
Alternative Power Plays
Alternative Power Plays is a podcast that explores the latest trends and innovations in energy generation. The podcast is hosted by Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney attorneys and experts, Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis, along with financing experts at the Brattle Group. Each episode features insightful interviews with industry leaders, innovators, and policymakers who are shaping the future of alternative energy.
Tune into to Alternative Power Plays to hear frank conversations about new energy technologies and how facilities, municipalities and more can prepare for the next generation…of energy.
Latest episodes

Apr 7, 2022 • 28min
Impact of Russia/Ukraine War on World Natural Gas & Oil Markets Part 1
Between the war between Russia and Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic, our global energy consumption habits have become a major point of concern. In a special episode from the Brattle Group, principal Frank Graves talks with Steve Thumb, a nationally noted oil & gas expert, who was in charge of oil and gas forecasting for three decades at the widely used source, Energy Ventures Analysis. Steve shares how the current war in Ukraine and Russia has and will impact the long-term landscape of global energy. Tess Counts and Josh Figueroa of the Brattle Group also join in on the discussion. This is Part 1 of a two-part series.
To follow along with the slides referenced in this discussion, please use one of the following links:
https://www.brattle.com/insights-events/publications/impact-of-russia-ukraine-war-on-world-natural-gas-oil-markets/
https://www.bipc.com/assets/PDFs/Presentations/Impact-of-Russia-Ukraine-War-on-World-Natural-Gas-and-Oil-Markets.pdf

Feb 7, 2022 • 17min
Power Player – Lynn A. Kirshbaum – CHP Alliance
In Alternative Power Plays, we talk all about the new and innovative ways in which businesses are getting electricity to their facilities, buildings and other sites.
John Povilaitis a shareholder at Buchanan, Ingersoll and Rooney and is joined by Alan Seltzer, an Energy attorney at Buchanan. The pair focus our legal practice in the energy and public utility space, with specific work helping clients navigate the world of combined heat and power, also known as CHP or cogeneration.
For this episode, we would like to welcome Lynn Kirshbaum – Deputy Director of the Combined Heat and Power Alliance to Alternative Power Plays. Lynn leads the Alliance’s policy work at the state level and engages with regional and state partners. The Combined Heat and Power Alliance is the leading national voice for the deployment of Combined Heat and Power and Waste Heat to Power.
The Combined Heat and Power Alliance is a coalition of business, labor, contractor, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions with the common purpose of educating all Americans about Combined Heat and Power and Waste Heat and Power, and how CHP and WHP can make America’s manufacturers and other businesses more competitive, reduce energy costs, enhance grid reliability, and reduce emissions.

Jan 24, 2022 • 18min
Power Player – Jim McVaney, Carbon Sink
Welcome to Alternative Power Plays, a podcast from Buchanan Ingersoll and Rooney and the Brattle Group. In Alternative Power Plays, we talk all about the new and innovative ways in which businesses are getting electricity to their facilities, buildings and other sites.
John Povilaitis, a shareholder at Buchanan, Ingersoll and Rooney in the firm’s energy practice, and is joined by Alan Seltzer, a fellow shareholder and energy attorney at Buchanan.
On this episode of Alternative Power Plays, we are switching gears and discussing innovations in the exciting world of carbon-reducing, energy recycling technology. And to do this, we are happy to welcome Jim McVaney of Carbon Sink, a company that hopes to develop projects to convert captured CO2 waste into sustainable fuels, energies and building-block chemicals.
For any facility or business considering CHP or more closely examining their energy needs, visit www.BIPC.com/CHP and www.Brattle.com to learn more about how Buchanan and the Brattle Group can help you navigate all the steps involved.

Jan 10, 2022 • 25min
Power Players – Thomas Nyquist and Ted Borer, Princeton
On this episode of Alternative Power Plays, Metin Celebi interviews Ted Borer and Tom Nyquist both from Princeton University! As the Executive director of Facilities Engineering and Campus Energy, Tom Nyquist is responsible for HVAC, electrical distribution, utility plant capacity additions, energy budget, underground utilities and energy conservation. As for Ted Borer, he has three decades in the power industry starting in nuclear industry in the early 1980’s. Currently, Borer is the energy plant manager for Princeton University and is actively involved in campus energy and carbon emissions reduction efforts.
On this episode the trio discusses solar and thermal storage through optimization to reduce costs and carbon footprint, with plans to further reduce carbon footprint of the campus energy use.
For any facility or business considering CHP or more closely examining their energy needs, visit www.BIPC.com/CHP and www.Brattle.com to learn more about how Buchanan and the Brattle Group can help you navigate all the steps involved.

Jun 2, 2021 • 20min
How to Avoid Pitfalls in the CHP Process
At Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, energy attorneys John Povilaitis and Alan Seltzer focus their work on helping clients go through the process of installing combined heat and power units, also known as CHPs, to their facilities. At the Brattle Group, Metin Celebi and Frank Graves help clients figure out the financial aspects of this process, evaluating whether these projects make sense for facilities of all types.
Over the course of their careers, the four have helped countless clients understand the ins and outs of the CHP consideration, financing, and installation process. And during that time, they've witnessed companies run into their fair share of pitfalls during this process that they've needed to help them navigate.
On this episode of Alternative Power Plays, John, Alan, Metin and Frank have gathered a list of the most common pitfalls companies across industries have come across with tips on how to avoid them.
For any facility or business considering CHP or more closely examining their energy needs, visit www.BIPC.com/CHP and www.Brattle.com to learn more about how Buchanan and the Brattle Group can help you navigate all the steps involved.
To read more about John Povilaitis, visit: https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis.
To read more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer.

May 19, 2021 • 14min
Power Player - Al Wanosky of Solvay Specialty Polymers
On this episode of Alternative Power Plays, we talk to Al Wanosky, the Global Health, Safety and Environmental Manager at Solvay Specialty Polymers. Al has been with Solvay for more than 16 years and, in working for a plastics manufacturing company, has dealt with some unique challenges when it comes to getting electricity and steam to Solvay facilities, specifically at the plant in Marietta, Ohio.
Hosted by Metin Celebi, principal at The Brattle Group, a global economic consulting firm and partner with Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, this discussion centers around Al's experience deploying a Combined Heat & Power (CHP) system.
For any facility or business considering CHP or more closely examining their energy needs, visit www.BIPC.com/CHP and www.Brattle.com to learn more about how Buchanan and the Brattle Group can help you navigate all the steps involved.
To read more about Al Wanosky and this specific facility, visit https://s7d2.scene7.com/is/content/Caterpillar/CM20190108-44231-07674.

May 5, 2021 • 13min
Bringing a Combined Heat and Power System to Life
As part of their legal practice at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, attorneys Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis focus on the energy and public utility space. They have specific work helping clients go through the process of installing combined heat and power units, also known as CHPs, to their facilities.
Making your own electricity and using the waste heat to avoid energy purchases can be a complex process, but with the right team in place it can bring enormous financial, environmental, and operational benefits to host sites. During their careers, Alan and John have been fortunate to help many clients across various industries develop these projects and realize their long-term benefits.
On this episode of Alternative Power Plays, John and Alan talk about the basic steps involved in bringing a CHP system to life, including what those considering CHP should think about at each step of the way.
For any facility or business considering CHP or more closely examining their energy needs, visit www.BIPC.com/CHP to learn more about how Buchanan can help you navigate all the steps involved.
To read more about John Povilaitis, visit: https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis.
To read more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer.

Apr 20, 2021 • 14min
Power Player - Al Neuner of Geisinger Health Systems - Part 2
This episode of Alternative Power Plays is Part 2 of a discussion with Al Neuner, Vice President of Facilities Operations at Geisinger Health Systems. To listen to Part 1, click here: https://anchor.fm/alternative-power-plays/episodes/Power-Player---Al-Neuner-of-Geisinger-Health-Systems-etpeug.
Part 2 of the interview with Neuner focuses on some of the different types of cogeneration systems that businesses can consider and how Geisinger was, once again, ahead of the curve in this area. Specifically, Geisinger's CHP system was able to significantly lower emissions at its facility, which led to the facility receiving a handful of awards along the way. Additionally, Neuner talks about Geisinger's cold water storage system that's part of his facility's CHP and why that technology is so important for a health system.
This episode is hosted by Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis, Energy attorneys at Buchanan Ingersoll and Rooney.
For any facility or business considering CHP or more closely examining their energy needs, visit www.BIPC.com/CHP and www.Brattle.com to learn more about how Buchanan and the Brattle Group can help you navigate all the steps involved.
To read more about Al Neuner and Geisinger, visit https://www.geisinger.org/.

Apr 6, 2021 • 14min
Power Player - Al Neuner of Geisinger Health Systems
This episode of Alternative Power Plays is Part 1 of a discussion with Al Neuner, Vice President of Facilities Operations at Geisinger Health Systems. Neuner is responsible for introducing a Combined Heat and Power system at Geisinger’s flagship hospital and healthcare site in Central Pennsylvania in the late 1990s -- making him a true pioneer in the world of CHP. Since then, the system has delivered Geisinger consistently reliable energy in addition to millions in energy savings.
This episode is hosted by Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis, Energy attorneys at Buchanan Ingersoll and Rooney. The two of them focus their legal practice in the energy and public utility space, with specific work helping clients navigate the world of Combined Heat and Power.
Part 1 of the interview with Neuner centers around his decision to bring a CHP system to Geisinger when few other healthcare facilities were even considering it. They talk about the biggest challenges with deploying CHP, the estimated cost to install and maintain, the estimated savings over the past 20-plus years, and more.
Make sure to tune in next episode to hear Part 2 of this enlightening energy conversation.
For any facility or business considering CHP or more closely examining their energy needs, visit www.BIPC.com/CHP and www.Brattle.com to learn more about how Buchanan and the Brattle Group can help you navigate all the steps involved.
To read more about Al Neuner and Geisinger, visit https://www.geisinger.org/.

Mar 9, 2021 • 20min
Power Player – Mike Larson of DTE Energy
On this episode of Alternative Power Plays, we talk to a true Power Player in the world of combined heat and power (CHP) – Mike Larson, Business Development Director at DTE Energy Services, a diversified energy company based in Detroit.
Hosted by Metin Celebi, principal at The Brattle Group, a global economic consulting firm and partner with Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, this discussion centers around Mike's experience with CHP. The two talk about how he helps facilities of all types install the technology and what DTE Energy's role is in all this. As an outsourcer, DTE Energy can help companies who see value in combined heat and power but may not have the resources to plan, develop, and install themselves.
For any facility or business considering CHP or more closely examining their energy needs, visit www.BIPC.com/CHP and www.Brattle.com to learn more about how Buchanan and the Brattle Group can help you navigate all the steps involved.
To read more about Mike Larson and DTE Energy, visit www.dtepowerandindustrial.com/.
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