This episode explores "speed to power" - the urgent need for data centers to access electricity quickly to support AI infrastructure growth. Anna Demeo explains why the fast-moving world of hyperscalers (Google, Meta, Microsoft) is colliding with the cautious, regulated utility industry, and what innovative solutions might bridge this gap.
Guest Bio: Anna Demeo
Anna Demeo, PhD is an industry executive at the intersection of energy and decarbonization with 30 years of experience integrating hardware and software to develop, commercialize, and scale sustainable energy solutions. She is the Managing Partner at Clean Tech Strategy Advisors, where she advises corporations, startups, and investors navigating the clean tech landscape.
Right now, the term "energy abundance" seems to be everywhere. It springs from Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson's book Abundance, which argues that we have too many rules and procedures bogging down the construction of clean energy, housing, and other needed infrastructure. While the book has created debate in both the power industry and political arenas, this episode moves away from the politics of abundance to focus on the economics of abundance.
Host Elisa Wood sits down with energy economist Mariko Geronimo Aydin to explore how the abundance agenda fits into an industry where markets traditionally make money via scarcity, not abundance. Mariko offers unique insights into thinking about energy abundance from an economist's perspective and shares the innovative work happening at the Earthshot Foundation through their Gridiron Dialogues.
Guest Bio
Mariko Geronimo Aydin is an energy economist with 20 years of experience working as a consultant to regulators, utilities, and developers across the country. She specializes in resource planning (including generation and transmission portfolios), cost-benefit analysis, market design, and incorporating resilience measures into grid planning. Currently serving as Chief Economist and Senior Fellow at the Earthshot Foundation, Mariko focuses on advancing economic frameworks that support sustainable and abundant energy systems, with recent work concentrated on California's resource planning challenges.
Rooftop solar is far more affordable in other countries than it is in the United States, and the gap has little to do with technology. In this conversation, Elisa talks with Nick Josefowitz, Chief Executive of Permit Power, about why American families pay so much more for rooftop solar and how outdated permitting, utility requirements and fragmented local rules create unnecessary barriers.
Nick explains what “soft costs” are, why they account for nearly 80 percent of the cost of residential solar in the US, and how automated permitting could dramatically lower costs, reduce delays, and help millions of households save on their utility bills. They discuss state-level solutions, the potential for nationwide standardization, and the real economic benefits of making solar installation easier, faster and more predictable.
If your company works in distributed energy or home electrification, this episode offers a practical look at policy tools that can expand the solar market, reduce customer churn, and support installers who are struggling under inconsistent local rules.
Nick Josefowitz is the Chief Executive of Permit Power, a nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to making home solar and batteries more affordable and accessible. Permit Power works to cut through the red tape that keeps installation costs high in the United States by advancing automated permitting, streamlined interconnection, and state-level policy reform. The organization conducts research, provides policy guidance, and partners with lawmakers, installers, and local governments to modernize outdated systems.
Relevant Links
• Permit Power: https://permitpower.org
• Automated permitting resources via the SolarAPP+ initiative (DOE)
• Brown University Climate Solutions Lab research on local government efficiency
• Energy Changemakers community: https://energychangemakers.com
Call to Action
If you are an installer, developer, or policymaker working in distributed energy, Permit Power wants to hear from you. Your stories and real-world experience help shape policy solutions that make rooftop solar more accessible for every American family.
Connect with Elisa and the Energy Changemakers community at energychangemakers.com and subscribe for updates, insights, and upcoming episodes.
In this episode, host Elisa Wood sits down with Adam Scarsella, Vice President of Digital Infrastructure Sales at Voltus, to explore a new approach to accelerating data center interconnection: Bring Your Own Capacity (BYOC).
This innovative model allows hyperscalers to meet their peak energy needs not by waiting years for new power plants, but by funding a virtual power plant (VPP) built from distributed energy resources (DERs) already in the community.
Elisa and Adam unpack what’s driving today’s unprecedented grid strain, why VPPs are becoming indispensable, and how BYOC flips the script—turning data centers from grid liabilities into direct contributors to local resilience. They also discuss Voltus’s evolution over the past seven years, the rapid rise of emergency dispatches across markets, and how partnerships like their work with Cloverleaf Infrastructure are shaping the next era of grid planning.
If you want a front-row seat to where virtual power plants, hyperscaler load growth, and grid modernization are heading, this conversation is essential listening.
Why traditional power plant development no longer keeps pace with increasing load.
The explosion of data centers, AI infrastructure, and large industrial loads across the U.S.
Record-high capacity prices in wholesale markets such as PJM and MISO.
Voltus has seen daily dispatch events for more than a year across multiple markets.
