Welcome to the Energy Central Podcast Network—your ultimate resource for the biggest ideas, boldest perspectives, and best insights from across the electric power industry. We publish… Power Perspectives. From CEOs of major utilities to founders of energy tech startups pushing the envelope, Power Perspectives curates the news, thought leaders, and big picture conversations most important to modern power professionals—every week on Tuesdays. Piloting the Future. Hosts Kim Gergen and Lee Kreva ...
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Coffee Talk: From the Ground Up is an ECS Podcast created to build intentional connections with our employees. From company news to career stories, this podcast is educational, entertaining and encouraging with practical advice you can apply directly to your life.
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Presenting: The 2025 Energy Central Innovation Awards, a moment to celebrate forward-thinkers, risk-takers, and the big ideas kind of people who are building the future of the energy industry.We’re in a moment of unprecedented change, but one constant remains: smart people who think about where we are *and* where we’re going are giving us a shot at…
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Our latest episode leaves the grid behind—literally—to head into orbit.As the number of satellites and spacecraft in space grows, one fundamental limitation persists: power. These systems are smaller, smarter, and more capable than ever—but they’re energy-starved. That’s where today’s guest, Andrew Rush, steps in.Andrew is the Co-Founder and CEO of…
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The real impacts of Trump 2.0 on energy finance
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30:00What does a change in U.S. presidential administrations have to do with stalled solar farms in Sub-Saharan Africa or wind projects in Southeast Asia? As it turns out, quite a lot.On this episode of Power Perspectives, we explore how U.S. policy shifts are sending ripples through the global financial system—impacting everything from renewable invest…
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Inside this DOE nuclear research facility, 50 years in the making
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31:59The U.S. nuclear industry is entering a new era—one that demands cutting-edge research, advanced reactor technologies, and stronger collaboration across the energy ecosystem. And now, that future has a new launchpad: the Sample Preparation Laboratory (SPL) at the Idaho National Laboratory.As the first hot cell facility built by the U.S. Department …
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Power Perspectives DTech Debrief: Are utilities becoming tech companies?
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24:33In a unique edition of Power Perspectives this week, we take you inside the electric utility industry’s season-defining event: DistributeTECH 2025 through the lens of the Energy Central team that was there on the ground. Join Kinsey Grant Baker, Head of Content at Energy Central, and Matt Chester, Community Manager, as they unpack key themes and in…
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Does the energy industry need a climate reality check?
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33:05For decades, we've heard about the need to reduce carbon emissions and transition to a low-carbon economy. Yet despite corporate pledges, policy initiatives, and technological advancements, global emissions keep rising. Now, we find ourselves at a crossroads: either we take immediate and radical action, or we brace for accelerating climate impacts …
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The Goldilocks problem for grid modernization
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26:49What’s the biggest challenge facing utilities today? Is it climate change, DER integration, or the explosive growth of data centers? The real answer is the need to balance all of the above, and navigating these forces while keeping the grid reliable and resilient is no small feat.Enter Marcus McCarthy, Senior Vice President of Siemens Grid Software…
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How to save energy from partisan politics
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26:09How to save energy from partisan politicsCan the clean power transition survive partisan politics?If anyone has the answer, it's David Spence, Professor of Energy Law & Regulation at UT Austin and author of the book "Climate of Contempt: How to Rescue the U.S. Energy Transition from Voter Partisanship."Today on Power Perspectives, David breaks down…
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How utilities can prepare for AI integration
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42:38AI is changing everything, and power utilities are no exception. From optimizing grid operations to enhancing cybersecurity, AI is already making a tangible impact on how energy is generated, distributed, and managed.But when it comes to grid communications—an area where reliability and security are paramount—what role does AI really play?In this e…
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Inside this CEO's Energy Transition Playbook
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28:37Balancing reliability, affordability, and sustainability—often called the energy trilemma—is one of the biggest challenges facing utility leaders today. And in Michigan, that challenge is magnified by aggressive decarbonization goals, aging infrastructure, and severe weather events.In this episode of Power Perspectives, podcast host Jason Price vis…
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Federal funding presents major opportunities for utilities, but navigating the complex landscape of incentives, grants, and shifting political realities can be daunting. How should utilities position themselves to secure funding, optimize strategic investments, and prepare for potential policy changes as power shifts in Washington?In this episode o…
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How important is private LTE to modernizing the rural grid?
