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More power poles, more problems

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Electric vehicles and renewable energy sources are in their boom era — and that means the need for electricity is higher than ever before. The construction of an expanded energy grid to meet that demand is going to require a lot of raw minerals, metals… and a surprising commodity: lumber. This week, we take a trip to the forests of the Southern Pine Belt where demand for big trees far outstrips the supply and find out what's being done to prevent a pole-ocalypse.

Featuring:

  • Dr. Robert Bardon, Associate Dean for Extension and Professor at the College of Natural Resources at NC State University 
  • Ryan Dezember, Commodities Reporter at The Wall Street Journal

Links:

  • Check out Ryan's reporting on .
  • You can find a transcript of the episode here.
Charlie Shelton-Ormond is a podcast producer for ¼ª²ÊÍøÍøÕ¾.
Anisa Khalifa is an award-winning podcast producer and host at ¼ª²ÊÍøÍøÕ¾. She grew up in a public radio household, and fell in love with podcasts shortly before her friends convinced her to start one with them about Korean dramas. Since joining ¼ª²ÊÍøÍøÕ¾ in 2021, Anisa has produced Me and My Muslim Friends, CREEP, Tested and Dating While Gray, and is the host of ¼ª²ÊÍøÍøÕ¾'s weekly podcast The Broadside.
Jerad Walker is ¼ª²ÊÍøÍøվ’s editor of narrative audio and podcasts. He joined the station in 2022 after nearly a decade at Oregon Public Broadcasting.
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