Smart Energy Voices - Season 3
Welcome to Smart Energy Voices: an SED Podcast
Hosted by John Failla, Smart Energy Decisions Founder.
Smart Energy Voices, an SED podcast, features conversations with leaders of the energy transition. In each episode, Smart Energy Decisions founder John Failla digs deep with industry movers and shakers to reveal insights you can learn from in their stories, personalities, and visions for the future.
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Season 3
Episode 55: Achieving Reliability, Resilience, and Emission Reductions in Higher Ed with DERs
Date: 12/10/2021
Guests: Lincoln Bleveans, Executive Director, Sustainability & Energy Management at Stanford University
In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, SED's Debra Chanil discusses distributed energy resources in higher education with Lincoln Bleveans, Executive Director, Sustainability & Energy Management at Stanford University. DERs in higher education is a complex topic that can be overwhelming. Lincoln addresses the challenges of energy reliability, resilience, and creating a granular room-to-room energy plan. He also discusses the unique intersection between the university and Silicon Valley. You won’t want to miss his insightful observations. Read more...
Episode 54: Clean Energy Dealmaking
Date: 12/3/2021
Guests: Mona Dajani, Global Co-Head of Energy, Infrastructure, Mobility, Renewables & Water at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla is joined by Mona Dajani, Global Co-Head of Energy, Infrastructure, Mobility, Renewables & Water at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. Mona is a prolific dealmaker in the renewable energy space and is a highly regarded, well-recognized attorney. You’ll find her extensive experience and unique perspective enlightening. Listen to learn more. Read more...
Episode 53: Industrial Decarbonization Strategies at General Mills
Date: 11/19/2021
Guests: Daren Kaiser, Global Energy Strategy Leader - General Mills
In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla talks with Daren Kaiser, Global Energy Strategy Leader - General Mills, at the recent Distributed Energy Forum. They discuss the unique challenges related to General Mills’ ambitious decarbonization goals and the tactics Daren is employing to deliver against its sustainability commitments, such as energy optimization and CHP solutions. Listen in to hear more about industrial decarbonization strategies. Read more...
Episode 52: DER's Role in Your Total Energy Management Strategy
Date: 11/12/2021
Guests: Doug Sansom, Managing Director – Distributed Energy Resources at NRG Energy
In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla talks with Doug Sansom, Managing Director – Distributed Energy Resources at NRG Energy, at Smart Energy Decisions’ recent Distributed Energy Forum. They discuss the tools that customers need in order to take control of their total energy management strategy. Listen in for insightful energy management strategies. Read more...
Episode 51: Renewable Energy Innovations in Regulated Markets
Date: 11/5/2021
Guests: Robert Day, Executive Director of Origination, Evergy Energy Partners
Grant Wilkerson, Director of New Business Development, Evergy Energy Partners
This episode of Smart Energy Voices is produced in partnership with Evergy Energy Partners. Host John Failla is joined by Evergy’s Robert Day, Executive Director of Origination, and Grant Wilkerson, Director of New Business Development to discuss how Evergy is responding to the unique needs of large power users in both regulated and deregulated markets for renewable energy. Listen to learn more about their inside perspective. Read more...
Episode 50: Blueprint for a Zero Carbon Grid: The DOE Solar Futures Study
Date: 10/29/2021
Guests: Dr. Becca Jones-Albertus, Solar Energy Technologies Office Director, Department of Energy
In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla has a conversation with Dr. Becca Jones-Albertus, Solar Energy Technologies Office Director, Department of Energy. The DOE recently released the Solar Futures Study detailing the significant role of solar in decarbonizing the nation’s power grid. The study showed that by 2035 solar energy has the potential to power 40% of the nation’s electricity, drive deep carbonization of the grid, and employ as many as 1.5 million people without raising electricity prices. Listen in to hear from the mind and leader behind that study. Read more...
Episode 49: The State of the Voluntary Carbon Offset Market, with Kyle Harrison
Date: 10/22/2021
Guests: Kyle Harrison, Head of Sustainability Research at BloombergNEF
In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla had the opportunity to speak with Kyle Harrison about the state of the voluntary carbon offset market. Kyle is the Head of Sustainability Research at BloombergNEF. Over the last three years, Smart Energy Decisions has had the privilege of working with BNEF and Kyle on a variety of projects and events. You won’t want to miss Kyle’s interesting and valuable perspective. Read more...
