Changing Energy

In this episode, Don, Kirk, and Shawn talk about how they miss Maria as she vacations in Europe and plans to see Taylor Swift in concert. This sparks further discussions about the sustainability of rock concerts before diving into an article about the current challenges of the grid. Maria rejoins the group as we introduce our summer data science intern, Manuella Kwawu. Manuella talks about her experience moving from Ghana to New York City and summering in Wake Forest, North Carolina. She shares insights from her project analyzing residential bills, revealing fascinating findings about peak usage times and cost-saving opportunities for members.

In this episode, Don, Kirk, Shawn, and Maria are ready for the 4th of July. The impact of the Tesla Cybertruck continues! Don banters about his experience driving it around town and people’s reactions to it. Kirk and Maria talk about hosting an EV Truck event in June as well as an employee appreciation event. Shawn talks about how busy dispatch has been with wildlife incidents. The hosts discuss multiple articles regarding tech companies and AI data centers as the energy sector continues to focus on this hot topic. They also get into an article regarding policy changes that could impact utilities regarding energy plans. For the main topic, Don talks about the hot summer weather despite the otherwise mild days we’ve experienced this year. Don explains the unit ‘degree days’ and how that helps determine how much heating and cooling can be expected in home usage. The gang dives into a listener's question about experiencing high voltage noise under transmission power lines.

In this episode, Don, Kirk, Shawn, and Maria are thrilled to be back after a long break! The hosts banter about their busy schedules during the unintended hiatus, sharing stories from attending various conferences and being busy at the co-op. They also discuss the arrival of the new Tesla Cybertruck and the splash that the electric vehicle is making. Don talks about his drive out west and how that inspired him to explore what makes the state of Oklahoma an interesting case study in energy. The hosts discuss an article highlighting the states with the lowest and highest electric rates in the US. They also explore an article detailing the AI industry's insatiable demand for new data centers. Finally, they answer a listener's question about electric vehicle charging infrastructure, providing insights and updates on this rapidly evolving topic.

Story Links:

In this episode, Don, Kirk, Shawn, and Maria celebrate the upcoming eclipse! Everyone banters about the Annual Meeting that just occurred and talk about new safety procedures for dispatchers, as well as a conference where Don talks (again) about microgrids. Don, with assistance from Shawn, goes through a list of 10 Interesting Eclipse Facts to get everyone excited about the eclipse on April 8th! The group welcomes special guest Peter Muhoro, Chief Strategy, Technology, and Innovation Officer from Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, to talk about data analytics. The group discusses the growth of data analytics within the utility industry and what the future of data analytics looks like for electric cooperatives.

In this episode, Don, Kirk, Shawn, and Maria begin by explaining their long absence. The hosts have been busy wrangling Cybertrucks, hosting MAC meetings, attending cool technology conferences, and gearing up for their annual meeting. Don and Kirk discuss TechAdvantage and the interesting panels they attended, covering generational differences in the workforce, drones, EVs, data analytics, and AI. For the main topic, the gang delves into the "AI Revolution" and explores what the future holds when working with this tool in the electric utility industry. They discuss its potential effects on everything from dispatch to member communication. The hosts draw insights from recent news headlines, providing examples of AI applications in other industries, including companies like Wendy’s and Ticketmaster.

In this episode, Don, Kirk, Shawn, and Maria open up the show with some holiday-themed banter! Kirk talks about his recent trip to Las Vegas and shares news about Nevada's "Greenlink" project and the Sphere. Shawn preps everyone for New Year's with an article discussing the evolution of the Times Square ball drop. Maria delves into the history of Christmas tree lights. Don discusses a smart outlet company that conducted research to determine the energy consumption of a single strand of Christmas tree lights. For the main topic, Don guides listeners through the NREL home solar calculator (linked on WEMC's website) and explains how to use it to determine if solar energy is a suitable option for your household. To close out the last episode of 2023, a segment from a recent event with second graders is released, featuring kids sharing their thoughts on electricity and more!

In this episode, Don, Kirk, Shawn, and Maria begin by bantering about Kirk's recent shocking electric bill, Spotify Wrapped, and the drain of Christmas lights on the grid. The gang dives into some interesting news articles, starting with a new EV that will hit the market in 2025, involving solar panels, called the Lightyear 2. The hosts then talk about a concert powered by a Ford F-150 Lightning before investigating mystical mobile microgrid innovations. For the main topic, a guest returns! Trey Mumma returns after 20 episodes to update the podcast about what he's been learning in his Environmental Science program at NC State University.

Dragon Wings microgrid video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFygHdaCJl4

In this special Halloween episode, Don, Kirk, Shawn and Maria speak about blockchain, cryptocurrency and AI and the impact it has from an energy perspective. Because it's a Halloween episode, the group talks about energy vampires that may be draining your power bill. The group welcomes special guest Bill Jordan, Vice President of Planning, System Studies and Distribution Automation at Booth & Associates. The group discusses the rise of data centers and how much energy data mining and AI really consume. Byyye!

In this episode, Don, Kirk, Shawn, and Maria provide a sneak peek at some upcoming topics to be featured on the podcast. The podcast opens with everyone stating how thrilled they are that Shawn is back! The hosts also discuss what they've been busy with since the last episode: attending conferences, working on budgets, and organizing WEMC's upcoming MAC meeting. The team then delves into a news segment where they explore an innovative energy trend – floating solar farms! They walk through the pros and cons and global locations of these installations. They also unveil the next five planned episode topics (with Kirk adding sound effects). So much to look forward to!