What if the solution to America's 70-year nuclear waste problem was hiding in plain sight?

Rod Baltzer, CEO of Deep Isolation, joins Tim Montague to reveal how his company plans to revolutionize nuclear waste storage using existing oil and gas drilling technology. With nuclear waste currently piling up at power plants across the country and costing taxpayers $2 million daily in storage fees, this conversation couldn't be more timely.

Deep Isolation recently raised $33 million to demonstrate their breakthrough approach: using directional drilling to create mile-deep boreholes that can safely store nuclear waste for thousands of years. Unlike the failed Yucca Mountain project, their modular solution works at individual plant sites and could save taxpayers over $50 billion.

In this episode, you'll discover how Deep Isolation's Universal Canister System works, why 80% of US nuclear sites could use this technology, and how their approach differs dramatically from traditional repository methods. Rod explains the technical details of boring 18-inch holes a mile underground, the safety standards they exceed by a factor of 1,000, and why this solution makes sense whether you support nuclear energy or not.

The conversation covers the regulatory landscape, industry response, and what comes next after their upcoming full-scale demonstration. With 87 patents and growing international interest, Deep Isolation represents a practical path forward for one of America's most persistent environmental challenges.

This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in energy policy, environmental solutions, or innovative approaches to complex infrastructure problems.

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Deep Isolation

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The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com

Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

In today’s episode, Tim Montague sits down with Tara Brown-Selders, VP of Business Development at Kensington Vanguard, to discuss two critical topics for solar developers: title insurance and women's leadership in clean energy.

Tara breaks down why title insurance protects your solar investments. She explains how proper title searches going back 60+ years prevent costly surprises from liens, judgments, mineral rights, and ownership disputes. For developers securing rural land for solar projects, this protection proves essential.

The conversation shifts to women in clean energy. As president of Eco Women and strategic partnership chair for Clean TX Houston, Tara shares practical strategies for bringing more women into solar careers. She discusses how organizations like WRISE (Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy) and Solar Sisters create pathways for women to advance in this male-dominated field.

You'll learn about Texas's renewable energy boom. The state now generates 40% of its power from wind and solar in the first half of 2025. Grid reliability has actually improved with more renewables, contrary to common assumptions. Tara explains how Texas allows the co-location of oil production and solar facilities on the same land parcels.

For solar developers, Tara outlines Kensington Vanguard's national reach from Phoenix to New York. She describes their specialized approach to energy project title insurance.

For professionals seeking career advancement, she provides specific steps to expand your network through informational interviews and industry events. She emphasizes the value of joining professional organizations and leveraging job boards focused on clean energy.

This episode delivers actionable insights for solar developers needing title services and professionals looking to advance their clean energy careers. Press play to discover how proper title insurance protects your projects and how the industry benefits from diverse leadership.

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Tara Brown-Selders

Kensington Vanguard

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The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com

Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

In last week’s Clean Power Hour live, Tim Montague and John Weaver discussed the latest solar industry developments, from deployment projections and regulatory challenges to cutting-edge technology breakthroughs. This episode covers critical insights for commercial solar professionals, including uptime optimization, project development strategies, and emerging battery technologies that could reshape the energy storage landscape.

Episode Highlights

• FEOC and Tax Credits - BloombergNEF’s U.S. solar forecast through 2028 and what developers can do to prepare (PV Magazine)
• Sodium-Ion Batteries - Peak Energy’s utility-scale pilots and why sodium could be the next big storage technology (Canary Media)
• Second-Life EV Batteries — Redwood Materials’ microgrid data center with 63 MWh of repurposed storage (Canary Media)
• Efficiency race heats up - 17 solar modules now exceed 25% efficiency, with AIKO launching first 500W residential panel under 2 square meters (Solarbe Global)
• Safe harbor strategies for C&I projects - developers rushing to lock in tax credits before FEOC rules bite.
• AIKO Solar launches a 500 W residential module under 2 m² with 25% efficiency, one of the highest-performing panels in its class (Link).

As the clean energy sector races toward unprecedented growth, navigating policy hurdles like FEOC, embracing new battery chemistries, and pushing solar panel efficiency to record highs will shape the industry’s trajectory. This episode offers a front-row seat to the technological and regulatory shifts redefining solar and storage, insights you won’t want to miss if you’re building the future of clean power.

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Connect with Tim

Clean Power Hour
Clean Power Hour on YouTube
Tim on Twitter
Tim on LinkedIn

Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com

Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts

The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com

Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com