Energy Central

With the publication of FERC's 2023 Summer Energy Market and Electric Reliability Assessment, grid reliability is being studied at an unprecedented level. And given the strain that current summer conditions have already demonstrated, this topic is one that utility officials everywhere are tuning into. The FERC reports highlight both positive and concerning aspects of the grid's capacity to meet summer demand, with a particular focus on the razor's edge of insufficient baseload generation supply in various parts of the country. To help the Energy Central Community best understand how the report goes beyond mere power supply concerns and examines other factors that can compromise grid reliability, this episode features Brad Johnson, the Senior Product Portfolio Manager for Energy at Bentley Systems. With his diverse and proven background in the industry and his current role at Bentley Systems, Brad offers a comprehensive 360-degree view of the challenges facing the grid. In this episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast, Brad shares with host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester the critical insights from FERC's report and his perspective to help us all gain a deeper understanding of the pressing issues impacting grid reliability in today's ever-evolving energy landscape. Key Links: Energy Central Post with Full Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-130-grid-reliability-hot-seat-fercs-summer-energy-report-brad-johnson Brad Johnson's Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/brad-johnson-7 Bentley on Energy Central: https://energycentral.com/o/bentley A Call for Resiliency: Today’s Utility Environment and the Call for Strong Leadership: https://energycentral.com/o/bentley/call-resiliency-today%E2%80%99s-utility-environment-and-call-strong-leadership Did you know? The Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast has been identified as one of the industry's 'Top 25 Energy Podcasts': blog.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts/

Solar energy remains one of the fastest-growing sources of power generation across the utility sector, playing a key role in the net zero plans for power companies and private entities globally. While much of the focus for solar progress comes in how to fast-track deployment-- from government incentives to workforce development to permitting reform-- many potential improvements remain on the table when it comes to the technology itself. To discuss the state of solar tech today and the most exciting areas to come, this episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast welcomes Juan-Pablo Correa-Baena. Juan-Pablo is an Assistant Professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology, renowned for his groundbreaking work in the next generation of solar panel development. In this conversation, Juan-Pablo provides historical context that has led the United States needing to play catch up in solar technology production, and the innovative ways in which the industry is striving to do so. Juan-Pablo also dives into the political ramifications and community benefits associated with onshoring solar manufacturing, areas for potential for further advancements in solar technology, and the breakthroughs his team is specifically working on to unlock the next level of efficiency. Key Links: Energy Central Post with Full Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-129-innovating-next-generation-solar-materials-juan-pablo-correa-baena Did you know? The Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast has been identified as one of the industry's 'Top 25 Energy Podcasts': blog.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts/

The concept of ESG, or Environmental, Social, and Governance, oversight has become an increasingly common topic across economic sectors, especially utilities. The importance of ensuring that the utility integrates into its DNA the spirit of sustainability, both from an environmental perspective but also in terms of business practices, is clearer than ever before, but not every stakeholder knows exactly the best way to dive in. To get to the bottom of that with specific examples, this episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast sees host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester welcome Christine Waller, Vice President of Communications & Corporate Responsibility at Duquesne Light Company. The discussion revolves around the recently released ESG report by Duquesne Light Company and its implications for the energy industry. Listen in as Christine shares how, as an investor-owned utility located in Pittsburgh, Duquesne Light Company's unique perspective sheds light on the challenges and opportunities faced by companies operating in regions with a rich industrial history. Key Links: Energy Central Post with Full Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-125-traversing-utility-esg-journey-christine-waller-vice-president Register for EnergyCentral.com: energycentral.com/user/register Did you know? The Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast has been identified as one of the industry's 'Top 25 Energy Podcasts': blog.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts/

