Energy Changemakers Podcast

Energy Changemakers
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As the energy grid faces unprecedented changes, local energy solutions are increasingly needed. Hosted by Elisa Wood, an experienced energy journalist, The Energy Changemakers Podcast brings you into the heart of these transformations. Each episode features in-depth discussions with industry leaders pioneering the move toward a decentralized grid. From technological innovations to policy changes — discover actionable insights to help your company leverage emerging opportunities. Join us at The Energy Changemakers Podcast and be part of the conversation that shapes our energy future.

  1. What It Really Takes to Make a Customer-Centric Electricity System

    5D AGO

    What It Really Takes to Make a Customer-Centric Electricity System

    Guest: Bruce Nordman, Retired Research Scientist, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory After nearly 40 years at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Bruce Nordman has stepped into retirement — leaving with some big ideas about the future of our electricity system. In this episode, host Elisa Wood speaks with Bruce about the insights he’s gathered over his career and why he believes the grid has strayed from its original purpose: serving customers. Bruce argues that today’s electricity system is structured around the needs of the grid, rather than those of the consumer. He makes the case for a reimagined model—one where electricity behaves more like the internet: plug-and-play, universal, and simple for the end user. From networking electricity inside buildings to creating globally harmonized standards, Bruce shares a vision for how to make energy systems both more efficient and more customer-friendly. This conversation covers: Bruce’s pioneering work on the energy use of electronics and IT networks at LBNL How a “lightbulb moment” in 2010 changed the trajectory of his career Why electricity should be networked like the internet—universal, seamless, and behind-the-scenes The hidden complexity of today’s demand response and why it burdens customers unnecessarily Why virtual power plants miscast customers as power plants rather than treating them as customers The three essential ingredients for a truly customer-centric electricity system: Dynamic pricing Communications infrastructure Automation at the device level Lessons from Scandinavia, California, and Australia—and why no place has yet put all the pieces together What global harmonization would mean for future innovation and affordability Bruce also shares his optimism about what lies ahead and why he believes the greatest barrier isn’t technology—it’s changing the way we think about the grid. Bruce Nordman recently retired after nearly four decades as a research scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. His work has focused on energy efficiency in electronics and IT networks, the intersection of digital technology with electricity use, and advancing standards to support smarter, more sustainable systems. His innovative thinking has shaped policy, regulation, and the way we view the customer’s role in the grid. Today, Bruce continues to consult and advocate for globally harmonized, customer-centered approaches to the electricity sector. Learn more about Bruce Nordman on LinkedIn or at brucenordman.com  Join the Energy Changemakers community: energychangemakers.com Follow host Elisa Wood on LinkedIn If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t forget to subscribe to the Energy Changemakers Podcast on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Want to shape the dialogue on the decentralized grid? Sign up for our newsletter at energychangemakers.com. Together, we can build a grid that’s local, equitable, and clean. About the GuestResources & LinksCall to Action

    24 min
  2. Less Waste, More Productivity: An Economist’s Take on Our Energy Dilemma

    AUG 20

    Less Waste, More Productivity: An Economist’s Take on Our Energy Dilemma

    In this episode of Energy Changemakers, host Elisa Wood sits down with renowned energy economist Skip Laitner to explore the surprising ways our “stuff” — from food waste to excess parking lots — is shaping our energy use, economy, and environment. Drawing from his decades of work at the EPA, ACEEE, and beyond, Skip reframes the energy conversation from simply producing more to using resources more productively. Using vivid, household-level examples, Skip reveals how the sheer mass of human-made materials now likely outweighs all living biomass on Earth — and why that matters for energy demand. He discusses: How household habits, from car ownership to shoe purchases, add hidden costs to our energy system The difference between energy efficiency and energy productivity — and why the latter could cut total energy use in half The role of distributed energy systems in making people more aware of their consumption and waste How smarter policies and greater investment could boost economic resilience while reducing environmental pressures Why repurposing and reuse — not “degrowth” — are key to a healthier economy and planet From the economics of waste to the scaling lessons we can learn from biology, Skip offers a big-picture view that connects our personal consumption patterns to global policy choices. If you care about making the grid cleaner, more local, and more equitable, this conversation will leave you thinking differently about where real change begins. 🔗 Download Skip’s paper Living More by Waste Than Ingenuity https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330383360_Let's_Talk_Trash_Do_We_Live_More_by_Waste_than_Ingenuity Connect + Resources Learn more about the Energy Changemakers community: energychangemakers.com Follow host Elisa Wood on LinkedIn

    29 min
  3. Is Small Town America Ready for Climate Migration?

