What happened to alternative energy investments from the 1970s?
Summary
Marketplace Tech explores why alternative energy innovation stalled after the 1970s oil crisis, despite initial government support and corporate experimentation. Historians Cyrus Modi and Dante Lariccia explain how shifting political priorities under Reagan and falling oil prices derailed early renewable momentum. The episode highlights how this era nonetheless planted the seeds for today’s solar and wind growth, which now generates 17% of U.S. electricity.
Topics discussed
Sponsor: Odoo business software
Sponsor: Cornerstone workforce platform
Marketplace Tech intro and oil price context
1970s energy innovation boom
Government solar funding and Carter's panels
Sponsor: Cornerstone AI for people
Sponsor: QuickBooks and Chuck Feeney philanthropy
Policy shifts and rise of renewables
Preview: Solar geoengineering controversy
Listen ad-free on Castria