The Tables Are Turned: Becky Klein Interviews Me at the Texas Energy Summit

Dec 5, 2024

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This week’s episode is a bit different. I’m not hosting the podcast — I’m the guest. During the Texas Energy Summit, former Public Utility Commission Chair Becky Klein turned the tables and interviewed me live, right after a panel of legislators and a keynote from current PUC Chair Thomas Gleeson.

In this fast-paced conversation, Becky and I covered a wide range of energy topics, including grid reliability, distributed energy resources, and the untapped potential of energy efficiency. We also discussed my personal journey in the energy field, from working on air quality issues at the legislature to founding an energy efficiency non-profit to working in the energy industry and hosting this podcast.

Throughout the interview, I shared my vision for the next 5–10 years of Texas’ power market. I’m optimistic about seeing advancements in geothermal energy, energy efficiency, and heat pump adoption. I also believe we’ll see greater decentralization of power, with more distributed generation and expanded transmission. These changes could lower costs, improve grid reliability, and create a more resilient energy future for Texans.

But with opportunities come challenges. Texas lags far behind other states in energy efficiency programs and policies, ranking last among states with efficiency goals. I discussed what needs to change — from improving HVAC and heat pump incentives to rethinking how we value distributed energy resources (DERs) for their resilience benefits.

Becky brought her wealth of experience and thoughtful questions to the discussion. We also touched on what excites me most about the energy industry today and my advice for students and young leaders entering this field: ask questions, read widely, and develop a strong personal philosophy.

I hope you enjoy this unique episode and the conversation as much as I did. Timestamps and show notes are below.

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Timestamps

01:21 - Introduction to Energy Efficiency and Demand Response

04:14 - My Journey in the Energy Sector

07:25 - Vision for Texas Power Market

10:09 - Barriers to Energy Efficiency

13:31 - The Role of the PUC in Energy Efficiency

16:20 - Current State of Energy Efficiency in Texas

19:13 - Technological Innovations in Energy Distribution

22:21 - Valuing Resiliency in Energy Systems

25:28 - Addressing Energy Affordability and Equity