In this episode, James talks with Hilary Clark, Senior Director of Social Licensing at the American Clean Power Association (ACP). With over two decades in permitting and regulatory affairs, Hilary brings deep expertise on how clean energy developers can effectively engage communities and navigate the complex siting landscape in the U.S.

They discuss the evolving challenges in local and state-level permitting for wind, solar, and battery projects. Hilary explains the rise of moratoria and bans, the importance of community trust, and how ACP supports developers through advocacy, policy coordination, and digital tools. The conversation also covers the role of automation in feasibility analysis and the limits of technology in community engagement.

• The rise of permitting barriers like local moratoria and zoning bans
• The importance of social license and long-term community relationships
• How ACP leverages advocacy, policy expertise, and AI tools to support members
• Why the human element remains critical despite digital innovation

This episode offers an essential look at the on-the-ground work required to accelerate clean energy deployment across the country.

Paces helps developers find and evaluate the sites most suitable for renewable development. Interested in a call with James, CEO @ Paces?

In this episode, James talks with Brian Janous, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer at Cloverleaf Infrastructure and former Head of Energy at Microsoft. With 25+ years in the utility space — including a decade leading Microsoft’s cloud energy strategy — Brian shares what it was like to scale power procurement during the hyperscale boom and why he founded Cloverleaf to solve the next frontier: grid-aligned power delivery for data centers.

They explore the transition from fiber-first to power-first infrastructure, the myth of exponential energy growth, and the real reason AI is accelerating demand at an unprecedented pace. Brian unpacks the growing tension between real estate and power developers, the limitations of behind-the-meter hype, and why grid integration remains king.

You’ll also hear insights on:

• Why utilities are overwhelmed by “two chucks in a truck” proposals
• What makes a site actually marketable to hyperscalers
• The misunderstood economics of flexible load and data center reliability
• How Cloverleaf partners to derisk power timelines and unlock investment

Whether you’re a power developer, hyperscaler, or real estate operator, this episode offers a candid look at what it takes to deliver the electrons that fuel AI.

Paces helps developers find and evaluate the sites most suitable for renewable development. Interested in a call with James, CEO @ Paces?

Paces helps developers find and evaluate the sites most suitable for renewable development. Interested in a call with James, CEO @ Paces?

In this episode, James talks with Michael Thomas, Founder of CleanView and creator of Distilled. Michael has built a career around impactful storytelling and actionable data, aiming to accelerate clean energy adoption. From tech marketing to climate entrepreneurship, he has channeled his curiosity into initiatives that demystify energy trends and empower decision-makers.

They discuss the evolution and impact of CleanView, a real-time platform offering unmatched visibility into clean energy project development across the U.S. Michael shares the journey behind the product, why accessible, transparent data matters, and how policy, geography, and technology trends are shaping the renewable energy landscape. They also explore the political and economic implications of recent clean energy legislation and why active industry engagement is crucial.

• How CleanView reduces data friction for developers, EPCs, and investors
• Market trends: battery storage expansion, solar booms in the South, and wind project slowdowns
• The impact of proposed ITC/PTC tax credit changes on project viability
• The strategic importance of transparency, local engagement, and rural investment

This episode is a must-listen for anyone serious about understanding the intersection of data, policy, and infrastructure in the clean energy sector.

Paces helps developers accelerate clean energy infrastructure through comprehensive software and services. Interested in a call with James, CEO @ Paces?

Paces helps developers find and evaluate the sites most suitable for renewable development. Interested in a call with James, CEO @ Paces?

In this episode, James talks with Pat Lynch, Executive Managing Director and Global Head of Data Center Solutions at CBRE. With 30+ years in digital infrastructure, Pat shares his journey from early fiber builds in the 90s to leading CBRE’s global data center strategy.

They discuss how CBRE’s data center business scaled from 3% to 10% of company revenue through strategic talent and investment, and how today's growth is shaped by shifting from “bringing power to the site” to “bringing the site to power.” Pat breaks down the unique power challenges developers face, the rise of behind-the-meter generation, and why delivery speed is everything in today’s market.

You’ll also hear insights on:

• AI’s impact on siting and infrastructure design
• The risk of stranded assets in power-constrained markets
• Navigating utility slowdowns and regulatory uncertainty
• Global growth opportunities and future talent needs in the sector

Whether you’re in energy, real estate, or tech, this episode delivers a front-row seat to the forces reshaping the future of data infrastructure.

Paces helps developers find and evaluate the sites most suitable for renewable development. Interested in a call with James, CEO @ Paces?

In this episode, James sits down with Paces colleagues Kyle Baranko and Tony Wagler to discuss their new white paper, “Pre-Development at Scale: Modeling Risk in Early-Stage Solar Development”. They dive into how AI, probabilistic methods, and standardized development workflows can dramatically reduce soft costs and increase project success rates.

Kyle shares how Monte Carlo simulations were used to model development risks and timelines, while Tony outlines the four key archetypes—environmental, permitting, design, and interconnection—that shape project outcomes. They explain how early de-risking leads to faster decisions, improved IRRs, and better positioning in incentive programs.

