Energy Changemakers Podcast

Energy Changemakers
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Energy Changemakers Podcast

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. 6 天前

    What it Took to Build one of the US’ Largest Community Choice Aggregations

    How do you make an ambitious clean energy goal a reality that benefits an entire community? In this episode, we sit down with Cody Hooven, principal and co-founder of Evolution Affairs, to explore how she led the charge in creating San Diego Community Power—now the second-largest Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) in the U.S. From navigating policy and financial hurdles to engaging local stakeholders and launching during the turbulence of COVID, Cody shares the behind-the-scenes story of what it takes to build a more decentralized, community-driven energy future. She also discusses the growing role of local governments in energy decision-making, the unique advantages CCAs offer over traditional utilities, and why community engagement is the key to lasting change. Tune in to learn how CCAs are shaping the future of energy—and how communities across the country can take control of their power. 00:00 Introduction to Energy Changemakers 00:27 Meet Cody Hooven: The Force Behind San Diego's Community Choice Program 01:57 Understanding Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) 04:48 The Growth and Challenges of San Diego Community Power 11:40 Navigating Financial Hurdles During COVID-19 14:16 Lessons Learned and Advice for Future CCAs 23:24 The Role of CCAs in Distributed Energy 29:41 Future of CCAs and Energy Transition 33:30 Cody Hooven's New Venture: Evolution Affairs 35:25 Conclusion and Call to Action 🔗 Learn More & Join the Conversation: EnergyChangemakers.com

    36 分鐘

  2. 2月6日

    How Should the Power Industry Think about the DeepSeek Announcement?

    AI is driving up power demand, but how much and how fast remains under debate. Bulls warn we’ll need far more electric power than we’re poised to produce. Bears say utilities inflate the numbers and don’t account for the efficiencies technology tends to achieve over time. The debate heightened recently when DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company, announced that it had developed a more efficient AI large language model. This model purports to perform as well as US models but uses far less computing power and, therefore, less electricity. This is a big deal because the power industry has been planning and investing based on the idea that AI will increase electric demand significantly. So, exactly how much influence will DeepSeek have on electricity demand? In an interview with Energy Changemakers’ Elisa Wood, Rich Miller, former editor and founder of Data Center Knowledge and Data Center Frontier, explains why neither the bulls nor the bears are correct.  Miller also describes the growing innovation of data centers, their increasingly important role in energy, and why they could transform the utility industry. Stay until the end, when Miller unveils the surprising results of a poll he conducted with his data center industry followers.  *** Elisa Wood: “My world loves distributed energy, and I'm curious if you're seeing much of a push towards onsite energy for data centers?” Rich Miller: “That is the million-dollar question. And in fact, that is the most important trend that I think we are seeing right now, largely because we have this sort of log jam where many data center operators want much more energy than they're going to be able to get from the utilities in the short term.” Visit EnergyChangemakers.com for content and community on the grid edge.

    43 分鐘

  3. 1月29日

    What Utilities and DER Companies Don't Get about Each Other Part 2

    Bill Prindle, principal of Better Energy Advisors, told us what distributed energy resource (DER) companies don’t get about utilities in episode 1 of this two-part series. Now he looks at the other angle — what utilities don’t get about distributed energy players.  It’s a clash of business cultures: Utilities have historically operated as monopolistic, cautious, heavily regulated entities. DER companies are innovative, often disruptive, scrappy and highly competitive. And they have to work together. Prindle is uniquely qualified to describe the nuances of how these two entities interact. He’s worked with both for many years in roles at ICF, the American Council on an Energy-Efficient Economy and the Alliance to Save Energy.  Here we look at the sometimes uneasy relationship between utilities and distributed energy companies as new challenges emerge in the electric sector, including flattened demand growth, DER integration, regulatory shifts, and evolving business models.  —“For decades, utilities operated in a happy economic environment—demand grew, rates decreased, and everyone benefitted. But the game has changed.” – Bill Prindle —“The industry isn’t just about engineering and regulation; it’s also a fascinating study in culture and personality.” – Elisa Wood

    30 分鐘

  4. 1月15日

    Equal Pay for Equal Work: Treating Energy Efficiency Fairly in Wholesale Capacity Markets

    With an expensive push underway to build large power plants and transmission to meet growing electric demand, energy efficiency is gaining new importance. Creating more negawatts (energy reduction) reduces the need to build new energy infrastructure, saving everyone a lot of money. Despite its benefits, energy efficiency has always been a “little engine that could” technology trying to overcome market obstacles. Now it faces problems collecting fair compensation in wholesale markets because of a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ruling. Guest Paula Glover, president of the Alliance to Save Energy, dives into the specifics of the ruling, its implications for wholesale capacity payments in the PJM market and the broader ramifications. Be sure to listen to the end to hear Glover’s analogy explaining how energy efficiency is like cooking a Thanksgiving dinner. It’s spot on. (We recorded this podcast just after the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday) 00:00 Introduction to Energy Changemakers 00:28 The Impact of FERC's Decision on Energy Efficiency 01:43 Interview with Paula Glover: Insights on Energy Efficiency 04:31 Defining Energy Efficiency in Today's World 06:07 The Role of Demand Response in Energy Efficiency 07:50 Understanding Capacity Markets 17:11 Alliance to Save Energy's Current Focus 22:30 The Importance of Energy Efficiency Messaging 25:24 Conclusion and Call to Action  Join Energy Changemakers for content and community on the grid edge.

