Smart Energy Voices

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla is joined by Mona Dajani, Global Co-Head of Energy, Infrastructure, Mobility, Renewables & Water at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. Mona is a prolific dealmaker in the renewable energy space and is a highly regarded, well-recognized attorney. You’ll find her extensive experience and unique perspective enlightening. Listen to learn more.You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... Mona’s journey to renewable energy [03:57] Mona’s most challenging deal [13:25] Major trends in renewable energy deals [17:24] What’s happening in storage? [32:17] Important factors to accelerate the market [37:40] What drives Mona’s passion? [44:20] Click here for detailed show notesResources & People Mentioned Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP Nikola and TC Energy Sign Joint Development Agreement Connect with Mona DajaniOn Linkedin Connect With Smart Energy Decisions https://smartenergydecisions.com Follow them on Facebook Follow them on Twitter Follow them on LinkedIn Subscribe to Smart Energy VoicesIf you're interested in participating in the next Smart Energy Decision Event, visit smartenergydecisions.com or email our Event Operations Director, Lisa Carroll at lisa@smartenergydecisions.comAudio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla talks with Daren Kaiser, Global Energy Strategy Leader - General Mills, at the recent Distributed Energy Forum. They discuss the unique challenges related to General Mills’ ambitious decarbonization goals and the tactics Daren is employing to deliver against its sustainability commitments, such as energy optimization and CHP solutions. Listen in to hear more about industrial decarbonization strategies.You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... Daren’s role at General Mills [02:29] How has General Mills’ focus shifted? [04:06] General Mills progress and goals [08:18] 2020’s business impact [11:41] Energy optimization efforts [12:44] The challenges of thermal-heavy plants [16:37] Evaluating a third-party energy service [19:37] What’s next for General Mills? [20:57] Click here for detailed show notes Resources & People Mentioned General Mills: Purpose Better Plants | Better Buildings Initiative Connect with Daren KaiserBy email Daren.Kaiser@genmills.com Daren has more than 30 years of experience in manufacturing. He was named General Mills’ Global Energy Strategy Leader in 2018. The company has announced a science-based goal to reach a 29% reduction in GHG emissions by 2025 compared to a 2010 baseline. Daren was Plant Tech Manager for General Mills from 1997-2017 in Buffalo, Cincinnati, Covington, GA, and Murfreesboro, TN. Previously, he was a plant tech manager for Purina and a manufacturing engineer for Frito-Lay. Daren has a BS – IEE from Iowa State University.Connect With Smart Energy Decisions https://smartenergydecisions.com Follow them on Facebook Follow them on Twitter Follow them on LinkedIn Subscribe to Smart Energy VoicesIf you're interested in participating in the next Smart Energy Decision Event, visit smartenergydecisions.com or email our Event Operations Director, Lisa Carroll at lisa@smartenergydecisions.comAudio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla talks with Doug Sansom, Managing Director – Distributed Energy Resources at NRG Energy, at Smart Energy Decisions’ recent Distributed Energy Forum. They discuss the tools that customers need in order to take control of their total energy management strategy. Listen in for insightful energy management strategies.You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... 2021 Distributed Energy Resources Survey [03:40] Optimizing energy management [05:49] Tools that provide more control [08:19] Proven strategies for energy optimization [12:01] What does overall success look like? [16:29] Sustainability is about good substitution [21:40] Click here for more detailed show notes Resources & People MentionedThe 7 Habits of Highly Effective PeopleConnect with Doug SansomBy Email at HughDouglas.Sansom@nrg.comDoug Sansom currently serves as Managing Director of Distributed Energy Resources for NRG. He customizes Demand Response and Distributed Energy Resource solutions for North American utilities. For the past 17 years, Doug has served in executive positions with smart grid and demand response companies like Comcast, BPL Global, Compath Technologies, and Comverge. He has managed residential and large commercial & industrial demand response projects in the US and abroad for utilities like Visayan Electric Company, Pepco Holdings, and Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative. He has also deployed smart grid projects in Cebu City, Bangkok, Curitiba, Kuwait City, and Le Mans.Connect With Smart Energy Decisions https://smartenergydecisions.com Follow them on Facebook Follow them on Twitter Follow them on LinkedIn Subscribe to Smart Energy VoicesIf you're interested in participating in the next Smart Energy Decision Event, visit smartenergydecisions.com or email our Event Operations Director, Lisa Carroll at lisa@smartenergydecisions.comAudio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

