#EP327 What if we could remove a trillion tons of CO2 from the atmosphere for $2 billion a year?

Peter Fiekowsky, author of "Climate Restoration" and founder of the Foundation for Climate Restoration, returns to The Clean Power Hour with a solution most people have never heard of: localized ocean iron fertilization. An astrophysicist and semiconductor entrepreneur by training, Peter has spent over a decade researching methods to restore atmospheric CO2 to pre-industrial levels of 300 ppm. His work has taken him from the Vatican to the White House, and he now leads a growing movement to fund and deploy this proven natural process.

KEY DISCUSSION POINTS:

• Why the energy transition alone will not prevent 450 ppm by 2050
• Localized ocean iron fertilization targets only 1% of the ocean using downwelling eddies
• The Mt. Pinatubo volcanic eruption in 1991 caused global CO2 to flatline for two years
• Total cost: $1-2 billion per year (one penny per American per day)
• This approach removes 1,000 to 10,000 times more carbon than traditional ocean fertilization methods
• Robotic ships could distribute iron pellets without crew costs
• The Foundation's "million sponsor" campaign aims to demonstrate public demand for climate restoration

The wind, solar, and battery industries are doing essential work to eliminate 50 gigatons of annual emissions. That fight must continue. But stopping the bleeding is not the same as healing the wound. Peter Fiekowsky's research shows that nature has already solved this problem dozens of times through the Ice Age cycle. The question is whether humanity will choose to replicate what works. For the cost of a penny a day per American, we have the option to return atmospheric CO2 to safe levels within 25 years. The technology exists. The funding is achievable. The only missing ingredient is the collective decision to do it.

Join the Movement: Be one of the million sponsors helping to restore CO2 to safe levels by 2050.

Donate now: https://foundationforclimaterestoration.org/donate/

Connect with Peter Fiekowsky

Website: www.peterfiekowsky.com/

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/pfiekowsky/

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The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com

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The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

#EP326 Happy Holidays! Today on the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague breaks down his top 5 episodes of 2025, featuring conversations that shaped how we think about solar, storage, virtual power plants, microgrids, and AI. From Jigar Shah's call for the industry to become a political force to Spark AI's permitting breakthroughs, these episodes capture where clean energy is headed.

Key Episodes Covered:

Episode 304 - Jigar Shah

• 85% of new grid capacity will be solar, wind, and batteries
• Fossil fuels outspend clean energy 10:1 on political lobbying
• VPPs could shift 20% of peak load by 2030
• 20% of Americans struggle to afford their electricity bills

Episode 274 - Ryan Mayfield and Jayson Smith

• CPS America's Gonzo containerized battery (125-256 kWh)
• 20-millisecond switchover for grid-forming capability
• Daisy chain up to 12 units for megawatt-scale deployments
• 60% of CPS workforce dedicated to service

Episode 307 - Peter Kelly-Detwiler

• 1,500 MW of data center load disconnected in Virginia incident
• PJM capacity prices jumped from $30 to $329 per MW-day
• California VPPs dispatched 535 MW from 100,000 homes

Episode 310 - Jeff St. John (Canary Media)

• 93% of new U.S. grid additions were solar, batteries, and wind
• Texas ERCOT grid now 50% solar, wind, and batteries
• California VPPs show 2:1 cost-benefit ratio
• Texas allocated $1.8B for microgrids after Winter Storm Uri

Episode 322 - Julia Wu and Anuj Saigal (Spark AI)

• Platform compresses 4-10 hours of research to seconds
• Standard Solar reduced acquisition diligence from months to one week
• Three core use cases: site selection, regulatory monitoring, acquisition due diligence

Bonus: Episode 296 - Mark Palmer (Conductor Solar)

• Most listened to and shared episode on Spotify
• Covers PPAs, project finance, and tax credit swapping
• Discusses tariffs, supply chain pressures, and state policy importance

Episodes Mentioned
Ep 304 - https://youtu.be/lGv6NoDlf70
Ep 274 - https://youtu.be/QxLIzBSM-lQ
Ep 307 - https://youtu.be/apMrWUz7TV8
Ep 310 - https://youtu.be/76PDeZ7ZGps
Ep 322 - https://youtu.be/B3t0cpvTT-Y
Ep 296 - https://youtu.be/aj_zNnpAUk8

Support the show

Connect with Tim

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The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com

Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

#EP325 Home battery storage sits at less than 1% market penetration in America. The solar industry spent years focused on small urban systems while whole-home backup solutions remained out of reach for most homeowners.

Tim Montague sits down with James Showalter, founder and CEO of EG4 Electronics, to discuss whole-home backup solutions that provide true energy independence. James shares his journey from installing off-grid systems at age 15 to building one of America's fastest-growing solar and battery companies.

EG4 Electronics is a premier solar manufacturer based in Texas, dedicated to delivering high-quality, affordable, and reliable energy solutions. EG4 is committed to empowering homes and businesses with energy independence.

KEY DISCUSSION POINTS:

• Battery storage adoption remains below 1% of American homes, with James predicting a majority will have batteries in his lifetime, as costs decline and whole-home solutions become viable across broader geographic markets
• Industry concentration on small urban residential systems left whole-home backup opportunities underserved in suburban and rural markets
• EG4's product strategy offers installers a choice between different battery configurations, letting them select the right solution for each customer's needs and budget constraints
• Whole home backup requires different economics than partial backup systems popular in dense urban areas, driving EG4's focus on affordability and power capacity for homes with higher energy loads
• Partnership approach with LG Energy Solutions provides one path for installers needing domestic content compliance, while maintaining imported options for projects where upfront cost determines feasibility

The residential battery market hasn't scratched the surface. Current adoption sits below 1%. The solar industry concentrated on one narrow segment while whole-home storage opportunities in broader markets went largely unaddressed. EG4's approach focuses on those overlooked opportunities.

Connect with James Showalter, EG4

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-showalter-9a0599156/

Website: https://eg4electronics.com/

Support the show

Connect with Tim

Clean Power Hour
Clean Power Hour on YouTube
Tim on Twitter
Tim on LinkedIn

Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com

Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts

The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com

Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com