Renewable Energy SmartPod

Sean McMahon
  • 4.9 (17)
  • BUSINESS NEWS
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY

The Renewable Energy SmartPod offers an inside look at the people, technologies and trends that are powering the energy transition. If you want to hear more about the role renewables are playing to decarbonize the global economy and combat climate change, this is the podcast for you. Follow us on Twitter @RenewablesPod or sign up for our newsletter: Renewable Energy SmartBrief.

  1. 4D AGO

    How to Keep Data Centers Secure - with Bill Kleyman from Apolo.us

    Sponsored by EDF power solutions You've seen the headlines about the massive amounts of money that is being poured into AI data centers. You've heard concerns about how AI data centers are going to be powered -- and who is going to pay for it. But you probably haven't heard much about how all those data centers are going to be secured. After all, it sure would be a shame if you spent billions on a data center only to have it knocked offline by a physical or cyber attack! Bill Kleyman, the co-founder and CEO of Apolo.us, joins the show to discuss the array of threats data centers are facing and some of the countermeasures that are being deployed. From ransomware and other cyberthreats to drone attacks and physical incursions, Bill outlines all the ways malicious actors can wreak havoc at a data center.  Bill also delves into some of the findings of the latest "State of Data Center" report. (Note: You can DM Bill on LinkedIn for a copy of the survey results.)  More resources from this episode How Hackers Attack AI Data Centers with Wireless Devices How the Internet May Be Taken Down More resources from EDF power solutions Distribution-Scale Power Sign up for the Renewable Energy SmartBrief

    43 min

  2. NOV 25

    Climate Risk Data Remains Critical with Larry Lawrence from Intercontinental Exchange

    Sponsored by: EDF power solutions -- Info@EDF-re.com This episode marks the turn of one of the most popular guests we’ve ever had on this show: Larry Lawrence, Vice President of Sustainable Finance Data at Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). When we had him on the show back in 2023, our conversation veered into the various ways data was evolving to drive innovation in sustainable finance.  Well, it’s 2025 and it’s safe to say … things have changed. The very word sustainable is now taboo in some spaces, but Larry and the team at ICE don’t get caught up in all that. They don’t let semantics get in the way of the data.  And when it comes to climate risk data, the financial services industry is listening to what the data says. Asset managers are listening. Investors in mortgage-backed securities are listening. And perhaps most importantly, insurers are listening. Natural disasters like wildfires, floods and hurricanes have reshaped insurance markets. So much so that, as the team at ICE shared in a recent report, climate risks are creating affordability risks that can ultimately lead to default risks.  More resources ICE Report: How are home insurance costs changing across the United States? Key highlights Importance of clarity in climate risk data - (4:27) Natural disasters and 'on the ground' data - (6:27) Innovative ways investors are using climate risk data - (13:10) Impact of climate risk on home insurance costs - (18:38) Can the insurance affordability problem be solved? - (20:55) A shift in how we talk about 'sustainable' finance - (27:39) Real-time markets for climate risk data - (31:06) Larry's bold predictions for the future of climate risk data - (34:53) Sign up for the Renewable Energy SmartBrief

    40 min

  3. OCT 23

    Are AI Data Centers the New Power Centers?

    Sponsored by: EDF power solutions -- Info@EDF-re.com One of the hottest topics these days -- not just in the energy sector, but across the entire economy -- is the anticipated energy demand from AI data centers. In an effort to separate the signal from the noise, Jeffrey Jakubiak, a partner at Vinson & Elkins, stops by the show to share his insights on the specific load demands AI data centers place on the grid. Perhaps most importantly, Jeffrey also discusses whether or not the US will be able to overcome a smorgasbord of challenges in order to build out enough generation capacity to meet that demand.  One tactic many big tech firms are embracing is colocation. Amid the new 'Bring Your Own Power' (BYOP) environment, Jeffrey and I ponder one possible long-term impact on the grid: Will data centers become power centers? Sign up for the Renewable Energy SmartBrief

    33 min

  4. SEP 26

    Navigating the New Energy Landscape with Michael Chanin from Cherry Street Energy

    Sponsored by: KPMG While recent months have been full of turmoil for renewables companies amid market uncertainty and dramatic policy shifts,  there are still energy companies that are closing new deals and driving innovation in the renewables market. Michael Chanin, founder and CEO of Cherry Street Energy, stops by the show to discuss the changing energy landscape and how businesses can adapt. Michael highlights the impacts of recent policy changes, supply chain challenges and solutions, and shares his predictions on what the future holds for renewables. Recorded on the date of Cherry Street Energy's 10th anniversary, Michael and his team aren't planning on slowing down any time soon.  More resources from KPMG: Shaping the Future of Renewable and Emerging Energies Unlocking the power of data products in the energy sectorLead the curve: Make energy disruption a competitive advantageSign up for the Renewable Energy SmartBrief