    AUG 6

    Is Small Town America Ready for Climate Migration?

    As rising sea levels, floods, and wildfires continue to impact large swaths of the U.S., many people will be displaced from the coasts to the middle states. Hillary Brown, former director of the Urban Sustainability Program at City College of New York, sees this as an opportunity for faltering, inland communities to capture new economic opportunities — if they prepare for population growth now. Cultivating clean distributed energy resources is a key step. In this episode, Hillary dives into the policy frameworks, energy planning, community-led models, and financial opportunities that can help small towns thrive while providing a lifeline for those displaced by climate change. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: What climate migration looks like in the U.S.—and why it’s already underway Why many people are still moving to climate-vulnerable areas like Florida and the Southwest How small towns can prepare to welcome newcomers and strengthen their local economies The role of distributed energy systems—solar, wind, microgrids, and storage—in climate-ready planning Real-world examples of small towns transforming through grassroots efforts, tax incentives, and energy innovation How philanthropic investment and private sector engagement can support local resilience The importance of Main Street revitalization in creating economically viable, socially connected communities About the Guest: Hillary Brown is a leading voice in urban sustainability and infrastructure planning. She served as director of the Urban Sustainability Program at City College of New York and is the author of several books on next-generation infrastructure. Her most recent book, Revitalize Resettle: How Main Street USA Can Offer New Beginnings for America’s Climate Displaced, offers a practical, visionary blueprint for how small towns can prepare for climate migration and create stronger, more resilient communities in the process. Resources and Links: Revitalize Resettle: How Main Street USA Can Offer New Beginnings for America’s Climate Displaced — available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other major booksellers Making Rural America into a Climate Migration Mecca with the Help of Distributed Energy, Energy Changemakers, 8/8/2024 Explore more conversations on the decentralized grid at energychangemakers.com Subscribe to the Energy Changemakers newsletter for industry updates and insights Call to Action: Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with colleagues in planning, energy, or local government.

    32 min
  4. Maximizing the Value of Your Molecule: An Interview with Mark Feasel

    JUL 23

    Maximizing the Value of Your Molecule: An Interview with Mark Feasel

    Elisa Wood interviews Mark Feasel — a former leader at Schneider Electric and FuelCell Energy, and now an independent energy consultant — about the growing tension between energy demand and access in the age of AI. As data centers proliferate and energy demand rises, utilities and innovators face a new challenge: Where will the power come from? Mark shares his perspective on how distributed energy resources (DERs), grid constraints, and new power generation models may reshape our energy infrastructure. They discuss the  blank-slate reality of many AI-driven projects, the rise of fully onsite generation, regulatory hurdles, and what the future may hold if some of the most powerful companies in the world begin generating their own electricity. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why access to grid capacity is becoming the new barrier for data centers How AI’s energy needs are reshaping assumptions about utility-scale power The evolving relationship between DERs and utilities—from competition to collaboration Why “oceanfront property” is the new metaphor for grid interconnection The surprising role coal and methane may play in next-gen energy systems How modular, scalable solutions are driving innovation in onsite power What Mark is seeing in the classroom as he teaches the next generation of energy leaders Guest Bio: Mark Feasel, a long-time leader and innovator in the distributed energy space, is the founder and principal of VisRete, a consultancy that services related to energy management, digitalization, microgrids, power grids and distributed generation. He previously served in senior roles at Schneider Electric and FuelCell Energy. Mark also teaches at Northwestern University’s graduate program in Energy and Sustainability, where he mentors the next generation of changemakers. His experience bridges policy, business strategy, and engineering, offering a rare depth of insight into the evolving energy landscape. Energy Changemakers Newsletter Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Spotify Learn more about Northwestern’s Energy & Sustainability Program Connect with Elisa Wood: LinkedIn: Elisa Wood Call to Action: Want to help shape the future of the grid? Join the Energy Changemakers community by subscribing to our newsletter and following us on your favorite podcast platform. Share this episode with someone curious about how AI, regulation, and private capital are influencing the power grid of tomorrow.

