Cement is the critical ingredient required to make concrete – the literal foundation of countless construction projects here in the U.S. and abroad. However, the environmental impact of producing traditional cement has been one of the biggest downsides of this all-important building material. That is, until Fortera and its proprietary cement-making process takes off.

On this episode of Alternative Power Plays, Buchanan’s Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis speak with Keith Krugh, Chief Manufacturing Officer at Fortera, a materials technology company that is developing low-carbon cement using a proprietary process inspired by nature. While traditional cement production is energy-intensive and contributes about 8% of global CO₂ emissions. Fortera has a new method of making the cement necessary for concrete that has a 70% lower carbon footprint. During the discussion, Keith shares more about how Fortera’s technology works, what its applications are, and how recent regulations are affecting the company.

To learn more Fortera, visit: https://forteraglobal.com/
To learn more about Keith Krugh Hoffman, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithkrugh/
To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer⁠
To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis

What is the outlook for the U.S. Energy Sector under President Donald Trump's second term in office? We welcome back Ed Hild, principal in Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney's government relations practice to give us a download on what to expect. Ed is a former Chief of Staff for Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and has deep connections with powerful voices in Washington, D.C.

During this episode of Alternative Power Plays, hosts Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis speak to Ed as he shares his insights on the President's cabinet selections, the future of renewable energy under a Republican-controlled federal government, potential permitting reform, and more.

To learn more about Ed Hild, visit: https://www.bipc.com/edward-hild
To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer⁠
To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis

As the world increasingly moves toward cleaner energy solutions, the demand for long-duration energy storage is at an all-time high. Hydrostor, a global leader in compressed air energy storage, is addressing this challenge by providing scalable, efficient, and sustainable alternatives to traditional battery technology.

In this episode of Alternative Power Plays, hosts Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis speak with Scott Bolton, Executive Vice President of Global Policy and Regulatory Affairs at Hydrostor. They discuss how the company’s innovative storage technology is helping to stabilize power grids around the world. Scott explains the mechanics of compressed air energy storage and compares it to lithium-ion batteries and pumped hydro, illustrating why this technology is positioned to play a crucial role in the transition to clean energy.

The conversation also highlights Hydrostor’s flagship projects—the Silver City Energy Center in Australia and the Willow Rock project in California—showing how these large-scale storage solutions meet various energy market needs. Additionally, Scott addresses the regulatory challenges that Hydrostor faces, discusses how they collaborate with policymakers to facilitate energy storage deployment, and shares insights on the future of energy infrastructure development.

To learn more about Hydrostor, visit: https://hydrostor.ca/
To learn more about Scott Bolton, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-bolton-72489/
To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer⁠
To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis

In this episode of Alternative Power Plays, hosts Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis explore a transformative technology that is reshaping landfill energy with Melinda Sims, Co-Founder and Director of Product Development at LoCI Controls. The conversation will get into how LoCI's technology platform utilizes automation, advanced algorithms, and real-time data to optimize methane capture and reduce emissions.

During the episode, Melinda discusses the delicate balance between maximizing gas collection and ensuring safety. She shares real-world success stories, such as reversing production declines at a landfill in Washington, and explains how AI and policy changes are influencing the future of waste-to-energy innovation. Join us for an enlightening conversation about sustainability, engineering ingenuity, and the untapped potential of landfills.

To learn more about LoCI: https://locicontrols.com/
To learn more about Melinda Sims: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindasims/
To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer⁠
To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis

The U.S. electric grid is experiencing unprecedented demand growth driven by data centers, manufacturing, and increased electrification.

On this episode of Alternative Power Plays, hosts Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis are joined by Rob Gramlich, President of Grid Strategies. Rob breaks down the numbers behind this surge in demand and discusses its implications for grid reliability, power markets, and electricity prices. He highlights which regions are facing the highest load growth, identifies bottlenecks in interconnection and transmission, and outlines what policymakers and utilities must do now to ensure the grid can accommodate this demand without causing skyrocketing costs or reliability issues.

To learn more about Grid Strategies: https://gridstrategiesllc.com/
To learn more about Rob Gramlich: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-gramlich-2a4b594/
To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer⁠
To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis

In this episode of Alternative Power Plays, hosts Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis engage in a conversation with Aliya Bagewadi, the U.S. Director of Strategy Partnerships at Allume Energy. She discusses how Allume Energy is transforming solar access for apartment renters.

Aliya shares more about the company’s origins in Australia and its mission to promote energy equity as it expands to markets in the U.S. and Europe. Throughout the episode, she highlights the benefits of Allume Energy for renters, who can see energy bill reductions of 40-60% with the company’s technology. Meanwhile, building owners benefit from lower operating costs, new revenue streams, and increased property value.

Aliya provides insights into Allume’s market focus, targeting Illinois and D.C. due to favorable incentives, as well as the company's plans to integrate energy storage for enhanced grid resilience. The episode concludes with Aliya emphasizing the importance of education and collaboration with utilities, cities, and community partners to drive adoption and scale their mission of providing clean energy access for renters.

To learn more about Allume Energy, visit: https://allumeenergy.com/us/
To learn more about Aliya Bagewadi, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliyabagewadi
To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer⁠
To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis

In this episode of Alternative Power Plays, hosts Alan Seltzer and Elizabeth Rosentel, a senior advisor in Buchanan's state government relations group, interview Pennsylvania State House Representative Greg Vitali, who has dedicated decades to environmental and energy issues. As the first legislator in Pennsylvania to introduce climate change legislation and propose a severance tax on natural gas, Representative Vitali shares his journey from community environmental activism to chairing the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

This episode covers the challenges and opportunities in advancing renewable energy policies, as well as the political dynamics of Pennsylvania’s energy landscape. The trio explore community solar, net metering, electric vehicle infrastructure, and the changing demand for electricity.

Representative Vitali emphasizes the obstacles posed by bipartisan governance, the influence of industry and labor unions, and the urgent need for climate action in light of evolving federal and state dynamics.

To learn more about Pennsylvania State House Representative Greg Vitali: https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/house_bio.cfm?id=210
To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer⁠
To learn more about Elizabeth Rosentel: https://www.bipc.com/elizabeth-a.-rosentel

In this episode of Alternative Power Plays, hosts Alan Selter and John Povilaitis explore the future of electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure with John Taggart, President and Co-founder of WeaveGrid. WeaveGrid is transforming the electrification of transportation by optimizing EV charging for utilities, EV manufacturers, and owners. During the discussion, Taggart shares insights on the company's software solutions, which aim to balance the increased load on electric grids with the need for renewable energy sources. He discusses the challenges and opportunities in integrating EVs into the grid, the importance of policy and regulatory support, and how WeaveGrid is leading the way for a more sustainable and efficient transportation system.

Join us as we examine how digital infrastructure can support the transition to electric mobility and the broader implications for the energy sector.

To learn more about WeaveGrid, visit: https://www.weavegrid.com/
To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis⁠
To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: ⁠https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer