, soil health, and crop performance. He shares how BioConsortia’s advanced microbial discovery platform and gene editing technologies are unlocking new opportunities for plant health and…

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The Green Blueprint: Terrawatt Infrastructure’s billion-dollar strategy 35:45

1M ago35:45

35:45

Editor's note: With the Trump administration's efforts to roll back California's electric trucking rules, there's new attention on heavy duty transport right now. So we're bringing you a deep dive into the industry, an episode of The Green Blueprint on Terawatt Infrastructure's $1 billion strategy to build charging depots. In 2021, Neha Palmer co-f…

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What’s in Your Seafood: Clean Water and Honest Fishing, feat. Miles Wallace 1:21:31

1M ago1:21:31

1:21:31

Miles Wallace is a first-generation fisherman who has dedicated his life to sustainably diving and fishing off the California coast. The ocean is more than his livelihood — it is where he now raises his family and where he finds his deepest sense of purpose. From the kelp forests of the Channel Islands to the rugged drop-offs of the Pacific, Miles …

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Beyond Plastic: Dr. Shuresh Ghimire on Extension Partnerships, IPM, Hemp, and Smarter Mulching Solutions 38:24

1M ago38:24

38:24

In this episode of Mulch Matters, we welcome Dr. Shuresh Ghimire, Associate Extension Educator and IPM Specialist at the University of Connecticut. From his roots on a small farm in Nepal to leading integrated pest management programs in the USA, Shuresh shares his journey, expertise, and insights into sustainable agriculture. The conversation dive…

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Marg Latham: Engineering Consultant & Chair for the Canadian Centre for Women in Science, Engineering, Trades and Technology (WinSETT) 52:24

1M ago52:24

52:24

Take a break, we’re on Smoko. This week, we sit down with Marg Latham, an influential leader in engineering, project management, and mentorship. With an impressive career spanning decades Marg has not only excelled in technical expertise but has also been a driving force in fostering inclusion and diversity in STEM. Marg Latham, P.Eng., was the onl…

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The case for sodium-ion 45:36

1M ago45:36

45:36

Our first episode covering sodium-ion batteries featured a cautious take on the chemistry: Back in February Adrian Yao, founder of Stanford’s STEER program, explained the challenges of reaching competitive energy density and costs, especially given the falling price of LFP. Still, sodium-ion chemistries are picking up steam, thanks largely to growi…

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Defeating Medical Mandates and Defending Health Freedom, feat. Leslie Manookian 1:04:39

1M ago1:04:39

1:04:39

Leslie Manookian is the president and founder of Health Freedom Defense Fund, a nonprofit which seeks to rectify health injustice through education, advocacy, and legal challenges to unjust mandates, laws, and policies that undermine our health freedoms and human rights. She is a former successful Wall Street business executive and award-winning do…

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New Center, New Frontier: Tim Kelliher Leads NC State’s Genome Editing Mission 19:56

1M ago19:56

19:56

Newly appointed Director of NC State’s Genome Editing Center (GEC), Tim Kelliher, shares his unique path from organic farming to the forefront of plant science. He explains how advances in genome editing offer a faster, more precise alternative to traditional breeding—delivering vital solutions for farmers in as little as 5–8 years. Get an inside l…

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Lindsay Lashley: Senior Project Manager, Rail Engineer, and Board Member of Black Engineers of Canada 55:36

1M ago55:36

55:36

Take a break, we’re on Smoko. We’re thrilled to be joined by Lindsay Lashley, ancivil engineer and concrete materials specialist involved in Canada’s rail and transportation sectors. Lindsay has made remarkable contributions to high-frequency rail projects, demonstrating both technical expertise and a commitment to driving positive change in her fi…

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Explaining the ‘Watt-Bit Spread’ 42:01

2M ago42:01

42:01

Editor’s note: The uncertainties of data center construction — like when, where, and how much to build — are as pressing as ever. So we’re revisiting a conversation with Brian Janous, co-founder and chief commercial officer at data center developer Cloverleaf Infrastructure. In this episode, he explains his theory of the ‘Watt-Bit Spread’, which of…

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Caeley Looney: Forbes 30 under 30, Aerospace Engineer and Founder at Reinvented Inc 46:38

2M ago46:38

46:38

Take a break, we’re on Smoko. We sit down with Caeley Looney an aerospace and space systems engineer and passionate advocate for diversity in STEM fields. With an enthusiasm for both engineering and outreach, Caeley has dedicated her career not only to advancing aerospace technology but also to breaking barriers and creating space for more women an…

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Enjoying Retirement While Still Living on the Farm with Dave Pierson of Pierson Farm: EP32 1:08:10