    26 分鐘

  5. 2024/12/18

    Incorporating Non-Energy Benefits in Energy Planning: A Path Forward

    In this episode of the Energy Changemakers podcast, host Elisa Wood discusses the concept of non-energy benefits with Roger Lin, Senior Attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity. They explore the importance of valuing the social, environmental, and community impacts of energy decisions, which are often overlooked in traditional energy planning. California's efforts to incorporate non-energy benefits into energy resource planning are highlighted, including the ongoing proceedings and potential outcomes. The conversation delves into the challenges of quantifying these benefits, the problems with current least-cost optimization methods, and the broader implications for climate justice and energy resilience. 00:00 Introduction to Energy Changemakers 01:16 Understanding Non-Energy Benefits 02:13 Interview with Roger Lin 05:24 California's Non-Energy Benefits Proceeding 19:10 Challenges and Opposition 34:01 Future Implications and Broader Impact 36:45 Conclusion and Call to Action Join Energy Changemakers for content and community on the grid edge.

    37 分鐘

  6. 2024/12/04

    Why this Energy Changemaker is Trying to Bring Community Choice Energy to Arizona

    In this episode of the Energy Changemakers podcast, host Elisa Wood interviews Russell Lowes from Arizonans for Community Choice. They explore the potential of Community Choice Energy (CCE) programs in transforming local energy. Russell shares his journey from high school activism to becoming an author who influenced the fate of a nuclear power plant in Arizona. The conversation delves into the mechanics of CCE, their benefits over traditional utility models, and the specific efforts to bring CCE to Arizona. Russell outlines the environmental and economic advantages of CCE, discussing obstacles, the role of utilities, and the broader implications for energy efficiency and renewable energy adoption. 00:00 Introduction to Energy Changemakers 00:37 Guest Introduction: Russell Lowes 02:11 Russell's Journey in Energy Activism 03:55 The Impact of Russell's Book 05:59 Challenges of Nuclear and Fossil Fuels 07:48 Understanding Community Choice Energy (CCE) 13:20 Promoting CCE in Arizona 15:18 Utilities vs. CCE: The Business Model Conflict 20:59 Benefits of CCE Over Traditional Utilities 29:55 Future of CCE and Legislative Efforts 34:22 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Join Energy Changemakers for content and community on the grid edge.

    36 分鐘

  7. 2024/11/20

    Off Grid and Urban: An Apartment Building that Signals the Future

    In an interview with Elisa Wood, veteran energy innovator Steve Pullins, CEO of ResSET,  unveils his latest venture, a highly unusual sustainable apartment building in Ann Arbor, Michigan, set to be entirely off-grid. While foregoing a grid connection isn’t typical, especially for a city building, Pullins maintains it’s time to think of the electric grid as just one of several energy options, not the default. Called South Town, the project strives to reduce housing costs using several novel strategies, including providing a shared electric vehicle fleet for building occupants. Pullins also designed the energy system based on the kilowatts actually used by appliances — not the generic nameplate ratings — which led to significant energy savings. Pullins hopes to see the model replicated, a necessity, he says, given that the world’s building footprint will double over the next 40 years, threatening climate goals without radical change in commercial construction. CHAPTERS 0:06 Introduction to Energy Changemakers 1:25 Off-Grid Living in Urban Settings 3:18 The Multifamily Housing Project 5:23 Addressing Challenges in Energy Supply 8:52 Innovative Approaches to Energy Costs 13:04 Rethinking Energy Resources 16:41 Navigating Utility Regulations 21:04 Electric Vehicles and Shared Mobility 24:18 Energy Efficiency and Affordability 26:20 Transforming Construction Practices 33:17 Advanced Energy Management Systems 34:46 The Future of Renewable Natural Gas 48:21 Building Resilience in Energy Systems 52:02 Demand Flexibility as a Resource 53:38 Conclusion and Community Engagement Join Energy Changemakers for content and community on the grid edge.

    54 分鐘

  8. 2024/11/06

    Making the crush of utility data usable: Awesense

    At one point in Awesense’s history, CEO and Founder Mischa Steiner was in a serious accident when riding his bike. While he was still recovering, his company was named in a lawsuit, lost investors, and faced an audit. It was a dark period, but the company made it through and navigated its way into a key energy transition market. Using its “digital twin on steroids,” Awesense helps make utility data — of which there is a proliferation — usable. In this interview, Steiner describes how Awesense made a business out of serving the utility data analytics market, its role in the energy transition, and lessons he’s learned in the company’s 15-year journey.  00:00 Introduction to Energy Changemakers Podcast 00:27 Interview with Mischa Steiner: Founder and CEO of Awesense 02:03 The Evolution of Awesense: From Hardware to Data Solutions 06:13 Challenges and Innovations in Utility Data Management 07:52 The Role of Sensors in Grid Data Collection 15:20 Transition to Software Solutions and AI Integration 17:30 Addressing Data Errors and Enhancing Utility Analytics 21:13 Middleware Solutions for Accelerating Utility Projects 23:53 Utility Challenges and Solutions 24:17 Utility Size and Technology Adoption 25:59 Impact of DERs on Utilities 28:56 Future of Energy and AI Demand 30:22 Middleware and DERMs Integration 33:41 Entrepreneurial Journey and Challenges 38:50 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs 42:06 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    43 分鐘
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簡介

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.

資訊

  • 創作者
    Energy Changemakers
  • 活躍年代
    2024年 - 2025年
  • 集數
    15
  • 年齡分級
    兒少適宜
  • 版權
    © Energy Changemakers
  • 節目網站
    Energy Changemakers Podcast

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