How VPPs provide system flexibility during a period of accelerating retirements (coal, gas) and growing intermittent generation.
Adam explains how the company has evolved:
Early focus: traditional industrial demand response.
Today: Batteries, Solar, EVs, Commercial + residential loads, Carbon response programs
Voltus has become a comprehensive DER platform supporting grid operators every day.
Data centers face multi-year interconnection delays due to capacity constraints.
BYOC allows hyperscalers to fund a VPP that offsets their peak load.
Voltus builds the VPP from local DERs; the hyperscaler pays for it.
This provides:
Faster interconnection
A new revenue stream for local businesses/residents
Less pressure on utilities to develop new power plants
Instead of extracting resources, the hyperscaler directly invests in the local grid.
Paid participation for commercial/industrial loads and DER owners.
A constructive alternative to community concerns around noise, water use, and energy consumption.
Recent proposals from the U.S. Department of Energy recommending expedited interconnection for loads willing to be curtailed.
BYOC offers a more practical version of that concept by enabling curtailment via the VPP, not the data center itself.
Cloverleaf builds the physical data center campus.
Voltus determines the required VPP capacity and constructs the DER aggregation.
Together they provide a new model for rapid, collaborative grid integration.
Adam hints at upcoming project announcements.
Voltus expects BYOC to gain momentum as grid constraints grow and DER capabilities expand.
Adam Scarsella is the Vice President of Digital Infrastructure Sales at Voltus, a leading provider of distributed energy resource software and solutions. Over his seven years with the company, Adam has helped lead the transition from classic demand response to sophisticated virtual power plant programs serving utilities, grid operators, commercial and industrial users, and now hyperscalers seeking rapid interconnection. His work centers on using distributed energy to solve large-scale grid challenges through flexible, market-driven programs.
Voltus: https://www.voltus.co
Energy Changemakers Newsletter: https://energychangemakers.com
Learn more about distributed energy and virtual power plants across U.S. markets.
If you enjoyed this episode, you can also subscribe to our newsletter at energychangemakers.com and join a community working to accelerate a more local, reliable, and equitable energy future.
In this special crossover episode, Energy Changemakers host Elisa Wood joins Jennifer Zajac on Clean Energy Shorts to talk about the most exciting innovations reshaping the electric grid. From mega-microgrids to driveway solar, Elisa reveals what’s really happening behind the headlines—and why the clean-energy story is about more than politics.
They unpack the myths driving public perception, explore new business models making microgrids affordable, and discuss why flexibility—not nuclear—defines the future of energy. The conversation also highlights inspiring examples of resilience, from Ukraine’s grid recovery efforts to local U.S. communities taking ownership of energy.
This is an optimistic, insight-packed conversation that celebrates innovation, collaboration, and a more distributed, consumer-controlled grid.
Episode Breakdown
Introduction
Elisa introduces the crossover episode and sets the stage for her discussion with Clean Energy Shorts host, Jennifer Zajac.
Misconceptions About Clean Energy
Why the public conversation about energy often misses the real story—and what’s actually driving today’s grid transformation.
Politics and Power
Elisa and Jennifer discuss the political polarization around renewables and why the market ultimately dictates the future of energy.
The Coolest Innovations on the Grid
From Eaton and Siemens’ large-scale modular microgrids to a family-run company developing driveway solar, Elisa shares her favorite new technologies.
The Rise of the Microgrid
How Hurricane Sandy, resilience needs, and entrepreneurial innovation made “microgrid” a household word—and how businesses are adopting them faster than ever.
Making Microgrids Affordable
The evolution of business models—like “microgrid as a service”—that make distributed energy accessible to communities and companies alike.
Supply Chain Realities
Elisa explains how microgrids are sidestepping the bottlenecks that plague large power plants and the transmission grid.
Investment Trends
Why investors remain confident in microgrids and solar despite shifting tax policies and tariffs.
Why Nuclear Won’t Lead the Future
A candid discussion on small modular reactors (SMRs) and why nuclear energy doesn’t fit a software-driven, flexible grid.
Data Centers’ Growing Pains
Inside the data-center boom: power shortages, desperate solutions, and NIMBY resistance from communities nationwide.
Lessons from Ukraine
What the ongoing war teaches about grid vulnerability, cascading failures, and the need for distributed, resilient systems.
Footprint Project & Disaster Recovery
Profiles of organizations deploying mobile solar microgrids to restore power after disasters—and what utilities can learn from them.
The Next Energy Frontier: Local Control
Elisa shares her excitement for community-owned solar and microgrids, and how local energy control can lower costs and increase reliability.
Real Stories of Community Solar
Why even the most innovative models sometimes require old-school door-knocking to make community energy projects work.
