Propane and the Environment

Path to Zero is a podcast focused on clean energy and the journey toward a low-carbon future. Zero emissions is a goal we can all get behind, but how do we meet the growing energy demands of the world AND reduce carbon in the atmosphere?

That’s the question Path to Zero guests and its host, Tucker Perkins, CEO of the Propane Education & Research Council, will be exploring. Topics include the clean energy continuum, “new urbanist” perspectives on clean energy, the challenge of a 2 centigrade change in the earth’s temperature poses, the science of warnings, and cities of tomorrow, just to name a few.

Subscribe today and learn who will be the next contributor to a great new idea: The Propane National Forest!

5.12 - The Intersection of Environmental Policy and Finance with Financial Times Sustainable Views Editor Silvia Pavoni

Tucker continues his special interviews from Climate Week in New York by getting some insight from an expert on ESG policy and regulation.

5.11 - Columbia Climate School’s Dr. Steven Cohen on How We Solve Our Environmental Problems Without Destroying the Economy

In this episode, Tucker has the opportunity to talk to one of the nation’s leading academic thinkers on sustainability.

5.10 - A Closer Look at Climate Data with Theoretical Physicist Dr. Steven Koonin

In this episode recorded from Climate Week in New York City, Tucker talks climate science with Dr. Steven E. Koonin, Professor at NYU and former Undersecretary for Science at the U.S. Department of Energy in the Obama administration.

5.09 - NYU Research Professor Amy Myers Jaffe on Curbing Climate Change with Digital Technologies

In his series of interviews from Climate Week in New York City, Tucker looks at the role of technological change in altering the global energy system with a true thought leader on global energy policy and sustainability.

5.08 - Sustained Investment to Avoid a Climate Catastrophe with Columbia University’s Bruce Usher

Tucker continues his series of conversations from Climate Week in New York City with a fascinating discussion with climate finance expert Bruce Usher, who is part of the faculty at both the Columbia Business School and Climate School.

5.07 - Transforming Our Global Energy System with Cipher’s Amy Harder

Tucker kicks off a series of special episodes recorded at Climate Week in New York City with one of the nation’s premier climate journalists. Amy Harder is the Executive Editor of Cipher, which covers the technological innovations we need to combat climate change and transform our global energy systems.

5.06 - Special Path to Zero Event for Climate Week NYC

We invite you to watch this special Path to Zero event featuring NYC’s Chief Fleet Officer and innovators in renewable fuels and carbon recycling technology.

5.05 - A Turning Point for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) with Geologist Dr. Tip Meckel

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is currently the biggest hammer in the toolbox for reducing significant amounts of industrial emissions, according to our guest in this special episode of Path to Zero.

5.04 - NBC News Climate Unit Journalist Carlos P. Beltran on Humanizing the Climate Change Story

Path to Zero continues its series of episodes recorded from the Reuters Global Energy Transition Summit in New York with a special guest, Carlos P. Beltran, a producer with the climate unit at NBC News.

5.03 - Industry Decarbonization Through Automation with Emerson CTO Peter Zornio

At the Reuters Global Energy Transition Summit, Path to Zero was fortunate to visit one of the innovators in decarbonizing the industrial sector, Peter Zornio, Chief Technology Officer at Emerson. He leads innovation strategy and R&D for the global technology, software and automation leader.

5.02 - NBC News Science Reporter Denise Chow on Wildfire Smoke and other Climate Change Weather Extremes

Path to Zero continues its series of episodes recorded from the Reuters Global Energy Transition Summit in New York with a special guest, Denise Chow, who reports on science and climate change for NBC News.

5.01 - Climate Change Adaptation with Columbia Climate School’s Dr. Lisa Dale

Tucker kicks off a series of special episodes recorded from the Reuters Global Energy Transition Summit in New York by welcoming Dr. Lisa Dale, an expert on climate change adaptation from the Columbia University Climate School.