    31 min
  5. Grids Are the Center of Everything

    JUL 9

    Grids Are the Center of Everything

    What exactly is a “digital grid”—and why is it the cornerstone of our energy future? In this episode, Elisa Wood sits down with Ruben Llanes, CEO of the Digital Grid business at Schneider Electric, to explore the digital transformation of energy infrastructure. With over 15 years at Schneider and a lifetime surrounded by energy systems (his father owned an electrical contracting business), Ruben shares his insider perspective on why grid modernization is the key to managing the explosive growth of data centers, aging infrastructure, and prosumer energy participation. From rethinking load growth and AI-driven energy demands to unveiling Schneider’s One Digital Grid platform, Ruben offers a hopeful but urgent message: the technology exists—but will we move fast enough? Ruben’s journey from Deutsche Bank to leading digital grid innovation at Schneider Electric What a digital grid actually means—and how it changes everything from asset management to customer engagement How distributed energy, electrification, and AI are reshaping grid demands Why aging infrastructure and long interconnection queues are major challenges The role of grid management software and “non-wire alternatives” in solving energy supply gaps Incentive structures and regulatory shifts needed to accelerate modernization Schneider’s One Digital Grid platform and how it unifies IT, OT, and third-party applications Use cases powered by AI and integrated data ecosystems A vision of the future: resilient, intelligent, consumer-empowering grids Ruben Llanes is the CEO of Schneider Electric’s Digital Grid business, where he oversees the integration of software, analytics, and system intelligence into the global energy infrastructure. With over 15 years at Schneider Electric—and prior experience at Deutsche Bank—Ruben brings a rare combination of financial expertise, operational leadership, and visionary thinking to the role. He previously led AutoGrid and has deep insight into the technological and regulatory forces shaping the future of energy. Schneider Electric Digital Grid AutoGrid (acquired by Uplight) Esri GIS Solutions AI Dash – Vegetation Management Distributech International If this conversation sparked new ideas about grid transformation, help keep it going: Subscribe to the Energy Changemakers Podcast

    33 min
  6. How Can Microgrids Achieve the Holy Grail of Scalability?

    JUN 25

    How Can Microgrids Achieve the Holy Grail of Scalability?

    Scaling microgrids has long been a sticking point in the clean energy conversation—custom-built and complex, they’ve traditionally defied mass deployment. But what if microgrids could be treated as products rather than projects? In this episode of the Energy Changemakers Podcast, host Elisa Wood sits down with Alok Singhania, Senior Partner at Gridscape, to explore how standardizing microgrids can reshape the energy landscape. Alok unpacks Gridscape’s innovative approach to making microgrids modular, scalable, and manufacturable, like any other piece of equipment. Together, they examine regulatory roadblocks, federal policy uncertainty, and the educational gaps holding back market adoption. From tribal installations to community colleges, Alok shares real-world examples of Gridscape’s work, outlining a clear path to making microgrids central to a decentralized, resilient, and equitable grid of the future. Why most microgrids are stuck in a “custom project” loop Gridscape’s approach to productizing microgrids for scale How permitting delays and lack of public understanding slow adoption Why a decentralized grid is critical for resilience and cost savings The impact of utility policy and the “over-the-fence rule” How community microgrids could become the future of energy infrastructure Real-world examples from fire stations, tribal lands, and college campuses Insights on federal tax incentives, tariffs, and future-proofing the industry Alok Singhania is a senior partner at Gridscape, a microgrid technology and project development company based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With a background in both technology and entrepreneurship, Alok has been instrumental in transforming microgrid systems from custom installations into scalable, modular energy solutions. His work supports communities, critical infrastructure, and institutions in their journey toward energy independence and grid resilience. Gridscape Solutions U.S. Investment Tax Credit (ITC) overview: energy.gov San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians Microgrid Case Study Shabo College Microgrid Project Fremont Fire Station CEC Microgrid Project 🔗 Website: https://energychangemakers.com/ 📩 Newsletter: Subscribe for weekly insights on the decentralized grid 📣 Spread the word: Rate & review the podcast to help grow the clean energy conversation! The Energy Changemakers Podcast is your source for expert insights into building a decentralized, local, and equitable energy future. Subscribe and join the movement.

