Charles Hua, founder of Powerlines and former US Department of Energy strategist, makes the case that America’s energy affordability crisis is a regulatory problem. With 80 million Americans struggling to pay their utility bills, and rates rising at the fastest pace in a generation, Charles points out the real power to control consumer prices resides with Public Utilities Commissioners, roughly 200 people he calls “The Supreme Court Justices of Energy.” This small group controls more than $200 billion a year in utility spending. This, all within a system designed almost a century ago.
Steph and Charles discuss why the grid runs at just 50% efficiency, how “capex bias” rewards utilities for building new infrastructure instead of optimizing what already exists, what the rise of data centers could mean for your power bill, and the inexpensive and solutions we could implement quickly if they get the greenlight from regulators. Whether you’re in climate tech, policy, or just nervous to open your electric bill lately, this episode will open up a world we don’t see or think about that often, happening behind every flip of a lightswitch.
Clean Energy Has to Outcompete Fossil Fuels (Not Cancel Them)
Aliya Haq has been involved in the environmental movement since she was eight years old, protesting an incinerator in her rural hometown. Over 25 years she’s led policy at Greenpeace, Breakthrough Energy, and now the Clean Economy Project. In this conversation, she tells Steph Speirs why the old playbook of “stop bad things” no longer meets the moment, and what it takes to actually build a clean economy fast enough to matter.
Aliya and Steph dig into the practical questions facing every climate tech founder and investor right now: Why does clean energy need policy to exist? How do permitting reform, transmission, and interconnection actually get unstuck? And how do companies navigate a moment where wealthy funders are backing away from climate, and federal policy feels like quicksand? It’s a candid and clearsighted conversation about what it means to shift from activist to builder–and why the economics of clean energy are already winning, if we let them.
“People are going to fly whether we like it or not.” Now what?
The aviation sector has an emissions problem. Convincing people to fly less won’t cut it: The answer is fundamentally reinventing the fuel itself. In this episode of Future in Bloom, host Steph Speirs sits down with Dr. Staff Sheehan, a computer scientist-turned-chemist and five-time entrepreneur, to unpack sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs).
Staff breaks down what’s blocking cheap, abundant, clean electricity. He shares how this problem led him to co-found his fifth company, a nuclear energy startup called Project Omega. He makes the case that nuclear is the safest, most space-efficient, and most reliable baseload energy source available, and that its bad reputation is largely driven by misinformation and resistance from the fossil fuel industry.
Along the way, Staff and Steph tackle greenwashing in aviation, the ethanol industry as a blueprint for SAF adoption, U.S. vs. EU policy approaches, the geopolitics of energy independence, the air quality crisis near airports, and why fossil fuel incumbents “play dirty” to maintain the status quo.
How One Person’s Impact Can Unlock Gigawatts of Energy
Matt Traldi, co-founder of Greenlight America, joins Steph Speirs to unpack the “hidden” political friction points stalling the U.S. energy transition. From the permitting bottleneck to why wind and solar are losing by forfeit in local council rooms, Matt breaks down how the next generation of energy is being held back by zoning laws rather than technology. Learn why showing up to a single Tuesday night hearing can have the same carbon impact as planting 4 million trees, and how Matt’s journey from labor unions and the Obama-era EPA led him to tackle the organizing gap in the clean energy revolution.
Why Most Grid Batteries Won’t Survive a Winter Storm
Arvin Ganesan, CEO of Fourth Power, joins Steph Speirs to unpack what’s really happening at the intersection of extreme heat, carbon blocks, and the future of long-duration energy storage. From the “25% demand surge” hitting the U.S. grid to why traditional lithium-ion isn’t enough for our wind and solar future, Arvin breaks down the massive technological friction points holding back the next generation of environmental giants.
Learn why the shift to decentralized power is making the grid more volatile and how a career spanning from the U.S. Senate and Obama-era EPA to Apple led Arvin to solve the “loneliness” of climate tech entrepreneurship.
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❓ Common Questions
What is long-duration energy storage (LDES)? It refers to systems that can store energy for 10+ hours to handle grid fluctuations when the sun isn’t shining.
How does Fourth Power’s technology work? It uses electricity to heat carbon blocks to extreme temperatures, which can then be converted back to power as needed.
Why is grid demand increasing so fast? The primary drivers are the massive energy needs of AI data centers, the transition to Electric Vehicles (EVs), and a resurgence in domestic manufacturing.
What are the biggest challenges for climate tech CEOs? Beyond the tech, it’s about managing investor trust and the emotional toll of leading a “hard tech” revolution.
