Zpryme On The Grid

As operational demands increase, and load growth remains flat, traditionally utility resource planning that focusses only on the supply side does not adequately address future challenges and opportunities. Utilities like Consumers Energy Michigan have turned to an Integrated Resource Plan to plan for future supply and demand needs effectively. Their MI Clean Energy Plan is a long-term tool for supplying affordable, reliable energy to customers throughout the state. They created a forecast of Michigan’s energy future using a variety of assumptions about factors such as market prices, energy demand, and levels of clean energy resources, including wind, solar, demand response, and energy efficiency. This plan embodies a commitment to the Triple Bottom Line of people, planet, and prosperity, and a “clean and lean” generation strategy of moving away from coal. To discuss the changing utility planning landscape, Zpryme's Chris Moyer spoke with Tim Sparks, the Vice President of Electric Grid Integration at Consumers

On the Grid Host Erin Hardick is back this week to read aloud one of our guest contributor articles, "Designing an Inclusive Future" by Sophie Horrocks. She talks about design; how we can design a space that enables people of all stripes to be their best selves which is why we have this audio version to complement the written version which can be found here: https://zpryme.com/insights/designing-an-inclusive-future/

Today we're talking about Mastercard's City Possible Network for urban development, so we've brought on Executive Vice President of Enterprise Partnerships Miguel Gamino to discuss what the goals, methods, and successes of the network are. We also have Co-Founder of the North Texas Innovation Alliance Jennifer Sanders to talk about how networks affect local issues and what network collaboration means for her operations in North Texas. Music by bensound.com

Today on the show we have Energy Tax Partner at Ernst & Young Brian Murphy and he's here to tell us what the future of renewable energy looks like from his perspective. We also dive into how the energy landscape is being disrupted from various angles at this moment and how that affects long-term strategizing. Music by bensound.com

Today we're talking with Angel Lance, Founder of Motive Power. Angel tells the story of creating the management consulting company as a values-driven business. From there, we dig deeper into what values mean in the world of consulting, why the practice of consulting often gets a bad rap, and what can be done better to create a better business ecosystem in energy.

I will not apologize for the pun. We're talking with Robert Sewell, CEO of VesprSolar, a company that makes clip attachments for PV solar modules. We primarily discuss tackling the "last mile" of solar installation to help drive down solar costs. We also talk about where startups see promise and opportunity but also challenges in the solar industry. This episode was sponsored by NREL. Check out the next round of the American Made Solar Prize at americanmadechallenges.org/solarprize/round4 Music by bensound.com

Capital metro in Austin is rolling out six electric buses for public transportation, with two already on the streets! How does one do this kind of public transportation project in a pandemic? What does such a process look like from the inside to potentially be modeled by other transit agencies? We wanted the answers to these questions as well, so we brought on Sam Sargent, Deputy Chief of Staff at Capital Metro, and Lauren Scoville, Senior Director of Sales at Proterra to discuss the project front-to-back! Music by bensound.com

Adrian Garcia, VP of Transformation & Strategy at Daito Design, is our guest this week. The discussion centers around moving digital transformation out of the abstract and into reality: what is transformation in service of? Who makes the plan and what should they keep in mind? How do we distinguish a "transformation" from just on-boarding tech to do business as usual? Music by bensound.com

It's been a while since we've dug into a specific project, but when word came to us of a long-term storage project with a new battery, we had to sniff the story out. We have Minnesota's Great River Energy Chief Power Supply Officer Jon Brekke, and the Form Energy's cofounder, president, and COO Ted Wiley to discuss the "aqueous air" battery project set to be fully rolled out in 2023. As we've done before, we do a deep dive on the process of this project as a litmus test for the challenges and opportunities utility-scale solar projects present. We get in the weeds a bit this episode, but there are so many interesting things to find in there! Music by bensound.com

How has the pandemic affected cities' commitments to building more ecologically-minded? What do those standards look like in the first place? To answer these questions and more we brought on Anita Ledbetter, Executive Director at Build San Antonio Green. If you want to donate to help protesters fight for racial justice across the country here are some resources: Freedom Fund - https://www.lgbtqfund.org/ Campaign Zero - https://www.joincampaignzero.org/ NAACP Legal Defense Fund - https://org2.salsalabs.com/o/6857/p/salsa/donation/common/public/?donate_page_KEY=16304 Here is a compiled list of local organizations as well - https://zpryme.com/insights/resources-for-those-seeking-to-help-anti-police-brutality-protesters/