Wrapping Up: Hope for the Future
Elisa reflects on her new venture, Energy Changemakers, and the inspiring innovations shaping a decentralized, equitable energy landscape.
Relevant Links
Energy Changemakers: https://energychangemakers.com
Clean Energy Shorts Podcast: (Search wherever you get your podcasts)
Why do many energy companies struggle to connect with stakeholders despite strong technical credentials? Why is it so hard for them to tell their story, and what could make it easier?
Elisa Wood brings together two communications experts who have helped a range of organizations find their stories: energy writer-editor Jay Hodgkins and podcast strategist Scott Smith.
Why stories are remembered and spec sheets are not
How to frame renewables amid misinformation and political headwinds
When to avoid acronyms and insider terms
Ways to adapt your message across formats like podcasts, blogs, and webinars
The simple, human description of “spinning reserves” and why it matters
Three quick rules any subject matter expert can use to communicate better
How consistent narratives build credibility through government policy cycles
Why imperfection reads as human, especially in an AI-polished world.
Listeners come away with concise rules for subject matter experts, guidance on differentiation in crowded B2B markets, and examples of translating technical precision into benefits that matter to customers, regulators, and community leaders.
The throughline is simple communication that is truthful, human and focused on outcomes.
“People do not remember facts. They remember stories.”
“Fight fire with water. Lead with facts and aim them at the people who can act.”
“Your customer is the hero. You are the guide.”
“Acronyms are the enemy of attention.”
“There is always a way to tell the same truth in a way that fits the moment.”
“Keep it short. Your audience does not care as much as you do.”
“Pick the channel after you define the message.”
“Imperfections read as human. That is an advantage now.”
“If we add renewables without stability tools, the grid can wobble. Batteries fix the wobble.”
“Differentiate by benefit, not by feature.”
Elisa Wood
Journalist and host of Energy Changemakers. She covers distributed energy, microgrids, and the decentralized grid and leads Energy Changemakers Content Services.
Jay Hodgkins
Freelance energy writer and editor who helps companies translate complex energy topics into messages that customers and regulators understand. Jay and Elisa are long-time collaborators, previously at Real Energy Writers and now at Energy Changemakers.
Scott Smith
President and Chief Podcasting Officer at Penbury Consulting. Formerly with Gartner, where he led podcasts and moderated prospect-facing webinars. Specializes in spoken-word strategy and helping experts tell memorable stories.
What You’ll Learn
Notable QuotesWho’s On The Mic
Are data center forecasts overblown? Will energy efficiency trim megawatts and even gigawatts off predictions? And if so, what must data centers do to significantly curb their energy use?
In this episode, host Elisa Wood talks with Mike Slevin of Fluke about what it really takes to make data centers more efficient. They discuss how small, everyday improvements in equipment performance add up to big savings, the growing role of solar and microgrids, and how the shift to DC power could change the game for the industry.
Why “micro gains” in maintenance can lead to major energy savings
The difference between short-term fixes and long-term technology shifts
How solar, microgrids, and DC systems are reshaping power strategies
Regional differences in sustainability and innovation
What grid operators can do right now to prepare for rising data center demand
Mike Slevin is a Business Unit Manager at Fluke, a company known worldwide for its electronic test and measurement tools. Mike works with data centers and industrial clients to improve energy efficiency, safety, and reliability through better monitoring and maintenance practices.
Call to Action
If you found this episode helpful, follow The Energy Changemakers Podcast and leave a review. Join the conversation about grid edge innovation at EnergyChangemakers.com.
Key TopicsGuest BioResources
Utility monopolies were meant to keep the lights on, but have they also opened the door to corruption that slows energy innovation?
Elisa talks with Dick Munson, veteran clean-energy advocate and author of Power Corrupts, about the scandals that rocked utilities like Commonwealth Edison and FirstEnergy, why the century-old monopoly structure invites abuse, and how bribery and dark money can stall the transition to cleaner, distributed power.
How billion-dollar bailouts in Illinois and Ohio exposed deep utility corruption
Why state-sanctioned monopolies create perverse incentives and resist prosumer tech
Practical reforms—from transparency to shareholder-funded lobbying—that could break the cycle
Why “clean government” is essential for a clean-energy future
More on Elisa Wood and Energy Changemakers: energychangemakers.com
Follow Elisa on LinkedIn: Elisa Wood
Related reading: Citizens United decision overview | Environmental Defense Fund
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Two energy giants come together with a new strategy
The global data center boom is colliding head-on with one of the most pressing bottlenecks in the energy sector: access to reliable, timely power. In this episode, host Elisa Wood sits down with Jim Mozell, senior director of strategic partnerships at Siemens Energy, and Juan Colina, data center and IT segment leader at Eaton, to discuss how together they are trying to overcome interconnection delays and provide “speed to power” for microgrids.
While many data center developers scramble for quick fixes—from reviving retired plants to chasing speculative nuclear projects—these two energy giants came together to propose a “power to chip” approach. The result, they say, is faster deployment timelines, optimized efficiency, and a more financially sustainable way to meet AI-driven compute demand.
This conversation explores:
● Why interconnection delays (often 7–9 years) are driving data centers to rethink power strategies
● How Siemens and Eaton’s microgrid design enables modular, onsite generation—scalable from 250 MW to a gigawatt
● The critical role of redundancy, efficiency, and combined-cycle technology in meeting massive compute demand
● How data centers can shift from being heavy consumers to becoming good grid citizens
● Global regulatory challenges and opportunities across the U.S. and Europe
● Why slowing down the “frenzy buying” of energy deals could save operators money and optimize long-term sustainability
About the Guests
Jim Mozell
Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships, Siemens Energy
Jim leads collaborations that address global energy challenges through scalable, efficient technology. At Siemens Energy, he works on integrating advanced power generation systems into industrial applications, including the fast-growing data center sector.
Juan Colina
Data Center & IT Segment Leader, Eaton
Juan is responsible for shaping Eaton’s global strategy for powering next-generation data centers. With expertise in modularization, resilience, and electrical distribution, he focuses on helping operators scale sustainably while ensuring reliability from “onsite generation to chip.”
The market panic around securing power for data centers
Why Eaton and Siemens chose a modular microgrid approach
Technical components: Siemens’ SGT-800 turbines, batteries, and Eaton’s switchgear/UPS solutions
How modular scaling helps manage CapEx and growth timelines
The opportunity cost of waiting for grid connections vs. generating onsite
Financial viability and efficiency as essential long-term considerations
Regulatory hurdles in Europe and North America
Future vision: campuses and hub-and-spoke models supported by optimized onsite power
Relevant Links
📩 Have questions or insights? Email Elisa at ElisaWood@energychangemakers.com to keep the conversation going.
Call to Action
Key Topics CoveredIf you’re interested in how local energy innovations are reshaping the grid—and the future of data centers—subscribe to Energy Changemakers wherever you listen to podcasts. Leave us a review to help others discover the show, and join our newsletter community at energychangemakers.com to stay ahead of the curve.
Guest: Bruce Nordman, Retired Research Scientist, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
After nearly 40 years at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Bruce Nordman has stepped into retirement — leaving with some big ideas about the future of our electricity system. In this episode, host Elisa Wood speaks with Bruce about the insights he’s gathered over his career and why he believes the grid has strayed from its original purpose: serving customers.
Bruce argues that today’s electricity system is structured around the needs of the grid, rather than those of the consumer. He makes the case for a reimagined model—one where electricity behaves more like the internet: plug-and-play, universal, and simple for the end user. From networking electricity inside buildings to creating globally harmonized standards, Bruce shares a vision for how to make energy systems both more efficient and more customer-friendly.
This conversation covers:
Bruce’s pioneering work on the energy use of electronics and IT networks at LBNL
How a “lightbulb moment” in 2010 changed the trajectory of his career
Why electricity should be networked like the internet—universal, seamless, and behind-the-scenes
The hidden complexity of today’s demand response and why it burdens customers unnecessarily
Why virtual power plants miscast customers as power plants rather than treating them as customers
The three essential ingredients for a truly customer-centric electricity system:
Dynamic pricing
Communications infrastructure
Automation at the device level
Lessons from Scandinavia, California, and Australia—and why no place has yet put all the pieces together
What global harmonization would mean for future innovation and affordability
Bruce also shares his optimism about what lies ahead and why he believes the greatest barrier isn’t technology—it’s changing the way we think about the grid.
Bruce Nordman recently retired after nearly four decades as a research scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. His work has focused on energy efficiency in electronics and IT networks, the intersection of digital technology with electricity use, and advancing standards to support smarter, more sustainable systems. His innovative thinking has shaped policy, regulation, and the way we view the customer’s role in the grid. Today, Bruce continues to consult and advocate for globally harmonized, customer-centered approaches to the electricity sector.
Learn more about Bruce Nordman on LinkedIn or at brucenordman.com
Join the Energy Changemakers community: energychangemakers.com
Follow host Elisa Wood on LinkedIn
If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t forget to subscribe to the Energy Changemakers Podcast on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Want to shape the dialogue on the decentralized grid? Sign up for our newsletter at energychangemakers.com.