The Hidden Barrier to America’s Clean Energy Future
Antoine Vagneur-Jones, Head of Trade & Supply Chains at Bloomberg NEF, joins Steph Speirs to unpack what’s really happening at the intersection of tariffs, critical minerals, and the clean energy transition. From the “3x price gap” hitting U.S. solar modules to why the “New Oil” narrative is questionable, Antoine breaks down the massive geopolitical friction points holding back the next generation of environmental giants.
Learn why blanket tariffs might be hurting domestic manufacturers more than protecting them and how the global battle for lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements is redefining the “Valley of Death” for clean tech startups.
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Common Questions
Are critical minerals actually as scarce as oil?
Unlike oil, which is burned and lost, minerals like lithium are part of a hardware-based system and can be recycled, meaning we don’t face the same “scarcity” in the ground.
Why are solar panels more expensive in the U.S.?
Due to a “wall of tariffs,” solar module prices in the U.S. are approximately three times higher than the rest of the world.
Does the U.S. rely on China for refining?
Yes. China currently controls approximately 60% of lithium refining capacity and 85% of rare earth mineral processing.
How long does it take to move a clean tech factory?
While battery plants are complex, a solar module assembly facility can be relocated to a new geography in roughly six months to avoid trade barriers.
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#cleanenergy #tradewar #sustainability #climatetech #geopolitics #greenenergy
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Future in Bloom bridges climate tech and human nature. Hosted by clean energy entrepreneur Steph Speirs, Future in Bloom brings together innovators, scientists, and investors working on the world’s most promising planetary solutions.
Adapted from the Yale School of Management course “Climate Tech Innovation and Commercialization,” learners discover next generation technologies through data-driven lectures, deep dive studio interviews, and vivid short documentaries. Future in Bloom is here to show that a thriving future is within reach.
Future in Bloom is supported by the Yale Center for Business and the Environment.
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About Me:
Steph Speirs is a clean energy entrepreneur, strategic advisor, and teacher. She founded Future in Bloom, a media studio about intelligent solutions for a thriving world. Steph teaches climate entrepreneurship at Yale School of Management and is a Resident Fellow at the Center for Business and the Environment. She keynotes and advises philanthropists, investors, and companies on the future of climate tech and clean energy. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Sierra Club Foundation, Vote Solar, and on the Credit Committee of the Community Investment Guarantee Pool. Steph most recently cofounded and was CEO of Solstice, an enterprise dedicated to radically expanding the number of American households that can take advantage of clean energy using community-shared solar farms (acquired by MyPower/Mitsui). Steph previously worked at the White House National Security Council and in clean energy companies in India and Pakistan.
How AI Slashes Clean Energy R&D by Decades W/ Lisbeth Kaufman
Lisbeth Kaufman, AWS Head of Climate Tech Startups and former founder, joins Steph Speirs to discuss how the world’s largest cloud provider is accelerating the next generation of environmental giants. From “building a star on Earth” with fusion energy to AI-powered robots eliminating pesticides, Elizabeth breaks down the massive $7 billion resource engine helping startups scale past the “Valley of Death.” Learn why big tech is the secret weapon for 24/7 clean energy and how generative AI is slashing R&D timelines from 40 years to just 10.
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📧 Subscribe to Our Substack: https://substack.com/@futureinbloom
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#ClimateTech #Sustainability #ArtificialIntelligence #CleanEnergy #Startups #FutureInBloom
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Future in Bloom bridges climate tech and human nature. Hosted by clean energy entrepreneur Steph Speirs, Future in Bloom brings together innovators, scientists, and investors working on the world’s most promising planetary solutions.
Adapted from the Yale School of Management course “Climate Tech Innovation and Commercialization,” learners discover next generation technologies through data-driven lectures, deep dive studio interviews, and vivid short documentaries. Future in Bloom is here to show that a thriving future is within reach.
Future in Bloom is supported by the Yale Center for Business and the Environment.
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About Me:
Steph Speirs is a clean energy entrepreneur, strategic advisor, and teacher. She founded Future in Bloom, a media studio about intelligent solutions for a thriving world. Steph teaches climate entrepreneurship at Yale School of Management and is a Resident Fellow at the Center for Business and the Environment. She keynotes and advises philanthropists, investors, and companies on the future of climate tech and clean energy. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Sierra Club Foundation, Vote Solar, and on the Credit Committee of the Community Investment Guarantee Pool. Steph most recently cofounded and was CEO of Solstice, an enterprise dedicated to radically expanding the number of American households that can take advantage of clean energy using community-shared solar farms (acquired by MyPower/Mitsui). Steph previously worked at the White House National Security Council and in clean energy companies in India and Pakistan.
Navigating the Climate Tech Capital Stack & The Future of VC | Sophie Purdom
The “Green Premium” is officially dead. If you think a great invention is enough to save the planet—and a business—think again. In this eye-opening breakdown, Sophie Purdom (General Partner at Planeteer Capital) pulls back the curtain on the brutal reality of climate tech. While there’s an $82 billion “gold mine” of dry powder waiting, most founders are looking in the wrong places.
