Smart Energy Voices

How do you quantify the value of a microgrid, which in some cases can be thought of as an insurance policy? You're ensuring that your facility doesn't go down or have an outage. How much is an outage really worth and how do you value that? In this age of Covid19, the pressure to fulfill commitments still remains high. Investor pressure remains high. Project goals remain in place. But the financing...

Many market trends today revolve around resiliency, sustainability, and reduction in carbon emissions. These are all at the forefront of customer's minds and are driven by their own corporate ESG goals. Robert Vary, Senior Vice President Sales & Relationship Management, Duke Energy, discusses energy solutions that allow customers to conserve their own capital while providing subscription payments...

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, guest Dave Grupp, VP and Head of Renewable Services at Direct Energy Business, talks about his career and gives us his take on the evolution of the retail energy business, including the expanding role that renewable energy is playing within it. After 15 years in the industry, Dave has had a front-row seat to the changes that have taken place and has seen the...

Why is the future of the grid distributed? Customers want control over the cost of energy. They also want reliability and choice. Additionally, access to cost-efficient energy is a business necessity. These reasons combined with new lower-cost technology are the driving force behind capital spending for Distributed Energy Resources ( DERs). According to a Wood Mackenzie report, DER capacity will r...

Peter Kelly-Detwiler sits down with Teresa Kanter, from Duke Energy Renewables (DER), and Erika Bierschbach, from Austin Energy (AE), to discuss the City of Austin's leadership in renewable energy procurement and their partnership with Duke Energy.  You’ll hear how Duke Energy Renewables and Austin Energy are moving forward and pushing limits in Austin. Listen to this episode of Smart Energy Voice...

Sure, there are solar farms but have you encountered a solar city? That’s just what you will find in Phoenix. They are building parking lot carports that not only provide coveted shade for citizens but lay a foundation for a sort of inner-city solar farm. Additionally, they are utilizing many city-owned properties to harness clean energy to light up Sun Valley. It’s a great pleasure to have guest...

Portland General Electric (PGE) created their green energy future impact tariff for large scale commercial and industrial customers to help them source 100% renewable energy. The energy will be sourced from new wind and solar facilities dedicated from a PPA through PGE. This huge initiative — with about 160 megawatts — was fully subscribed within 3 minutes of its release. It's eye-opening to hear...

On today's episode, you’ll get to listen in on a panel discussion from a recent forum. This exciting panel features Valerie Cardwell, with Comcast NBCUniversal’s Office of Sustainability, Beth Wytiaz, Global Environmental Operations Manager at Bank of America, and the panel is moderated by Becky Sternberg, Vice President of Energy and Climate Practice at 3Degrees. Beth and Valerie are going to sha...

Today two dinosaurs in the industry Peter Kelly Detweiler and Greg Kosier — former colleagues at Constellation with nearly 50 years in the industry between them — talk about how buyers manage their energy risk in terms of legacy buying, the way it used to be done, and today’s renewable power purchase agreements.  There’s a wealth of knowledge to be gained when you have the chance to listen in on a...

Renewable energy is not a new conversation at Goldman Sachs as they have found a way for the last 10 years to ensure corporate profitability alongside operational sustainability. From their new LEED Gold Certified World headquarters to Sustainable Finance, Cindy shares a comprehensive synopsis of how Goldman Sachs and it’s leadership is being “front footed” in setting an example for social equity,...

It’s not uncommon these days to hear talk of businesses, large and small, developing a purpose statement that has to do with its societal responsibility. Consumers are coming to expect brands to take such a stance as well. Why is that and how should business leaders think about it? But a more important question is this: How does the issue of organizational purpose magnify and support what is happe...

Multinational corporations have the opportunity to play a unique role in the energy transition. Health care company, Novartis is taking that opportunity seriously, moving the needle significantly when it comes to the company’s own carbon footprint and power usage as well as creating opportunities that smaller organizations may be able to utilize to move their power purchases toward renewable energ...

Few people could be considered to be at the epicenter of the renewable energy transition in big business, but this episode’s guest, Rob Threlkeld is one of whom it could be said. With over 19 years of experience in the energy side of General Motors, Rob has led the charge in transitioning the company toward its goal of 100% sourcing of operations from Renewable energy. He’s also set the pace for G...

On this episode, you are in for a treat! Rose McKinney-James is the former President and CEO for the Corporation for Solar Technology and Renewable Resources, and former Commissioner with the Nevada Public Service Commission. She has a unique and timely perspective from which to speak on the issue of diversity in the energy industry. Rose has an extensive history in public service, private sector...