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22:02Private LTE networks are shaping the future of rural grid modernization. But how can small utilities harness this technology to overcome their unique challenges? In this episode of Power Perspectives, that challenge is addressed head on by Joe Walsh, Vice President of Smart Grid Communications Networks at NRTC. Joe sits down for this conversation t…
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As utilities face the mounting challenges of aging infrastructure, increasing demand, and evolving sustainability mandates, the need for smarter, more efficient capital planning is more pressing than ever. Simultaneously, you seemingly can't go a day without seeing a new, awe-inspiring headline about the power that artificial intelligence is newly …
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How this utility is solving the supply chain puzzle
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25:46The supply chain has been a trending topic and area of concern in all industries since the COVID-19 pandemic, and as the utility seeks to build more than ever before in a new era of grid modernization and clean energy one of the main bottlenecks remains the available supply of necessary equipment and materials. This week, Power Perspectives welcome…
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Expanding utility connectivity and bridging broadband gaps (with Adam Rehfeld of Burns & McDonnell)
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18:23Federal funding has poured into the utility space to ensure the expansion of internet connectivity can take hold across the country, but what do results on the ground look like? In the latest Power Perspectives episode, we are joined by Adam Rehfeld, Business Line Manager for Distribution Modernization at Burns & McDonnell. Sitting on the front lin…
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The wheels on the bus make the grid go-round
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28:30Can electric school buses change the paradigm of power, permanently?Today on Power Perspectives, we’re finding out—with Kevin Matthews, Head of Electrification at First Student. With the launch of the V2X Smart Energy Hub project in Brooklyn, First Student and Con Edison are pioneering a new way to use electric school buses as mobile energy assets,…
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With fleet electrification accelerating, utilities face both opportunities and challenges in managing EV demand and leveraging vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology. In this episode, Mark Braby, Chief Commercial Officer at Synop, joins Power Perspectives to discuss that rapidly evolving relationship between utilities and the transportation sector.Listen…
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The Biggest Stories and the Boldest Bets: 2024 Year in Review
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34:30Will new transmission infrastructure ever come to pass? When will we reach a tipping point with data center energy needs? How can we determine the future of hydrogen's transformative race toward dominance? And what will *really* be the impact of decreasing energy storage costs?Today on Energy Central's special year-end episode, we look back at a ma…
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GIS for smaller utilities: grid modernization is here (brought to you by SSP Innovations)
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34:08In this episode, Mike Goggin, Senior Product Manager at SSP Innovations, joins the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast to explore how advanced GIS technology is now within reach for smaller utilities. Historically reserved for larger utilities, Esri’s Utility Network has become an essential tool for modernizing grid management. Mike shares ho…
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Navigating Energy's Post-Election Crossroads in 2024 and Beyond (w/Amy Myers Jaffe)
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37:26In this episode, Amy Myers Jaffe, Director of the Energy, Climate Justice, and Sustainability Lab at NYU, joins the Power Perspectives Podcast in the wake of the November 2024 elections to discuss the most pressing issues shaping the energy landscape. With her expertise in energy geopolitics, climate risk, and sustainability, Amy offers invaluable …
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Using AI to Predict & Protect: Grid-wide Storm Resilience
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29:53In this episode, Rob Brook, Senior Vice President and Managing Director – Americas at Neara, joins the Power Perspectives Podcast to discuss a pressing challenge for the energy sector: the growing impact of severe weather on energy infrastructure. As storms increase in frequency and intensity, Rob shares how utilities must enhance their resilience …
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How Can Utilities Build a More Inclusive Workplace?
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22:53In today’s episode of the Power Perspectives Podcast, Sam Hartzman, Chief Diversity Officer at Duquesne Light Company (DLC), joins to guide a much-needed discussion of the energy industry's current state of transformation—not only in technology and sustainability but also in workplace culture. Specifically, the growing focus on Diversity, Equity, a…
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183. 'How this utility CEO balances innovation + reliability' w/Frank Reynolds, United Illuminating
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26:41To modernize infrastructure or optimize for reliability—that's the question utility leaders like Frank Reynolds, President and CEO of United Illuminating, are facing on a daily basis. The need to transition to cleaner energy sources and address the challenges of aging infrastructure are often at odds with utilities' efforts to maintain reliable pow…
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181. ‘Breaking Down Silos with GIS and Advanced Modeling’ with Pat Hohl and Bill Meehan, ESRI
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16:24Continuing the Esri takeover series of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast, Bill Meehan and Pat Hohl, both Directors at Esri, use episode two of this three-part series to share insights in the rapidly changing world of utility network management. Pat and Bill share with listeners their views on how utilities are modernizing their systems …
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182. 'Access, Collaboration, & Data Quality' with Pat Hohl and Bill Meehan, ESRI
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17:28As the final episode in the three-part special Esri takeover series on the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast, Pat Hohl and Bill Meehan-- Directors at Esri-- bring their conversation to a conclusion by focusing on two essential areas: enterprise access and collaboration, as well as the essential (and sometime frustrating) areas of data quali…
