Distributed Energy Resources, Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions  -  February 19, 2025 - By Constellation

Expert Perspectives that Navigate the Future of Energy

Plugged In: Exploring Energy,” Smart Energy Decisions' podcast series with Constellation, features engaging discussions with industry leaders and experts. Hosted by Chuck Hanna, Vice President of Solutions and National Accounts at Constellation, each episode explores new and innovative technologies, challenges and opportunities in the evolving energy industry and uncovers insights that could shape the future of energy. If you’re just tuning in, take a look back at what we've covered so far.

Episode 1: The Evolving Landscape of Nuclear Technologies

In the first episode, Benton Arnett, Senior Director of Markets and Policy at the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), spoke about how nuclear power is changing to meet today’s energy needs. The conversation covered emerging technologies like small modular reactors (SMRs) and the growing demand for clean energy in sectors such as AI and data centers. Arnett highlighted the important role that nuclear power plays in reducing carbon emissions, especially with the increase in electricity demand driven by the electrification of transportation and industry.

If you're looking to dive deeper into the future of nuclear energy and its impact on your business, this episode provides insights on:

• Changes in the nuclear energy sector over the past decade
• The role of SMRs in meeting future energy needs
• Policy and regulatory actions for nuclear advancement

After a comprehensive look at how nuclear technology benefits the energy industry, the podcast turned its focus to how a tech giant is leading the way in carbon-free resources.

Episode 2: The Frontier of Carbon-Free Resources with Microsoft

The second episode featured Adrian Anderson, General Manager of Carbon-Free Electricity, Renewable Energy & Carbon Dioxide Removal at Microsoft. Anderson shared insights into the company’s sustainability goals and their strategic approach to creating a diverse portfolio of clean energy technologies. Anderson discussed the Carbon Innovation Fund, which finances new carbon-free technologies, and emphasized the importance of data granularity for accurate carbon reporting.

If your business could benefit from an optimized sustainability strategy, this conversation provides helpful insights through:

• Microsoft’s initiatives to achieve sustainability targets
• The role of data in energy management
• Challenges and strategies around Scope 3 emissions

Building on Microsoft's innovative approaches, the podcast’s next episode looked at the intricacies of data reporting and sustainability.

Episode 3: Dynamics of Data Reporting with Iron Mountain

In the third episode, Chris Pennington, Director of Energy and Sustainability at Iron Mountain Data Centers, talked about the company’s decarbonization efforts, the impacts of data centers, and the significance of reporting and tracking energy use. He discussed clean energy products and the need for transparency and tools that provide detailed data in a way that’s clear and easy to understand, helping businesses set appropriate sustainability goals. Pennington also shared how Iron Mountain followed Google’s example in matching energy use with carbon-free energy on an hourly basis.

Improving your sustainability reporting can help your business stay ahead of regulatory changes and meet customer expectations. The conversation with Pennington provides those insights through discussions on:  

• Changes in sustainability reporting requirements
• The impact of digital footprints on energy consumption
• Metrics and certifications for sustainability

Following this data reporting discussion, the podcast addressed some of the energy challenges data centers face and how to overcome them.

Episode 4: Meeting the Energy Challenges of Data Centers

The fourth episode featured Ed Socia, Director of North America at datacenterHawk, and Melissa Zimmerman, Managing Director of Commercial Strategy at Constellation. Topics covered include the evolving energy demands and sustainability challenges of data centers, including the influence of AI, increasing rack densities, the adoption of liquid cooling and the role of real-time monitoring tools like SCADA and DSIM in improving efficiency. Socia and Zimmerman also discussed grid reliability and the need for data center providers and utilities to work together to ensure sustainable power while supporting industry growth.

This episode could provide your business with solutions to energy challenges through insights on:

• Trends in data centers and energy demand
• Energy procurement and sustainable power solutions
• Balancing renewable energy with reliability

By addressing these topics, this episode offered valuable guidance for navigating the complex challenges presented by data centers.

Join the Conversation

Stay tuned for more episodes of the Plugged In: Exploring Energy with Constellation podcast, where industry experts will continue to engage in conversations on the latest trends and challenges in the energy sector. If you have any questions or would like to find customized solutions to optimize your energy strategy and meet your sustainability goals, you can connect with a Constellation representative here.  

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