    30 min

  5. SEP 18

    Smart Buildings Are Getting Smarter with James Dice from Nexus Labs

    Sponsored by: EDF power solutions and PowerFlex With rising energy prices in the news, there's never been a better time for building owners and operators to optimize their operations to save energy costs. With that in mind, James Dice, founder and CEO of Nexus Labs, stops by the show to discuss smart building technology. Ahead of NexusCon 2025, James shares his insights about technologies and trends that are advancing the industry and also cites examples of companies that leading the way. Episode highlights What Nexus Labs does - (3:19) The latest trends in smart building solutions - (6:32) Key data sets for Energy Management Systems - (11:22) The buzz around power generation - (16:04) Real-world examples of owners/operators leveraging smart solutions - (18:57) What is the first step a building onwer/operators should take? - (21:23) What's in store for NexusCon 2025 - (22:48) "The BESS is Yet to Come" - (24:56) A role for utilities to play in the growth of smart buildings - (26:30) Smart solutions and remand response - (29:02) James' bold prediction for the smart building industry - (31:33) Sign up for the Renewable Energy SmartBrief

    34 min

  6. SEP 4

    What's Next for Rising Energy Prices - with Sean Kelly from Amperon

    Sponsored by KPMG With rising energy prices poised to remain a hot topic in the months ahead, Amperon CEO Sean Kelly stops by the show to dive into the underlying reasons for energy price increases. Sean and I discuss what utilities, policymakers and other market participants can do to address rising energy costs associated with increased power demand from AI data centers. We also outline what energy traders are doing -- and the tools they are leveraging -- to respond to the price volatility. This episode is not about pointing fingers or placing blame. We focus on what’s happening, why it's happening and perhaps most importantly ... what’s next? More Resources from KPMG KPMG report: Energy sector tax provisions in “One Big Beautiful Bill”Unlocking the power of data products in the energy sectorKPMG global tech report: energy insightsShaping the Future of Renewable and Emerging EnergiesEpisode Highlights The impact AI data centers are having on energy demand - (3:51)Are PJM's most recent auction results a sign of things to come? - (7:24)"All of the above for everything" - (9:30) The role for nuclear - (12:35)Energy forecasting in this environment - (16:13)How power traders a managing price volatility - (18:34)New trading tools and capabilities - (21:17)Bold predictions: What are we going to be talking about in 2-3 years? (24:48) Sign up for the Renewable Energy SmartBrief

    28 min

  7. AUG 28

    Tax Incentives and Trade Policy with KPMG's Jessica Libby

    Sponsored by: EDF power solutions As the Trump administration continues to announce policy changes at a rapid pace, Jessica Libby, principal with KPMG Trade and Customs, returns to the show to discuss the shifts that are having the biggest impact on the renewable energy industry. Jessica highlights rules related to content from Foreign Entities of Concern (FEOC), new tax guidance from the Treasury Department related to wind and solar and, of course, tariffs.  Jessica explains a new contractual term known as 'tariff majeure' or 'Trump majeure' and also reveals the one policy tweak that she thinks is currently under the radar, but might yet become a major challenge for the industry. More resources from EDF power solutions: Distribution-Scale Power  Key highlights:  "It's a new and different world." - (4:18) Foreign entities of concern - (6:37) Tariffs, tariiffs and more tariffs - (8:16) Challenges to onshoring manufacturing - (10:55) Treasury Department guidance for wind and solar - (13:44) How business owners are responding to all these changes - (19:15) 'Tariff majeure' or 'Trump majeure' - (21:36) Could all these changes make supply chains more sustainable? - (22:26) Logistically speaking, is the US capable of collecting all these tariffs? - (24:54) A big policy change that is currently under the radar - (29:47) Jessica's bold predictions - (32:54) Sign up for the Renewable Energy SmartBrief

    37 min

  8. JUL 31

    Digging Deep Into Geothermal with Mike Richter from Brightcore Energy

    Sponsored by: EDF power solutions When hockey legend Mike Richter retired from the NHL, he pivoted to a career in energy efficiency. Mike is now the president of Brightcore Energy, a company that offers turn-key solutions -- including geothermal systems, solar, energy storage, or smart building technologies -- that simplify the clean energy journey for large commercial and industrial clients.  During our conversation, Mike and I focus on advancements in geothermal that enable companies like Brightcore to not only complete projects in wide open spaces like business parks and college campuses, but also in extremely tight spaces ... like Manhattan.  Selected highlights How geothermal helps buildings 'beat the heat ... and the cold' - (4:33)The challenges of using georthermal in urban settings - (10:05)Geothermal and earthquakes - (18:48)PPAs and other financial factors for geothermal - (25:17)The impact of the Big Beautiful Act on geothermal - (32:06)Mike's bold predictions for the future of geothermal - (39:33)Geothermal and AI data centers - (43:13)Sign up for the Renewable Energy SmartBrief

    48 min
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4.9
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About

The Renewable Energy SmartPod offers an inside look at the people, technologies and trends that are powering the energy transition. If you want to hear more about the role renewables are playing to decarbonize the global economy and combat climate change, this is the podcast for you. Follow us on Twitter @RenewablesPod or sign up for our newsletter: Renewable Energy SmartBrief.

Information

  • Creator
    Sean McMahon
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Renewable Energy SmartPod
  • Show Website
    Renewable Energy SmartPod

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