Together, we can build a grid that’s local, equitable, and clean.
About the GuestResources & LinksCall to Action
In this episode of Energy Changemakers, host Elisa Wood sits down with renowned energy economist Skip Laitner to explore the surprising ways our “stuff” — from food waste to excess parking lots — is shaping our energy use, economy, and environment. Drawing from his decades of work at the EPA, ACEEE, and beyond, Skip reframes the energy conversation from simply producing more to using resources more productively.
Using vivid, household-level examples, Skip reveals how the sheer mass of human-made materials now likely outweighs all living biomass on Earth — and why that matters for energy demand. He discusses:
How household habits, from car ownership to shoe purchases, add hidden costs to our energy system
The difference between energy efficiency and energy productivity — and why the latter could cut total energy use in half
The role of distributed energy systems in making people more aware of their consumption and waste
How smarter policies and greater investment could boost economic resilience while reducing environmental pressures
Why repurposing and reuse — not “degrowth” — are key to a healthier economy and planet
From the economics of waste to the scaling lessons we can learn from biology, Skip offers a big-picture view that connects our personal consumption patterns to global policy choices. If you care about making the grid cleaner, more local, and more equitable, this conversation will leave you thinking differently about where real change begins.
🔗 Download Skip’s paper Living More by Waste Than Ingenuity https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330383360_Let's_Talk_Trash_Do_We_Live_More_by_Waste_than_Ingenuity
Connect + Resources
Learn more about the Energy Changemakers community: energychangemakers.com
Follow host Elisa Wood on LinkedIn
As rising sea levels, floods, and wildfires continue to impact large swaths of the U.S., many people will be displaced from the coasts to the middle states. Hillary Brown, former director of the Urban Sustainability Program at City College of New York, sees this as an opportunity for faltering, inland communities to capture new economic opportunities — if they prepare for population growth now. Cultivating clean distributed energy resources is a key step.
In this episode, Hillary dives into the policy frameworks, energy planning, community-led models, and financial opportunities that can help small towns thrive while providing a lifeline for those displaced by climate change.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
What climate migration looks like in the U.S.—and why it’s already underway
Why many people are still moving to climate-vulnerable areas like Florida and the Southwest
How small towns can prepare to welcome newcomers and strengthen their local economies
The role of distributed energy systems—solar, wind, microgrids, and storage—in climate-ready planning
Real-world examples of small towns transforming through grassroots efforts, tax incentives, and energy innovation
How philanthropic investment and private sector engagement can support local resilience
The importance of Main Street revitalization in creating economically viable, socially connected communities
About the Guest:
Hillary Brown is a leading voice in urban sustainability and infrastructure planning. She served as director of the Urban Sustainability Program at City College of New York and is the author of several books on next-generation infrastructure. Her most recent book, Revitalize Resettle: How Main Street USA Can Offer New Beginnings for America’s Climate Displaced, offers a practical, visionary blueprint for how small towns can prepare for climate migration and create stronger, more resilient communities in the process.
Resources and Links:
Revitalize Resettle: How Main Street USA Can Offer New Beginnings for America’s Climate Displaced — available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other major booksellers
Explore more conversations on the decentralized grid at energychangemakers.com
Subscribe to the Energy Changemakers newsletter for industry updates and insights
Call to Action:
Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with colleagues in planning, energy, or local government.
Elisa Wood interviews Mark Feasel — a former leader at Schneider Electric and FuelCell Energy, and now an independent energy consultant — about the growing tension between energy demand and access in the age of AI. As data centers proliferate and energy demand rises, utilities and innovators face a new challenge: Where will the power come from?
Mark shares his perspective on how distributed energy resources (DERs), grid constraints, and new power generation models may reshape our energy infrastructure. They discuss the blank-slate reality of many AI-driven projects, the rise of fully onsite generation, regulatory hurdles, and what the future may hold if some of the most powerful companies in the world begin generating their own electricity.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Why access to grid capacity is becoming the new barrier for data centers
How AI’s energy needs are reshaping assumptions about utility-scale power
The evolving relationship between DERs and utilities—from competition to collaboration
Why “oceanfront property” is the new metaphor for grid interconnection
The surprising role coal and methane may play in next-gen energy systems
How modular, scalable solutions are driving innovation in onsite power
What Mark is seeing in the classroom as he teaches the next generation of energy leaders
Guest Bio:
Mark Feasel, a long-time leader and innovator in the distributed energy space, is the founder and principal of VisRete, a consultancy that services related to energy management, digitalization, microgrids, power grids and distributed generation. He previously served in senior roles at Schneider Electric and FuelCell Energy. Mark also teaches at Northwestern University’s graduate program in Energy and Sustainability, where he mentors the next generation of changemakers. His experience bridges policy, business strategy, and engineering, offering a rare depth of insight into the evolving energy landscape.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
Subscribe on Spotify
Learn more about Northwestern’s Energy & Sustainability Program
Connect with Elisa Wood:
LinkedIn: Elisa Wood
Call to Action:
Want to help shape the future of the grid? Join the Energy Changemakers community by subscribing to our newsletter and following us on your favorite podcast platform. Share this episode with someone curious about how AI, regulation, and private capital are influencing the power grid of tomorrow.