2M ago1:08:10

1:08:10

Text me a message! Today’s Episode comes to you from Bradford Vermont where we visit with David Pierson of Pierson Farm. After 42 years of running a mixed vegetable farm to supply a roadside farm stand, with 3 acres of strawberries being one of the big draws, he was able to retire, leasing the farm to a long time employee Dan. We start off the epis…

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PJM and the capacity crunch 31:43

2M ago31:43

31:43

The PJM capacity auction this month broke records with sky-high wholesale power prices — and that was by design. Under PJM’s auction rules, tight supply raises prices, incentivizing the development of new generation and encouraging existing generation to stay online. The big driver of that tight supply? Data-center driven load growth. The independe…

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Bananas, Biotech, and Beyond: Gene Editing with Tropic 22:17

2M ago22:17

22:17

Dr. Eyal Maori, co-founder of Tropic, is using advanced gene editing technologies to revolutionize tropical crops such as bananas, rice, and coffee. The conversation explores how Tropic developed proprietary tools like Agrotrop and GEiGS to overcome the unique challenges of editing tropical crops. Dr. Maori also highlights Tropic’s work on non-brow…

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Repurposing EV batteries for grid storage 27:35

2M ago27:35

27:35

The job of an EV battery is unforgiving. If its performance slips too far — say, lost acceleration or range — it's probably off to the recycling heap. That’s even though it may have plenty of usable life, if only for something less demanding than powering a vehicle. Grid storage is theoretically a gentler job, involving slower discharging and more …

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Five big questions emerging from the OBBB 44:19

2M ago44:19

44:19

The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) complicates things. Together with a related executive order, it dismantled key parts of the Inflation Reduction Act, while also injecting uncertainty into tax credit eligibility. The uncertainty in particular throws a wrench into project planning and leaves big questions about the impact across climate tech. So wha…

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History and Future of Sustainable Plasticulture in CA with Jazmine Mejia-Muñoz 42:01

2M ago42:01

42:01

In this episode of Mulch Matters, we speak with Jazmine Mejia-Muñoz, Water Quality Program Manager at the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation, about the intersection of agriculture, conservation, and plastic use in California’s iconic Monterey Bay region. Together, we explore the deep-rooted history of plasticulture, the evolving role of biodegr…

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CRISPR, Then and Now: A 2025 Update with Rodolphe Barrangou 31:11

2M ago31:11

31:11

Genome editing pioneer Dr. Rodolphe Barrangou returns to AgTech 360 to share how CRISPR has advanced and expanded since his last appearance in 2021, transforming from a breakthrough technology into a global force across medicine, agriculture, and beyond. From scientific breakthroughs to real-world applications, he highlights how genome editing is r…

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#30 Wie gelingt interdisziplinäre Zusammenarbeit? Das Beispiel Fassadenplanung 1:01:53

2M ago1:01:53

1:01:53

„Gute Kommunikation ist der Grundstein für eine gute Zusammenarbeit“, erklärt unser Kollege Martin Groß in der neuesten Ausgabe unseres Podcast…By Werner Sobek AG

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Tumult in residential solar 34:34

3M ago34:34

34:34

Residential solar has had a rough couple of years. In 2024, the market contracted 31% and major companies like Sunpower and Titan went bankrupt. Now, only halfway through 2025, Sunnova and Mosaic have filed for bankruptcy, too. The market has suffered from low demand, high interest rates, and major policy changes like California’s cuts to net meter…

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Increasing Acreage & Narrowing the Crop Mix with John Hirsch at Clearfield Farm: EP31 1:47:50

3M ago1:47:50

1:47:50

Text me a message! Today’s episode comes from Granville Vermont where we visit with John Hirsch of Clearfield Farm. With over 10 years under his belt he’s refined his farm business to be lean on labor and focused in scope as his primary crops are wholesale carrots and potatoes. He’s also excited to be getting into grain and doing more intensive rot…

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Fresh intel from state utility regulatory filings 36:34

3M ago36:34

36:34

You’ve probably heard about Nat Bullard’s massive decarbonization slide decks, filled with charts and insights into decarbonization drawn from climate and energy data. This time he's waded through piles of utility regulatory filings — countless PDFs that hint at the inner workings of utilities and large customers — to find clues about everything fr…

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Mid-Year Mashup: A Look Back at Some of My Favorite Conversations This Year 1:07:08

