4 DAYS AGO

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 min

DEC 4

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 min

NOV 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 min

NOV 6

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 min

OCT 23

What Utilities and DER Companies Don't Get about Each Other - Part 1

In this episode of the Energy Changemakers podcast, host Elisa Wood engages in a rich discussion with Bill Prindle, a senior energy and climate leader. Bill brings over 40 years of industry experience and provides a unique perspective on the evolving roles of utilities and distributed energy resource (DER) companies in the modern grid. They delve into the financial models that govern investor-owned utilities, the complexities of grid regulation, the state's role in energy policy, and the historical context that has led to the current fragmented energy market. Bill explains the challenges and opportunities that DER companies and utilities face in working together, with a focus on their financial models, regulatory constraints, and the evolving technology landscape. The conversation also explores the impact of restructuring, the importance of integrated resource planning, and the technical and operational hurdles in integrating DERs into the grid. 00:00 Introduction to Energy Changemakers Podcast 00:27 Meet Bill Prindle: Energy and Climate Leader 01:57 Understanding Utilities' Perspective on DERs 06:46 Challenges and Opportunities in the Energy Sector 14:53 Historical Context of the Utility Industry 18:52 Restructuring and Its Impact on DERs 35:33 Interconnection Issues and Solutions 41:50 Conclusion and Next StepsEnergy Changemakers provides content and community for those working on the grid edge. For more conversations like this, check out the ⁠Energy Changemakers Community⁠ and sign up for our ⁠free newsletter⁠.

43 min

OCT 9

An Entrepreneur's Journey from Russia and Oil to the US and Clean Energy: Lumin

In this episode of the Energy Changemakers podcast, host Elisa Wood interviews Alex Bazhinov, founder and president of Lumin, a smart panel company. Alex shares his remarkable journey from working in the mining industry in Russia to pioneering smart home energy solutions in Charlottesville, Virginia. Like so many entrepreneurs, he began in his garage developing a prototype. Now, partnering with clean energy giants, Lumin offers a smart panel that gives homeowners more control over specific household appliances and is rolling out new technology that, among other things, lowers costs for homeowners readying for EV charging. 00:00 Introduction to Energy Changemakers Podcast 00:50 Meet Alex Bazhinov: From Moscow to Clean Energy 02:09 The Mining Industry and Its Environmental Impact 05:04 The Shift to Renewable Energy 09:18 Challenges and Opportunities in Russia 11:07 Entrepreneurial Journey in the US 20:49 Founding Lumin: The Smart Panel Idea 30:06 Introduction to Smart Panel 30:41 Residential Solar and Battery Use Case 31:45 Dynamic Energy Management 32:55 Challenges with Traditional Battery Backup 34:14 Market Adoption and Partnerships 35:30 Introducing LuminEdge 36:51 Grid Services and Demand Response 40:36 Electrification of Homes 43:39 Avoiding Costly Electrical Upgrades 47:14 Distribution and Partnerships 51:20 Company Overview and Vision 52:12 Advice for Entrepreneurs 57:23 Conclusion and Call to Action Energy Changemakers provides content and community for those working on the grid edge. For more conversations like this, check out the ⁠Energy Changemakers Community⁠ and sign up for our ⁠free newsletter⁠.

58 min

SEP 25

A Campaign to Create a Distributed Energy Utility in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Voters in Ann Arbor, Michigan, will be asked to approve a ground-breaking new kind of utility on November 5, one run by the city that provides local, distributed energy to those who choose to participate. Missy Stults, Ann Arbor’s Sustainability and Innovations Director, joins host Elisa Wood to explain why the city decided to pursue the creation of the Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU), how it will work, its relationship to the local investor-owned utility, and what it brings to the city’s sustainability and equity efforts. Also see Ann Arbor’s SEU website: www.a2gov.org. 00:00 Introduction to the Energy Changemakers Podcast 00:23 Ann Arbor's Unique Municipal Utility Proposal 01:09 Interview with Missy Stultz: Ann Arbor's Sustainability Director 03:35 Ann Arbor's Energy Landscape and Challenges 05:22 The Vision for a Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) 11:34 How the SEU Will Operate: City and Consumer Perspectives 21:58 Community Engagement and Upcoming Referendum 25:59 Closing Remarks and Call to Action Energy Changemakers provides content and community for those working on the grid edge. For more conversations like this, check out the ⁠Energy Changemakers Community⁠ and sign up for our ⁠free newsletter⁠.

