The devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, focusing on the Pacific Palisades community and the implications for urban areas as climate change intensifies. Actor Martin Short's love for that community and how James feels connected to it. Alongside an in-depth look at John Vaillant’s book Fire Weather, we uncover the growing wildfire threat to cities and practical ways to safeguard homes and lives.

Encore episode that followed the Pacific Palisades Fires in Los Angeles, January 2025. We will be back on August 14th with our Patreon episode and August 20th with a new regular episode.

UPDATE: CAL FIRE has marked Martin Short's home as 'undamaged'! This is contrary to the previous report by The Wrap.

CORRECTION on the size of screen to protect attic vents. It should be no bigger than 1/8" opening (we said 1/4" which is an out-dated guideline.)

Episode Highlights:

• Los Angeles Wildfires: Examining the catastrophic fires in Pacific Palisades, where a tight-knit, picturesque community was largely destroyed. We discuss the human stories, the risks of living in fire-prone areas, and the role of climate change in escalating wildfire events.
• Author John Vaillant: Insights from Fire Weather and Vaillant’s analysis of urban wildfires as a dire climate threat, with compelling clips from his talks and audiobook.
• The Cost of Fire Risk: Why insurers are pulling out of high-risk areas, leaving homeowners scrambling for alternatives like the FAIR Plan.
• Tokyo’s Disaster Preparedness: A spotlight on Tokyo’s remarkable infrastructure designed to mitigate natural disasters, from flood tunnels to seismic standards for buildings.
• Home Fire Safety Tips: Learn critical steps to reduce the risk of your home catching fire in a wildfire, including creating defensible spaces, fireproofing materials, and evacuation best practices.

Key Links Mentioned:

• Fire Weather by John Vaillant: Audiobook available here
• Induction Cooktop Review on Wirecutter: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/copper-charlie-induction-stove-review/
• Raw video of Pacific Palisades fire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt7VVdGcDzE

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David Suzuki stuns with a message of climate defeat—but is he right? Brian and James unpack Suzuki’s pessimism and a powerful rebuttal from climate politics professor Donald Wright, who says the fight is not over.

Also this week:

• Germany hits a heat pump milestone, surpassing gas boiler sales for the first time.

• 🚴‍♀️ E-bike rebate programs are spreading fast across the U.S., from Rhode Island to Oregon to Washington D.C.

• Listener Tim follows up with insights on passive solar, geothermal, and his DIY sand battery project.

• 🚗 James prepares for an all-EV family vacation and shares why even an 87-year-old former gas junkie loves his Bolt EV..

Lightning Round ⚡

• ☀️ Transparent solar windows installed in Santa Barbara

• ⚡ EV price parity hits Thailand; major drops in Brazil

• 🤯 CES Fast Facts™: Microplastics in your brain & deadly cooking fuels in Africa

• 🧾 Oil & gas write Ohio’s carbon capture law

• ☢️ Renewables add more than nuclear—every two days

• 📉 Tesla ranks as America’s least trusted car brand

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Perks include:

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• 🙌 Shoutouts on the podcast

🎙️ A rerun is coming next week while James is on vacation, but look out for a new Patreon episode Thursday!🎄 See you for the next regular show August 20.

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A viral meme claims Norway installed sea-life-friendly underwater turbines. It’s AI-generated nonsense—though there have been real tidal power projects in Norway and Scotland. We unpack the truth behind the clickbait.

The United Nations’ top court declares a clean, healthy environment a human right. But what does it really mean for international law and fossil fuel development?

Wildfire smoke chokes Saskatoon in record amounts. And we hear from Aiden, a listener in Lytton, B.C.—a town still devastated from climate disaster four years ago.

• Support The Clean Energy Show on Patreon for exciting perks including a monthly bonus podcast!

Also on the show:
🎬 Brian re-views the original Naked Gun 2½ and previews the new reboot.

Lightning Round Highlights ⚡

• Formula 1 to use electric/sustainable hybrid engines starting in 2026.

• Huawei patents a 2,900 km EV battery (wait, what?).

• California’s bullet train project gets a surge of public support.

• Australia installs over 11,000 grid-scale batteries—in one month.

• Tesla survives a brutal Chinese real-world ADAS test (barely).

• And: Greenpeace’s lawsuit against Eni over climate damage goes to court in Italy.

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UN Secretary General António Guterres proclaims that the fossil fuel era is fading and the clean energy age is rising. Vietnam is banning gas-powered motorcycles in downtown Hanoi by 2026. Meanwhile, a new electric scooter hits 100 mph, and China begins building the world’s largest hydroelectric dam.

• Support The Clean Energy Show on Patreon for exciting perks!