The utility sector is undoubtedly among the most tightly monitored and regulated industries across the economy, and with great reason. Reliable and affordable availability of power is not something that customers can go without, and with increasingly present goals like sustainability and equity the intricacies of how regulations interact with the energy industry the challenges are only growing deeper. Luckily for the rest of us, a number of notable leaders continue to step up to provide the type of guidance and expertise needed to continually evaluate utility regulation and ensure the health of the sector remains strong. One such leader joins the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast this week, and her name is Brooke Trammell, the Regional Vice President of Regulatory and Pricing at Xcel Energy. In this episode, Brooke shares with podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester the intricacies of utility policy, the regulatory landscape, and its impact on the power sector. In this conversation, listeners will hear about Brooke's journey into the world of utility regulation and how today Xcel Energy is navigating the challenges and opportunities presented by the clean energy transition, electrification of transportation, and other modern tools shaping the power sector. Listen in as Brooke shares her experience and guidance as it relates to the upcoming decisive decade for the power sector. Key Links: Register for EnergyCentral.com: energycentral.com/user/register Energy Central Post with Full Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-128-exploring-complexities-utility-regulation-brooke-trammel-vp Brooke Trammell's Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/brooke-trammell-0 Did you know? The Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast has been identified as one of the industry's 'Top 25 Energy Podcasts': blog.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts/

As most major utilities set their sites to net zero carbon goals in the coming decades, the myriad of tools available mean that no two power companies are taking exactly the same road map to decarbonization. But in recent years, the fervor behind nuclear energy as being a key part of that equation has been growing rapidly. From small modular reactors nearing commercialization to the recent breakthroughs in fusion to the general public acceptance of nuclear energy as a safe and reliable power source, the industry is trending in the right direction. Entergy has been among the major utility companies leading the way in this regard, which means the organization's nuclear leader has a lot to say. In this episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast, host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester welcome Kimberly Cook-Nelson, Executive Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer of Entergy, to discuss the state of the U.S. nuclear sector today and the pathway she sees it taking moving forward. With growing public support for nuclear power as a clean and reliable energy source, Kimberly shares how nuclear energy is essential in achieving Entergy's commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. She also highlights the unique position nuclear is in to do so while maintaining grid reliability, addressing price volatility, and increasing sustainability. Listen in as Kimberly emphasizes the importance of nuclear safety and dispelling misconceptions through education and community engagement. Key Links: Energy Central Post with Full Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-127-resurgence-nuclear-utility-decarbonization-pathway-kimberly-cook Kimberly Cook-Nelson's Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/kimberly-cook-nelson Register for EnergyCentral.com: energycentral.com/user/register Did you know? The Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast has been identified as one of the industry's 'Top 25 Energy Podcasts': blog.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts/

Energy equity is a critical issue that is increasingly demanding our attention, as access to reliable and affordable energy remains unevenly distributed across the globe. Even in the United States where we expect that everyone is connected to the grid, marginalized communities still often face challenges in affording their utility bills and see advanced tools like IoT devices, EVs, solar and storage, and more being out of financial reach. To shed light on the world of energy equity and highlight the critical work being done today to advance energy opportunities to low and medium income (LMI) communities, Larry Glover joins host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester in this episode. Larry, the CEO of the Glover Group, shares his personal experiences and insights, illustrating the profound effects that energy disparities can have on marginalized communities. In highlighting the importance of bridging these gaps and empowering all individuals to access affordable, clean, and reliable energy resources, listen in as Larry draws from real-world examples and success stories informed by his previous career in the world of marketing. Key Links: Energy Central Post with Full Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-126-traversing-utility-esg-journey-christine-waller-vice-president Register for EnergyCentral.com: energycentral.com/user/register Did you know? The Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast has been identified as one of the industry's 'Top 25 Energy Podcasts': blog.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts/

Episode #124: 'Exploring the Intersection of Biogas and Municipal Waste Management in Gator Country' with Eric Neihaus, Planning Engineer at Gainsville Regional Utility [an Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast] The pursuit of cleaner energy solutions expands beyond the typical solar and wind energy installations and stretches in finding unique opportunities for energy production that are commonly going wasted. At the municipal level, this crosses conveniently over with another key government role: municipal waste management. When explored in tandem, the opportunity to turn waste management into clean biogas production creates new opportunities that can be particularly impactful for smaller utilities. To discuss the pursuit of such biogas projects in his municipal power provider, the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast welcomes Eric Neihaus, Planning Engineer at Gainesville Regional Utility. Listen is as Eric shares with host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester how a waste-to-energy project elsewhere in Florida piqued his curiosity and led to his mission to bring such a clean energy project to Gainesville. Key Links: Energy Central Post with Full Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-124-exploring-intersection-biogas-and-municipal-waste-management-gator Eric Neihaus's Energy Central Profile: energycentral.com/member/profile/eric-neihaus Register for EnergyCentral.com: energycentral.com/user/register Did you know? The Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast has been identified as one of the industry's 'Top 25 Energy Podcasts': blog.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts/