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180. 'Balancing Clean Energy Expansion & Wildlife Protection' with Veronica Ung-Kono, NWF
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29:37As the demand for renewable energy grows, the expansion of transmission infrastructure has become a critical need for facilitating the clean energy transition. However, this expansion often runs up against the need to protect vital wildlife habitats and natural ecosystems. Striking a balance between advancing clean energy and preserving biodiversit…
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179. 'EV Safety First and Preparing First Responders' with David Cleveland, Jackson EMC
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20:37The increasing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) on U.S. roads introduces new challenges for first responders, as EV fires burn hotter and longer than traditional car fires, demanding specialized knowledge and approaches. With more EVs on the road, addressing the safety risks they pose in accidents is becoming an urgent priority for public safety…
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178. ‘Cross-Industry Innovation at IMGIS 2024’ with Pat Hohl and Bill Meehan, ESRI
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16:00As a departure from the usual format on the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast, this episode features an exclusive guest-led conversation with two of the most familiar voices in the Energy Central community: Bill Meehan and Pat Hohl, both Directors at Esri. In this episode, Bill and Pat dive deep into the themes and insights to be explored a…
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177. 'Powering Data Center Alley' with David Schleicher, President & CEO of NOVEC
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23:09Powering the growing electricity demand from data centers represents one of the fastest-growing energy needs in the utility sector these days. The DC suburbs and the Northern Virginia, known as "Data Center Alley," has become among the nation's most notable hubs for these massive facilities. Joining the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast to …
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176. 'From Gas to Grid on the Energy Transition' with Aaron Choo, National Grid
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29:24In this era of focus on decarbonized energy while also increased focus and attention from outside the utilities on power reliability, the role of natural gas for the grid has been under more of a spotlight than ever before. That evolving role of natural gas within the energy transition remains a critical topic at the forefront of every utility’s st…
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175. 'Safeguarding Today's Grid from Modern Threats' with Brian Harrell
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34:52As cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure have more than doubled since the pandemic, ensuring that utility security teams stay multiple steps ahead of bad actors remains as important and also as difficult as ever. While the common customer of a power company may not see any changes from their daily experience, the cybersecurity control centers at…
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174. "Future of Residential Energy Management" with Prasanna Venkatesan, Landis+Gyr, & Arch Rao,Span
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41:08Residential energy customers are being looked at differently by utilities these days. No longer are homes simply end points where energy is consumed, but more and more they are an asset in the dynamic and flexible grid. Recognizing the opportunity that such an evolution of thinking brings, today's guests on the Energy Central Power Perspectives Pod…
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A Fresh Brew: From Coffee Talk to Ground Breaking
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4:30Welcome to a new era! In this special transition episode, we say goodbye to "Coffee Talk: From the Ground Up" and hello to "Ground Breaking: Where Consulting Meets Innovations." Join us as we unveil the exciting future that awaits. Get ready to sip on some fresh perspectives and innovative ideas – your next favorite podcast is just a play button aw…
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173. "Boosting Energy Literacy at Community Schools" with Eric BenSalah, Energy Consultant for OPPD
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27:39Ensuring the future population is filled with community members who understand the world of energy and utilities starts with educating the children today, a topic that is too often overlooked in the utility sphere. That's not the case in the Omaha metro and surrounding areas, though, as today's guest on the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast…
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172. "The Journey from Pilot to Utility-Scale Virtual Power Plants" with Vicken Kasarjian, MCE
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40:40As utilities strive to integrate more renewable energy and distributed generation into the grid, virtual power plants (VPPs) have emerged as a key innovation, redefining the traditional power plant model. The added flexibility, community tie in, and innovation are actively upending the traditional utility model, and it's the forward-looking leaders…
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171. "Building Habits for a Healthy Safety Culture" with Claire Harris, Clean Energy Connections
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26:30Nuclear energy is definitely having a resurgent moment across the power sector and the world, as more and more regions are tapping into the carbon-free source of electricity to meet reliability requirements paired with emissions reduction goals. But one of the questions that often follows the discussion of nuclear energy is safety. In the latest ep…
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170. "Navigating the Complexities of Integrated Planning" with Steve Martz, Xcel Energy
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41:30In an ever-evolving energy landscape, strategic planning becomes paramount for utilities aiming to navigate the complexities of modernizing the grid while meeting environmental goals. In this episode of Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast, we delve into the world of integrated resource planning (IRP) with Steve Martz, Vice President of Integr…
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169. "Quantum-Safe Networks for Utilities, Part 2" with Nokia’s Mauricio Subieta, Hansen Chan