What exactly is a “digital grid”—and why is it the cornerstone of our energy future?
In this episode, Elisa Wood sits down with Ruben Llanes, CEO of the Digital Grid business at Schneider Electric, to explore the digital transformation of energy infrastructure. With over 15 years at Schneider and a lifetime surrounded by energy systems (his father owned an electrical contracting business), Ruben shares his insider perspective on why grid modernization is the key to managing the explosive growth of data centers, aging infrastructure, and prosumer energy participation.
From rethinking load growth and AI-driven energy demands to unveiling Schneider’s One Digital Grid platform, Ruben offers a hopeful but urgent message: the technology exists—but will we move fast enough?
Ruben’s journey from Deutsche Bank to leading digital grid innovation at Schneider Electric
What a digital grid actually means—and how it changes everything from asset management to customer engagement
How distributed energy, electrification, and AI are reshaping grid demands
Why aging infrastructure and long interconnection queues are major challenges
The role of grid management software and “non-wire alternatives” in solving energy supply gaps
Incentive structures and regulatory shifts needed to accelerate modernization
Schneider’s One Digital Grid platform and how it unifies IT, OT, and third-party applications
Use cases powered by AI and integrated data ecosystems
A vision of the future: resilient, intelligent, consumer-empowering grids
Ruben Llanes is the CEO of Schneider Electric’s Digital Grid business, where he oversees the integration of software, analytics, and system intelligence into the global energy infrastructure. With over 15 years at Schneider Electric—and prior experience at Deutsche Bank—Ruben brings a rare combination of financial expertise, operational leadership, and visionary thinking to the role. He previously led AutoGrid and has deep insight into the technological and regulatory forces shaping the future of energy.
Distributech International
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Scaling microgrids has long been a sticking point in the clean energy conversation—custom-built and complex, they’ve traditionally defied mass deployment. But what if microgrids could be treated as products rather than projects?
In this episode of the Energy Changemakers Podcast, host Elisa Wood sits down with Alok Singhania, Senior Partner at Gridscape, to explore how standardizing microgrids can reshape the energy landscape. Alok unpacks Gridscape’s innovative approach to making microgrids modular, scalable, and manufacturable, like any other piece of equipment. Together, they examine regulatory roadblocks, federal policy uncertainty, and the educational gaps holding back market adoption.
From tribal installations to community colleges, Alok shares real-world examples of Gridscape’s work, outlining a clear path to making microgrids central to a decentralized, resilient, and equitable grid of the future.
Why most microgrids are stuck in a “custom project” loop
Gridscape’s approach to productizing microgrids for scale
How permitting delays and lack of public understanding slow adoption
Why a decentralized grid is critical for resilience and cost savings
The impact of utility policy and the “over-the-fence rule”
How community microgrids could become the future of energy infrastructure
Real-world examples from fire stations, tribal lands, and college campuses
Insights on federal tax incentives, tariffs, and future-proofing the industry
Alok Singhania is a senior partner at Gridscape, a microgrid technology and project development company based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With a background in both technology and entrepreneurship, Alok has been instrumental in transforming microgrid systems from custom installations into scalable, modular energy solutions. His work supports communities, critical infrastructure, and institutions in their journey toward energy independence and grid resilience.
U.S. Investment Tax Credit (ITC) overview: energy.gov
San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians Microgrid Case Study
Shabo College Microgrid Project
Fremont Fire Station CEC Microgrid Project
🔗 Website: https://energychangemakers.com/
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In this episode, Elisa Wood sits down with Tim Hade to discuss why now—despite, or perhaps because of—federal policy turbulence, the distributed energy industry is poised for massive transformation. Tim unpacks his move to Santa Barbara (which, by the way, he calls “home to the worst grid in the continental U.S.”) and how that community could become a national model for DER-powered resilience.
They explore why community organizing is becoming just as crucial as engineering, how local governments are key players in energy infrastructure, and what role utilities can play in funding distributed solutions. From virtual power plants to the Distributed Capacity Procurement model, this conversation is a masterclass in building pragmatic, bottom-up energy systems in a time of urgent change.
