Power Flow

Join Amy Simpkins for a “state of the [renewable energy] union” in 2023-2024, her predictions for 2025, reflections on innovation theory and the importance of creative rest for the entrepreneurial (and life!) journey, and a summary of Power Flow’s stunning Season 3 guests.  To consider this summer: How do we give ourselves mental and creative rest as professional adults in an extremely fast-paced...

In this episode, Nadia, Elina, and Amy discuss the new landscape of offshore wind in America and how this holistic solution is providing revitalization to American manufacturing, in addition to the importance of engagement with the local community and meeting people where they are in renewable energy outreach. Quotes “It sounds like people are not opposed to renewable energy if it’s done correctly...

In this episode, Deepa and Amy discuss ways to support underrepresented entrepreneurs in climate tech and “making the umbrella bigger for who gets to be a climate entrepreneur,” along with the reality and challenges in the entrepreneurial space. Quotes “Underrepresented people are underrepresented often because they are undersupported.” – Deepa Lounsbury “Bringing that productization piece is almo...

In this episode, Esther and Amy discuss innovation, continuous learning, and the courage to bring your ideas out into reality. Quotes “Energy education is a fundamental building block of participation.” – Esther Morales “Part of what energy education and access to energy education does is it creates a synergy between people’s values and how they can actually show up in the world with work.” –  Est...

In this episode, Amy and Diane discuss the past and present landscape of opportunities in solar, along with the viability of commercial energy storage and the art of architecture in renewable energy projects. “It is hard to do this, but the hard work needs to get done.” – Diane Dandeneau Diane Dandeneau is a serial entrepreneur and lifelong artist. She has had a passion for renewable energy since...

In this episode, Vanessa Benkert shares her passion for working in the renewable energy field, the power of storytelling and innovation, and an overlooked, yet important piece of the solar puzzle: transporting solar panels with reusable packaging. Learn more: https://www.pvpallet.com/ With ~20 years of experience, Vanessa has a proven track record of developing and executing marketing initiatives...

In this episode, Sierra Fan describes co-founding illu to better support technicians in the renewable energy field. She says, “It really came from personal experience… we tried to look for the software. We thought someone must have built something that makes this easier. We kept looking for it. We couldn’t find it… and that’s how we got started with this.” She and Amy also discuss international re...

In this episode, Erika Ginsberg-Klemmt shares her family’s journey to creating Gismo Power, her joy in driving EVs and traveling the seven seas, as well as her drive to make solar solutions more accessible to everyone. Quotes “It’s fun to run on sun.” – Erika Ginsberg-Klemmt “Ease of interconnection, especially for small systems, would really explode growth.” – Amy Simpkins “There are things that...

In this episode, Julia Souder shares her passion for Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) and shares her ideas on how global organizations can work together to make it more widespread as an extremely resilient energy solution. Quotes “We are a huge part of the solution in the green energy transition.” – Julia Souder “Despite what they tell you, it’s not a solved science.” [battery energy storage] –...

In this episode, Laura and Amy discuss the energy storage and microgrid landscape, with a peek behind the curtain as Amy Simpkins finally answers her own questions as CEO of muGrid Analytics and microgrid architect. Fresh from the RE+ 2023 conference, Amy and Laura explore the gap between the marketing around battery systems as solved science versus how much more research is truly necessary. Amy e...

In this episode, Amy and Ali discuss lithium mining and how it affects the clean energy future. Ali Haji is the CEO of ION Energy - a leader in the exploration and development of lithium salars within Mongolia and a strong pioneer in the third wave of the green energy revolution. Together, Ali and Amy explore the split between mobility/electric vehicles and stationary batteries, the supply and dem...

On this episode’s one year anniversary, we are sharing for the first time our recording from the LIVE episode with Julia Hamm on her last days as the founder of Solar Power International (now RE+) and President and CEO of SEPA. This episode was recorded at RE+ in September 2022. Quotes: “We all want to accelerate this transition as fast as possible but we cannot do it in a way that sacrifices reli...

