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Meet McGee Young: Sparking Change, One Watt at a Time #9

🌿 Hey Earth First Fam!


Welcome newsletter #9!


In this edition of Earth First we will zoom in on WattCarbon, a pioneering force in the energy transition. At the helm of this revolution is the visionary McGee Young, CEO and co-founder.


Here’s what you can expect in this edition:

  1. What is Clean Energy? & Why Does it Matter?

  2. Who is McGee Young? & What’s his Founding Story?

  3. What’s WattCarbon’s Objective? & What are they building?



⚡️ What’s Clean Energy and Why Does it Matter? 


Clean Energy: The Cool Kid on the Block 😎


Clean energy is all about powering up our lives without trashing the planet. Think of it as the superhero of energy sources—solar, wind, hydro, and all their renewable pals. These guys are like the friends you invite over because they're good vibes only, leaving minimal mess and carbon footprints so tiny, you’d need a magnifying glass to see them.


Example Solar Panels: Sunshine Power! ☀️ Installing solar panels on your roof converts your place into a mini power station, harnessing sunlight for free, clean energy.


Example Wind Turbines: Harnessing the Breeze! 💨Wind turbines transform wind into electricity, offering a powerful, clean energy source, especially in windy regions.


The Showdown: Dirty vs. Clean Energy 🎙️


Here’s the lowdown: dirty energy is like that messy friend who leaves a trail of junk food wrappers and soda cans. It's all about burning fossil fuels, which means more pollution and a sad planet. Clean energy? Total opposite. It’s the friend who recycles, composts and cares. Swapping from dirty to clean is like choosing a salad over a greasy burger for the planet's health.


When Buildings Go Green 🏙️


Talking about our buildings—those places where we crash, work, and play—they're pretty thirsty for energy. Buildings account for a whopping 40% of total energy consumption in the U.S. alone. If we switch them over to clean energy, we're not just tweaking numbers; we're talking major eco-points, less planet heating, and, bonus, saving some dough because the wind and sun never send you a bill. This move to green energy isn't just good for the Earth; it's a financial game-changer, revolutionizing the entire energy landscape and making a significant dent in our carbon footprint.


The Big Picture: What’s the Buzz? 📸


The clean energy scene is booming, kind of like how everyone suddenly got into baking sourdough. Jumping from a hefty $856 billion in 2021, the clean energy market is set to soar, mirroring our planet's loud wake-up call to ditch the dirty energy of yesteryears. Plus, as the global building stock is on track to double by 2060, spurred by urbanization, population growth, and economic shifts, it's clear: the future is now, and it's green and growing fast.

🌟 McGee: The Climate Catalyst Behind WattCarbon



A Childhood Inked in Green 👶


In a landscape dominated by palm trees and the looming shadow of industrial giants, young McGee found his calling. 'Pro Earth Times' wasn't just a publication; it was the family's battle standard against environmental degradation. Imagine a young McGee, articles in one hand, delivery route in the other, planting seeds of change with every paper dropped off at local eco-conscious establishments in Florida. This wasn't just a gig; it was McGee's early education in activism, instilling a deep-rooted passion for environmental justice.


A Quest for Knowledge 📝 


Fast forward through years of academic rigor, where McGee, armed with an insatiable curiosity, dove into the complexities of environmental policy and the frustrating inertia within American politics. His journey through academia wasn't just about earning titles; it was about amassing the arsenal of knowledge needed to dismantle systemic barriers to sustainability. With a Ph.D. as his shield, McGee ventured forth, ready to confront the climate crisis head-on. Moving forward, he landed a faculty gig at Marquette University teaching environmental politics.


Yet, it was the transition from professor to entrepreneur that marked the true beginning of a quest to make a tangible impact on climate change. Leaving a secure tenure for the uncertainties of startup life on the West Coast, McGee embraced the challenge head-on, driven by a passion for creating real-world solutions.

Our thinking was that if we could help drive more investment into decarbonizing buildings, that's 40% of our annual emissions. If we can crack that open and drive corporate capital, engage end-users, and help them become more aware of the opportunities, they might have to upgrade their buildings, and then they could make a difference on climate change more broadly.

Embracing the Startup Battlefield in the West 🤙


McGee embarked on a quest that many would balk at. The West Coast called, not with promises of easy victories, but with the untamed frontier of startup life. He spent some time as CTO at Recurve, working to build tools for decarbonizing energy systems and collaborating with utilities. It was there, immersed in the Bay Area startup scene, amid the tumult of innovation and uncertainty, that WattCarbon was forged—a beacon of hope in the fight against carbon emissions.