This episode of Smart Energy Voices is produced in partnership with Evergy Energy Partners. Host John Failla is joined by Evergy’s Robert Day, Executive Director of Origination, and Grant Wilkerson, Director of New Business Development to discuss how Evergy is responding to the unique needs of large power users in both regulated and deregulated markets for renewable energy. Listen to learn more about their inside perspective.NOTICE: The views and opinions of our guests from Evergy Energy Partners today are based solely on their personal knowledge and experience in the energy industry and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinion of Evergy or the company’s opinions of the current or future energy markets.You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... Who are Robert and Grant? [01:42] What do customers want in regulated markets? [04:09] The background of Evergy [07:00] Evergy’s renewables in regulated markets [08:37] Customer response to tariffs [14:49] Evergy’s unregulated market projects [17:09] The future of Evergy [21:37] Click here for detailed show notes Resources & People Mentioned Evergy Energy Partners - Creative and Flexible Energy Strategies Evergy: Renewables Direct Evergy | Wind farm powers KCI, large businesses Connect with Robert DayOn LinkedIn As Executive Director of Origination, Robert Day supports the originators by removing roadblocks for the group, as well as the entire Evergy Energy Partner team. Robert has been with Evergy Energy Partners during his entire 16-year career with the company and says, "The best part of working with our customers is knowing we are bringing value to them while satisfying their needs."Connect with Grant WilkersonBy email Grant Wilkerson is Evergy’s Director of New Business Development. This group is responsible for renewable product development and services for both retail customer programs as well as wholesale customers. The group concentrates on products and services centered around energy integration in retail tariffs as well as wholesale RTO market participation. He has been involved in more than 4,000 MW of renewable energy participation in Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) markets. Grant has over 30 years of industry experience. His experiences include roles in the electricity market including trader, marketer, market analytics, market design, tariff, and regulatory development. He began his career in the natural gas industry and includes Engineering and pipeline design, regulation station design and construction, metering, and SCADA system design.Connect With Smart Energy Decisions https://smartenergydecisions.com Follow them on Facebook Follow them on Twitter Follow them on LinkedIn Subscribe to Smart Energy VoicesIf you're interested in participating in the next Smart Energy Decision Event, visit smartenergydecisions.com or email our Event Operations Director, Lisa Carroll at lisa@smartenergydecisions.comAudio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla has a conversation with Dr. Becca Jones-Albertus, Solar Energy Technologies Office Director, Department of Energy. The DOE recently released the Solar Futures Study detailing the significant role of solar in decarbonizing the nation’s power grid. The study showed that by 2035 solar energy has the potential to power 40% of the nation’s electricity, drive deep carbonization of the grid, and employ as many as 1.5 million people without raising electricity prices. Listen in to hear from the mind and leader behind that study.You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... The mission of the DOE’s Solar Office [04:23] The goals of the Solar Futures Study [07:23] Job creation through solar deployment [14:14] Savings potential of decarbonizing the grid [16:53] Funding for decarbonization [21:01] Targeting Justice 40 goals [23:11] Where will all the new solar go? [27:37] Grid integration obstacles [30:12] Becca’s career in renewable energy [41:37] Click here for detailed show notes Resources & People Mentioned DOE Releases Solar Futures Study Providing the Blueprint for a Zero-Carbon Grid SunShot Vision Study Regional Energy Deployment System (ReEDS) FACT SHEET: President Biden Takes Executive Actions to Tackle the Climate Crisis Jigar Shah | Department of Energy Connect with Dr. Becca Jones-AlbertusOn LinkedIn Dr. Becca Jones-Albertus serves as the acting director for the Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO) within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. She is leading a team dedicated to decarbonizing industry and increasing the competitiveness of the U.S. clean energy manufacturing sectors through process innovations, collaborations, research and development, technical assistance, and workforce training.Dr. Jones-Albertus came to AMO from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) where she served as director. She has spent her career advancing solar technology, from fundamental research and development to advanced manufacturing. Before her tenure at the Department of Energy, Dr. Jones-Albertus was at Solar Junction where she led efforts to develop two-time world record solar cell efficiencies and to transition these technologies to manufacturing.Dr. Jones-Albertus graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University with a B.S. in electrical engineering and holds a M.S. and Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. She has more than 10 patents and 40 technical publications.Connect With Smart Energy Decisions https://smartenergydecisions.com Follow them on Facebook Follow them on Twitter Follow them on LinkedIn Subscribe to Smart Energy VoicesIf you're interested in participating in the next Smart Energy Decision Event, visit smartenergydecisions.com or email our Event Operations Director, Lisa Carroll at lisa@smartenergydecisions.comAudio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla had the opportunity to speak with Kyle Harrison about the state of the voluntary carbon offset market. Kyle is the Head of Sustainability Research at BloombergNEF. Over the last three years, Smart Energy Decisions has had the privilege of working with BNEF and Kyle on a variety of projects and events. You won’t want to miss Kyle’s interesting and valuable perspective. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... How do carbon offsets work? [03:49] Overall trends in the sustainability market [08:04] The future role of carbon offsets [12:19] Guidelines for carbon offsets [14:05] Current carbon offset trends [19:38] The additionality of carbon offsets [28:15] What role do consumers play? [30:50] Kyle’s career progression [33:18] What impact would Kyle like to have? [40:04] Click here for detailed show notesResources & People Mentioned Climate Action 100+ Science Based Targets: Ambitious corporate climate action The LEAF Coalition Pachama Nori Carbon Removal Marketplace Connect with Kyle HarrisonOn LinkedIn Head of Sustainability Research, BloombergNEFKyle leads BNEF’s sustainability research team, which publishes content on the private sector's transition to the low-carbon economy. The team focuses on core areas like environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting, target-setting, low-carbon pathways, and sustainable finance. Kyle specializes in corporate clean energy procurement, net-zero targets, and voluntary carbon offsets. Connect With Smart Energy Decisions https://smartenergydecisions.com Follow them on Facebook Follow them on Twitter Follow them on LinkedIn Subscribe to Smart Energy VoicesIf you're interested in participating in the next Smart Energy Decision Event, visit smartenergydecisions.com or email our Event Operations Director, Lisa Carroll at lisa@smartenergydecisions.comAudio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla is joined by Chris Castro, Director of Sustainability & Resilience and Co-Chair of the ‘Future-Ready’ initiative for the City of Orlando. Chris has accomplished a tremendous amount with the city in an amazingly brief time. Listen in to learn more about the thrilling work Chris is currently doing and about this fascinating personal journey in the field of sustainability. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... Chris’ beginning in sustainability [02:40] Effectively building and creating teams [10:06] Orlando’s sustainability program [11:21] Seven key priority areas for urban sustainability [17:11] Climate strategies for cities [20:52] What’s next for Orlando? [25:30] Chris’ entrepreneurial projects [29:18] The biggest challenge in Chris’ career [36:20] Click here for detailed show notesResources & People Mentioned Penelope Canan - Sociology IDEAS For Us - Advancing Environmental Action Worldwide Climate First Bank Buddy Dyer Epcot Theme Park Kenneth LaRoe - Founder & CEO - Climate First Bank Paris to Pittsburgh Connect with Chris Castro Their website On Twitter On LinkedIn On Facebook Chris serves as the Senior Advisor to Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Director of Sustainability & Resilience, and 'Future-Ready' steering committee member at the City of Orlando — developing a comprehensive set of policies & programs that has turned Orlando into one of the leading cities in America accelerating sustainability, resiliency, and climate action. Chris is best known for his entrepreneurial efforts prior to coming to the City, including as Co-founder and President of the global sustainability nonprofit, IDEAS For Us, a clean energy consulting firm Citizen Energy, and a renowned urban farming social enterprise Fleet Farming. In 2020, Chris also joined partners to launch ‘Climate First Bank’, the first B-Corp community bank in Florida working to advance ESG and local sustainable investing. Outside of work, Chris serves on many nonprofit and academic boards, including the UCF Energy Research Center, US Green Building Council of Florida, Project Greenschools, and Goodwill Industries of Central Florida. In December 2018, Chris starred in the National Geographic documentary on climate change called "Paris to Pittsburgh" to share the Orlando journey on climate action with millions of people around the World.Connect With Smart Energy Decisions https://smartenergydecisions.com Follow them on Facebook Follow them on Twitter Follow them on LinkedIn Subscribe to Smart Energy VoicesIf you're interested in participating in the next Smart Energy Decision Event, visit smartenergydecisions.com or email our Event Operations Director, Lisa Carroll at lisa@smartenergydecisions.comAudio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla sits down with Tripp Borstel, Head of Transformation at ENGIE Impact. They discuss key levers to work and issues relating to the use of carbon offsets. There’s a lot to cover when it comes to achieving zero emissions - and the scale of the challenge requires creating alignment across a variety of parties within an organization. Listen in to this conversation from Smart Energy Decisions’ recent Renewable Energy Forum.You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... Tripp’s background and current role at ENGIE [01:46] What is needed for the energy transition? [03:29] ENGIE Impact’s definition of net-zero [06:22] The importance of science-based targets [10:54] Choosing the best pathway [14:50] Green thermal and mobility [19:35] What role should offsets play? [24:21] ENGIE’s emission reduction commitments [29:30] Click here for detailed show notesConnect with Tripp BorstelOn LinkedIn Tripp is a Director with ENGIE Impact’s Sustainability Solutions. He has 15 years of experience as a strategy consultant to senior executives in developing climate and energy strategies. His focus is on managing the cultural dynamics of strategy and building high levels of stakeholder alignment throughout the strategy development process. Tripp has worked with corporations, non-profits, and cities. Currently, his work focuses on helping organizations develop net zero targets and strategies. He lives in Oakland, California, and has an MBA from UC Berkeley.Connect With Smart Energy Decisions https://smartenergydecisions.com Follow them on Facebook Follow them on Twitter Follow them on LinkedIn Subscribe to Smart Energy VoicesIf you're interested in participating in the next Smart Energy Decision Event, visit smartenergydecisions.com or email our Event Operations Director, Lisa Carroll at lisa@smartenergydecisions.comAudio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

This episode of Smart Energy Voices continues our series on Inspiring Diversity in Energy with a panel from the recent Renewable Energy Forum. Smart Energy Decisions’ Debra Chanil sat down with Ajulo Othow, co-founder and CEO of EnerWealth Solutions, LLC, and Dana Clare Redden, founder of Solar Stewards. With this experience in creating companies in the solar space, they’ll discuss the challenges of entrepreneurship and what they think is needed to bring more diversity to the solar industry. Listen in to learn what you can do to help inspire diversity.You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... Ajulo and Dana’s backgrounds in the energy industry [03:12] The founding of EnerWealth Solutions [10:08] Dana’s experience with discrimination [14:06] Regulatory impacts on energy transition [18:10] Success stories from Ajulo and Dana [23:19] What is needed for more diversity in solar? [28:35] Click here for detailed show notesResources & People Mentioned Next OMB Post: The Path to Achieving Justice40 Coalition for Green Capital - US National Green Bank FERC Order No. 2222: Fact Sheet American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE) BOSS Connect with Dana Clare ReddenOn LinkedIn Connect with Ajulo E Othow, Esq.On LinkedIn Connect With Smart Energy Decisions https://smartenergydecisions.com Follow them on Facebook Follow them on Twitter Follow them on LinkedIn Subscribe to Smart Energy VoicesIf you're interested in participating in the next Smart Energy Decision Event, visit smartenergydecisions.com or email our Event Operations Director, Lisa Carroll at lisa@smartenergydecisions.comAudio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host Debra Chanil talks with Katherine Canoy, Director of Energy and Climate Practice at 3Degrees. As more organizations are making ambitious climate commitments, such as net-zero emissions, many companies grapple with the most effective way to address their Scope 3 emissions. Debra and Katherine discussed practical steps that organizations can take to tackle their value chain emissions at SED’s recent Renewable Energy Forum. Listen in on the discussion of this hot topic: reducing Scope 3 emissions.You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... Katherine’s experience with value chain emissions [03:23] Defining Scope 3 value chain emissions [05:30] The value chain emission picture [07:07] How to address Scope 3 emissions [10:33] The importance of perspective in climate action [14:15] For full show notes, click here. Resources & People Mentioned Project Gigaton Greenhouse Gas Protocol UNFCCC The Paris Agreement Connect with Katherine CanoyOn LinkedIn With more than 15 years of experience in the energy, sustainability, and climate industries, Katherine Canoy has expertise in renewable energy procurement, energy efficiency, supply chain climate initiatives, and greenhouse gas measurement and reporting. Her client-focused perspective, gained from more than a decade with Walmart’s energy division and previously as an environmental compliance consultant, guides Katherine in benchmarking, goal setting, and project execution at a global scale. As part of Walmart’s goal to reduce supply chain greenhouse gas emissions by 20 million metric tons, Katherine led teams of internal and external stakeholders and managed greenhouse gas reduction projects in a variety of target industries. To help Walmart achieve its goal to be powered 100% by renewable energy, she awarded 420 MW of renewable energy contracts and managed a portfolio of 154 MW of installed onsite solar. Most recently, Katherine was at C2 Energy Capital, a distributed generation solar developer and investor.Katherine resides in Durham, North Carolina with her husband and two kids, and spends much of her free time answering all the questions a 4-year old can conjure. She holds an MBA from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a MEM in Energy and Policy from Duke University, and a BS from University of Mary Washington.Connect With Smart Energy Decisions https://smartenergydecisions.com Follow them on Facebook Follow them on Twitter Follow them on LinkedIn Subscribe to Smart Energy VoicesIf you're interested in participating in the next Smart Energy Decision Event, visit smartenergydecisions.com or email our Event Operations Director, Lisa Carroll at lisa@smartenergydecisions.comAudio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com