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28:33Note: this is a two part episode so we can fit in all of these experts’ tremendous insights. This marks part 2, so if you missed part 1 we invite you to check that out first at this link: https://soundcloud.com/energycentral/quantum-safe-networks-for-utilities-part-1-with-nokias-mauricio-subieta-hansen-chanThe importance of cybersecurity for the po…
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168. “Quantum-Safe Networks for Utilities, Part 1" with Nokia’s Mauricio Subieta, Hansen Chan
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26:22Note: this is a two part episode so we can fit in all of these experts’ tremendous insights. This marks part 1, with part 2 published later this same week which can be found here: https://soundcloud.com/energycentral/quantum-safe-networks-for-utilities-part-1-with-nokias-mauricio-subieta-hansen-chan-1The importance of cybersecurity for the power gr…
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167. "From CRM to Energy Relationship Management" with Kelly James, Salesforce
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35:14Technology is revolutionizing the utility sector in more ways than meets the eye. While the first place for new technology that people look to is the physical grid or the sources of generation, in this episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast we dive into the role of technology in fostering transparency, efficiency, and trust within…
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166. 'Insights from a Decade of Public Service' with NYS Commissioner Diane Burman, Paul DeCotis
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39:40The world of the power regulator plays such an essential role in the everyday operation of the utility industry, but the true inner workings can sometimes remain less visible to those across the sector. But as the regulatory bodies get run by dedicated public servants, they keep the industry's and the public's best interest in mind and understandin…
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165. 'Innovative Strategies for Efficiency Goals' with Paula Glover, Alliance to Save Energy
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26:05Energy efficiency programs have evolved to expand well past simple conservation measures and more efficient equipment, and instead they require customization, innovative thinking, and new strategies to help ensure supply and demand across the grid can stay aligned. In this episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast, Paula Glover, Pres…
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164. 'Duke Energy's Strategy to Harness the IIJA Opportunity' with Cynthia Klein, Duke Energy
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24:30Since being passed into law, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, affectionately dubbed "Biden Bucks," has held an ever-present hold on the U.S. energy landscape. From speeding up deployment of U.S. renewables to incentivizing domestic manufacturing of clean tech, to the investment into innovative R&D opportunities, the legislation has been …
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163. 'Zero Carbon by 2030 - Leaving No Customer Behind' with Erik Krause, SMUD
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26:42Much of the impassioned and focused dialog in the utility space centers around new and expanding technologies, but diving into the human side of the power industry is just as, if not more, critical. To help us do so, the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast was joined by Erik Krause, Director of Customer Experience Delivery at SMUD, to focus o…
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162. 'Grit for the Grid and Prioritizing Reliability' with Suzanne Ogle, Southern Gas Association
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23:13Grid reliability has always been top of mind for stakeholders across the grid, but the challenge of maintaining that reliable status has become even harder in recent years with massively growing demand and and evolving power sector landscape. Having recently published a white paper called "Grit for the Grid," President & CEO of the Southern Gas Ass…
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161. 'Revving Up on Fleet Electrification' with Megan Truman, Burns & McDonnell
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16:20Much of the broad conversation on electrifying transportation tends to focus on individuals making the decision to purchase an EV, but the real scale for widespread electrification takes place on the fleet level. Both in terms of the challenges presented to the grid by electric transportation and the true opportunity for tools like V2G and demand f…
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160. 'Decarbonizing Across Borders for the Climate Future' with Diego Ibarra, ENGIE Impact Americas
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25:29Climate change is one of the true global challenges of our lifetime, where localized efforts can only have so much impact without being globally connected in scale and adoption. That inherent global nature means that the energy industry's best efforts to decarbonize must not be insular but cast a wide net of global partners, strategies, and solutio…
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159. 'Charging Ahead with New York's EV Revolution' with Britt Reichborn-Kjennerud, Con Edison
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28:00The EV revolution is upon us, and it no doubt requires buy-in from all across the landscape of stakeholders from auto manufacturers to drivers to EV charging companies and, critically, the utilities that will be newly providing the energy to fuel tomorrow's transportation sector. In particularly dense urban areas like New York City, the challenges …
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158. 'Nuclear Uprating, H2 Cogeneration' with INL's Svetlana Lawrence, Frederick Joseck, Levi Larsen
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34:16As the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and its impacts continue to unfold, the impact in various aspects of the energy sector become even more apparent and tangible. One key aspect as been in the emerging world of nuclear power uprating with hydrogen cogeneration. The teams at the U.S. Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory has been leading…
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157. 'Charting the Path to Utility Digitalization & Field Operations' with Danny Petrecca, Locusview
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30:29With Distributech 2024 on the horizon, the conversation in this episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast is a timely one, exploring the pressing challenges facing electric utilities and the imperative for digitalization in field operations. Specifically, Locusview's Vice President of Business Development, Danny Petrecca, joins the s…
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