4.21 - Could Molten Salt Reactors Boost Nuclear Energy? A conversation with Dr. Rusty Towell, Nuclear Researcher and Physics Professor at Abilene Christian University

In this episode, Path to Zero explores molten salt nuclear technology with an innovator who is heading up research that he believes will lead to safer, cleaner and more affordable nuclear power.

4.20 - Climate Change Water Resilience with Journalist Erica Gies

Path to Zero takes an in depth look at the Slow Water Movement with the journalist who coined the phrase, Erica Gies.

4.19 - Citizen’s Guide to Combat Climate Change with Energy Policy Expert Hal Harvey

In this episode, Tucker talks with acclaimed energy policy advisor Hal Harvey, who says individuals can make a difference and he has a new book that is a citizen’s guide on how you can combat climate change.

4.18 - Climate Scientist Kevin Trenberth on Making the Biggest Difference with Climate Change

Path to Zero recognizes Earth Day 2023 with an objective assessment on where things stand regarding the fight against climate change and the planet’s weather patterns with Dr. Kevin Trenberth, one of the world’s premier climate scientists.

4.17 - The Pathway to Green Shipping with Green Marine’s Eleanor Kirtley

Tucker continues his look at efforts to decarbonize transportation in a conversation with the largest voluntary environmental certification program for the maritime industry in North America. Dr. Eleanor Kirtley is a senior program manager for Green Marine, which works with ports, ship operators, terminals, and others to help improve their environmental performance.

4.16 - The Decarbonization of Trucking with NACFE’s Mike Roeth

In this episode, Tucker has the opportunity to talk to Mike Roeth, who is one of the leading authorities on enhancing the efficiency and decarbonization of the trucking industry. Mike has been the Executive Director of North American Council for Freight Efficiency since 2010.

4.15 - The New Yorker’s Elizabeth Kolbert on the Unintended Consequences of Human Interventions in the Natural World

In this episode, Tucker has the opportunity to talk to one of the foremost writers of climate change and the state of the earth.

4.14 - Global Clean Energy’s Richard Palmer on Camelina: Is it the wonder crop for renewable fuels?

This episode features a deep discussion on the game-changing crop, Camelina, which is quickly becoming a popular feedstock for renewable fuels production. Tucker welcomes the head of the world’s leading developer of camelina. Richard Palmer is CEO of Global Clean Energy, which owns Sustainable Oils, a camelina breeding and production businesses in the U.S. Global Clean Energy also owns the largest camelina company in Europe, Camelina Company España S.L.

4.13 - Decarbonizing the Nation’s Ports with Ian Gansler of the American Association of Port Authorities

In this episode, we have an opportunity to talk to Ian Gansler, who is heading up a bold new program for the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) to meet the twin challenges of energy security and climate change.

4.12 - Hydrogen: Hope or Hype? With Author John Armstrong

This episode of Path to Zero is all about Hydrogen. The energy is viewed by many to be THE energy answer to climate change and the surest path to net zero carbon emissions. Our guest is an energy expert who is going to help us dig into the future challenges and opportunities with hydrogen.

4.11 - 2023 Energy Predictions

It’s a special edition of Path to Zero where Tucker looks into his crystal ball for 2023 as it pertains to energy. He explores 5 big energy topics and what he sees for the year ahead.

4.10 - Making Nuclear Fusion a Successful Power Source with Princeton’s Sir Steven Cowley

Fusion has held a great deal of promise for decades to potentially generate carbon-free electricity. Some leaders believe we are at turning point for fusion-powered energy.

4.09 - The Future of EV Batteries with Battery Expert Bob Galyen

In this episode of Path to Zero, Tucker has an opportunity to talk to one of the most respected experts in the battery world. Bob Galyen was the lead battery engineer on the EV1, General Motors’s first mass-produced electric car that debuted in 1996.

4.08 - Market-Oriented Solutions to Climate Change with Pacific Research Institute’s Dr. Wayne Winegarden

Can free market solutions help combat climate change? Our guest in this episode is an economist who studies the connection between macroeconomic policies and economic outcomes, with a particular focus on the energy sector.