Episode 48: The Power of Entrepreneurial Leadership, with Chris Castro
Date: 10/08/2021
Guests: Chris Castro, Director of Sustainability & Resilience, City of Orlando
In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla is joined by Chris Castro, Director of Sustainability & Resilience and Co-Chair of the ‘Future-Ready’ initiative for the City of Orlando. Chris has accomplished a tremendous amount with the city in an amazingly brief time. Listen in to learn more about the thrilling work Chris is currently doing and about this fascinating personal journey in the field of sustainability. Read more...
Episode 47: Creating Your Roadmap to Net Zero, with Tripp Borstel
Date: 10/01/2021
Guests: Tripp Borstel, Director with ENGIE Impact's Sustainability Solutions
In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla sits down with Tripp Borstel, Head of Transformation at ENGIE Impact. They discuss key levers to work and issues relating to the use of carbon offsets. There’s a lot to cover when it comes to achieving zero emissions - and the scale of the challenge requires creating alignment across a variety of parties within an organization. Listen in to this conversation from Smart Energy Decisions’ recent Renewable Energy Forum. Read more...
Episode 46: Inspiring Diversity in Energy Series with Ajulo Othow and Dana Clare Redden
Date: 9/17/2021
Guests: Ajulo Othow, Enerwealth Solutions, LLC
Dana Clare Redden, Solar Stewards
This episode of Smart Energy Voices continues our series on Inspiring Diversity in Energy with a panel from the recent Renewable Energy Forum. Smart Energy Decisions’ Debra Chanil sat down with Ajulo Othow, co-founder and CEO of EnerWealth Solutions, LLC, and Dana Clare Redden, founder of Solar Stewards. With this experience in creating companies in the solar space, they’ll discuss the challenges of entrepreneurship and what they think is needed to bring more diversity to the solar industry. Read more...
Episode 45: A Guide to Addressing Your Scope 3 Value Chain Emissions
Date: 9/10/2021
Guests: Katherine Canoy, 3Degrees
In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host Debra Chanil talks with Katherine Canoy, Director of Energy and Climate Practice at 3Degrees. As more organizations are making ambitious climate commitments, such as net-zero emissions, many companies grapple with the most effective way to address their Scope 3 emissions. Debra and Katherine discussed practical steps that organizations can take to tackle their value chain emissions at SED’s recent Renewable Energy Forum. Listen in on the discussion of this hot topic: reducing Scope 3 emissions.. Read more...
Episode 44: Bucknell's Renewable Energy Journey, with Victor Udo
Date: 9/3/2021
Guests: Dr Victor Udo, Bucknell University
In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla speaks with Victor Udo, Bucknell University’s Director of Sustainability. Bucknell University recently announced a 7-acre solar array on the campus. Victor explains how the project came about, how it fits in with their overall sustainability strategy, and what was needed to overcome the sometimes contentious process to gain local ordinance to proceed. This episode is a must-listen for other large power users, especially in higher education. Read more...
Episode 43: Capitalizing on Opportunities in Community Solar
Date: 8/27/2021
Guests: Miro Sutton, NRG Energy
In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla sits down with Miro Sutton, Managing Director – Renewable Advisory, Strategy and Origination, NRG Energy. This discussion covers the state of community solar, including key trends, benefits, and common misperceptions. You’ll want to listen in to learn about NRG’s unique approach to developing community solar projects. Read more...
Episode 42: Building a Global Renewable Energy Portfolio
Date: 8/20/2021
Guests: Zephyr Taylor, Mars Inc
In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla is joined by Zephyr Taylor, Global Director of Renewable Energy, Mars Inc. This conversation took place during Smart Energy Decisions’ Renewable Energy Forum. They discussed Mars’ progress against its “Sustainable in a Generation” plan and its ambitious emissions reduction and renewable energy goals. Listen to hear more about Zephyr’s work at Mars. Read more...