If you’re worried about the future of distributed energy, this episode will give you a reason to hope—and a blueprint for action.
Key Topics:
Why load growth is reshaping utility priorities
Santa Barbara’s unique grid vulnerability—and opportunity
The role of local government in infrastructure resilience
Virtual power plants vs. legacy grid systems
Funding DERs without federal tax credits
Building community support and political will
Why DERs may thrive in a less supportive federal environment
Relevant Links:
Learn more about Tim Hade’s work: Scale Microgrid
Learn more about Leah Stokes’ research: https://www.leahstokes.com
SparkFund’s Distributed Capacity Procurement model: https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/events/distributed-capacity-procurement-a-new-tool-for-utilities/
More from Elisa Wood: EnergyChangemakers.com
Call to Action:
Are you ready to be part of the shift toward decentralized, community-driven energy? Subscribe to the Energy Changemakers Podcast wherever you get your shows, and leave us a review to help this message reach more listeners. Join our newsletter at EnergyChangemakers.com for exclusive content and updates.
In this insightful episode of the Energy Changemakers Podcast, Elisa Wood is joined by industry experts Lisa Cohn and Peter Asmus to explore the dynamic world of microgrids. They trace the evolution of microgrids from niche solutions for remote areas to vital tools for resilience in a world facing rising energy demands, data center expansion, and climate uncertainty.
Lisa and Peter share their extensive experience in the field, discussing how microgrids have evolved from basic solar-plus-storage setups to complex, multi-resource systems that integrate fuel cells, hydro, data centers, and even artificial intelligence. They dive into how microgrids are transforming industries, from agriculture in Oregon to energy resilience in Alaska.
Host: Elisa Wood, founder of Energy ChangemakersGuests:
With:
Lisa Cohn: Co-founder of Microgrid Knowledge and founder of CleanEnergyWriters.com.
Peter Asmus: President of Pathfinder’s Communications and Senior Advisor of Clara Advisory.
Key topics include:
The origins of microgrids and how Superstorm Sandy propelled them into the spotlight.
The critical role of microgrids in data center resilience.
Innovative microgrid projects, including Blue Lake Rancheria, Cordova, and Kodiak Island.
Why data centers are now leading microgrid adoption.
The impact of tariffs and regulatory uncertainty on microgrid growth.
The future of microgrids as a solution for energy resilience and decentralized power.
Whether you’re a seasoned energy professional or simply curious about how microgrids work, this episode offers a comprehensive look at the past, present, and future of this transformative technology.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the Energy Changemakers Podcast on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Want to stay informed on the latest in energy innovation? Subscribe to our newsletter at https://newsletter.energychangemakers.com/
Call to Action:
Is it time to rethink who controls the grid?
Elisa Wood sits down with legal expert and author Sandeep Vaheesan to discuss the rarely told—but critically important—history of public power in the United States. From the rise and fall of rural electric cooperatives to today’s mounting frustration with investor-owned utilities, Sandeep offers a sweeping, insider’s look at why our energy systems are failing the public—and what we can do about it.
Together, they explore the roots of energy democracy, the tension between shareholder-driven utilities and the public good, and the resurgence of interest in publicly owned power. Sandeep shares examples of governance breakdowns (like Virginia’s Rappahannock Electric Cooperative) and inspiring success stories (such as Oregon’s Eugene Water and Electric Board). He also unpacks a surprisingly radical proposal from FDR and lays out his vision for a modern, democratic, and climate-resilient power system.
Whether you’re a grid operator, policymaker, energy advocate, or just tired of high electric bills, this episode offers vital insights—and a hopeful call to action.
Key Topics Covered:
The two primary models of energy democracy
Why public utilities don’t always serve the public
Proxy voting abuses in electric cooperatives
Lessons from Tri-County’s grassroots revolt in South Carolina
The tension between scale and democracy in grid planning
Sandeep’s proposal for democratic governance of large-scale energy infrastructure
The future of public power in a post-IRA world
Public involvement in regulatory commissions
Promising models like BPA and Eugene’s EWEB
A live policy fight in New York: Should NYPA lead the clean energy buildout?
About the Guest:
Sandeep Vaheesan is the legal director at the Open Markets Institute, where he focuses on competition policy and monopoly power. He has written extensively on the intersection of law, utilities, and the public interest. His book, Democracy in Power: A History of Electrification in the United States, offers a deeply researched and accessible account of how energy systems in the U.S. came to be dominated by private utilities—and how public alternatives can help us address the climate crisis and economic inequality.
Links & Resources:
Get Democracy in Power from University of Chicago Press: Use code DMCRCYPWR24 for $15 off
Listen to the August 28, 2024 episode: Are We Expecting Too Much from Virtual Power Plants?
