Most Americans want more clean energy, but climate change still ranks near the bottom of their political priorities. How does the renewable energy industry bridge that gap? In this episode of Suncast, Nico Johnson sits down with Sammy Roth, a leading climate and energy journalist who recently launched the independent newsletter Climate Colored Goggles after a long tenure at the LA Times. Sammy unpacks the critical difference between communicating energy policy and shaping climate culture. We discuss the alarming messaging failures following the Inflation Reduction Act , the media's changing stance on climate initiatives , and why the clean energy sector desperately needs a long-term branding strategy to rival the oil and gas industry's "American as apple pie" playbook. 🔔 Subscribe to Suncast for more insights from energy leaders! 🔗 Links Mentioned in this Episode: Timestamps: 00:00 - The gap between climate beliefs and political priorities 01:06 - Sammy Roth: Speaking both "energy" and "climate" 03:46 - Sammy’s massive media diet and how he stays informed 04:31 - Launching Climate Colored Goggles to connect climate and culture 06:35 - Why energy affordability matters, but clean air is the enduring message 08:21 - Where the clean energy narrative is breaking down today 09:05 - The marketing failure of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) 10:33 - Why clean energy needs an "Oil & Gas" cultural marketing strategy 12:18 - Media backsliding: The Washington Post, Bill Gates, and the NYT 15:50 - Navigating short-term political losses and investing in long-term culture 18:58 - The clean energy industry's brand recognition problem (and Dodger Stadium) 19:50 - Connecting the dots between entertainment, culture, and policy Subscribe to Sammy's newsletter: climatecoloredgoggles.com Find all of our past SunCast podcast episodes here: https://www.suncast.media/media/podcast Listen to SunCast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/393EtixYJ7mvRZA7fwei8o?si=715964a5a8c941f7 Listen to SunCast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/suncast/id1045871373 This content was brought to you for FREE thanks to our sponsors, check them out here: https://www.suncast.media/ytsponsors

In this special 2026 Editors Roundtable episode of SunCast, Nico Johnson sits down with three of the top minds in energy journalism: Darrell Proctor (POWER Magazine), Julian Spector (Canary Media), and Sammy Roth (Climate Colored Goggles). We cut through the sensational headlines to discuss the undeniable growth of renewables, the influx of foreign capital buying US assets, and the massive $500 billion wave of AI infrastructure demanding power today. The panel also debates the reality of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), the fallout from recent political shifts, and the domestic manufacturing boom reshaping American towns. 00:00 - Intro: The Clean Energy Reality Check 00:54 - Meet the Editors: Darrell Proctor, Julian Spector, Sammy Roth 03:34 - Macro Trends: Why Foreign Capital is Buying US Solar Assets 05:25 - Political Realities: The IRA and Operating Without Blinders 08:16 - The Interconnection Queue: Why Congress Won't Save Us 12:05 - Following the Money: The $500 Billion AI Data Center Boom 18:42 - The Nuclear Debate: Are SMRs and Fusion the Answer? 22:05 - What to Watch Next: Substation Storage, Factories, & Climate Goals ---- Check out Power Magazine: Website: https://www.powermag.com/ Check out Canary Media: Website: https://www.canarymedia.com/ Check out Climate-Colored Goggles: Website: https://www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/ Find all of our past SunCast podcast episodes here: https://www.suncast.media/media/podcast Listen to SunCast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/393EtixYJ7mvRZA7fwei8o?si=715964a5a8c941f7 Listen to SunCast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/suncast/id1045871373 This content was brought to you for FREE thanks to our sponsors, check them out here: https://www.suncast.media/ytsponsors

The climate hype cycle may be cooling, but the electric economy is still accelerating. Brendan Bell breaks down where capital is actually flowing now, why investors are getting more disciplined, and what that means for the companies building the infrastructure behind electrification. From storage and grid modernization to firm power and deployment strategy, this conversation gets into what it will take to scale what comes next. 0:00 Introduction 01:45 Brendan Bell’s DOE Loan Programs Office lessons 12:29 What Aligned Climate Capital looks for in energy investments 17:41 Fundraising, valuations, and what founders need to know 49:05 Data centers, electrification demand, and why power assets matter 1:08:55 Rapid fire Find all of our past SunCast podcast episodes here: https://www.suncast.media/media/podcast Listen to SunCast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/393EtixYJ7mvRZA7fwei8o?si=715964a5a8c941f7 Listen to SunCast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/suncast/id1045871373 This content was brought to you for FREE thanks to our sponsors, check them out here: https://www.suncast.media/ytsponsors