
Investor Shayle Kann is asking big questions about how to decarbonize the planet: How cheap can clean energy get? Will artificial intelligence speed up climate solutions? Where is the smart money going into climate technologies? Every week on Catalyst, Shayle explains the world of “climate tech” with prominent experts, investors, researchers, and executives.
Investor Shayle Kann is asking big questions about how to decarbonize the planet: How cheap can clean energy get? Will artificial intelligence speed up climate solutions? Where is the smart money going into climate technologies? Every week on Catalyst, Shayle explains the world of “climate tech” with prominent experts, investors, researchers, and executives. The show is a co-production of Post Script Media and Canary Media.
Everything’s bigger in Texas—the hats, the boots, the convenience stores. But its interconnection times? They’re surprisingly short.
In the U.S. it takes power generators four years on average to get approval to connect to the grid, and in some places, it takes far longer. In the Texas electricity market, it takes only about 1.5 years between interconnection request and agreement. And it costs way less to interconnect, too.
The results are telling. The Texas grid, operated by the Electricity Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, has installed more wind power than any other state—40+ gigawatts worth. It’s also installed 19 gigawatts of solar power, second only to California. ERCOT has interconnected two times more generation than PJM, an electricity market in the Mid-Atlantic, even though PJM is two times larger than ERCOT in terms of peak load.
So what does Texas know about interconnection that the rest of the U.S. doesn’t? And how could other states learn from Texas?
In this episode, Shayle talks to Tyler Norris, PhD student at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment and former vice president of development at Cypress Creek Renewables. Tyler recently published a policy brief on how the U.S. could reform its interconnection process, applying lessons from ERCOT.
They cover topics like:
- Why FERC’s system impact studies lead to long delays and high costs
- ERCOT’s shorter and lower-cost process, called “connect-and-manage”
Recommended Resources:
- Duke Nicholas Institute: Beyond FERC Order 2023: Considerations on Deep Interconnection Reform
- Catalyst: Understanding the transmission bottleneck
- FERC: E-1: Commissioner Clements Concurrence on Order No. 2023: Improvements to Generator Interconnection Procedures and Agreements
- Brattle Group: Generation Interconnection and Transmission Planning
Catalyst is a co-production of Post Script Media and Canary Media.
Are you looking to understand how artificial intelligence will shape the business of energy? Come network with utilities, top energy firms, startups, and AI experts at Transition-AI: New York on October 19. Our listeners get a 10% discount with the code pspods10.
Catalyst is supported by Antenna Group. For 25 years, Antenna has partnered with leading clean-economy innovators to build their brands and accelerate business growth. If you’re a startup, investor, enterprise, or innovation ecosystem that’s creating positive change, Antenna is ready to power your impact. Visit antennagroup.com to learn more.
Catalyst is supported by RE+. RE+ is more than just the largest clean energy event, it’s a catalyst for industry innovation designed to supercharge business growth in the clean energy economy. Learn more: re-plus.com.

Show Transcripts
More 2023 trends: EVs, onshoring, and the three ages of decarbonization
Part two of our conversation on the biggest trends in climatetech with Nat Bullard.
2023 trends: biomass, ESG, batteries and more
Part one of a conversation with Nat Bullard, who delivers us a monster slide deck on the biggest trends in climatetech.
Strong opinions on SMRs
New nuclear construction in the U.S. is facing challenges. Shayle talks to one nuclear tech CEO about what we can do about it.
What hydrogen leakage means for the climate
Leaked hydrogen may have more atmospheric warming potential than previously thought. Does that change how we should use hydrogen in the energy transition?
Mailbag episode! Biotech, layoffs, battery recycling and more
In this ‘ask me anything’ episode, Shayle answers the questions you sent in.
The journey to monetizing DERs
Customers are adopting DERs, but cumbersome rules are holding them back.