Energy Changemakers Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

 In this episode of the Energy Changemakers Podcast, financial expert Rob Hong of Sapling Financial Consultants explains how community solar can provide both profits for developers and cost savings for consumers. He presents the financials of a real project, explains the risks and rewards, compares various community solar approaches, and describes the pros and cons of community solar over other solar business models.  “This discussion provides valuable finanicial insight for any community considering solar,” says podcast host Elisa Wood.

Chapters with Timecodes:

• [0:00] Introduction to Community Solar Economics

• [1:27] Overview of Community Solar Financials

• [8:10] Comparing Ownership and Subscription Models

• [14:31] Financial Benefits and Risks of Community Solar

• [19:41] Developer's IRR and Return Analysis

• [27:36] Deep Dive into One Project's Economics

• [33:59] Risk and Return Analysis for the Operator

• [39:39] Conclusion and Takeaways on Community Solar

For more conversations like this, check out the Energy Changemakers Community and sign up for our free newsletter about all things distributed energy.

In this episode of the Energy Changemakers podcast, host Elisa Wood talks to three big thinkers in the electric power industry: Lorenzo Kristov, Kay Aikin, and Mark Paterson, who explain what it will take to create a democratized electric grid. Our guests also take on common grid fictions, such as the belief that virtual power plants provide an “easy button” to manage distributed energy. They offer a vision for a decentralized grid and describe programs in Colorado, Maine, and Australia paving the way.

00:00 Introduction to the Energy Changemakers Podcast

00:35 Understanding Virtual Power Plants (VPPs)

01:00 The Role of VPPs in the Energy Grid

02:45 Contrarian Views on VPPs and Distributed Energy

03:23 Introducing the Expert Panel

06:22 Lorenzo Kristov's Vision for a Decentralized Grid

13:29 Kay Aikin's Critique of Virtual Power Plants

17:29 Mark Paterson's Insights from Australia

30:40 Harnessing Rooftop Solar Potential

31:32 Challenges in Large-Scale Energy Transformation

33:39 Market Structures and DERs

35:08 Strategic Transformation Processes

37:55 Performance-Based Regulation and Dynamic Pricing

39:05 Promising Jurisdictions and Examples

42:20 Localized Valuing and Monetization of DERs

44:20 Reforming Distribution Utilities

53:51 The Value Proposition of DERs

55:54 Concluding Thoughts and Future Discussions

For more conversations like this, check out the Energy Changemakers Community and sign up for our free newsletter about all things distributed energy.

Elisa Wood interviews Nate Owen, CEO of Ampion, who provides an inside view of the US community solar market following a regulatory ruling in California that left many in the industry unhappy. Owen dives into the history that brought the industry to this point and explains why he’s bullish on its future. He delves into problems, like interconnection, that slow projects and market mechanisms and social benefits that drive its growth. Owen also details why it used to be hard for community solar projects to provide renewable energy certificates (RECs) and why that’s changed, as exemplified by the company’s deal with Wendy’s restaurant.  

Chapters

0:00 Introduction to Energy Changemakers

1:08 Introducing Ampion and the Wendy's Deal

3:00 The Importance of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)

6:00 Evolution of Community Solar and RECs

9:07 Value Proposition: Savings and RECs

11:45 Post-California Community Solar Outlook

15:14 Social Benefits of Community Solar

18:06 Challenges with Interconnection

20:39 Overcoming Interconnection Issues

22:15 Vision for the Future Grid

23:59 Transition to Solar Energy

For more conversations like this, check out the Energy Changemakers Community and sign up for our free newsletter about all things distributed energy.

As the energy grid faces unprecedented changes, local energy solutions are increasingly needed. Hosted by Elisa Wood, an experienced energy journalist, The Energy Changemakers Podcast brings you into the heart of these transformations. Each episode features in-depth discussions with industry leaders pioneering the move toward a decentralized grid. From technological innovations to policy changes —  discover actionable insights to help your company leverage emerging opportunities. Join us at The Energy Changemakers Podcast and be part of the conversation that shapes our energy future.

