Energy Beat Podcast: Recent Episodes
AESP
Produced by the Association of Energy Services Professionals and hosted by Jen Szaro, this podcast brings to life stories and lessons from AESP members that are shaping the decarbonization of residential, commercial, and industrial power in North America.
On this episode of The Energy Beat Podcast, we explore how to build community-first grid resilience amid extreme weather and aging infrastructure. Don McPhail, VP of Market Development at eSmart Systems, sits down with Ian to discuss why traditional mitigation strategies aren't enough, how to approach critical infrastructure through a community lens, how AI can improve resilience planning, and more.
Resources/recommendations mentioned in this episode:
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Don recommends the book California Burning by Katherine Blunt
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Ian recommends the Parks and Recreation episode, Emergency Response
Energy costs are rising, devices are getting smarter, and customers expect utilities to meet them with clear choices, not generic messaging. On this episode of The Energy Beat Podcast, Ian chats with Alex Corneglio, VP of Product Management at Brillion, to unpack the importance of precise and proactive utility-customer outreach and the role that data plays in those communications.
They cover how utilities can use data to better segment, target, and communicate with customers, how more effective customer connections benefit both the customer and the utility, and rethinking customer trust.
Green banks and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) are rewriting the rulebook on climate finance, creating pathways for communities traditionally left behind by conventional lenders. These mission-driven organizations bring flexibility, creativity, and deep community connections to the table, allowing them to finance projects that might otherwise fall through the cracks.
Shawna Cuan, Co-Founder and CEO of Sustain Energy Finance and Chris Kramer, a green lending consultant at CK Financing, join Ian to discuss the role of green lenders in the evolving climate finance space.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
The GB50 Network of Green Banks
Chris's maps of Utility-Financing Partnerships and CDFI Green Loan Products
Kevin Scarborough, Director of Energy Services at Siemens Smart Infrastructure USA, and a member of the Energy Management Association, and Bob Knoedler, Vice President & Executive Consultant at Hanson Professional Services and a member of the AABC Commissioning Group join Ian Perterer and the Energy Beat Podcast to discuss how AI is affecting energy management for utilities and facilities managers. We cover impacts of AI on the grid, opportunities and challenges AI brings, and the need to incorporate the energy workforce into AI planning and strategies.
For more information, the AI landscape for utilities, you can check out AESP’s State of AI in the Utility Industry report with research conducted in partnership with Bidgely
Special thanks to AABC Commissioning Group for partnering with us on this episode.
In this episode of the Energy Beat podcast, procurement expert Marvelene Jones joins Jen Szaro to discuss best practices around procurement for diverse suppliers. Marvelene shares insider knowledge gained from her nearly 30-year career in procurement, including strategic opportunity selection, building trust with communities, partnership dynamics, and more.
Phil shares his inspiring journey in establishing MD Energy Advisors, emphasizing the importance of perseverance, customer service, and effective networking in entrepreneurship. Through his experiences over the years, he highlights key strategies for navigating challenges, fostering relationships, and achieving profitability in a competitive market.
• Journey from a small startup to a thriving energy solutions company
• Emphasizing cash flow management and early profitability
• The role of networking and associations in business growth
• Customer service as a cornerstone of MD Energy Advisors' success
• Insights on navigating the political landscape for future opportunities
• Importance of hiring and maintaining a positive company culture
Discover the transformative world of clean energy workforce development with Paul Douglas, the dynamic president and CEO of the JPI Group. Join us as Paul shares his personal journey from a minority-focused workforce development program to leading one of the largest minority-owned companies in the energy efficiency sector. Explore how the JPI Group is harnessing state and federal funding to create high-paying jobs, bridge the wealth gap, and ensure underserved communities thrive. Learn about the challenges and triumphs in meeting Justice40 requirements and the essential role of genuine opportunities for minorities and small, minority-owned companies in today's energy landscape.
Uncover the power of mentorship and inclusivity as we discuss the strategies that major companies like Google, Amazon, and Facebook use to nurture talent and foster diverse, supportive work environments. This episode shines a light on the critical need for diverse recruiting teams and inclusive hiring practices in the rapidly growing clean energy sector. From personal stories of transformation to actionable insights, envision a future where clean energy jobs break generational cycles and make a meaningful impact on communities. Tune in for an engaging conversation that highlights the necessity of inclusivity and mentorship in driving industry growth and creating sustainable career paths.
In this episode of The Energy Beat Podcast, we dive deep into the intersection of artificial intelligence and energy management with special guest Dr. Bill Burke, CEO of Virtual Peaker. Get ready to explore how AI is not just a buzzword but a powerful tool transforming the energy industry from the ground up.
We kick off by tracing the origins of AI in popular culture and quickly shift to the present day, where Bill shares his journey of founding Virtual Peaker in 2015. Hear about his ambitious vision to make energy demand as controllable as a gas turbine generator and how his company is turning that vision into reality. From the early days of programmable thermostats to the latest AI-driven innovations, Bill walks us through the evolution of demand management technology.
Discover how AI is helping utilities manage the unpredictability of renewable energy sources like wind and solar. Bill explains the role of machine learning in predicting energy consumption, balancing grid demand, and even optimizing when electric vehicles should charge to avoid overloading the grid. We also delve into the challenges of AI adoption, including the trust issues utilities face and the importance of seamless customer engagement.
This episode is packed with insights on how AI can enhance customer support, predict grid constraints years in advance, and ultimately smooth the path towards a fully sustainable and efficient energy grid. Bill and host Jen Szaro discuss real-world applications of AI, like Virtual Peaker's top-line demand control technology, which offers precise control over energy demand and promises to delay costly infrastructure upgrades.