Other topics include:

• Why 70–90% of post-site control projects fail
• The power of failing fast and cutting development timelines by up to 50%
• How automation preserves data integrity while saving time
• Real-world feedback from developers and IPPs
• A new interactive tool to explore portfolio-level risks

Whether you’re a solar developer, investor, or curious about energy infrastructure, this conversation offers practical insights into the future of clean energy project planning.

Paces helps developers find and evaluate the sites most suitable for renewable development. Interested in a call with James, CEO @ Paces?

In this episode, we sit down with Christine Larson, Head of Strategy & Operations at Modern Energy and interim COO at Industrial Sun, to explore how early-stage developers can thrive in a landscape defined by high complexity, capital intensity, and shifting market signals.

Christine shares how Modern’s model goes beyond funding—providing hands-on operational support like IT and accounting—so founders can focus on what really matters: building and scaling transformative energy projects.

We dive into:

• Why Modern invests in niche, high-complexity infrastructure like green hydrogen and EV fleet charging
• How capital bottlenecks and tariff uncertainty are shaping developer risk
• Why utility coordination and contract innovation are now mission-critical
• How partnerships, not just tech, will drive the future of energy

Christine and James explore how strategic collaboration—between developers, capital partners, and load customers—is key to unlocking the next generation of clean energy infrastructure.

Paces helps developers find and evaluate the sites most suitable for renewable development. Interested in a call with James, CEO @ Paces?

The power demands of AI data centers are skyrocketing—but how will we meet them?

In this episode, James sits down with Tyler Norris (Duke University) and Kyle Baranko (Paces) to dig into two influential white papers offering different solutions. One explores off-grid, solar-plus-storage microgrids as a fast, clean option. The other highlights how we can better utilize existing grid capacity by embracing flexible interconnections and load curtailment.

Together, they explore:

• The case for behind-the-meter energy systems
• How hyperscaler reliability demands shape power strategies
• What ERCOT is getting right—and where other markets are lagging
• The regulatory, financial, and technical barriers to scaling solutions fast

If you're working on energy, data infrastructure, or just curious about how AI’s growth will reshape the grid—this one’s for you.

Paces helps developers find and evaluate the sites most suitable for renewable development. Interested in a call with James, CEO @ Paces?

In this episode, we sit down with Nan Ransohoff and Duncan Campbell to discuss the evolving landscape of solar microgrids, AI data centers, and the urgent need for climate-driven innovation. Duncan reflects on how today’s energy solutions are just the beginning, predicting a future where bold, disruptive action reshapes the grid.

We dive into:

• How Stripe and Paces are driving groundbreaking projects
• Why the electricity sector needs faster adaptation to climate challenges
• The role of AI and next-gen energy solutions
• Why ambitious ideas that seem “too crazy” might not be crazy enough

James McWalter urges innovators to push harder and move faster—the fight against climate change isn’t slowing down, it’s speeding up. If you’re working on bold ideas in energy, reach out!

To learn more about the white paper visit www.offgridai.us/.

Paces helps developers find and evaluate the sites most suitable for renewable development. Interested in a call with James, CEO @ Paces?

In this episode, we sit down with Scott Aaronson, founder and CEO of Demeter Land Development, to explore his unexpected path from criminal defense attorney to renewable energy land origination expert.

Scott recounts how his real estate ventures led him to community solar development, shedding light on the evolving challenges of securing land for distributed generation (DG) projects. He discusses the industry's transformation from old-school, door-knocking tactics to a highly strategic, data-driven approach.

We cover:

• How his unique legal background can be applied to land origination
• The biggest challenges in permitting, interconnection, and competition
• How personalized landowner outreach makes a difference
• The future of DG renewables and what trends to watch

Scott emphasizes the importance of local relationships, policy awareness, and strategic first-mover advantage in emerging markets. He also shares how Demeter’s partnership with Paces has helped streamline operations and accelerate growth.

If you’re involved in solar development, land acquisition, or renewable energy policy, this episode is packed with valuable insights!

Connect with Scott here!

Paces helps developers find and evaluate the sites most suitable for renewable development. Interested in a call with James, CEO @ Paces?

In this episode, we sit down with Peter Hans Hirschboeck, founder and managing director of impactECI, to explore the rapidly evolving world of data centers and energy infrastructure. With a background in electrical engineering and years of experience leading energy projects at AWS, Peter shares invaluable insights on how the demand for AI computing power is reshaping the energy landscape.

We discuss:

• The massive growth of data centers and its impact on energy grids
• Why grid bottlenecks and interconnection queues are delaying projects
• How hyperscalers and AI companies are securing power for large-scale deployments
• The increasing role of nuclear, renewables, and behind-the-meter solutions
• How utilities, developers, and tech companies can better collaborate to solve infrastructure challenges

Peter also breaks down the current trends in power procurement, the importance of speed to deployment, and why grid reform is essential to meet future energy demands.

If you’re in energy, data centers, or AI infrastructure, this episode is packed with must-know insights!

Connect with Peter & impactECI here!

Paces helps developers find and evaluate the sites most suitable for renewable development. Interested in a call with James, CEO @ Paces?