McGee’s Leadership Style as a Compass for the Future 🔮 


As captain of this ship, McGee's leadership is a testament to the power of vision coupled with unwavering determination. He didn't just build a team; he cultivated a family of innovators, thinkers, and dreamers, united under a common banner of change.

It's about setting a stable foundation for the team, where the stress of financial uncertainty is minimized, allowing creativity and productivity to flourish. McGee believes in sharing a compelling vision for the future - one that challenges the status quo and imagines a world transformed by clean energy and sustainable practices. By cultivating a team where each member's strengths are recognized and harnessed, WattCarbon is not just a company but a movement toward a greener future.


Get to Know McGee!



Favorite Mantra: “Do what you love, and love what you do”


Biggest Climate role model: John Muir


Wishes people knew about climate: “The quality of the individuals that you interact with daily is higher in the climate space than anything else that you would do in the world.”


Most excited about in the future: “We have a chance to take this moment that we're in, which feels like we're at the end of the Industrial Revolution era of our globe, and we're entering a new era of technology development that's going to better human lives, and in inconceivable ways across all sectors.”

🚀 WattCarbon’s new way, to buy clean energy



Elevating the Green Game 📗


WattCarbon stands out in the green revolution by developing products that seamlessly integrate into existing markets. They're not just playing the game; they're aiming to change how the game is played—by making clean energy more accessible, understandable, and actionable for everyone involved.

Can we raise the bar so that when we go net zero, we mean it? Can we expand access to net zero so that it's more inclusive so that more people can be included in the energy transition?

So, let's break down Corporate Climate Abatement Targets into everyday talk and how WattCarbon is addressing it.


When companies wanna cut down on their climate mess, they're looking at three main things:


  1. The Power Bill Problem: This is all about the carbon footprint from the electricity they use. The fix? Buying clean, green energy to make up for it.

  2. The Ghosts of Pollution Past: We're talking about the bad stuff they've already pumped into the air over the years. The solution here is to balance things out with carbon offsets, like planting trees or investing in renewable energy projects elsewhere.

  3. The Sticky Ongoing Emissions: These are the emissions they just can't shake off right now, no matter what they do. For these, Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs) come into play, helping to greenify the energy they're still using.


The Doppelgänger Metaphor & EAC Explained 🧩


Imagine every unit of energy you use having an invisible twin, one that carries all the environmental benefits or consequences of that energy's source. WattCarbon introduces this concept brilliantly with their "Doppelgänger" metaphor, simplifying the complex world of energy consumption. This approach is crystallized in the form of Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs), serving as the "nutritional label" for energy. It tells you exactly what's in your energy mix, empowering you to choose cleaner, greener options.


Empowering Corporate Net-Zero Goals 🤘


In today's eco-conscious world, many corporations are setting ambitious net-zero goals, aiming to balance out their carbon footprint. WattCarbon is stepping up as a facilitator in this journey, providing the tools and insights needed for businesses to not just meet but exceed their green targets. They're making it feasible for companies to back up their net-zero commitments with tangible, impactful actions.


Big Eco Goals & Innovative Solutions 🌱


WattCarbon's mission is underscored by a set of bold ecological objectives. They're not just about selling EACs; they're about revolutionizing the clean energy market. With solutions like WattCarbon+, they offer a platform that goes beyond mere transactional relationships between clean energy buyers and sellers. Instead, they're building an ecosystem where every certificate represents a step towards a more sustainable and carbon-neutral world.

We want to close it off with a fun trivia!


Earth First Trivia (Answers in the next newsletter!)

  1. Guess how much of the world's electricity is currently produced by renewable sources?

  2. Which country is recognized as the world leader in wind energy, generating a substantial portion of its electricity from wind turbines?


That's a wrap! Stay eco-savvy and catch you in the next one!



Earth First 🌍✌️


Have any climate-related feedback or content topics you’d like to see in Earth First? Feel free to reach out team@theearthfirst.co 


If you are a climate tech startup or investor making real impact hit us up - we would love to chat! woovin@theearthfirst.co or haley@theearthfirst.co 


If you’d like to partner with us or be featured as a sponsor - reach out to evan@theearthfirst.co 


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