Smart Energy Voices

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Episode 114: Heard at Net Zero Forum: The Current State of Clean Energy
Date: 12/20/24
Guest: Peter Kelly-Detwiler, NorthBridge Energy Partners

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, Peter Kelly-Detwiler delves into the latest advancements and challenges in decarbonization and clean energy across the U.S. He highlights progress in geothermal energy, nuclear energy, and long-duration storage solutions while addressing efficiency hurdles. Kelly-Detwiler explores the rising energy demands of AI-driven data centers and their implications for power grids, alongside updates on electric vehicles, hydrogen projects, and virtual power plants as utilities shift toward decentralized capacity. He also examines the volatility of voluntary carbon markets due to credibility issues and stresses the need for collective effort and innovative strategies to tackle the complexities of decarbonizing our global economies. Read more...

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 Plugged In - Episode 2: On the Frontier of Carbon-Free Resources with Microsoft
Date: 12/6/2024
Guest: Adrian Anderson, Microsoft

In this episode of Plugged In, host Chuck Hanna from Constellation talks with Adrian Anderson, General Manager of Carbon-Free Electricity, Renewable Energy & Carbon Dioxide Removal at Microsoft, about advancing carbon-free energy and data-driven sustainability. Adrian shares Microsoft’s sustainability goals, including their 100% renewable energy targets, and the crucial role of data granularity for accurate carbon reporting. He highlights Microsoft’s investments in carbon reduction and innovation, such as the company’s Carbon Innovation Fund and its work in long-term power offtake agreements. They also cover the challenges and strategies around Scope 3 emissions, building carbon-free infrastructure, and fostering collaboration with utilities to support a sustainable future. Read more... 

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Episode 113: Reaching Net Zero: Kingspan’s Planet Passionate Program
Date: 11/22/24
Guest: Brent Trenga, Kingspan

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, Brent Trenga, Director of Sustainability at Kingspan North America, shares the company’s ambitious Planet Passionate program and its progress over the first four years of this 10-year initiative. Brent dives into the challenges they faced and the innovative solutions they have implemented to overcome them. He also highlights the value of benchmarking, setting aggressive sustainability targets, and internal buy-in from company leadership and employees to drive impactful change in sustainability efforts for this global building products manufacturer. Read more...

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 Plugged In - Episode 1: The Evolving Landscape of Nuclear Technologies
Date: 11/8/2024
Guest: Benton Arnett, Senior Director of Markets and Policy, Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI)

Welcome to the first episode of Plugged In: Exploring Energy. In this podcast miniseries, host Chuck Hanna from Constellation sits down with Benton Arnett from the Nuclear Energy Institute to discuss how nuclear power is transforming to meet today’s energy needs. They also explore emerging tech like small modular reactors (SMRs) and the growing demand for clean energy in sectors like AI and data centers.

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Episode 112: Heard at REF: Renewable Thermal — The Next Frontier in Decarbonization
Date: 10/24/24
Guest: Zephyr Taylor, Mars, Inc.

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, Zephyr Taylor, Global Commercial Head and Category Director for Renewable Energy at Mars, Inc., takes a close look at the topic of Scope 1 emissions and industrial heat decarbonization. While many companies are comfortable sourcing renewable electricity for their Scope 2 targets, Scope 1 — specifically the challenge of decarbonizing industrial heat — is a different story. This episode tackles the technology, economics, and internal company dynamics required to make progress in this area. Read more...

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Episode 111: Google’s Climate Journey – Decarbonization Within Reach
Date: 10/11/24
Guest: Savannah Goodman, Google

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, Savannah Goodman, Data and Software Climate Solutions Lead at Google, talks about Google's ambitious 24/7 carbon-free energy goal and the innovative tools Google is developing to decarbonize not only its operations but also to influence the broader energy grid. She reveals their use of Time-Based Energy Attribute Certificates (T-EACs) and how this technology can change the procurement of energy across all industries and deliver clean energy to the grid in times and places where it’s needed. Read more...

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Episode 110: Heard at REF: Beyond ESG — Making Renewable Energy a Business Priority
Date: 9/27/24
Guest: Charles Benisch, ENGIE Impact

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, Charles Benisch, Director of Renewable Advisory at ENGIE Impact, covers how to move from admirable renewable energy goals to actionable strategies that align with executive priorities, as well as the rising risks of climate-related lawsuits, the impact of skyrocketing energy costs, and the looming pressure on supply chains. For organizations committed to sustainability, he outlines how innovative solutions like community solar programs and tax credit transfers can be leveraged to create budget-free paths to achieving green goals while still benefiting the bottom line. Read more...

