Build, Repeat. (A Paces Podcast)

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Deep discussions with those who are helping us build our way out of climate change. 

  1. How virtual power plants became a daily grid resource with Matt Plante

    HÁ 5 DIAS

    How virtual power plants became a daily grid resource with Matt Plante

    In this episode, James talks with Matt Plante, President of Voltus, about what it actually takes to build a virtual power plant that grid operators call on every single day. Voltus aggregates distributed energy resources, including industrial loads, batteries, commercial buildings, and now residential assets, into virtual power plants that participate in wholesale electricity markets. Since April 2024, Voltus has been dispatched by a grid operator every single day, a milestone that signals demand flexibility has moved from emergency backup to standard operating procedure. Matt joins James to unpack how the company has grown 10x since their 2021 conversation, what finally made the battery cost curve work, and why the barriers to scale look nothing like the barriers to entry. James and Matt get into: Why the shift from no-load-growth to explosive load growth has changed what grid operators will consider, and how fastHow batteries went from not penciling to the fastest-growing DER segment in Voltus's portfolioWhat data centers actually want from demand flexibility programs, and why forcing them to participate would backfireWhy FERC 2222 hasn't delivered and what it actually takes to unlock new states for third-party demand responseThe grid's relationship to distributed resources has fundamentally changed, and this episode is a clear-eyed look at what made that shift happen and what comes next. Paces helps developers find and evaluate the sites most suitable for renewable development. Interested in a call with James, CEO @ Paces?

    32min
  2. Learning from the last grid build-out (and why VPPs are the answer) with Mark Dyson

    3 DE MAR.

    Learning from the last grid build-out (and why VPPs are the answer) with Mark Dyson

    The grid has been here before. Between 1960 and 2000, US utilities grew demand 4–5x while cutting real electricity prices by 20%, and the lessons from that era are more relevant than ever. Mark Dyson is Managing Director of Electricity at RMI, where he's spent nearly two decades working on grid modernization, distributed energy resources, and the policy and market design that holds it all together. Before returning to RMI, he led analytics at Ascend Analytics, giving him a rare vantage point across both the technical and market sides of the energy transition. In this episode, Mark draws on that history to make the case that data center load growth isn't the crisis it's being framed as — it's a solvable problem, and virtual power plants are a big part of the solution. He breaks down why VPPs are 40–60% cheaper than gas peakers or batteries for meeting new peak demand, and what it actually takes to deploy them at scale. This episode covers: - The three lessons from last century's grid growth: embrace new technology, invest proactively in infrastructure, and make the most of existing capacity - Why virtual power plants are the fastest, most affordable tool for meeting data center demand growth - Why hyperscalers resist flexible load at the project level — and how paying others to curtail resolves that tension - Navigating permitting headwinds and the post-OBBBA policy environment If you're working on the energy transition, Mark's perspective on what history can actually teach us about today's challenges is essential listening. Learn more about RMI here.  Paces helps developers find and evaluate the sites most suitable for renewable development. Interested in a call with James, CEO @ Paces?

    34min
  3. Why grid planning is the hardest problem in energy right now with Derek Stenclik

    17 DE FEV.

    Why grid planning is the hardest problem in energy right now with Derek Stenclik

    In this episode, James talks with Derek Stenclik, Founding Partner at Telos Energy. Derek shares his path into the power sector, starting at GE where he spent nearly a decade working on grid planning, resource adequacy, and early studies on integrating wind and solar at scale, before co-founding Telos to tackle some of the grid’s most complex planning challenges. The conversation focuses on how utilities and grid operators are navigating an era of unprecedented uncertainty, driven by rapid load growth, shifting resource mixes, and long planning timelines. Derek shares how Telos approaches these challenges through advanced grid modeling, emphasizing the importance of scenario analysis, proactive planning, and better decision-making in the face of volatile forecasts and evolving market rules. Key topics include: Why grid modeling and scenario analysis are foundational to the energy transitionManaging explosive load growth from data centers and large new loadsThe evolving role of load flexibility, batteries, and behind-the-meter generationAffordability, cost allocation, and the risk of stranded infrastructureA must-listen for anyone thinking about how reliability, affordability, and speed intersect in today’s power system. Reach out to Telos Energy by visiting their website.  Paces helps developers find and evaluate the sites most suitable for renewable development. Interested in a call with James, CEO @ Paces?

    33min
  4. Bridging the power gap: The fuel-flexible future for data centers with Craig Gordon

    21 DE JAN.

    Bridging the power gap: The fuel-flexible future for data centers with Craig Gordon

    In this episode, James talks with Craig Gordon, Head of Global Policy, Regulatory Affairs, and Business Development at Mainspring Energy. Craig brings deep experience in clean energy—from scaling Invenergy’s wind and solar projects to shaping U.S. energy policy with the American Clean Power Association. Today, he’s helping Mainspring redefine dispatchable generation for a rapidly electrifying world. They discuss how Mainspring’s linear generator technology offers a modular, dispatchable solution ideal for the growing energy demands of hyperscale data centers. Craig shares insights on the importance of fuel flexibility, how the Inflation Reduction Act has reshaped deployment dynamics, and the policy shifts enabling faster, cleaner energy integration behind the meter. How Mainspring’s linear generator bridges the gap between renewables and dispatchable generationThe role of fuel-flexibility (natural gas, hydrogen, ammonia) in enabling resilient sitingWhy data center load growth is stressing legacy regulatory frameworksHow recent FERC policy shifts are opening new doors for behind-the-meter innovationA must-listen for developers navigating grid constraints, data center energy needs, and next-gen dispatchable tech. Paces helps developers find and evaluate the sites most suitable for renewable development. Interested in a call with James, CEO @ Paces?

