Factor This

This Week in Cleantech (04/24/2026) - Why the effects on the Iran conflict will be felt on the US grid

Factor This

Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.

0:00 | 18:20

Tell us what you think of the show!

This Week in Cleantech is a weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in clean energy and climate featuring Paul Gerke of Factor This and Tigercomm’s Mike Casey.

This week's episode features special guest Bianca Giacobone of Latitude Media, who discussed how Iran's strikes on aluminum smelters in the UAE and Bahrain last month pushed prices up 11% to their highest level since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. 

This week’s “Cleantecher of the Week” is Michael Chanin, CEO of Cherry Street Energy. Through Shine On, Cherry Street’s Solar School partnership with the nsoro Foundation, they prepare young adults aging out of Georgia’s foster care system for careers in power infrastructure. He highlights Emmanuel, who recently transitioned out of foster care and now helps build and maintain solar at Delta Air Lines’ rooftop at Hartsfield-Jackson.

This Week in Cleantech — April 24, 2026 

  1. Swedish Green Steel Startup Stegra Gets $1.65 Billion Funding to Complete New Plant – The Wall Street Journal
  2. Data centers’ mad dash for the Texas grid – POLITICO
  3. Renewable energies overtook global electricity demand last year, led by solar growth in China, India – The Associated Press
  4. Why the U.S. Is Such an Outlier on EVs – The Wall Street Journal
  5. Why the US grid will end up paying for Iran’s aluminum strikes – Latitude Media

Want to make a suggestion for This Week in Cleantech? Nominate the stories that caught your eye each week by emailing  Paul.Gerke@clarionevents.com