Jennifer Gray Thompson is a lifelong resident of Sonoma Valley in Northern California. She attended Santa Rosa Junior College and graduated from Dominican University in 2001 with degrees in English and History. After teaching high school for 10 years, Jennifer went on to earn a master’s degree in Public Administration from University of Southern California’s Price School of Public Policy. Post gra...

Trained as an architect, Jordana is passionate about socially-driven multidisciplinary projects that advance climate resilience and social justice. Currently, she is the Manager for Climate Resilience & Equity at Resilient Cities Network (R-Cities). At R-Cities, she focuses on supporting cities in developing actions and implementation projects with climate resilience and equity lens. Prior to...

A senior operations and finance executive, Claire Broido Johnson is the director of the University System of Maryland Momentum Fund. (MMF). She has a proven track record in creating and managing successful businesses and driving operations: including as founder of SunEdison and program executive at the Department of Energy during the Obama Administration.  At DOE, Claire guided the deployment of $...

 Dr. Veronika Wright is an electrification enthusiast, consultant, and author. She holds a PhD in Technical Physics from the Graz University of Technology in Austria and gained extensive industry experience in batteries and electrification before founding her own social enterprise, Electrified Veronika , in 2021. With a passion for people and technology, she provides education, technical advice, a...

Linda Khamoushian is a Los Angeles native, and a graduate of UC Berkeley and UCLA. She holds a Masters degree in Urban and Regional Planning. She currently serves as the Director of Shared Mobility at GRID Alternatives . Previously, she worked as the Policy Director for the California Bicycle Coalition and as an urban planning researcher in health equity, environment, and transportation. She has o...

Chaun MacQueen oversees CE - Clean Energy. Bright Futures. , a clean energy and career-connected education program at the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) . She offers innovation and creative thinking in scaling the impact of CE’s work throughout the U.S.  Chaun has over 25 years of experience designing and managing environmental education and social impact programs in the U.S. and abroad...

Elizabeth Sendich is Lead Economic Modeler with the Energy Information Administration (EIA) ’s Macroeconomic and Emissions Team with the Office of Integrated & International Energy Analysis, and delights in the world of how and where things are made. She helps maintain EIA’s long-term international economic forecasts and enhances public understanding of important issues related to the industri...

For this 20th Power Flow episode, we flip the script - Power Flow Creative Director, Laura Novak, interviews our erstwhile host, Amy Simpkins, putting her on the hot seat and giving her a dose of her own tough questions. As co-founder and CEO at muGrid Analytics , Amy Simpkins solves wicked problems at the intersection of energy technology and economics using math and modeling. muGrid provides ban...

Maria Agazio is a sustainability and renewable energy professional who serves the rocky mountain region. She is the Co-founder of Equitable Solar Solutions (TM), a nonprofit program that reallocates discarded solar panels that still have a useful life by installing them in low income communities in an effort to close the gap in access to solar. She was awarded the Forbes 30 under 30 class of 2022...

Nancy LaPlaca, J.D., is a regulatory policy consultant who has worked at the cutting edge of regulatory policies that affect clean energy. In 2006, Nancy challenged the permit for a so-called “clean” coal plant with carbon capture and sequestration. Nancy and colleagues helped to stop that boondoggle, as well as other “clean” coal boondoggles around the U.S. Nancy served as Policy Advisor to an AZ...

Melanie Santiago-Mosier is an award-winning energy expert and thought leader, implementing a vision for diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in and through clean energy.  She is the Deputy Director for Clean Energy Group & Clean Energy States Alliance, sister nonprofits who provide technical expertise and independent analysis in support of communities and government leaders working for an...

An experienced and highly motivated business leader, Darryl Parker’s work in 57 countries makes him a leader in driving innovation across global, matrixed organizations and developing and executing strategies for complex organizations. He brings a strong entrepreneurial mindset, business acumen, passion for innovation and a true commitment to developing the talent around him to every role. He also...

Puja Vohra is the Director of Business Strategy at Slipstream, where she focuses on leading the expansion of Slipstream's clean energy programs and services in the Northeast. Puja has twenty years experience in energy efficiency and sustainability in the built environment, strategic planning for utility program design, green building technology research and energy policies. Prior to Slipstrea...