    33min
  5. Fixing the Grid-Data Center Disconnect with Tony Wagler and Alex Oort Alonso

    03/12/2025

    Fixing the Grid-Data Center Disconnect with Tony Wagler and Alex Oort Alonso

    In this episode, James talks with Tony and Alex from the Paces team about their recent white paper exploring the mismatch between data center growth projections and actual grid planning. Tony, a seasoned power developer, and Alex, a researcher focused on data center flexibility, dive into how speculative load growth is driving transmission investments that may never serve real projects. They discuss how Paces analyzed over 14 million Texas land parcels to identify where data centers could feasibly be built, incorporating constraints like power access, zoning, water, and community sentiment. The conversation reveals a fundamental disconnect: the grid is being built for data centers that may never exist, while truly viable sites often lack the needed power capacity. By taking a “land-first” approach, Paces offers a bottom-up, data-driven framework to inform smarter, faster, and more collaborative infrastructure decisions. Why ERCOT (Texas) was the ideal case study for this white paper.The speculative nature of current interconnection requests and its ripple effects.Key site viability criteria: power, topography, ownership, fiber, and water.Why only 17% of viable land near substations in Texas has withdrawal capacity.A must-listen for anyone building in clean energy, this episode offers a practical framework to better align developer needs with grid planning. Paces helps developers find and evaluate the sites most suitable for renewable development. Interested in a call with James, CEO @ Paces?

    33min
  6. From Wall Street to Clean Energy: Investing in the AI-Powered Power Grid with Shanu Mathew

    20/11/2025

    From Wall Street to Clean Energy: Investing in the AI-Powered Power Grid with Shanu Mathew

    In this episode, James talks with Shanu Mathew, Senior Vice President at Lazard, where he co-leads a U.S. sustainable equity strategy. With a background in traditional finance and a passion for climate and sustainability, Shanu blends data-driven investing with macro-level insight into energy and technology transitions. They explore how Shanu’s career evolved from M&A banking to managing portfolios at the intersection of sustainability, power, and AI. The conversation ranges from the transformation of ESG investing, to the macroeconomic impact of AI on energy demand, and how public markets are trying to keep up with private innovation in data infrastructure. Shanu also unpacks what’s real (and what’s hype) in the current AI-capex boom. The evolution of ESG investing into a bottom-up, alpha-first approachWhy AI is driving unprecedented power demand and reshaping energy marketsThe "chip to grid" value chain and where public market opportunities liePhysical bottlenecks like land, power, and permitting—and how they impact AI deploymentIf you want a deeply informed view on how capital markets are adapting to the climate-tech and AI megatrends, this episode is a must-listen. Paces helps developers find and evaluate the sites most suitable for renewable development. Interested in a call with James, CEO @ Paces?

    44min
  7. Building Clean Data Center Infrastructure with Gabe Messercola

    04/11/2025

    Building Clean Data Center Infrastructure with Gabe Messercola

    In this episode, James talks with Gabe Messercola, Director of Data Center Solutions at EDF. Gabe shares his journey from studying environmental policy and working as a rock climbing instructor to building renewable energy projects at Nexamp and leading innovative data center strategies at EDF. With deep experience in asset management and power markets, Gabe now focuses on aligning renewable generation with high-demand loads like data centers and flexible industrial users. They discuss the evolving relationship between renewables, load growth, and AI-driven data center demand. Gabe explains how EDF is solving curtailment and congestion challenges by co-locating load at underutilized wind and solar sites. He highlights EDF's work with Soluna on a 166 MW behind-the-meter data center and dives into the regulatory, technical, and financial structures enabling this model. The conversation also tackles the critical role of market incentives, competitive retail, and grid flexibility to unlock fast deployment and sustainable scale. How co-located data centers are unlocking value from stranded renewable assetsThe ERCOT PUN model and its role in hybrid project designThe tension between AI uptime requirements and grid flexibilityWhy competitive retail markets like Texas are leading clean energy innovationThis episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of data centers, clean energy, and infrastructure innovation. Paces helps developers find and evaluate the sites most suitable for renewable development. Interested in a call with James, CEO @ Paces?

    34min
  8. Master Planning the Energy Future with Nat Sahlstrom

    09/10/2025

    Master Planning the Energy Future with Nat Sahlstrom

    In this episode, James talks with Nat Sahlstrom, Chief Energy Officer at Tract, a data center developer enabling the next generation of digital infrastructure. Nat shares his unconventional journey from Seattle’s punk rock scene to leading energy strategy at Amazon and now Tract. With over two decades in energy, he brings deep insight into the intersection of data center growth, power planning, and sustainable infrastructure. They explore the critical challenges and opportunities facing the energy system in the age of hyperscale AI. Nat discusses his experience building one of the world’s largest corporate renewable portfolios at Amazon and how Tract is addressing the power, land, and social license hurdles confronting data center developers today. He advocates for master-planned campuses as the key to responsible, scalable digital infrastructure and unpacks why the U.S. needs a World War II-level mobilization to meet future load demand. How hyperscaler energy needs are reshaping utility planning and permitting.The shift from back-office energy functions to front-page headlines.Why social license and stakeholder alignment are critical to infrastructure success.The case for horizontal and vertical integration in data center development.This episode is a must-listen for anyone thinking about where power, policy, and AI converge. Paces helps developers find and evaluate the sites most suitable for renewable development. Interested in a call with James, CEO @ Paces?

    38min
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Sobre

Deep discussions with those who are helping us build our way out of climate change. 

Informações

  • Criado por
    Paces
  • Anos de atividade
    2020 - 2026
  • Episódios
    155
  • Classificação
    Livre
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Build, Repeat. (A Paces Podcast)
  • Site do podcast
    Build, Repeat. (A Paces Podcast)

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