The pursuit of a decarbonized and clean energy future is quite often positioned as a battle between renewable energy technologies and fossil fuels, but the reality remains that many applications of oil and gas are not yet ready or suitable to be replaced completely with electricity. Further, those in the natural gas sector have highlighted the ability for the fuel to be a key partner for renewable power in the years to come, enabling greater pursuit of low and no carbon energy. To help explain these ideas that may run counter to some of the common narratives, the latest episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast welcomes in Suzanne Ogle, the President and CEO of Southern Gas Association (SGA). In this conversation, Suzanne discusses with podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester the role of SGA, the opportunities that gas present to proliferate decarbonized energy, and the outlook for the industry in the years to come. Key Links: Energy Central Post with Full Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-123-exploring-role-gas-decarbonization-journey-suzanne-ogle-president-and Suzanne Ogle's Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/suzanne-ogle/about Register for EnergyCentral.com: energycentral.com/user/register Did you know? The Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast has been identified as one of the industry's 'Top 25 Energy Podcasts': blog.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts/

In making sure that the grid remains reliable and flexible, an overlooked opportunities comes in the area of substations within the transmission and distribution sector. Specifically, the trend towards smarter and more digitalized solutions create opportunities that bring new security and robustness to the common substation. To highlight the latest movement in this area, this episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast welcomes John Bettler, a power and protection engineer at ComEd. John leads ComEd's Digital Smart Substation Program, which uses the IEC 61850 GOOSE messaging for protection. In this conversation with podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester, John provides a detailed explanation of what a digital smart substation is and its importance in the power industry. John also talks about the many aspects of a digital smart substation, such as smart HMIs, monitoring systems, fault locating, and SCADA and network, as well as a discussion on what the related regulations mean for utilities and their capabilities and requirements moving forwards. Key Links: Full Energy Central Post with Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-122-preparing-utilities-tomorrow-digital-smart-substations-john-bettler John Bettler's Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/john-bettler Register for EnergyCentral.com: energycentral.com/user/register Did you know? The Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast has been identified as one of the industry's 'Top 25 Energy Podcasts': blog.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts/

The march towards a more robust hydrogen energy economy seems inevitable, but what's left to be written is the timeframe and the manner in which that journey plays out. As a decarbonization option, an alternative fuel opportunity, and more, hydrogen will play a key role in our energy systems of tomorrow. But as those developments play out in the future, critical to today is continuing to advance safety measures to ensure that process moves along smoothly. Today's episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast is the final installment in our series with H2scan diving into the world of hydrogen detecting and monitoring through all aspects of energy. This episode features Michael Nofal, H2scan's Vice President of Global Sales and Business Development, and Gid Herman, Director of Sales and Business Development, with this dynamic duo leading the way when it comes to ensuring hydrogen detection technology advances to keep pace with the hydrogen economy to ensure safety issues are never a concern or impediment to the future of hydrogen. Listen in as Michael and Gid chat with podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester on what energy leaders should be doing today and in the years to come with regard to hydrogen monitoring technologies and safety measures. Key Links: Energy Central Post with Full Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-121-looking-future-safety-hydrogen-energy-michael-nofal-and-gid-herman First Episode in the H2scan series, Episode #116: 'Detecting Hydrogen Gas to Extend Transformer Health' with Bill Whitehead and Leon White of H2scan [an Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast]: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-116-detecting-hydrogen-gas-extend-transformer-health-bill-whitehead-and Second Episode in the H2scan series, Episode #119: 'Upholding Safety in Power with Hydrogen Gas Detection' with Jeff Donato of H2scan [an Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast]: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-119-upholding-safety-power-hydrogen-gas-detection-jeff-donato-h2scan Michael Nofal's Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/michael-nofal Gid Herman's Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/gid-herman Did you know? The Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast has been identified as one of the industry's 'Top 25 Energy Podcasts': blog.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts/