Alternative Power Plays

Cement is the critical ingredient required to make concrete – the literal foundation of countless construction projects here in the U.S. and abroad. However, the environmental impact of producing traditional cement has been one of the biggest downsides of this all-important building material. That is, until Fortera and its proprietary cement-making process takes off.On this episode of Alternative Power Plays, Buchanan’s Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis speak with Keith Krugh, Chief Manufacturing Officer at Fortera, a materials technology company that is developing low-carbon cement using a proprietary process inspired by nature. While traditional cement production is energy-intensive and contributes about 8% of global CO₂ emissions. Fortera has a new method of making the cement necessary for concrete that has a 70% lower carbon footprint. During the discussion, Keith shares more about how Fortera’s technology works, what its applications are, and how recent regulations are affecting the company.To learn more Fortera, visit: https://forteraglobal.com/ To learn more about Keith Krugh Hoffman, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithkrugh/ To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer⁠    To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis 

What is the outlook for the U.S. Energy Sector under President Donald Trump's second term in office? We welcome back Ed Hild, principal in Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney's government relations practice to give us a download on what to expect. Ed is a former Chief of Staff for Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and has deep connections with powerful voices in Washington, D.C.During this episode of Alternative Power Plays, hosts Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis speak to Ed as he shares his insights on the President's cabinet selections, the future of renewable energy under a Republican-controlled federal government, potential permitting reform, and more. To learn more about Ed Hild, visit: https://www.bipc.com/edward-hildTo learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer⁠   To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis

As the world increasingly moves toward cleaner energy solutions, the demand for long-duration energy storage is at an all-time high. Hydrostor, a global leader in compressed air energy storage, is addressing this challenge by providing scalable, efficient, and sustainable alternatives to traditional battery technology. In this episode of Alternative Power Plays, hosts Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis speak with Scott Bolton, Executive Vice President of Global Policy and Regulatory Affairs at Hydrostor. They discuss how the company’s innovative storage technology is helping to stabilize power grids around the world. Scott explains the mechanics of compressed air energy storage and compares it to lithium-ion batteries and pumped hydro, illustrating why this technology is positioned to play a crucial role in the transition to clean energy.The conversation also highlights Hydrostor’s flagship projects—the Silver City Energy Center in Australia and the Willow Rock project in California—showing how these large-scale storage solutions meet various energy market needs. Additionally, Scott addresses the regulatory challenges that Hydrostor faces, discusses how they collaborate with policymakers to facilitate energy storage deployment, and shares insights on the future of energy infrastructure development.To learn more about Hydrostor, visit: https://hydrostor.ca/ To learn more about Scott Bolton, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-bolton-72489/To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer⁠   To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis

In this episode of Alternative Power Plays, hosts Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis explore a transformative technology that is reshaping landfill energy with Melinda Sims, Co-Founder and Director of Product Development at LoCI Controls. The conversation will get into how LoCI's technology platform utilizes automation, advanced algorithms, and real-time data to optimize methane capture and reduce emissions.During the episode, Melinda discusses the delicate balance between maximizing gas collection and ensuring safety. She shares real-world success stories, such as reversing production declines at a landfill in Washington, and explains how AI and policy changes are influencing the future of waste-to-energy innovation. Join us for an enlightening conversation about sustainability, engineering ingenuity, and the untapped potential of landfills.To learn more about LoCI: https://locicontrols.com/ To learn more about Melinda Sims: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindasims/ To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer⁠    To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis

Rob Gramlich, President of Grid Strategies and expert in transmission planning, discusses the staggering surge in U.S. electric grid demand driven by tech and manufacturing. He highlights regions facing the most strain and identifies critical bottlenecks in infrastructure. The conversation delves into the urgent changes needed from policymakers and utilities to manage this growth responsibly, ensuring grid reliability and preventing soaring costs, particularly with the rising influence of data centers. His insights into forecasting demand and navigating complex power markets are both eye-opening and essential.

In this episode of Alternative Power Plays, hosts Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis engage in a conversation with Aliya Bagewadi, the U.S. Director of Strategy Partnerships at Allume Energy. She discusses how Allume Energy is transforming solar access for apartment renters.  Aliya shares more about the company’s origins in Australia and its mission to promote energy equity as it expands to markets in the U.S. and Europe. Throughout the episode, she highlights the benefits of Allume Energy for renters, who can see energy bill reductions of 40-60% with the company’s technology. Meanwhile, building owners benefit from lower operating costs, new revenue streams, and increased property value.  Aliya provides insights into Allume’s market focus, targeting Illinois and D.C. due to favorable incentives, as well as the company's plans to integrate energy storage for enhanced grid resilience. The episode concludes with Aliya emphasizing the importance of education and collaboration with utilities, cities, and community partners to drive adoption and scale their mission of providing clean energy access for renters.  To learn more about Allume Energy, visit: https://allumeenergy.com/us/ To learn more about Aliya Bagewadi, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliyabagewadi  To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer⁠    To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis 

In this episode of Alternative Power Plays, hosts Alan Seltzer and Elizabeth Rosentel, a senior advisor in Buchanan's state government relations group, interview Pennsylvania State House Representative Greg Vitali, who has dedicated decades to environmental and energy issues. As the first legislator in Pennsylvania to introduce climate change legislation and propose a severance tax on natural gas, Representative Vitali shares his journey from community environmental activism to chairing the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.  This episode covers the challenges and opportunities in advancing renewable energy policies, as well as the political dynamics of Pennsylvania’s energy landscape. The trio explore community solar, net metering, electric vehicle infrastructure, and the changing demand for electricity.  Representative Vitali emphasizes the obstacles posed by bipartisan governance, the influence of industry and labor unions, and the urgent need for climate action in light of evolving federal and state dynamics.  To learn more about Pennsylvania State House Representative Greg Vitali:  https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/house_bio.cfm?id=210  To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer⁠      To learn more about Elizabeth Rosentel: https://www.bipc.com/elizabeth-a.-rosentel 

In this episode of Alternative Power Plays, hosts Alan Selter and John Povilaitis explore the future of electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure with John Taggart, President and Co-founder of WeaveGrid. WeaveGrid is transforming the electrification of transportation by optimizing EV charging for utilities, EV manufacturers, and owners. During the discussion, Taggart shares insights on the company's software solutions, which aim to balance the increased load on electric grids with the need for renewable energy sources. He discusses the challenges and opportunities in integrating EVs into the grid, the importance of policy and regulatory support, and how WeaveGrid is leading the way for a more sustainable and efficient transportation system. Join us as we examine how digital infrastructure can support the transition to electric mobility and the broader implications for the energy sector. To learn more about WeaveGrid, visit: https://www.weavegrid.com/ To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis⁠  To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: ⁠https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer

On this episode of Alternative Power Plays hosts Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis sit down with Jørgen Festervoll, CEO of Heimdall Power, a company specializing in advanced monitoring technologies for electric transmission lines.  During the discussion, Jørgen gets into his background, the company's mission to optimize power grids, and the functionality of their sensors, which have the ability to enhance grid capacity by 40% on average. The conversation covers the challenges of deploying new technology in the utility sector, the importance of dynamic line ratings, and the role of Heimdall Power sensors in modernizing the power grid. Jørgen also shares his experience presenting at the White House and emphasizes the company's focus on scalability and customer support.  To learn more about Heimdall Power, visit: https://heimdallpower.com/us/ To learn more about Jørgen Festervoll, visit: https://careers.heimdallpower.com/people/1855194-jorgen-festervoll  To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer⁠    To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis 

On this episode of Alternative Power Plays, hosts Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis chat with  Ted Bloch-Rubin, Director of Business Development Americas at Smart Wires, Inc. Ted discusses Smart Wires' grid-enhancing technologies, including their flagship product, the Smart Valve, and dynamic line rating software, Sumo.  Ted then talks about how these technologies optimize grid use, enhance reliability, and support renewable energy integration. He highlights the company's global impact, and the challenges of integrating new technologies into conservative, mission-critical utility environments. The discussion also gets into the importance of federal policies and programs in advancing smart grid technologies and what Smart Wires' future may look like.To learn more about Smart Wires, visit:  https://www.smartwires.com/ To learn more about Ted Block Rubin, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ted-bloch-rubin-055526100/  To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer⁠    To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis ⁠