Powering Tomorrow: Renewable Energy Rooted in Nature

From Nature is the Solution by The Nature Conservancy

April 14, 2026 · 32 min

About this episode

This episode explores the challenges and solutions for expanding renewable energy while protecting natural habitats and communities.

Meeting our climate goals means building more renewable energy. But expanding that capacity requires land and careful navigation of competing needs across energy, housing, conservation and communities. With so much of our landscape already supporting critically important forests, farms and wildlife habitat—and many communities already doing their share—figuring out where everything fits becomes a real puzzle. In this episode, we’re joined by solar operators, an agrivoltaics farmer, and a local planning and energy official to explore how we can expand clean energy while protecting the nature we rely on and communities we live in, and what makes a good solar site for people, nature and the climate. Host: Steve Long, Director of Policy and Partnerships Also featuring: Andy Finton, TNC Senior Conservation Ecologist; Brandon Barlow, ENGIE; Joe Czajkowski, farm owner; Michael DeChiara, Shutesbury Town Planning Board; Kristen Gardner, ENGIE; Madeleine Klein, ENGIE; and Jake Marley, Hyperion Systems Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Steve Long

Guests: Andy Finton, Brandon Barlow, Joe Czajkowski, Michael DeChiara, Kristen Gardner, Madeleine Klein, Jake Marley

Topics covered

renewable energy
climate goals
land use
solar energy
conservation
community planning

Keywords

renewable energy
solar operators
agrivoltaics
land use
climate change
community planning
conservation

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Nature Conservancy, ENGIE, Hyperion Systems

Places: Shutesbury