TRC Energy Talks: Recent Episodes
TRC Advanced Energy
Welcome to TRC Energy Talks, a podcast about ‘All Things Energy.’ Produced and hosted by the staff of TRC’s Advanced Energy practice. This podcast is a discussion forum for current trends in the energy industry, from decarbonization, to resiliency, to energy equity and the responsible transition to a low-carbon future.
The skilled trades are at a crossroads: demand is rising, but the workforce isn’t keeping up. Our episode on equitable workforce development explores why, looking at labor shortages, outdated perceptions, and barriers that limit who enters the field. At the same time, it highlights how mentorship, training, and equity-driven recruitment can reshape the trades into accessible, rewarding careers. Tune in for a conversation about the challenges and the big opportunities shaping the future in the energy industry. Speakers: Josh Williams - Founder and President of BW Research; James Metoyer - Founder and Executive Director of EnerCity Collaborative; Tina Pham - Principal and Owner of Pham Construction Group and Iconic Tile; Cameron Starr - Customer Experience Operations Lead, Energy Trust of Oregon; Nicole Wroblewski - Director, TRC
In this episode, we discuss residential heat pumps, and how they represent a huge opportunity for decarbonizing energy use in the U.S. and globally. By replacing fossil-fired space and water heaters with electric heat pumps, utilities and states can fulfill climate or GHG emissions reduction goals – especially if this equipment replacement is scaled up to millions of homes and small buildings. Our discussion includes:
• The Basics: an overview of heat pump technology, which can work even in cold climates.
• Benefits: heat pumps can supply carbon-free, efficient heating, and the technology is ready now.
• Challenges: the workforce, market structures, customer acceptance and other hurdles remain.
Speakers: Dana Fischer is Manager of Utilities and Electrification, Eastern Region at Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC U.S. In his role, Dana engages with the community of utilities, delivery teams, consultants, contractors and distributors up and down the East Coast to hasten the transition of our building heating infrastructure to renewable energy with the use of high performance heat pumps. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-fischer-b1916942
Matthew Christie, a Director of Energy Efficiency at TRC, focuses on advancing the residential building sector towards net-zero, all-electric construction. His work includes designing and implementing residential new construction utility incentive programs; supporting code-readiness initiatives; engaging with heat pump manufacturers, distributors, and contractors; and developing training and education tools. https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-christie-21a03020
Maddie Emerson is a Strategy & Regulatory Associate Manager within TRC’s Advanced Energy practice. Based out of St. Louis, MO, she supports initiatives to drive decarbonization in the commercial, industrial, and residential sectors, primarily through energy efficiency and electrification. https://www.linkedin.com/in/maddie-emerson-r
This discussion focuses on one of the biggest market shifts occurring on a global scale: transportation electrification. Join three experts from TRC as we discuss the opportunities, benefits, and challenges of electrifying passenger, non-road, and commercial fleet vehicles on a mass scale. We talk about implications including:
• Grid impacts of mass electrification
• Funding via the infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)
• The role of utility EV and EV charging infrastructure incentive programs
Speakers:
Brenda Enos, based in Boston MA, is a Director of Energy Efficiency for TRC’s Advanced Energy Practice. Brenda works with utilities, businesses, government agencies, and transportation authorities to design and implement electric vehicle programs – ranging from passenger vehicles, commercial fleets, heavy duty trucks, and non-road vehicles including airport ground support equipment, forklifts, watercraft and aircraft. https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendaenos
Cal Silcox, based in Seattle, WA, is a Senior Consultant in TRC’s Advanced Energy practice. Cal specializes in transportation electrification, utility strategy, and policy analysis. Mr. Silcox has expertise in navigating complex policy and regulatory environments and brings over half a decade of work in the electric vehicle industry. https://www.linkedin.com/in/cal-silcox-3b869b16
Maddie Emerson is a Strategy & Regulatory Associate Manager within TRC’s Advanced Energy practice. Based out of St. Louis, MO, she supports initiatives to drive decarbonization in the commercial, industrial, and residential sectors, primarily through energy efficiency and electrification. https://www.linkedin.com/in/maddie-emerson-r
In this episode, we talk about “the good, the bad, and the ugly” of FERC Order No. 2222, an important piece of energy legislation that opens the wholesale market for Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) and represents an industry-transforming opportunity for decarbonization and innovation in the power industry. In this podcast, our team of St. Louis-based experts discuss the implications of this legislation:
• The good: the vast opportunities presented by FERC Order No. 2222
• The bad: the costs and barriers to participation
• The ugly: the details and complexity of this far-reaching order
Speakers:
Angela Gordon is TRC’s Regulatory & Policy Director, with 30 years of experience in the electric, natural gas, and water industries. She focuses on rates and regulatory issues, industry reforms, and demand side management program design and implementation. Angela has worked extensively in codes and standards, particularly ASHRAE 90.1 standards as applicable to multifamily and commercial buildings. https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-gordon-9684a410
Scott Steiner is Vice President of TRC’s Advanced Energy practice in the Central U.S. region. He manages a broad portfolio of demand side management programs including efficiency, demand response, and electrification. Scott has worked within a wide variety of manufacturing segments, including automotive, fuel cells, plastics processing, semiconductors, and photovoltaic cells. https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-steiner-a310604
Maddie Emerson is a Strategy & Regulatory Associate Manager within TRC’s Advanced Energy practice. Based out of St. Louis, MO, she supports initiatives to drive decarbonization in the commercial, industrial, and residential sectors, primarily through energy efficiency and electrification. https://www.linkedin.com/in/maddie-emerson-r