Whether you’re curious about how the world’s biggest industries (Energy, Food, and Transport) are being rebuilt or you want to know why your favorite “eco-friendly” startup might vanish tomorrow, Sophie provides the unfiltered truth on what it actually takes to win the climate war.
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Common Questions
Why are climate tech startups failing? Many rely on a “green premium” (charging more for being eco-friendly), which fails in a tough economy. Success now requires being cheaper or better than the “dirty” alternative.
Is there still money for new climate companies? Yes, but the “dry powder” is concentrated. Investors are pivoting away from pure software toward “hardware-enabled” solutions that solve real-world industrial problems.
How is AI affecting climate change? AI requires massive amounts of energy for data centers (the “Hungry Hippo”), creating a massive challenge—and opportunity—for the energy grid.
What is the best way to get involved in climate tech? According to Sophie, the world needs more builders and founders in heavy industry and risk mitigation rather than more venture capitalists.
Investing in Clean Energy Innovation Keynote | Yale Clean Energy Conference
In this keynote panel from the Yale Clean Energy Conference, we go beyond the surface of “green tech” to discuss the brutal realities of financing the energy transition. As policy support for clean energy wavers in America, we share how we navigate the shift from software-enabled “asset-light” technologies to the capital-intensive infrastructure needed to transform global industry.
We explore why the human side of venture capital is often more important than the technology itself , and how the next era of climate tech—Climate Tech 3.0—is being shaped by national security, industrial policy, and the massive power demands of AI.
The Policy Exposure: We explain why we believe there is no way to invest in clean energy at scale without taking a specific policy point of view.
Management Over Math: We discuss why we look for agile management teams that can “roll with the punches” as the best way to de-risk a business.
The AI Opportunity: We explore how AI load growth is making grid optimization and behind-the-meter solutions more valuable than they have ever been.
Climate Tech 3.0: We define the next era where costs are falling, but technologies must have freestanding economics with minimal reliance on subsidies.
Breaking In: We offer candid advice for students, emphasizing specificity and the importance of building trust in a tough market.
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About this podcast:
Recorded at the Yale Clean Energy Conference on November 6-7, 2025, this keynote features our panel: Amy Duffuor (Azola Ventures) , Terry Kellogg (Helios Climate Ventures) , and Rakesh Shankar (Antin Infrastructure Partners). We provide a masterclass on the “funder mindset,” detailing how we move capital from university labs to the massive infrastructure projects that define our climate future.
Dawn Owens, Fervo Energy’s Head of Project Development and Commercial Markets and VP, sits down with Steph Speirs to discuss enhanced geothermal energy. Enhanced geothermal is a 24/7 clean energy solution that’s rapidly becoming cheaper than fossil fuels and can provide stable power to the grid without raising your electricity bill. Dawn breaks down the biggest myths, from induced earthquakes to water contamination, and shares the vision for a world with clean air and affordable power.
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Common Questions
How does Fervo’s technology avoid induced seismicity (man-made earthquakes)?
Is enhanced geothermal like fracking, and how does it prevent water contamination?
How can geothermal meet the massive, growing energy demand of AI and data centers?
Why is geothermal important for achieving 24/7 clean energy?
How is the geothermal industry providing a “just transition” for oil and gas workers?
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#geothermalenergy #fervoenergy #cleanenergy #aienergy #climatetech #deeptech
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Future in Bloom bridges climate tech and human nature. Hosted by clean energy entrepreneur Steph Speirs, Future in Bloom brings together innovators, scientists, and investors working on the world’s most promising planetary solutions.
Adapted from the Yale School of Management course “Climate Tech Innovation and Commercialization,” learners discover next generation technologies through data-driven lectures, deep dive studio interviews, and vivid short documentaries. Future in Bloom is here to show that a thriving future is within reach.
Future in Bloom is supported by the Yale Center for Business and the Environment.
—
About Me:
Steph Speirs is a clean energy entrepreneur, strategic advisor, and teacher. She founded Future in Bloom, a media studio about intelligent solutions for a thriving world. Steph teaches climate entrepreneurship at Yale School of Management and is a Resident Fellow at the Center for Business and the Environment. She keynotes and advises philanthropists, investors, and companies on the future of climate tech and clean energy. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Sierra Club Foundation, Vote Solar, and on the Credit Committee of the Community Investment Guarantee Pool. Steph most recently cofounded and was CEO of Solstice, an enterprise dedicated to radically expanding the number of American households that can take advantage of clean energy using community-shared solar farms (acquired by MyPower/Mitsui). Steph previously worked at the White House National Security Council and in clean energy companies in India and Pakistan.