Today on the show we have Dr. Massoud Amin of the University of Minnesota talking about the powers of resiliency. The conversation flows between grid resiliency, cyber resiliency, and personal resiliency against the various threats of the modern era. Dr. Amin lays out prescriptive practices in these fields based on years of research and observation. Music by bensound.com

Today we're launching a monthly solar podcast focus for the coming year and we're starting it off with NREL's Sarah Gomach who is here to talk about round two of the American Made Solar Prize. The lessons learned from round 1 have helped shape the solar network of developers, labs, entrepreneurs and other key figures. We also talk about the larger implications of the movement towards solar in all the messy context of the year 2020. This episode was sponsored by NREL. Check out the next round of the American Made Solar Prize at americanmadechallenges.org/solarprize/round4 Music by bensound.com

Our guest today is Chris King, SVP of emobility policy and regulatory affairs at Siemens. He discusses EV charging standards and interoperability allowing for a better customer experience, but on a larger scale this episode explores what the most cost-effective way is to create a user-friendly infrastructure. The ultimate goal is to help remove barriers to EV adoption and prepare for what looks like an inevitable future of electric vehicle ubiquity. Music by bensound.com

Today we have Rod West, President of Utility Operations at Entergy, on the show to talk about two key aspects of COVID-based disruption in the energy space. Initially we dive into resiliency and what precautions are taking place to ensure reliability of power alongside safety of workers. Then we take a look at how the customer journey has been upended by the personal, cultural, and economic impacts of the virus. Music by bensound.com

We're following up with NYU's Dr. Kissane on the global oil conflict and how we ended up with a negative value in the US last week. If you're following what's happening with oil during the pandemic, don't miss this one! Music by bensound.com

We've got a delightful panel of electric vehicle experts on today to talk about how the market will change post-covid and beyond. EV Erin Hardick directs the conversation with Austin Energy's Karl Popham, GreenLots' Ashley Horvat, and EVolve Houston's Michael Conklin. They cover the challenges and pitfalls of increasing EV adoption, organizing information campaigns, and shine a light on the unspoken truths of the EV market. Check out zpryme.com for the video later this week along with a full catalog of our Zpryme Now videos. Music by bensound.com

Intel is making a brain! Their data analytics lead, Gretchen Stewart, talked with Erin Hardick about AI and the litany of potential applications, and an artificial brain being created at Intel’s laboratories. Discussion on defining traits and the translation of seemingly immutable qualities of the human brain lead into discussion about the how and why such an undertaking could advance… well you name it. Perhaps our most human episode to date!

On this next episode of Zpryme on the Grid — this past February 2020 — Zpryme's Chris Moyer interviewed Dr. Ralph Izzo PSE&G chairman of the board, president and CEO on renewables, consumer engagement, and his career. PSE&G services 1.8 million gas customers and 2.2 million electric customers in more than 300 urban, suburban and rural communities.

Today we have NYU's Dr. Carolyn Kissane back on the show to talk about the situation on the ground in New York, and how the pandemic has affected her role as an educator. Then in the second half, we do an in-depth dive into a growing economic conflict between Russia and Saudi Arabia. Dr. Kissane goes into the background of the conflict, what role the U.S. has in it, and what the possible ramifications are. A jam-packed episode, but well worth a full listen! Check out Dr. Kissane's article on the conflict at https://zpryme.com/insights/covid-19-and-an-oil-price-war-no-one-wins/ Music by bensound.com

Today on the show, we have Chelsea Collier, founder of digi.city to talk about the toll the coronavirus is taking on cities, but also about what strengths and weaknesses have been revealed by it. Comparing different successes and trials in different cities has shown what strategies have been most effective and what our society's ability to weather crises like this actually is. There's discussion about lessons we're learning; silver linings on how we can emerge stronger from this crisis, but we acknowledge that we're all still going through the worst of this. Stay safe and we hope you learn something! Music by bensound.com