    31 min
  7. DERs and the Abundance Agenda: What Comes After Federal Funding Falls Short

    JUN 11

    DERs and the Abundance Agenda: What Comes After Federal Funding Falls Short

    In this episode, Elisa Wood sits down with Tim Hade to discuss why now—despite, or perhaps because of—federal policy turbulence, the distributed energy industry is poised for massive transformation. Tim unpacks his move to Santa Barbara (which, by the way, he calls “home to the worst grid in the continental U.S.”) and how that community could become a national model for DER-powered resilience. They explore why community organizing is becoming just as crucial as engineering, how local governments are key players in energy infrastructure, and what role utilities can play in funding distributed solutions. From virtual power plants to the Distributed Capacity Procurement model, this conversation is a masterclass in building pragmatic, bottom-up energy systems in a time of urgent change. If you’re worried about the future of distributed energy, this episode will give you a reason to hope—and a blueprint for action. Key Topics: Why load growth is reshaping utility priorities Santa Barbara’s unique grid vulnerability—and opportunity The role of local government in infrastructure resilience Virtual power plants vs. legacy grid systems Funding DERs without federal tax credits Building community support and political will Why DERs may thrive in a less supportive federal environment Relevant Links: Learn more about Tim Hade’s work: Scale Microgrid Learn more about Leah Stokes’ research: https://www.leahstokes.com SparkFund’s Distributed Capacity Procurement model: https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/events/distributed-capacity-procurement-a-new-tool-for-utilities/ More from Elisa Wood: EnergyChangemakers.com Call to Action: Are you ready to be part of the shift toward decentralized, community-driven energy? Subscribe to the Energy Changemakers Podcast wherever you get your shows, and leave us a review to help this message reach more listeners. Join our newsletter at EnergyChangemakers.com for exclusive content and updates.

    43 min
  8. Microgrids Aren’t What They Used To Be

    MAY 28

    Microgrids Aren’t What They Used To Be

    In this insightful episode of the Energy Changemakers Podcast, Elisa Wood is joined by industry experts Lisa Cohn and Peter Asmus to explore the dynamic world of microgrids. They trace the evolution of microgrids from niche solutions for remote areas to vital tools for resilience in a world facing rising energy demands, data center expansion, and climate uncertainty. Lisa and Peter share their extensive experience in the field, discussing how microgrids have evolved from basic solar-plus-storage setups to complex, multi-resource systems that integrate fuel cells, hydro, data centers, and even artificial intelligence. They dive into how microgrids are transforming industries, from agriculture in Oregon to energy resilience in Alaska. Host: Elisa Wood, founder of Energy ChangemakersGuests: With: Lisa Cohn: Co-founder of Microgrid Knowledge and founder of CleanEnergyWriters.com. Peter Asmus: President of Pathfinder’s Communications and Senior Advisor of Clara Advisory. Key topics include: The origins of microgrids and how Superstorm Sandy propelled them into the spotlight. The critical role of microgrids in data center resilience. Innovative microgrid projects, including Blue Lake Rancheria, Cordova, and Kodiak Island. Why data centers are now leading microgrid adoption. The impact of tariffs and regulatory uncertainty on microgrid growth. The future of microgrids as a solution for energy resilience and decentralized power. Whether you’re a seasoned energy professional or simply curious about how microgrids work, this episode offers a comprehensive look at the past, present, and future of this transformative technology. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the Energy Changemakers Podcast on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Want to stay informed on the latest in energy innovation? Subscribe to our newsletter at https://newsletter.energychangemakers.com/ Call to Action:

    47 min
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4.4
out of 5
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About

As the energy grid faces unprecedented changes, local energy solutions are increasingly needed. Hosted by Elisa Wood, an experienced energy journalist, The Energy Changemakers Podcast brings you into the heart of these transformations. Each episode features in-depth discussions with industry leaders pioneering the move toward a decentralized grid. From technological innovations to policy changes — discover actionable insights to help your company leverage emerging opportunities. Join us at The Energy Changemakers Podcast and be part of the conversation that shapes our energy future.

Information

  • Creator
    Energy Changemakers
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Energy Changemakers
  • Show Website
    Energy Changemakers Podcast

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