Current: An Energy Podcast

What is in store for the energy industry in 2021? Join ILLUME co-founders Anne Dougherty and Sara Conzemius as they reflect on the lessons of 2020 while they chart ILLUME’s course for 2021. Packed with insights from start to finish, this podcast is a must-listen for those reading the tea leaves as a new federal administration comes into office. From workforce development, to transportation electrification, to ways the federal government can leverage existing clean energy efforts of cities and states, this episode has it all. Discover why some sectors of our industry experienced tremendous growth despite the pandemic, and find out why we can’t stop talking about the Birdcage shower at the Copper King Mansion in Montana.

ILLUME Founders and Co-owners Anne Dougherty and Sara Conzemius reflect on the last seven years of ILLUME and prepare to lean into 2021 and support the utility industry as it takes on its biggest challenges yet.

In this episode of Current, we talk mapping, redlining, and urban heat with University of Arizona Assistant Professor of Planning and Sustainable Built Environments, Dr. Ladd Keith and ILLUME Consultant, Amanda Maass. Listen as they share their reactions to the New York Times article, "How Decades of Racist Housing Policy Left Neighborhoods Sweltering".

Anne Dougherty talks with ILLUME's Dr. Alex Dunn and Erin Allingham about the intersection of cognitive psychology and behavioral economics, two fields of study that can help us better understand utility customer non-participation and other behaviors. From equity to research methods, to conversations about burritos and Ben & Jerry's ice cream, this episode has it all.

This week is all about solar as installers and contractors slowly return to work as states begin to reopen parts of the clean energy economy. Listen in as ILLUME's Victor Mercado talks with Katharine Kent, Owner and President of The Solar Store, as they discuss the shift to direct-to-consumer sales, the role of government and regulation in the solar space, and how to attract diverse talent.

On this week’s podcast we are joined by ILLUME Managing Director, Lisa LeBeau Obear and Senior Research Analyst, Riana Johnson as we delve into a Twitter conversation at the intersection of COVID-19, HVAC systems, and indoor air quality. Join us as we search for meaning after a post by renowned statistician, Nate Silver, leads us down the energy efficiency rabbit hole.

On this episode of Current we sit down for a conversation with Yassamin Ansari, Principal Advisor for Mission 2020 and candidate for Phoenix City Council District 7. Listen in as Anne Dougherty talks with Yassamin about climate and energy issues from a local perspective, as well as other important issues like clean energy jobs, transportation electrification, environmental justice, and how to engage the next generation of voters and climate activists.

Clean energy employs more than 3.4 million Americans: this includes construction workers who provide weatherization improvements in people's homes, factory workers who manufacture ENERGY STAR appliances, and electricians who upgrade HVAC systems. On this episode of Current we revisit our webinar on Energy Contractor Networks in light of last week's passing of the Moving Forward Act, enacted to bring economic relief after more than 600,000 clean energy jobs were lost due to COVID-19.

Environmental justice has reached a tipping point in 2020 as COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted people of color. The words "I can't breathe" have taken new meaning in communities across the country already left vulnerable by negative environmental impacts. Join Anne Dougherty as she speaks with ILLUME's Dr. Courtney Henderson and Allison T. Musvosvi as they discuss environmental justice from public health and sociological perspectives.

In this episode, Sara Conzemius talks with Georgia Power's Terrilyn Simmons about the utility's efforts to promote energy efficiency, diversity, and the importance of multicultural research to create messaging that speaks to Georgia Power's nearly 2.5 million diverse customers.