4.07 - Wall Street Journal’s Amrith Ramkumar on Financing the Clean Energy Transition

There’s no doubt the financial markets are going to have a big impact in the fight against climate change. Our guest in this episode of Path to Zero covers how investors are financing the transition to clean energy for the Wall Street Journal. Amrith Ramkumar is the climate finance reporter for the Journal.

4.06 - The Push to Net-Zero Carbon Transport with World Energy’s Gary Grimes

In this episode, Tucker visits with the director of sustainability for liquid fuels innovator World Energy. Gary Grimes is playing a key role in the huge investment the company is making in a new biofuel and hydrogen production facility in Southern California.

4.05 - Challenging Prevailing Climate Change Narratives with HuffPost’s Alexander Kaufman

Tucker welcomes the award-winning senior reporter at HuffPost, Alexander Kaufman, to Path to Zero’s special Climate Week episodes in New York City. The two discuss electrification, nuclear energy and many other contentious issues surrounding climate change.

4.04 - Energy Transition Impact on Capital Markets with Carbon Tracker’s Rob Schuwerk

How economic factors can affect climate change is the focus of this special episode of Path to Zero from Climate Week in New York City. Tucker welcomes Rob Schuwerk, North American Executive Director of Carbon Tracker, who was in New York to launch the first ever Global Registry of Fossil Fuels.

4.03 - Environmental Justice and Climate Change with Insider’s Catherine Boudreau

Path to Zero’s special episodes from New York for Climate Week continue with Catherine Boudreau, the senior sustainability reporter at Insider. She’s in New York covering Climate Week and stopped by to join Path to Zero.

4.02 - ABC News Meteorologist Ginger Zee Talks Conservation and Climate

Path to Zero’s special Climate Week conversations from New York continue with a visit from ABC News’ climate unit and chief meteorologist Ginger Zee.

4.01 - Climate Week Special with Vox’s Future Perfect Editor Bryan Walsh

Path to Zero is on the road for a series of special episodes in New York City for Climate Week. We kick things off with journalist Bryan Walsh, who runs the Future Perfect Section at Vox, which focuses on emerging technology, tech ethics and how to make the future a better place.

3.17 - Renewable Fuels and the Fight Against Climate Change with Renewable Energy Group’s Kevin Lucke

In this episode of Path to Zero, Tucker continues the conversation on how renewable fuels can help address the carbon emissions challenge.

3.16 - The Physics of Climate Change with Dr. Lawrence Krauss

Joining Tucker in this edition of Path to Zero, is internationally known theoretical physicist and best-selling author Dr. Lawrence Krauss. He’s known for presenting the most accurate scientific information in a way that is accessible to laypeople.

3.15 - Reducing Carbon Intensity with Renewable Propane

In a special edition of Path to Zero, Tucker Perkins shares some significant news about renewable propane and why it’s a clean energy breakthrough.

3.14 - The Many Paths to Decarbonization with Southwest Research Institute’s Dr. Graham Conway

Keeping all options open to decarbonize, not just the all-electric route, is the view of our guest in this episode of Path to Zero.

3.13 - Climate Disaster Preparedness with Columbia’s Jeffrey Schlegelmilch

In a far-reaching conversation, Tucker covers climate disaster preparedness, microgrids and grid resiliency with Jeffrey Schlegelmilch, Research Scholar and the Director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University’s Earth Institute.

3.12 - Agricultural Innovations That Help Curtail Climate Change

In this episode of Path to Zero, our focus is on technological advancements in agriculture that are helping farmers cut or eliminate the use of harmful chemicals, as well as reduce carbon emissions.

3.11 - Alternate Routes on the Road to Zero Emissions, Part 2

Achieving sustainable mobility will require multiple solutions, according to two experts in automotive engineering who talk to Tucker in the second of a two-part episode of Path to Zero.

3.10 - The Fastest Way to Driving Green, Part I

Two experts on automotive engineering join Tucker to share a realistic take on achieving sustainable mobility. Oxford Engineering Professor Felix Leach and Kelly Senecal, co-founder of Convergent Science, are the authors of the book, Racing Toward Zero: The Untold Story of Driving Green. The book is a 2022 Independent Press Award Winner.

3.09 - Midstream Industry Looks to “Clear the Air” to Support Energy Transition

This episode of Path to Zero focuses on how an important industry is navigating the energy transition to tackle the environmental challenges we face.

3.08 - The Human Toll of Climate Change with Financial Times Moral Money Editor Simon Mundy

Tucker’s guest in this episode is Financial Times journalist and editor of Moral Money, Simon Mundy, to talk about the challenges of climate change in an up-close and personal way.

3.07 - Waving a Magic Wand to Slow Climate Change

If some of the world’s leading climate experts were given a magic wand to change one thing to make the biggest impact with climate change, what would they do? We find out in this special episode as Tucker looks back on some of the more memorable comments by Path to Zero guests.

3.06 - New Decarbonizing Truck Engine Technology with Fleet Operations Expert Kevin Hahn

In this episode of Path to Zero, Tucker gets the perspective of a veteran fleet manager on the potential of recently unveiled truck engine technology designed to help fleet owners decarbonize today.

3.05 - Designing Homes to Withstand Climate Change Fueled Disasters with Author Boyce Thompson

Resilient home design is the subject of this episode as Tucker speaks to journalist Boyce Thompson, author of the book Designing for Disaster.

3.04 - Ocean-Based Carbon Removal with Northwestern University’s Dr. Wil Burns

Developing methods to enhance ocean-based carbon dioxide removal is one of the topics Tucker explores with an expert who has been studying climate change for more than 30 years.

3.03 - Finding Climate Change Hope with Dr. Katharine Hayhoe

In this episode, Tucker has the privilege of talking to a preeminent climate scientist who The New York Times described as “one of the nation's most effective communicators on climate change.”

3.02 - Wall Street Journal’s Elizabeth Findell on the Texas Winter Storm and Grid Failure – One Year Later

In this episode, Wall Street Journal reporter Elizabeth Findell reflects on the one-year anniversary of the devastating winter storm known as Uri. It brought record cold and ice to the southwest and caused the Texas electric grid to fail.

3.01 - Renewable Fuels Innovation

Tucker kicks off Season 3 of Path to Zero by talking to Nik Weinberg-Lynn, who is heading up a project to create one of the largest renewable fuels plants in the world.

2.21 - The Science, Policy and Economics of Decarbonization

In a far-reaching conversation, Dr. Paltsev talks to Tucker about the outcomes of the Glasgow summit, coordinated action to decarbonize the planet, financial risks associated with climate change and the different types of energy needed to stabilize the climate.

2.20 - Transportation Decarbonization

In this episode, Tucker welcomes an expert in transportation decarbonization and policy. Mollie Cohen D'Agostino is Policy Director for the 3 Revolutions Future Mobility Program at the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis.

2.19 - Accelerating Energy Innovation to Mitigate Climate Change

In this episode, Tucker talks to Drew Bond, former Senior Advisor to President George W. Bush at the Department of Energy and co-founder of C3 Solutions, a non-profit organization committed to free market solutions for climate change.

2.18 - Propane as a Tool for Decarbonization

This is the first episode of Path to Zero recorded in front of a live audience at the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) annual conference in Portland, Maine. Tucker turns over his hosting duties to Alan Zelenka, an Oregon energy official, to be interviewed about how propane can be a tool to help states meet decarbonization goals.

2.17 - Designing Zero Net Energy Homes

Zero Net Energy (ZNE) homes are starting to shake up the US housing market. Tucker’s conversation in this edition of Path to Zero is with David Knight, an expert on designing ZNE homes who has been a leader in green building for nearly 40 years.

2.16 - Sustainable Alternatives for the Outdoors, Part 2

In the second of a two-part episode focused on sustainable solutions that help create a wider path to net zero emissions, Tucker Perkins welcomes Josh Simpson with Little Kamper. The California company has developed an innovative product that is helping keep hazardous waste out of our parks.

