Episode 25

Alfred Johnson of Crux on Building A Clean Energy Tax Credit Marketplace

Alfred Johnson returns to the pod to give us the update on tax credit transferability and clean energy markets, just over a year after launching Crux Climate. As co-founder and CEO of Crux, Alfred has the startup’s revolutionary management software poised to capitalize on a multi-billion (if not trillion) dollar opportunity in clean energy tax credits. 


After graduating Stanford in 2008, Alfred worked for the U.S. Treasury Department, BlackRock, and Clara Lending before co-founding his first software company, Mobilize, in 2016 with Allen Kramer. That startup was acquired in 2020, but it wouldn't be the last venture for Alfred and Allen. 


In 2023, the two launched Crux Climate, a software startup developing online solutions to allow organizations to buy and sell tax credits for clean energy. Since its launch, clean energy tax credits have skyrocketed, with the Inflation Reduction Act and other government regulations incentivizing clean energy. 


Hear Alfred talk about what’s changed in this monumental first year, the massive implications of transferability for the private and public sectors, and why Crux is uniquely positioned to define the clean energy tax credit market as we know it. 


Episode Highlights

00:00 Alfred Johnson on energy’s $3 trillion market

00:52 Conor Gaughan introduces Alfred and Crux Climate

01:46 Alfred’s work in software, finance, and government leading to Crux

05:01 Attempting to summit Mount Marcus Baker, AK’s 3rd highest peak

07:13 What Crux Climate solves, transferability, and the tax credit market

14:36 Marketplace growth, predicting scale, and providing business value 

25:10 Domestic energy’s evolution, private vs public sectors, and competition

32:25 The future of clean energy, surprising takeaways, and what’s next for Crux

40:09 Optimism, exciting industry innovations, and advice for a younger self

46:07 Where to learn more and end credits


If you liked this episode, listen next to Peter Godart of Found Energy on Aluminum Fuel, NASA, and Engineering Impact at Scale


More on Crux and Alfred Johnson:


Connect with Conor Gaughan on linkedin.com/in/ckgone and threads.net/@ckgone


Have questions, or a great idea for a potential guest? Email us at CiC@consensus-digital.com 


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Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.



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Conor Gaughan

CONOR GAUGHAN
Conor founded Consensus Digital Media to
tell uplifting stories about topics that inspire. He
spent the last decade building a digital strategy
firm, and the ten years before that in media
investment banking. Conor graduated with honors
from Harvard University with a
degree in Economics, but his
(super cute) dog, Ace, makes
up for it. Most importantly– he’s
passionate about creators,
innovators, and entrepreneurs
who are making a difference
while making good money.