Solar is - in some places in the world - the cheapest energy, even cheaper than coal and oil with fossil fuel subsidies. Solar is inexpensive, inoffensive, inexpensive. But it wasn’t always this easy. Investing in solar used to be risky business. What happened?

Welcome to class SEI101: Solar Energy Investment.

Today, we speak to Mark Oei, an investor of real estate and clean energy. He’s founding partner at Redwood Coast Capital and a lecturer at the Kellogg School of Management. 

We also catch up with Calvin Cheng, co-founder of the solar developer PGE in Taiwan. Cheng tells us it’s much easier to get financing now than ever.

By 2030, 1 in 7 American homes are expected to have solar panels. And by 2050, it’s to become up to 45% of the U.S. electricity supply. Over here in Taiwan, clean energy accounts for just 5% of our energy supply. Taiwan wants to raise that number to 20% by 2030. (Fun fact - Taiwan was an early manufacturer of the world’s solar panels.)

** Today’s episode is sponsored by American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) - who has a focus on climate-related initiatives. Check out our full-length bonus video interview with Lee Carnell, facilities manager at AIT who takes care of its new campus, a LEED Silver certified green building. WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5PPlzYFa78&list=PLZzATvbhwVo_a0vn1oydVOXDzoccyaECY&index=2 **

Welcome to Waste Not Why Not, a climate podcast from Ghost Island Media. Debuted on Earth Day in 2019, it's hosted by Nature N8 (Nate Maynard), a sustainability consultant working on energy, ocean and waste. This season, we're onto green buildings, electric vehicles, coral, renewable energy investments, and the circular economy.

https://wastenotwhynot.com

+ Check out our digital library at wastenotwhynot.com/#library
+ Follow us on Twitter @wastenotpod

EPISODE CREDIT

Host is Nate Maynard (@N8May)
Audio editing by Yu-Chen Lai (@aGuavaEmoji)
Produced by Emily Y. Wu (@emilyywu)
Our intern is Gerald Williams
New show logo by Southwicks Graphics
New theme tune by Dac Chang
A Ghost Island Media production (@ghostislandme)

www.ghostisland.media

Solar is - in some places in the world - the cheapest energy, even cheaper than coal and oil with fossil fuel subsidies. Solar is inexpensive, inoffensive, inexpensive. But it wasn&rsquo;t always this easy. Investing in solar used to be risky business. What happened? Welcome to class SEI101: Solar Energy Investment. Today, we speak to Mark Oei, an investor of real estate and clean energy. He&rsquo;s founding partner at Redwood Coast Capital and a lecturer at the Kellogg School of Management. We also catch up with Calvin Cheng, co-founder of the solar developer PGE in Taiwan. Cheng tells us it&rsquo;s much easier to get financing now than ever. By 2030, 1 in 7 American homes are expected to have solar panels. And by 2050, it&rsquo;s to become up to 45% of the U.S. electricity supply. Over here in Taiwan, clean energy accounts for just 5% of our energy supply. Taiwan wants to raise that number to 20% by 2030. (Fun fact - Taiwan was an early manufacturer of the world&rsquo;s solar panels.) ** Today&rsquo;s episode is sponsored by American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) - who has a focus on climate-related initiatives. Check out our full-length bonus video interview with Lee Carnell, facilities manager at AIT who takes care of its new campus, a LEED Silver certified green building. WATCH: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5PPlzYFa78&amp;list=PLZzATvbhwVo_a0vn1oydVOXDzoccyaECY&amp;index=2">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5PPlzYFa78&amp;list=PLZzATvbhwVo_a0vn1oydVOXDzoccyaECY&amp;index=2</a> ** Welcome to Waste Not Why Not, a climate podcast from Ghost Island Media. Debuted on Earth Day in 2019, it's hosted by Nature N8 (Nate Maynard), a sustainability consultant working on energy, ocean and waste. This season, we're onto green buildings, electric vehicles, coral, renewable energy investments, and the circular economy. <a href="https://wastenotwhynot.com">https://wastenotwhynot.com </a> + Check out our digital library at wastenotwhynot.com/#library + Follow us on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/wastenotpod">@wastenotpod</a> EPISODE CREDIT Host is Nate Maynard (<a href="https://twitter.com/N8MAY">@N8May</a>) Audio editing by Yu-Chen Lai (<a href="https://twitter.com/aGuavaEmoji">@aGuavaEmoji</a>) Produced by Emily Y. Wu (<a href="https://twitter.com/emilyywu">@emilyywu</a>) Our intern is Gerald Williams New show logo by Southwicks Graphics New theme tune by Dac Chang A Ghost Island Media production (<a href="https://twitter.com/ghostislandme">@ghostislandme</a>)
www.ghostisland.media

Waste Not Why Not (WNWN) is a podcast on climate and sustainability from Ghost Island Media in Taiwan. Debuted on Earth Day in 2019, it's hosted by Nature N8 (Nate Maynard), a sustainability consultant working on energy, ocean and waste. Media partner at AAAS Annual Meetings in 2020 and 2021. Recognized as a Circular Economy Solution by SITRA Fund in Finland, 2020. New season begins May 3, 2022.

鬼島之音旗下的英文節目，由環境研究員及顧問 Nate Maynard （自然8）主持，探討世界環境永續發展的重要議題，每集聊一個重要的概念、或是跟專家訪談、有時也會去田野採訪。2020及2021美國科學促進會(AAAS)年會媒體夥伴、受芬蘭創新基金會肯定為2020世界循環經濟解決方案。新一季於將於五月三日開播。

Waste Not Why Not (WNWN) is a podcast on climate and sustainability from Ghost Island Media in Taiwan. Debuted on Earth Day in 2019, it's hosted by Nature N8 (Nate Maynard), a sustainability consultant working on energy, ocean and waste. Media partner at AAAS Annual Meetings in 2020 and 2021. Recognized as a Circular Economy Solution by SITRA Fund in Finland, 2020. New season begins May 3, 2022. 鬼島之音旗下的英文節目，由環境研究員及顧問 Nate Maynard （自然8）主持，探討世界環境永續發展的重要議題，每集聊一個重要的概念、或是跟專家訪談、有時也會去田野採訪。2020及2021美國科學促進會(AAAS)年會媒體夥伴、受芬蘭創新基金會肯定為2020世界循環經濟解決方案。新一季於將於五月三日開播。