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  • What California just proved about the future of energy

    What California just proved about the future of energy
    2025/10/27
    America’s grid is facing a daunting and pervasive challenge: explosive demand growth driven by data centers, EVs, and electrification. Utilities are seeking to navigate this reality all while politics threaten to slow down the clean energy buildout. But in California, with the state’s commitment to meeting future energy needs sustainably and affordably, one emerging model appears to hold the key: the virtual power plant. VPPs promise to turn homes, batteries, and even EVs into a coordinated, flexible energy resource, or a unified system that can keep the grid stable, lower emissions, and even save customers money. The technology has been discussed for years, but we’re currently facing the real question: can VPPs scale fast enough to make a real dent in demand? In this episode of Power Perspectives, host Kinsey Grant Baker sits down with Tim McDonnell, Climate and Energy Editor at Semafor, to unpack California’s massive virtual power plant experiment and dig into what the recent results could mean for the rest of the country. From Tesla’s and Sunrun’s aggregated home batteries to the regulatory hurdles of a Trump 2.0 policy landscape, Tim explains why this story could redefine how utilities think about flexibility, customer engagement, and distributed assets. For utilities staring down rising demand and political headwinds, this conversation offers a glimpse of what’s next and why VPPs might be the most impactful clean energy story of the decade. Key Links Sign up for the Energy Central Daily Newsletter: energycentral.beehiiv.com/subscribe Energy Central Post for this episode: TBD
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    1分未満
  • Can the grid handle AI?

    Can the grid handle AI?
    2025/10/24
    AI data centers are rising faster than utilities can build new capacity—and that’s creating the toughest balancing act the power sector has faced in decades. Explosive load growth, renewable integration challenges, and mounting customer affordability pressures are all converging at once. How can utilities plan for this future without pricing out the communities they serve? In this episode of Power Perspectives, Claire Gotham, Consulting Lead for Utilities Americas at Wipro, and Brooke Haman, Regulated Solutions Development Manager at Georgia Power, join host Kinsey Grant Baker for a candid discussion about what it takes to keep up with this new energy reality. Together, they explore the strategies, policy shifts, and business model innovations utilities will need to power the next era of electrification. Listen in as Claire and Brooke discuss exactly why today’s surge in data center demand is unlike any previous growth cycle and the strategies necessary to ensure this new era of load growth is met reliably without compromising fairness for all customers across the grid. Further, these leaders share lessons learned about the role of storytelling amid making these complex planning decisions and look ahead to the right policy and regulatory mix that will enable faster, smarter infrastructure investment. For executives, planners, and regulators grappling with the unprecedented load-growth wave, this episode offers both strategic insight and actionable guidance on how to build the grid that will power the AI age. And thanks to our partner, Wipro, for making this episode possible. Wipro is an AI-powered technology services company focused on building innovative solutions that address clients’ most complex digital transformation needs. Leveraging our holistic portfolio of capabilities in consulting, design, engineering, and operations, we help clients realise their boldest ambitions and build future-ready, sustainable businesses. With a global workforce of over 230,000 employees and business partners across 65 countries, we deliver on the promise of helping our customers, colleagues, and communities thrive in an ever-changing world. For additional information, visit us at https://www.wipro.com.
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    1分未満
  • The CEO’s perspective on meeting the load growth challenge

    The CEO’s perspective on meeting the load growth challenge
    2025/10/23
    Utilities are all balancing a three-legged stool: reliability, affordability, and environmental stewardship. So how do they keep from toppling over when facing unprecedented load growth? This week on The Watt & Why, host Mike Smith is joined by John Di Stasio, former president of the Large Public Power Council and former CEO of SMUD, to unpack the real strategies utility leaders can deploy to stay balanced—and prepared for the future. Together, Mike and John have 1) more than a half-century of power industry experience and 2) a deep well of insight on approaches to load growth, both traditional and cutting edge. They tackle… - How to win over customers on next-gen tech, with real-world examples from SMUD - The role of hydrogen, nuclear, and more in the power mix of the future (John says one of these is “a no-brainer for the technological capability of the United States”) - Why removing fossil fuels won’t be as simple as people think - The importance of localized generation to sidestep the transmission problem And so much more. Don’t miss this one—it’s packed. Hit play to hear how one of the utility industry’s most celebrated vets is thinking about meeting the moment.
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    1分未満
  • Nat Bullard: Can energy change its mind on decarb?

    Nat Bullard: Can energy change its mind on decarb?
    2025/10/20
    The energy transition isn’t following a straight path. It's moving fast, bending markets, and reshaping how utilities, investors, and policymakers think about risk and opportunity. And increasingly, the big trends—data centers, electrification, etc.—are all converging at warp speed. The question for energy leaders: How do you keep up when the rules are changing in real time? Nat Bullard has the answers. In this episode of Power Perspectives, host Kinsey Grant Baker sits down with Bullard, acclaimed energy thought leader and cofounder of Halycon, to unpack what he calls the most dynamic era of the modern energy system. Nat shares insights from decades of data-driven storytelling, including the falling costs of clean tech, the new role of demand as a driver of innovation, and why grid buildout—not generation—is the defining challenge of our time. From utilities grappling with distributed resources to investors betting on the next wave of infrastructure, this conversation offers a rare, big-picture look at where the energy transition is heading—and how decision-makers can prepare for what’s next. Key Links Sign up for the Energy Central Daily Newsletter: energycentral.beehiiv.com/subscribe Energy Central Post for this episode: https://www.energycentral.com/podcasts/post/nat-bullard-can-energy-change-its-mind-on-decarb-z8yDg0JzGIbGmwu Video version on SoundCloud: https://youtu.be/p3UJ1FpGTQ0
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    37 分
  • Data is the new gold: How grid-edge tech is changing the game