Voters in Ann Arbor, Michigan, will be asked to approve a ground-breaking new kind of utility on November 5, one run by the city that provides local, distributed energy to those who choose to participate. Missy Stults, Ann Arbor’s Sustainability and Innovations Director, joins host Elisa Wood to explain why the city decided to pursue the creation of the Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU), how it will work, its relationship to the local investor-owned utility, and what it brings to the city’s sustainability and equity efforts.

Also see Ann Arbor’s SEU website: www.a2gov.org.

00:00 Introduction to the Energy Changemakers Podcast

00:23 Ann Arbor's Unique Municipal Utility Proposal

01:09 Interview with Missy Stultz: Ann Arbor's Sustainability Director

03:35 Ann Arbor's Energy Landscape and Challenges

05:22 The Vision for a Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU)

11:34 How the SEU Will Operate: City and Consumer Perspectives

21:58 Community Engagement and Upcoming Referendum

25:59 Closing Remarks and Call to Action

Energy Changemakers provides content and community for those working on the grid edge. For more conversations like this, check out the ⁠Energy Changemakers Community⁠ and sign up for our ⁠free newsletter⁠.

In this episode of the Energy Changemakers podcast, host Elisa Wood interviews Alex Bazhinov, founder and president of Lumin, a smart panel company. Alex shares his remarkable journey from working in the mining industry in Russia to pioneering smart home energy solutions in Charlottesville, Virginia. Like so many entrepreneurs, he began in his garage developing a prototype. Now, partnering with clean energy giants, Lumin offers a smart panel that gives homeowners more control over specific household appliances and is rolling out new technology that, among other things, lowers costs for homeowners readying for EV charging.

00:00 Introduction to Energy Changemakers Podcast

00:50 Meet Alex Bazhinov: From Moscow to Clean Energy

02:09 The Mining Industry and Its Environmental Impact

05:04 The Shift to Renewable Energy

09:18 Challenges and Opportunities in Russia

11:07 Entrepreneurial Journey in the US

20:49 Founding Lumin: The Smart Panel Idea

30:06 Introduction to Smart Panel

30:41 Residential Solar and Battery Use Case

31:45 Dynamic Energy Management

32:55 Challenges with Traditional Battery Backup

34:14 Market Adoption and Partnerships

35:30 Introducing LuminEdge

36:51 Grid Services and Demand Response

40:36 Electrification of Homes

43:39 Avoiding Costly Electrical Upgrades

47:14 Distribution and Partnerships

51:20 Company Overview and Vision

52:12 Advice for Entrepreneurs

57:23 Conclusion and Call to Action

Energy Changemakers provides content and community for those working on the grid edge. For more conversations like this, check out the ⁠Energy Changemakers Community⁠ and sign up for our ⁠free newsletter⁠.

In this episode of the Energy Changemakers podcast, host Elisa Wood engages in a rich discussion with Bill Prindle, a senior energy and climate leader. Bill brings over 40 years of industry experience and provides a unique perspective on the evolving roles of utilities and distributed energy resource (DER) companies in the modern grid. They delve into the financial models that govern investor-owned utilities, the complexities of grid regulation, the state's role in energy policy, and the historical context that has led to the current fragmented energy market. Bill explains the challenges and opportunities that DER companies and utilities face in working together, with a focus on their financial models, regulatory constraints, and the evolving technology landscape. The conversation also explores the impact of restructuring, the importance of integrated resource planning, and the technical and operational hurdles in integrating DERs into the grid.

00:00 Introduction to Energy Changemakers Podcast

00:27 Meet Bill Prindle: Energy and Climate Leader

01:57 Understanding Utilities' Perspective on DERs

06:46 Challenges and Opportunities in the Energy Sector

14:53 Historical Context of the Utility Industry

18:52 Restructuring and Its Impact on DERs

35:33 Interconnection Issues and Solutions

41:50 Conclusion and Next Steps
Energy Changemakers provides content and community for those working on the grid edge. For more conversations like this, check out the ⁠Energy Changemakers Community⁠ and sign up for our ⁠free newsletter⁠.

At one point in Awesense’s history, CEO and Founder Mischa Steiner was in a serious accident when riding his bike. While he was still recovering, his company was named in a lawsuit, lost investors, and faced an audit.

It was a dark period, but the company made it through and navigated its way into a key energy transition market. Using its “digital twin on steroids,” Awesense helps make utility data — of which there is a proliferation — usable.

In this interview, Steiner describes how Awesense made a business out of serving the utility data analytics market, its role in the energy transition, and lessons he’s learned in the company’s 15-year journey. 

00:00 Introduction to Energy Changemakers Podcast

00:27 Interview with Mischa Steiner: Founder and CEO of Awesense

02:03 The Evolution of Awesense: From Hardware to Data Solutions

06:13 Challenges and Innovations in Utility Data Management

07:52 The Role of Sensors in Grid Data Collection

15:20 Transition to Software Solutions and AI Integration

17:30 Addressing Data Errors and Enhancing Utility Analytics

21:13 Middleware Solutions for Accelerating Utility Projects

23:53 Utility Challenges and Solutions

24:17 Utility Size and Technology Adoption

25:59 Impact of DERs on Utilities

28:56 Future of Energy and AI Demand

30:22 Middleware and DERMs Integration

33:41 Entrepreneurial Journey and Challenges

38:50 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

42:06 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of the Energy Changemakers podcast, host Elisa Wood interviews Russell Lowes from Arizonans for Community Choice. They explore the potential of Community Choice Energy (CCE) programs in transforming local energy. Russell shares his journey from high school activism to becoming an author who influenced the fate of a nuclear power plant in Arizona. The conversation delves into the mechanics of CCE, their benefits over traditional utility models, and the specific efforts to bring CCE to Arizona. Russell outlines the environmental and economic advantages of CCE, discussing obstacles, the role of utilities, and the broader implications for energy efficiency and renewable energy adoption.

00:00 Introduction to Energy Changemakers

00:37 Guest Introduction: Russell Lowes

02:11 Russell's Journey in Energy Activism

03:55 The Impact of Russell's Book

05:59 Challenges of Nuclear and Fossil Fuels

07:48 Understanding Community Choice Energy (CCE)

13:20 Promoting CCE in Arizona

15:18 Utilities vs. CCE: The Business Model Conflict

20:59 Benefits of CCE Over Traditional Utilities

29:55 Future of CCE and Legislative Efforts

34:22 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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In an interview with Elisa Wood, veteran energy innovator Steve Pullins, CEO of ResSET,  unveils his latest venture, a highly unusual sustainable apartment building in Ann Arbor, Michigan, set to be entirely off-grid. While foregoing a grid connection isn’t typical, especially for a city building, Pullins maintains it’s time to think of the electric grid as just one of several energy options, not the default.

Called South Town, the project strives to reduce housing costs using several novel strategies, including providing a shared electric vehicle fleet for building occupants. Pullins also designed the energy system based on the kilowatts actually used by appliances — not the generic nameplate ratings — which led to significant energy savings.

Pullins hopes to see the model replicated, a necessity, he says, given that the world’s building footprint will double over the next 40 years, threatening climate goals without radical change in commercial construction.

CHAPTERS

0:06

Introduction to Energy Changemakers

1:25

Off-Grid Living in Urban Settings

3:18

The Multifamily Housing Project

5:23

Addressing Challenges in Energy Supply

8:52

Innovative Approaches to Energy Costs

13:04

Rethinking Energy Resources

16:41

Navigating Utility Regulations

21:04

Electric Vehicles and Shared Mobility

24:18

Energy Efficiency and Affordability

26:20

Transforming Construction Practices

33:17

Advanced Energy Management Systems

34:46

The Future of Renewable Natural Gas

48:21

Building Resilience in Energy Systems

52:02

Demand Flexibility as a Resource

53:38

Conclusion and Community Engagement

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