Learn more and join the conversation at energychangemakers.com
Call to Action:
Help shape the future of our energy system:
Subscribe to the Energy Changemakers Podcast
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Let’s build a grid that works for everyone.
Most Americans have never heard of their state’s public utility commission—yet these low-profile regulatory bodies control over $200 billion in annual utility spending and directly influence the price you pay for electricity and gas. In this episode of Energy Changemakers, host Elisa Wood sits down with Charles Hua, founder and executive director of PowerLines, a national nonprofit pushing for smarter, more consumer-centered utility regulation.
Together, they unpack the eye-opening findings of PowerLines’ latest national survey with Ipsos, revealing a rare bipartisan consensus: Americans across political lines feel powerless about their utility costs—and most don’t know where to turn for solutions. Charles explains why this regulatory opacity persists, what it means for energy affordability and the economy, and how PowerLines is working to modernize an outdated system for a more inclusive, transparent, and effective energy future.
If you’ve ever looked at your utility bill and wondered, Why is this so high—and who decides this anyway?, this episode will give you the clarity (and motivation) to learn more.
What You’ll Learn:
Why state utility commissions wield more power over your wallet than you think
The real drivers behind rising electricity and gas bills (hint: it’s not what you expect)
How regulatory systems can evolve to center consumer voices
The uphill battle of participating in public utility commission meetings—and what needs to change
Why both policy insiders and everyday Americans need to care about this issue now
Opportunities to engage with Power Lines and push for a more equitable grid
Charles Hua is the founder and executive director of PowerLines, a nonprofit organization working to make the utility regulatory system more accountable, equitable, and responsive to American consumers. With experience at the U.S. Department of Energy and Berkeley National Lab, Charles brings deep policy expertise and a practical mission: ensuring that the energy system works for everyone – not just insiders.
📧 Contact Charles: charles@powerlines.org
Resources & Links:
Learn more about state Public Utility Commissions: NARUC (National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners)
Join the Energy Changemakers community: EnergyChangemakers.com
As uncertainty looms over the future of the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC), many in the distributed energy sector are concerned about how to keep solar and storage projects economically viable. In this episode, host Elisa Wood sits down with Gareth Evans, CEO of VECKTA, to unpack his recent analysis that offers surprising—and hopeful—insights.
Gareth’s findings challenge conventional wisdom: solar and storage projects can still achieve a viable return without the ITC—but only if we radically rethink how these systems are structured. Elisa and Gareth discuss real-world project comparisons, the importance of optimization, and how resilience and cost savings are quickly becoming more compelling motivators than sustainability branding alone.
If you’re navigating the complex landscape of decentralized energy, this conversation is a must-listen.
Guest Bio:
Gareth Evans is the CEO of VECKTA, a leading SaaS platform and marketplace that empowers businesses to design, evaluate, and deploy profitable and resilient onsite energy systems. With a focus on removing soft costs and increasing project viability, VECKTA’s technology enables companies to analyze their full portfolio of assets, optimize energy strategies, and connect with qualified suppliers—all while saving time, money, and emissions. Gareth brings decades of experience in clean energy innovation and is a vocal advocate for practical, scalable solutions in the transition to decentralized power.
Learn more: www.veckta.com
Key Topics & Highlights:
• [00:00–03:00] Introduction to the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and why it’s on shaky ground
• [03:00–06:00] What VECKTA does: a SaaS platform and marketplace to de-risk and scale onsite energy
• [06:00–10:00] The IRA’s impact on distributed energy—how it shifted the global energy conversation
• [10:00–14:00] Real-world analysis: how project viability changes with and without the ITC
• [14:00–17:00] Why optimization—not just solar saturation—is the key to post-ITC success
• [17:00–20:00] What types of businesses are leading the charge (hint: it’s not who you’d expect)
• [20:00–25:00] Resilience vs. sustainability: changing motivations in a high-risk energy landscape
• [25:00–27:00] Quantifying resilience: how to prevent costly outages
• [27:00–29:00] The future of decentralized energy—why Gareth remains optimistic, ITC or not
Resources & Mentions:
• Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) summary: White House Overview
• American Society of Civil Engineers Grid Report: ASCE Infrastructure Report Card
• Energy Changemakers Community & Newsletter: energychangemakers.com
Call to Action:
If this conversation inspires you, be sure to:
• Subscribe to The Energy Changemakers Podcast on your favorite app
• Leave a review to help more listeners find us
• Join our newsletter at energychangemakers.com
• Follow VECKTA for more insights into optimizing your energy future
Together, we can shape a cleaner, more resilient grid—one project at a time.