28 min

SEP 11

The Economics of Community Solar: How Profits are Made and Consumer Energy Costs Lowered

In this episode of the Energy Changemakers Podcast, financial expert Rob Hong of Sapling Financial Consultants explains how community solar can provide both profits for developers and cost savings for consumers. He presents the financials of a real project, explains the risks and rewards, compares various community solar approaches, and describes the pros and cons of community solar over other solar business models. “This discussion provides valuable finanicial insight for any community considering solar,” says podcast host Elisa Wood. Chapters with Timecodes: [0:00] Introduction to Community Solar Economics [1:27] Overview of Community Solar Financials [8:10] Comparing Ownership and Subscription Models [14:31] Financial Benefits and Risks of Community Solar [19:41] Developer's IRR and Return Analysis [27:36] Deep Dive into One Project's Economics [33:59] Risk and Return Analysis for the Operator [39:39] Conclusion and Takeaways on Community Solar For more conversations like this, check out the Energy Changemakers Community and sign up for our free newsletter about all things distributed energy.

41 min

AUG 28

Are We Expecting Too Much from Virtual Power Plants?

In this episode of the Energy Changemakers podcast, host Elisa Wood talks to three big thinkers in the electric power industry: Lorenzo Kristov, Kay Aikin, and Mark Paterson, who explain what it will take to create a democratized electric grid. Our guests also take on common grid fictions, such as the belief that virtual power plants provide an “easy button” to manage distributed energy. They offer a vision for a decentralized grid and describe programs in Colorado, Maine, and Australia paving the way. 00:00 Introduction to the Energy Changemakers Podcast 00:35 Understanding Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) 01:00 The Role of VPPs in the Energy Grid 02:45 Contrarian Views on VPPs and Distributed Energy 03:23 Introducing the Expert Panel 06:22 Lorenzo Kristov's Vision for a Decentralized Grid 13:29 Kay Aikin's Critique of Virtual Power Plants 17:29 Mark Paterson's Insights from Australia 30:40 Harnessing Rooftop Solar Potential 31:32 Challenges in Large-Scale Energy Transformation 33:39 Market Structures and DERs 35:08 Strategic Transformation Processes 37:55 Performance-Based Regulation and Dynamic Pricing 39:05 Promising Jurisdictions and Examples 42:20 Localized Valuing and Monetization of DERs 44:20 Reforming Distribution Utilities 53:51 The Value Proposition of DERs 55:54 Concluding Thoughts and Future Discussions For more conversations like this, check out the Energy Changemakers Community and sign up for our free newsletter about all things distributed energy.

53 min

AUG 14

What’s Next for Community Solar?

Elisa Wood interviews Nate Owen, CEO of Ampion, who provides an inside view of the US community solar market following a regulatory ruling in California that left many in the industry unhappy. Owen dives into the history that brought the industry to this point and explains why he’s bullish on its future. He delves into problems, like interconnection, that slow projects and market mechanisms and social benefits that drive its growth. Owen also details why it used to be hard for community solar projects to provide renewable energy certificates (RECs) and why that’s changed, as exemplified by the company’s deal with Wendy’s restaurant. Chapters 0:00 Introduction to Energy Changemakers 1:08 Introducing Ampion and the Wendy's Deal 3:00 The Importance of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) 6:00 Evolution of Community Solar and RECs 9:07 Value Proposition: Savings and RECs 11:45 Post-California Community Solar Outlook 15:14 Social Benefits of Community Solar 18:06 Challenges with Interconnection 20:39 Overcoming Interconnection Issues 22:15 Vision for the Future Grid 23:59 Transition to Solar Energy For more conversations like this, check out the Energy Changemakers Community and sign up for our free newsletter about all things distributed energy.

26 min

EPISODE 1

Energy Changemakers: Trailer

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.

2 min

Energy Changemakers Podcast

Episodes

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

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

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

Making the crush of utility data usable: Awesense

What Utilities and DER Companies Don't Get about Each Other - Part 1

An Entrepreneur's Journey from Russia and Oil to the US and Clean Energy: Lumin

A Campaign to Create a Distributed Energy Utility in Ann Arbor, Michigan

The Economics of Community Solar: How Profits are Made and Consumer Energy Costs Lowered

Are We Expecting Too Much from Virtual Power Plants?

What’s Next for Community Solar?

Energy Changemakers: Trailer

Trailer

Energy Changemakers: Trailer

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