Finally, we look ahead to the future—what does AI adoption in the energy sector look like over the next five years? How can utilities and consumers prepare for this technological shift? And what are the limitations of AI in solving the industry's biggest challenges?
Whether you're an energy professional, a tech enthusiast, or simply curious about the future of AI, this episode provides a comprehensive and engaging overview of how artificial intelligence is set to revolutionize the way we produce, consume, and manage energy.
🎧 Tune in to learn how AI is leading the charge towards a greener, more efficient energy future—no Terminator scenarios included!
Join Jen and Franklin Energy's Lee Ann Head and Elizabeth Turnbull as they detail a surprisingly complex suite of customer attitudes towards managed charging based on their recent research. This episode offers a deep dive into how consumer attitudes are shifting on managed charging solutions and how we as an industry will need to reexamine our approaches based on consumer attitudes.
Discover demographic shifts and consumer preferences, key trends (such as the rise of female and older EV buyers), and dissect how we might revisit our managed charging plans based on their consumer research.
What happens when a mechanical engineer turns his attention to empowering schools and communities? You get Clay Hoover, a senior Program Manager with TVA Energy Right, who has redefined strategic energy management with his innovative School Uplift program. Clay's relentless dedication and unique approach have transformed schools into energy-efficient powerhouses, all while engaging students, teachers, and the community in conserving energy.
School Uplift is not merely a program for reducing utility costs; it embodies a vision that extends far beyond. Clay and his team achieved immense success in energy savings, while strengthening community engagement with TVA. He discusses how they adapted to the challenges of the pandemic and scaled up their operations to an impressive 123 schools per year. Clay’s insights on the recruitment of energy-conscious teachers and the potential of inspiring a new generation of energy professionals are simply inspiring.
But what's the secret to the program's success? Clay reveals their secret sauce - strategic partnerships and design thinking. He sheds light on how they extended the program to hospitals, offering a beacon of hope in the midst of challenging times. Clay’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance, innovation, and community engagement. Join us, and learn how the School Uplift program is making a tangible difference in people’s lives.
Learn more about TVA's School Uplift program here: https://energyright.com/business-industry/school-uplift/
Have you ever wondered how life's challenges can ignite a fire of passion and resilience within you? Join us in a riveting conversation with an extraordinary guest, Angie Bivens. Trials and triumphs mark Angie's journey; from enduring personal struggles and a staggering energy bill, she found a passion that led her to become the Outreach Manager at Franklin Energy. Today, Angie uses her past to power her work to help others with their energy struggles.
Her story doesn't end there as we traverse through the complexities of the energy industry and the power of mentorship in breaking down its barriers. Angie candidly shares her transition experiences from other sectors into clean energy, unfolding the valuable lessons she gathered. She underscores the difference between a good supervisor who ensures the job is done and a great supervisor who guides you to unearth and harness your potential. Discover Angie's formula for greatness and let her experience inspire you to pursue your dreams in the face of adversity relentlessly. This episode is not just about energy efficiency or leadership. It's about the invincible power of resilience. Join us and let Angie's journey inspire you as much as it did us.
Nothing's more personal than entering someone's home. And for a flexible, clean grid to work, brands must do just that." At #AESPAnnual, we sat down with Dan Burak of Uplight to discuss some breaking research they've done on energy brands and consumer trust. Their data shows how consumers feel about energy brands and their potential collaborators. If you want your customers to open their homes to your solutions, you must check this out.
Jen sat down with Jordan Folks of Opinion Dynamics for an intimate chat about the potential for pricing and demand response strategies as a tool for achieving energy equity goals.
This is part one of a two-part on-site recording at AESP Annual.
Stay tuned for part two!
In this episode, Carmen Best of Recurve and Mark Romito of Elevation Home Energy Solutions join Jen to talk about VPPs. Specifically, they dive into how VPPs deliver value, how they are changing the utility-customer relationship, and work in a VERY important Star Wars v. Star Trek debate: is a VPP more like Krall, or an Ewok Village? You decide.
What if we could give the average household real-time, device-level energy insights in a way that's intuitive and simple like an app? Imagine the world of possibilities that creates. Mike Phillips, Co-Founder of Sense has a neat little device that does just that. He chats with Jen about how this technology is coming to market and can revolutionize energy for the prosumer.
If you've ever wanted to chat with Jen and her guests or talk about the issues we cover in this podcast, now's your chance. Join us for AESP SummerCon August 16-18. Learn more at www.aesp.org
In this episode, we are time traveling to a time before our Annual Conference and the Omicron peak to talk with Sue Hanson, our AESP Board Chair, and Director at Tetra Tech. She will share her vision for the future of AESP and the industry and what issues she thinks will define our progress to a clean, resilient grid.
After a holiday hiatus, NCSEA touched down with us at our Annual Conference in Nashville to talk to our members about what is top of mind for them as the industry moves quickly toward decarbonization and electrification.
Host of the NCSEA's Squeaky Clean Energy Podcast, Matt Abele, chats with
- Jen Szaro, AESP
- Quinn Parker, ENCOLOR LLC
- Jeff Smith, Georgia Power
- Aimee Skrzekut, Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA)
Check out our sister podcast and show them some love!
Jen chats with Rick Morgan to talk about his energy industry journey, starting in the 70's gas crisis, and his passion for passing his wealth of knowledge to the next generation.
Jen Szaro interviews a rising star at Ameren Illinois, Angie Ostasweski, and talks about her TikTok fame, success in community energy efficiency engagement, and how mentorship set her rising career trajectory in motion.
Check Angie out on linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angieostaszewski/ or on TikTok @AngiesListings