3M ago1:07:08

1:07:08

A few of my favorite conversations from the first half of 2025. Featured guests include Dr. Joseph Ladapo, Dane Wigington, Joe Allen, Wesley Huff, Chloe Cole, and the Flynn Family. ----- With gratitude to our sponsors: RA Optics ⁠⁠https://raoptics.com/bttp⁠⁠ Use Code: Nicole ----- Backyard Butchers Go to ⁠⁠https://www.backyardbutchers.com/pages/nic…

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GM's big new battery tech push 36:35

3M ago36:35

36:35

Lithium-manganese-rich (LMR) batteries could offer a rare combination in energy storage: high energy density at lower costs. They swap much of the expensive nickel for abundant, affordable manganese. But technical hurdles — like poor cycle life, voltage decay, and long formation time — kept them on the sidelines. Now GM says it’s solved these chall…

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Regenerative Ag: Farming the Way Nature Intended, feat. Cynthia Daley 1:26:34

3M ago1:26:34

1:26:34

Cynthia Daley is a professor within the College of Agriculture at California State University, Chico, and serves as the Director for the Center for Regenerative Agriculture & Resilient Systems. Cynthia is originally from Illinois, where her family has been actively engaged in the farming profession for more than four generations. She completed her …

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The story of steam 32:06

3M ago32:06

32:06

Addison Stark thinks waste heat is a waste of time. The real opportunity, he argues, is decarbonizing industrial steam, which accounts for roughly 30% of industrial heat in the U.S. But doing that means deploying alternatives to the fossil fuel boilers industry currently relies on. So how do you clean up steam? And why does Addison think waste heat…

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Glyphosate, GMOs, and Growing Food Sustainably, feat. Chuck Benbrook 1:00:23

3M ago1:00:23

1:00:23

Charles “Chuck” Benbrook is an agricultural economist known for advocating organic farming and researching the health and environmental impacts of agriculture. He holds degrees from Harvard and the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has worked in government, academia, and nonprofit organizations. Formerly a research professor at Washington State U…

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From Washington to China: Lessons in Strawberry Production and Sustainable Ag with Dr. Carol Miles 27:19

3M ago27:19

27:19

In this episode of Mulch Matters, we are joined by Dr. Carol Miles from Washington State University, for a compelling conversation about her recent trip to China to attend the International Strawberry Symposium. Our discussion offers a fascinating window into the contrasts and connections between Chinese and U.S. agricultural practices, particularl…

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The state of play of data center development 36:24

3M ago36:24

36:24

The future of the grid increasingly hinges on where and how data centers get built. To forecast the kind of power infrastructure we need to meet AI’s growing appetite, we first need to understand a laundry list of variables: data center size, workload type, latency, reliability — even the variety of a data center’s coolant system. So what’s the sta…

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“Jews for Jesus” and Messianic Judaism, feat. Susan Perlman 1:28:55

3M ago1:28:55

1:28:55

Susan Perlman is one of the founders of Jews for Jesus. She came to faith in Jesus in 1971, initially believing she was the only Jew in the world with such a belief. In 1973, she joined the newly formed Jews for Jesus group in California. Susan currently serves as Chief Partnership Officer, leading the organization’s partnerships with mission agenc…

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The gas turbine crunch 39:04

4M ago39:04

39:04

Demand for turbines is growing fast, but so are lead times — causing serious headaches for developers. In Texas, one of six projects that pulled proposals from consideration for a valuable financing program cited “equipment procurement constraints” as the reasons for its withdrawal. Lead times are stretching to four years and sometimes more. Costs …

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UFOs, Phoenix Lights, and the Men In Black, feat. Patrick James 1:09:05

4M ago1:09:05

1:09:05

Patrick James is a documentary filmmaker, content creator, and host of the YouTube channel "So Weird with Patrick James," where he explores and analyzes conspiracy theories, ancient mysteries, and unexplained phenomena. His channel has garnered millions of views, with popular videos focusing on topics such as the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Sphinx, …

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Old Tractors with New Tools, New Barn & Commercial Kitchen at Four Corners Farm with Trip Shaw: EP30 58:04

4M ago58:04

58:04

Text me a message! Today’s episode comes to you from Worthington Massachusetts where we visit with Trip Shaw of Four Corners Farm. He’s been growing over 16 years and produces over 8 acres of mixed vegetables for his newly built farmstand. We start off the episodes in this new farm building which has a front porch, farmstand, wash/pack space, walk-…

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How geothermal gets built 32:01

4M ago32:01

32:01

Geothermal seems to be nearing an inflection point. With rising load growth, clean, firm power is more valuable than ever. Next-gen geothermal players like Fervo Energy and Sage Geosystems are signing PPAs with major tech firms. Even U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright — a known critic of renewables — has praised the potential of geothermal. The …