2.15 - Sustainable Alternatives for the Outdoors, Part 1

In this episode, outdoor industry executive and Arctic adventurer Graeme Esarey joins Tucker in the first of a two-part episode focused on innovative solutions that help us get to net zero emissions.

2.14 - DOE’s Jigar Shah on Financing Clean Energy Projects

In this episode, the focus is on the U.S Department of Energy’s efforts to roll out billions of dollars in grants to stimulate the transition to a clean energy economy.

2.13 - Climate Change and Electric Grid Resiliency

In this episode, Tucker welcomes Chemist and Energy Analyst Meredith Angwin, who has written an eye-opening exposé about the vulnerabilities our electric grid.

2.12 - Energy Transition Complexities with Geologist Dr. Scott Tinker

In this episode of Path to Zero, Tucker explores the challenges of the global energy transition with an expert who has been working for years on educating the public that every energy source has pros and cons, and sustainability will require an energy mix.

2.11 - Is Nuclear Power the Path to Low-Carbon Energy?

Nuclear energy is just one of the topics covered in this episode where Tucker turns the tables on a fellow energy podcast host Robert Bryce.

2.10 - Accelerating Decarbonization with Microgrids

Tucker talks to an energy industry leader whose expertise in microgrids and renewable energy goes back more than four decades.

2.09 - Cyberattack Threats to the Nation’s Critical Energy Infrastructure

This episode of Path to Zero is particularly timely with the recent cyberattack that shut down a major oil pipeline.

2.08 - Earth Day Special - The Best of the Magic Wand Question

Tucker celebrates Earth Day by waving a magic wand on the one thing that will make the biggest difference to get to a zero emissions future.

2.07 - Can Fossil Fuels Help Address Climate Change?

Energy consultant and author Tisha Schuller joins Tucker for a fascinating discussion on how addressing climate change happens better, faster, and cheaper with the oil and gas industry at the table.

2.06 - Racial Disparities and Climate Change

Environmental justice takes center stage once again on Path to Zero as Tucker Perkins welcomes a special guest who has worked for more than a decade to address the many practices that are harming communities of color nationwide. Jacqueline Patterson is the Senior Director of Environmental and Climate Justice Program at the NAACP.

2.05 – Carbon Removal with Dr. Sabine Fuss, Mercator Research Institute

Carbon removal is the subject of this episode and Tucker welcomes one of the world’s leading experts on the subject to bring us up to speed on the technological advances happening in this part of the climate change conversation.

2.04 – Propane Patio Heaters or Fire Pits? Which is Better for the Environment?

Tucker Perkins welcomes a leading fire scientist to get some insight on the chemistry of carbon related to patio heaters.

2.03 - Do fossil fuel interests deserve a seat at the table?

In this special episode of Path to Zero, host Tucker Perkins has a no-holds-barred conversation with Sarah Golden, Senior Energy Analyst with GreenBiz Group.

2.02 - Are Microgrids the Answer to a Cleaner, More Resilient Electric Grid?

A cleaner electric grid is seen is a key element to reducing carbon in the atmosphere. Interest in microgrids is growing because of their ability to incorporate renewable and low carbon energy sources, as well as and sustain electricity service during natural disasters.

2.01 - Climate Policy Shift with Greentech Media’s Julia Pyper

Tucker kicks off the new year and a new season of Path to Zero by talking to a journalist and podcast host who has some amazing perspective on climate policy and what we can expect with the changes in Washington.

1.16 - 5 Energy Trends and Predictions for 2021

To kick off 2021, Tucker Perkins reflects on some memorable moments from the conversations with energy experts on Path to Zero to look ahead to the big clean energy trends over the next year.

1.15 - Top 5 Energy Policy Changes to Expect in Biden’s Presidency

Path to Zero concludes Season 1 by hearing from a foremost expert on energy policy about carbon pricing, energy storage and the big changes coming in 2021 with the new administration. Andy Stone is Host and Producer of the Energy Policy Now podcast with the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at University of Pennsylvania.