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Episode 109: Heard at REF: How to Plan Your Optimal Clean Energy Roadmap at Least Cost
Date: 9/13/24
Guest: Seyed Madaeni, Verse

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, listen to insights from a session at the 2024 Renewable Energy Forum (REF) featuring Seyed Madaeni, co-founder and CEO of Verse. Madaeni discusses the complexities of planning an optimal clean energy roadmap at the lowest cost. He outlines the various factors that organizations need to consider when planning their sustainability programs and the importance of understanding the financial implications of these decisions. Live polling at REF revealed insights into attendees’ experiences with PPAs and their organization's clean energy goals. Among those results, many organizations responded that they have clean energy goals, but there is still a need for more robust strategies to achieve them, including technology-driven solutions. Read more...

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Episode 108: The Intersection of AI and Sustainability
Date: 8/23/24
Guest: Megan Lorenzen, Salesforce

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host Debra Chanil sits down with Megan Lorenzen, Director of Climate and Energy at Salesforce, to discuss the intersection of AI, energy and sustainability. Megan shares insights on Salesforce's efforts in clean energy deployment, including their 100% renewable energy commitment and their role in the global energy transition. They also explore Salesforce's innovative approaches to AI, including the balance between AI's potential to drive climate action and its environmental impact. Megan shares Salesforce’s new sustainable AI policy principles and discusses their engagement with policymakers to promote effective climate legislation, while providing a comprehensive look at how leading technology firms are navigating the complex landscape of energy and AI for a sustainable future. Read more...

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Episode 107: Heard at REF: The Continued Evolution of Offsite Renewable Purchasing
Date: 8/9/24
Guest: Luke Penne, Constellation

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host Debra Chanil welcomes Luke Penne, Senior Business Development Manager at Constellation Energy, in an interview from the 2024 Renewable Energy Forum, “The Continued Evolution of Offsite Renewable Purchasing.” This insightful episode covers recent developments in offsite renewable purchasing, including factors affecting the rising prices of power purchase agreements (PPAs), the importance of more impactful renewable purchases, and increasing demand for PPAs and integrated solutions as companies face challenges in meeting their 2025 and 2030 sustainability goals. Read more...

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Episode 106: Heard at REF: PIVOT! How to Keep Advancing Your Strategy When Everything Changes
Date: 7/26/24
Guest: Sarah Johnston, Calpine

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, Sarah Johnston, Managing Director of Marketing and Carbon Differentiated Strategy at Calpine, discusses corporate sustainability targets and the challenges of achieving them, particularly among the recent changes in SEC and SBTi guidelines. This was the opening keynote at SED’s recent Renewable Energy Forum.

Drawing from 15 years at Calpine, Johnston explores proactive and prescriptive planning to mitigate risks and optimize energy strategies in an uncertain environment. She also touches on corporate challenges in Scope 3 emissions, advocating for supply chain collaboration to reduce carbon footprints. Read more...

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Episode 105: Navigating Building Regulations and Incentives to Empower Sustainability
Date: 7/12/24
Guest: Melissa Banks, Trane Technologies

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host Debra Chanil speaks with Melissa Banks, Regulatory and Utility Advocacy Director at Trane Technologies, about the complex landscape of building decarbonization and sustainability. Banks discusses the increasing importance of regulatory compliance, utility incentives, and tax benefits in making energy efficiency projects financially viable for businesses and building owners.

She explains the significance of understanding local utility incentives and shares examples of utility programs that offer substantial rebates for energy-efficient upgrades and emphasizes leveraging these incentives and working with experts to help maximize the financial benefits of their sustainability efforts — making the path to decarbonization both achievable and affordable. Read more...

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Episode 104: Circular Economy and Sustainable Deconstruction: A Unique Approach at the City of Boulder
Date: 6/21/24
Guest: Emily Freeman, City of Boulder

In this episode, Debra Chanil welcomes Emily Freeman, Circular Economy Policy Advisor of the City of Boulder. Freeman highlights strides in three core principles of the circular economy and how Boulder's initiatives align with the city's ambitious climate action goals.

As Boulder continues its journey towards carbon neutrality, Freeman's insights offer a blueprint for other cities and organizations seeking to integrate circular economy principles into their sustainability strategies and policies. Read more...

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Episode 103: The Evolution of Building Performance Standards
Date: 6/7/24
Guest: Marshall Duer-Balkind, Institute for Market Transformation (IMT)

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host Debra Chanil sat down with Marshall Duer-Balkind, Director of Policy Programs at the Institute for Market Transformation (IMT), to talk about building performance standards (BPS) and their implications for the energy transition. He also gives an overview of IMT's mission and work, focusing on their efforts to improve the efficiency and performance of buildings through policy development and equitable decarbonization.

Duer-Balkind delves into the specifics of BPS policies and the need for long-term planning by building owners and tenants to meet their requirements, emphasizing that "doing nothing ain't free." He discusses how building performance standards intersect with other market trends such as climate change mitigation, financial considerations, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) requirements, as well as the need for collaborative efforts among stakeholders to achieve sustainability goals. Read more...

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