This Week in Cleantech (10/09/2026) - Is the future of commuter rail battery powered?

Tell us what you think of the show!

This Week in Cleantech is a weekly podcast covering the most impactful stories in clean energy and climate featuring Paul Gerke of Factor This and Tigercomm’s Mike Casey.

This week's episode features special guest Benton Graham from Grist, who discusses the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's plans to electrify Boston’s Fairmount Line with battery-powered trains.

This week’s “Cleantecher of the Week” is Christopher Galarza, a longtime chef and co-founder of EcoChef, which certifies sustainable commercial kitchens. Christopher co-authored a new peer-reviewed study and recruited most of the kitchens in it, finding that 70% of gas-fired restaurant kitchens had nitrogen dioxide levels above EPA and WHO safety limits, even with commercial ventilation. He says working in all-electric kitchens was the first time in his career he could do what he loved without feeling like he was dying. Congratulations, Christopher!

This Week in Cleantech — October 9, 2026

1. The energy transition is starting to feed itself — Reuters
2. How to keep the lights on in an electrified world — The Financial Times
3. What if the world hadn't built wind and solar? — The Climate Brink
4. US Solar Panel Makers Try to Catch China With a Big Leap in Technology — The New York Times
5. The future of commuter rail could be taking shape in Boston — Grist

Energy policy on your mind? Check out all episodes of the Factor This Policycast