1.14 - Can digitalization solve the carbon crisis?

In this episode of Path to Zero, Host Tucker Perkins invites renewable energy expert Mathias Steck to discuss technology’s role in carbon reduction with cleaner, greener energy.

1.13 – How oil-pumping Texas became the leader in wind power

In this episode of Path to Zero, Tucker talks to Asher Price, a journalist and author who has reported on the rapid rise of wind in the state that is one of the largest wind generators in the world. In Texas, wind accounts for about 20 percent of the state’s electricity.

1.12 – Dr. Tilak Doshi, Forbes Energy Contributor

In this episode of Path to Zero, Host Tucker Perkins welcomes Dr. Tilak Doshi, Forbes energy contributor and Muse, Stancil & Company managing consultant for Asia.

1.11 – Ken Silverstein, Forbes Energy Contributor

In this episode of Path to Zero, Host Tucker Perkins talks with Ken Silverstein, a senior energy contributor at Forbes about the future of micro-grids and other advancements in the energy industry.

1.10 – Resiliency Part 2 - World Central Kitchen

In the second of a special two-part episode focused on resiliency, Tucker Perkins speaks with Alexandra Garcia, Chief Program Officer with World Central Kitchen (WCK).

1.09 – Resiliency Part 1 - The Healing Power of BBQ

In the first of a special two-part episode focused on resiliency, Tucker Perkins speaks with Stan Hays, co-founder of Operation BBQ Relief (OBR) and 2017 CNN Hero.

1.08 – Could Propane be the New Diesel?

In this episode of Path to Zero, Host Tucker Perkins invites Dr. Bryan Willson, executive director of the Energy Institute at Colorado State University (CSU), and Dr. Daniel Olsen, mechanical engineering professor at CSU, to provide an in-depth look into the recent $3.5 million U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grant awarded to the university for the development of new, high-efficiency propane engines.

1.07 – Human Behavior and a Recipe for a Low Carbon Future

In this episode of Path to Zero, host Tucker Perkins speaks with Dr. Joshua Rhodes, a research fellow at the Energy Institute and the Webber Energy Group at The University of Texas at Austin, about a seven-step recipe to achieve low carbon energy, implications of the electrification movement and the recent rolling blackouts in California.

1.06 - Renewable Propane as the Fuel of the Future

In this episode of Path to Zero, Host Tucker Perkins welcomes Joy Alafia, president and CEO of the Western Propane Gas Association, to discuss renewable propane as the clean and sustainable fuel of the future.

1.05 - Renewable Gases

In this episode of Path to Zero, we discuss the benefits of renewable gases to move society closer to a low carbon, low emission future. Host Tucker Perkins welcomes Cliff Gladstein, founding president of GNA, a clean transportation and energy consulting firm. Gladstein provides an in-depth look behind his latest webinar series, Renewable Gas 360.

1.04 - Developing Climate Change Positive Communities

Path to Zero host Tucker Perkins welcomes the partners behind an initiative to develop sustainable, planned villages capable of reducing the carbon footprint of a community by 10 times. Patrick Van Haren and Karin Aston are the co-founders of Citadels, a new generation development company combining traditional neighborhood design with regenerative agriculture, to create distinctive master planned communities.

1.03 - Environmental Justice Part 2: Where the movement stands now in the age of COVID-19 and BLM

In the second of a two-part series on environmental justice, Tucker Perkins speaks with author and department chair of environmental studies at University of California in Santa Barbara, Dr. David Pellow, about the difficulty of reaching environmental sustainability in areas with marginalized populations.

1.02 - Environmental Justice: What is it and Why is it so Important?

In the first of a two-part series on environmental justice, Tucker Perkins speaks with law professor Alice Kaswan about how pollution negatively impacts marginalized communities.

1.01 - A Stake in the Ground

Host Tucker Perkins kicks off the premiere episode of Path to Zero with a discussion on a practical path toward a zero emissions future for our country and world. Tucker’s guest is Daniel Dixon, the incoming Chair of the Propane Education & Research Council.