Talk Story with a Sustainability Icon
At the recent Hawaii Sustainability Expo, CleanTechnica founder Scott Cooney had the privilege of sitting on stage for a “talk story” session with Bill McKibben—one of his personal heroes. McKibben’s book Deep Economy profoundly changed Cooney’s life, transforming him from an angry young environmentalist into an effective sustainability professional. In many ways, Cooney credits McKibben for the existence of CleanTechnica itself. Cooney served as Executive Producer of the Expo, which allowed him to host this on-stage interview.
Key Topics from the Interview
The interview, recorded on video (embedded below), covers a wide range of pressing energy and environmental issues.
Global Shift Away from Fossil Fuels
McKibben discusses how nations around the world are moving away from fossil fuels, highlighting some mind-blowing technological developments that are accelerating this transition.
Hawaii’s Exploration of New Fossil Fuel Infrastructure
The conversation also touches on Hawaii’s ongoing exploration of new fossil fuel infrastructure—a critical topic for the islands as they balance renewable energy goals with existing energy needs.
McKibben’s Prognostications for the Next 2–3 Years
McKibben shares his predictions on what will dominate the energy landscape in the next two to three years, offering insights into the near-term future of clean energy.
Personal Philosophy and Journey
More than just a standard interview, Cooney used the “talk story” format—a Hawaiian phrase meaning to get to know someone deeply without an agenda—to explore McKibben’s personal development and philosophy. The result is an intimate, thought-provoking conversation.
Scott Cooney is a serial eco-entrepreneur and founder of CleanTechnica. He also founded Pono Home, a service that has performed efficiency retrofits on more than 20,000 homes and small businesses, reducing carbon pollution by more than 27 million pounds annually and saving customers over $6.3 million per year on utilities. Cooney later gifted Pono Home to a long-tenured employee with native Hawaiian roots for just the liquidation value, turning down a mainland buyer. He is also an adjunct professor (formerly at University of Hawai’i MBA program), author of Build a Green Small Business, and occasional investor in companies like Rivian (RIVN).
Watch the full video interview below. Enjoy, share, and subscribe to the CleanTechnica YouTube channel and newsletter. Sign up for the daily or bi-weekly newsletter to stay updated on clean technology news.