Lyft is set for an IPO on Friday; Uber is driving up to the IPO window soon. Investors seem enthusiastic, but skeptics see a lot of risks and a bumpy path to profitability.

In 2018, transportation network companies — pretty much Lyft and Uber — gave 2.6 billion rides. Lyft gave a billion of those rides, doubling its revenue over 2017 to $2.2 billion.

We know the consumer appetite is there. But as Lyft hits the public markets, many wonder if that volume can be turned into profits. Autonomous cars, competition from other shared mobility companies, and regulations are all a potential risk.

So what does Lyft’s IPO — and soon Uber’s — tell us about where mobility is headed? We're discussing on this week's Energy Gang podcast.

Then, one of America’s biggest utilities said recently it will offer only carbon-free energy by 2050. In the second half of the show, we’re going to dig into Xcel’s plan. How will they do it? And will it encourage other big power companies to do the same?

Finally, Midwestern floods have caused $3 billion in damages and devastated rural communities. We’ll look at our poor infrastructure management, and where the floods fit into climate trends.

Recommended reading:

• Seattle Times: As It Gets Set for IPO, Lyft Outlines All the Reasons Ride-Sharing Could Fail
• NPR: Ride-Hailing Services Add To Traffic Congestion, Study Says
• CityLab: If Your Car Is Stuck in Traffic, It's Not Uber and Lyft's Fault
• Vox: For the First Time, a Major US Utility Has Committed to 100% Clean Energy
• Xcel Energy: Building a Carbon-Free Future
• Atlantic: Midwestern Flooding Isn’t a Natural Disaster
• Report: Climate Change in the Midwest

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