Also on the show:

• 🚗 James's son's car-buying journey ends terribly—but he gets approved for car share in just two hours!

• 🏠 Brian explores in-floor hydronic heating after a listener recommendation.

• 🛵 Vietnam aims to eliminate all gas-powered two-wheelers by 2045—bold for a country with 72 million bikes.

• 🌍 UN says 90% of renewable projects are now cheaper than fossil fuels.

• ⚡ China's new megadam on the Yarlung Tsangpo River will generate 300 million MWh/year—more than 3× the Three Gorges.

• 🛴 Bo’s new “Turbo” electric scooter can hit a stunning 100 mph—but it’ll cost you $29,500! And your life!

• Listener Tim from northwest of Edmonton writes in with advice on radiant heating systems—highlighting both efficiency and comfort.

🌩️ The Lightning Round

• 🔋 China activates its largest lithium iron phosphate battery project: 2 GWh capacity.

• 🌊 2025 is now “The Year of the Flood” in the U.S., with record-breaking flash flood warnings.

• 🐟 Lab-grown salmon arrives at a Seattle oyster bar—cheaper for the planet, not your wallet.

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See you next week for another electric episode! ⚡

A Canadian Football League game was cancelled after fans waited six hours in thick wildfire smoke—smoked sausages, indeed. We dig into why air quality is getting worse and how it’s connected to climate change.

Plus, surprising new research shows that diesel generators are allowed to emit 48 times more nitrogen oxides than natural gas boilers. We explore the shocking pollution double standards that exist across industries.

Meanwhile, in Northeast Calgary, homeowners are struggling to get insurance due to a rise in extreme hail. Some insurance companies are pulling out entirely. What’s behind this localized crisis—and why it’s a warning for the rest of the country.

And in Reno, Nevada, a startup has installed the world’s largest second-life battery grid using hundreds of used EV battery packs. It’s powering a data center and showing a viable path for battery reuse.

Also in this episode:

• Water use restrictions in England as drought conditions worsen

• U.S. Republicans blame Canada for wildfire smoke ruining their summer (but not climate change)

• Scientists say cleaning up air pollution might be making global warming worse in the short term

Contact Us

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Amish E-Bikes, Balcony Solar, and a Djibouti Wind Boom

E-bikes are quietly transforming Amish communities, balcony solar panels are powering up UK homes, and the tiny African nation of Djibouti is making huge renewable energy strides. Plus, Brian returns from London with fresh eyes on electric taxis, streetcars, and some eyebrow-raising climate solutions.

We explore how indoor air quality is the our new air quality frontier.

Bill Gates is backing a new kind of wind energy. Plus, climate change delivers catastrophic floods to Texas.

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This week, we’re bringing a special treat to the public: a previously exclusive Patreon bonus episode! Brian and James take a October, 2024 road trip in Brian’s Tesla Model Y, which was recently upgraded with Full Self-Driving Beta. Yes, the car drove itself—and we captured the whole experience.

The hosts discuss:

• Transferring FSD Beta from the Model S to the Model Y

• A 30-minute test drive across town with no human input

• Real-time impressions and commentary during the drive

• Reactions to Tesla’s autonomous driving performance

• The weird, the smooth, and the occasional sudden stop

This is not just a conversation—it's a rolling commentary from inside the car while the AI takes the wheel. Buckle up for this unique episode!

Back next week with an all-new show!

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New groundbreaking new data on solar-plus-battery affordability, community-driven efforts to fight wildfire smoke, and the global decline of coal power. Brian prepares for a trip to London, and James shares his latest air quality observations from the smoky Canadian prairies.

They also touch on some big global issues: India’s indoor air pollution crisis, New York’s unexpected plans for new nuclear power, and China’s rapid solar and blimp tech progress. Plus, an update on fusion energy from a listener email and the usual dose of humour, clean tech insight, and righteous frustration.

• Support The Clean Energy Show on Patreon!

Episode Highlights:

• A Saskatchewan First Nation installs air scrubbers in homes to combat wildfire smoke

• Grid-scale batteries have become cheap enough to enable true 24/7 solar in sunny cities

• Ireland shuts down its last coal plant—only to convert it to oil

• New York State proposes a new nuclear plant amid rising demand from data centers

• Lightning Round

Links:

• 🔋 Solar + battery now 24/7 cheap (Electrek)

• ⚛️ Fusion tech breakthrough (Latitude Media)

• 🏭 Ireland ends coal (Power Magazine)

• ⚡ Arctic lightning rising (Yale e360)

• 🍃 Electric lawn tools catch on (Canary Media)

• 🛩️ China’s electric blimp (iThome)

• 🚗 Car ownership hits $12.3k/year (Bilello Blog)

Contact Us

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Support The Clean Energy Show

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