In EcoNet News, Volume 26, Issue #8, Ted highlights the Open Streets movement, with a goal is to transform streets into public spaces open to all to allow for a range of activities: promoting economic development, supporting schools, facilitating pedestrian and bike mobility, and providing new ways to “enjoy cultural programming” and build community. He also highlights a plan to build the world’s biggest battery in the State of Maine, Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam's capability to run a soccer match entirely on sustainable energy, record clean tech investment in the U.S., addressing the coal ..read more

In Part 1 of Flanigan’s Eco-Logic - Climate Resolve Series, Ted speaks with Catherine Baltazar, a Policy Analyst and Organizer, and Lia Cohen, a Coordinator for Climate Planning and Resilience, focusing on their work at Climate Resolve, a nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles, building collaborations to champion equitable climate solutions. Catherine was born and raised in LA, and has focused her work around the conditions of the community she grew up in, with limited access to green spaces, just west of downtown LA. She attended Wellesley College, and upon graduating, received a CivicS ..read more

In this Convo of Flanigan’s Eco-Logic, Ted speaks with Brian Thurston, an environmental entrepreneur, currently serving as a Sustainability Solutions Sales Director at APTIM, an environmental solutions firm. He's also worked as a Senior Advisor for multiple companies and nonprofits in the environmental sector, focusing on business development and strategic partnerships. His background is in business development and consulting – utilizing innovation and technology to build multi-disciplinary networks to attack big problems at scale. He and Ted discuss his background, born in Torrance, CA, rais ..read more

In EcoNet News, Volume 26, Issue #7, Ted highlights two high-speed rail projects coming to Southern California: the California High-Speed Rail,  linking Los Angeles and San Francisco, and the Brightline West, linking Los Angeles to Las Vegas. He also highlights ZIPs (zero-emission vehicle implementation plans) and ZEVs (zero-emission vehicles), the climate-protection superstar hemp, South Australia nearing 100% net wind and solar, linear generators, San Francisco's hydrogen fueled ferry, Corryong in Victoria, Australia's community microgrid, thermal energy networks (TENs), sodium batterie ..read more

In this Convo of Flanigan’s Eco-Logic, Ted speaks with Andy Lipkis, Founder of TreePeople, who served as President for five decades. He is currently a Project Executive at Accelerate Resilience LA (ARLA). Andy is a pioneer of urban and community forestry, urban watershed management, and urban climate resilience, dedicating his life to healing the environment while improving the lives of individuals and communities. Andy grew up in southwest LA and began planting trees to rehabilitate smog and fire damaged Los Angeles–area forests when he was 15 years old. At 18, he founded TreePeople, bringin ..read more

In this Convo of Flanigan’s Eco-Logic, Ted speaks with Professor Michael Gerrard from Columbia University. He is the founder and faculty director of the groundbreaking Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, and one of the foremost environmental lawyers in the nation. Michael is an advocate, litigator, teacher, and scholar who has pioneered cutting-edge legal tools and strategies for addressing climate change. He writes and teaches courses on environmental law, climate change law, and energy regulation. He was the chair of the faculty of Columbia University’s renowned Earth Institute from 2015 to ..read more

In this Convo of Flanigan’s Eco-Logic, Ted speaks with Mary Nichols, who served as the chair of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for a total of 18 years. She has served on the Board under Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. (1975–82 and 2010–18), Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (2007–2010) and Governor Gavin Newsom (2019–2020). She also served as California’s Secretary for Natural Resources (1999–2003), appointed by Gov. Gray Davis. Mary is widely recognized for a career as one of the world’s most important environmental regulators. Over a career as an environmental lawyer spanning over 45 y ..read more

In this follow up Convo of Flanigan’s Eco-Logic, Ted speaks with Steve Lewis, Urban Design Principal with the Portland-based firm, ZGF Architects. Steve was also a candidate for the 2026 President at the American Institute of Architects (AIA). He is a facilitator of partnerships and alliances between groups and individuals who seek to use architecture and design to effect positive change to our world. Steve brings to ZGF a wealth of experience across urban planning and design, most notably holding a post with the City of Detroit where he served as the Design Director for the Central Region of ..read more

In this Convo of Flanigan’s Eco-Logic, Ted speaks with Sean Neman, Founder and CEO of Cal Solar Inc. Cal Solar Inc. proudly delivers reliable, full service renewable energy solutions for new construction, existing buildings, and retrofit projects throughout California. Their experienced in-house team of designers, engineers, and installers is equipped to deliver renewable energy solutions for multifamily, commercial/industrial, and public works projects of any size. To date, they have successfully completed 600+ large-scale renewable energy projects, 200+ prevailing wage projects, and worked w ..read more

In this Convo of Flanigan’s Eco-Logic, Ted speaks with Beth Pratt, the Regional Executive Director of the California Regional Center of the National Wildlife Federation. She is a lifelong advocate for wildlife, and has worked in environmental leadership roles for over twenty-five years. She has also spearheaded the #SaveLACougars campaign to collaborate, fund, and build the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, the largest crossing in North America—and potentially the world—to help save a population of mountain lions from extinction. The initiative has raised a half a billion dollars in private ..read more