    Data is the new gold: How grid-edge tech is changing the game
    2025/10/16
    Going from reactive to proactive. Improving regulatory collaboration and outcomes. Getting from pilot to grid-scale—fast. Improving safety and reliability. Finding the space where prudence and affordability co-exist. They’re not pipe dreams for utilities. They’re all realities that are possible thanks to grid-edge technology. And today on Piloting the Future, Kim and Lee are bringing in two experts to explain exactly how: JT Thompson, Chief Revenue Officer at Edge Zero, and Michael Goldman, Principal at Apex Analytics. This episode is a must-listen for anyone curious how grid-edge tech goes from theory to practice—it’s packed with insightful, real-world examples plus deep conversation about how utilities can catch problems before they get costly. There’s so much activity happened at the edge of the grid…and today, we’re taking you there with the experts on the frontlines of next-gen utility intelligence.
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    45 分
  • Jigar Shah's message for utilities? Take the lead—or take the blame

    Jigar Shah's message for utilities? Take the lead—or take the blame
    2025/10/13
    Jigar Shah is one of the most influential voices in power. From his many entrepreneurial pursuits to his tenure leading DOE’s Loan Programs Office, Jigar has seen just about everything. So in his view, what’s priority No. 1 for utilities hoping to rise to the occasion as demand spikes and energy dominates conversations from the boardroom to the dinner table? It’s past time to start getting more out of what we’ve already paid for (because the only alternative is a 10% rate increase every year—and no one wants that). Today on Power Perspectives, Jigar opens up about his time leading the LPO and what the future of funding says about energy innovation, his perspective on what the Trump administration is getting wrong about energy demand, and his POV on the simplest way to solve for the coming demand spike (read: batteries). Jigar offers up clear action items for utility leaders, paired with insight into what he calls the “golden opportunity” for energy innovators willing to put in the work today. Want to know what that is? Hit play. By the way: Welcome to a new era for Power Perspectives! Today’s episode features the debut of our new host, Energy Central Head of Content Kinsey Grant Baker. Want to share feedback, ideas, or thoughts with Kinsey? Email her any time: kinsey@smoothmedia.co. And feel free to share feedback with our producer and Energy Central Community Manager Matt Chester, too—he’s at mchester@energycentral.com. Thanks for listening. See you next week for more. Key Links Sign up for the Energy Central Daily Newsletter: energycentral.beehiiv.com/subscribe Energy Central Post for this episode: https://www.energycentral.com/podcasts/post/jigar-shah-s-message-for-utilities-take-the-lead--or-take-the-blame-qimbyphNnA3Wun8 Video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/B3gTkx2zywc Ask a Question to Our Future Guests: Do you have a burning question for the utility executives and energy industry thought leaders that we feature each week on Power Perspectives? Leave us a message here for your chance to be featured in an upcoming episode: www.speakpipe.com/EnergyCentralPodcast
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    34 分
  • CAISO CEO: It takes a village to run the grid

    CAISO CEO: It takes a village to run the grid
    2025/10/10
    What’s the role of the modern independent system operator—especially in a grid becoming increasingly complicated and overloaded by the day? Elliot Mainzer, CEO of the California Independent System Operator (one of the largest ISOs in the world), says it’s like flying the plane while building it. So how are the best ISOs responsible for stabilizing the grid approaching the next decade of unprecedented energy demand? This week on The Watt & Why, Elliot joins host Mike Smith to lift the curtain on what it really takes to stay agile, proactive, and resilient in today’s energy reality. Elliot and Mike cover… - The importance of prioritization when orchestrating and collaborating with load-serving entities, states, and ISOs - The role of the Western Energy Imbalance Market in furthering both diversity + capacity - Separating signal from noise amidst this widely dissected demand spike - The importance of data centers and other hyperscalers being good grid citizens (read: bringing flexibility and dispatchability) - Queuing reform and the future of regulatory speed - The role of nuclear in the western energy markets …And so, so much more. This episode is packed with insights from one of the most important leaders in the modern energy landscape. Hit play for an inside look at how CAISO is building for a robust, resilient grid of the future.
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    32 分
  • How to win customers and influence affordability

    How to win customers and influence affordability
    2025/10/05
    In this episode, Power Perspectives tackles one of the most important shifts in today’s utility sector: the rise of customer satisfaction as a boardroom priority. For decades, utilities focused on reliability and compliance above all else—but today’s modern customers expect more. Driven by at-the-fingertip response and action from the tech companies like Amazon and Netflix in their daily lives, they increasingly want the same from their power providers: immediacy, transparency, flexibility, and more. To explore this transformation, podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester welcome two guests bringing both data and real-world perspectives on this topic: DeAnna Hardwick, Chief Customer Strategy Officer at CPS Energy, and Forrest Morgeson, Director of Research at the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). Together, they unpack how utilities can turn satisfaction into long-term success. Listen in as they discuss what the latest ACSI survey data reveals about utility customer sentiment nationwide and how utilities like CPS Energy are translating that intel into action to improve communication, affordability, and customer care. For utility leaders, customer service teams, and anyone navigating today’s evolving energy landscape, this episode offers both a data-driven view and a practical playbook for building trust and loyalty in the communities you serve. Key Links Sign up for the Energy Central Daily Newsletter: energycentral.beehiiv.com/subscribe Energy Central Post for this episode: https://www.energycentral.com/podcasts/post/how-to-win-customers-and-influence-affordability-0iVUVmNluI2WEnx Video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Z-BYPCZfZDk Ask a Question to Our Future Guests: Do you have a burning question for the utility executives and energy industry thought leaders that we feature each week on Power Perspectives? Leave us a message here for your chance to be featured in an upcoming episode: www.speakpipe.com/EnergyCentralPodcast
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    48 分