Energy Central

Energy equity is a critical issue that is increasingly demanding our attention, as access to reliable and affordable energy remains unevenly distributed across the globe. Even in the United States where we expect that everyone is connected to the grid, marginalized communities still often face challenges in affording their utility bills and see advanced tools like IoT devices, EVs, solar and storage, and more being out of financial reach.

To shed light on the world of energy equity and highlight the critical work being done today to advance energy opportunities to low and medium income (LMI) communities, Larry Glover joins host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester in this episode. Larry, the CEO of the Glover Group, shares his personal experiences and insights, illustrating the profound effects that energy disparities can have on marginalized communities. In highlighting the importance of bridging these gaps and empowering all individuals to access affordable, clean, and reliable energy resources, listen in as Larry draws from real-world examples and success stories informed by his previous career in the world of marketing.

Key Links:
Energy Central Post with Full Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-126-traversing-utility-esg-journey-christine-waller-vice-president

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Did you know? The Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast has been identified as one of the industry's 'Top 25 Energy Podcasts': blog.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts/

Episode #124: 'Exploring the Intersection of Biogas and Municipal Waste Management in Gator Country' with Eric Neihaus, Planning Engineer at Gainsville Regional Utility [an Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast]

The pursuit of cleaner energy solutions expands beyond the typical solar and wind energy installations and stretches in finding unique opportunities for energy production that are commonly going wasted. At the municipal level, this crosses conveniently over with another key government role: municipal waste management. When explored in tandem, the opportunity to turn waste management into clean biogas production creates new opportunities that can be particularly impactful for smaller utilities.

To discuss the pursuit of such biogas projects in his municipal power provider, the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast welcomes Eric Neihaus, Planning Engineer at Gainesville Regional Utility. Listen is as Eric shares with host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester how a waste-to-energy project elsewhere in Florida piqued his curiosity and led to his mission to bring such a clean energy project to Gainesville.

Key Links:

Energy Central Post with Full Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-124-exploring-intersection-biogas-and-municipal-waste-management-gator

Eric Neihaus's Energy Central Profile: energycentral.com/member/profile/eric-neihaus

Register for EnergyCentral.com: energycentral.com/user/register

Did you know? The Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast has been identified as one of the industry's 'Top 25 Energy Podcasts': blog.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts/

The pursuit of a decarbonized and clean energy future is quite often positioned as a battle between renewable energy technologies and fossil fuels, but the reality remains that many applications of oil and gas are not yet ready or suitable to be replaced completely with electricity. Further, those in the natural gas sector have highlighted the ability for the fuel to be a key partner for renewable power in the years to come, enabling greater pursuit of low and no carbon energy.

To help explain these ideas that may run counter to some of the common narratives, the latest episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast welcomes in Suzanne Ogle, the President and CEO of Southern Gas Association (SGA). In this conversation, Suzanne discusses with podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester the role of SGA, the opportunities that gas present to proliferate decarbonized energy, and the outlook for the industry in the years to come.

Key Links:
Energy Central Post with Full Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-123-exploring-role-gas-decarbonization-journey-suzanne-ogle-president-and

Suzanne Ogle's Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/suzanne-ogle/about

Register for EnergyCentral.com: energycentral.com/user/register

Did you know? The Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast has been identified as one of the industry's 'Top 25 Energy Podcasts': blog.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts/

In making sure that the grid remains reliable and flexible, an overlooked opportunities comes in the area of substations within the transmission and distribution sector. Specifically, the trend towards smarter and more digitalized solutions create opportunities that bring new security and robustness to the common substation. To highlight the latest movement in this area, this episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast welcomes John Bettler, a power and protection engineer at ComEd.

John leads ComEd's Digital Smart Substation Program, which uses the IEC 61850 GOOSE messaging for protection. In this conversation with podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester, John provides a detailed explanation of what a digital smart substation is and its importance in the power industry. John also talks about the many aspects of a digital smart substation, such as smart HMIs, monitoring systems, fault locating, and SCADA and network, as well as a discussion on what the related regulations mean for utilities and their capabilities and requirements moving forwards.

Key Links:
Full Energy Central Post with Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-122-preparing-utilities-tomorrow-digital-smart-substations-john-bettler

John Bettler's Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/john-bettler

Register for EnergyCentral.com: energycentral.com/user/register

Did you know? The Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast has been identified as one of the industry's 'Top 25 Energy Podcasts': blog.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts/

The march towards a more robust hydrogen energy economy seems inevitable, but what's left to be written is the timeframe and the manner in which that journey plays out. As a decarbonization option, an alternative fuel opportunity, and more, hydrogen will play a key role in our energy systems of tomorrow. But as those developments play out in the future, critical to today is continuing to advance safety measures to ensure that process moves along smoothly.

Today's episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast is the final installment in our series with H2scan diving into the world of hydrogen detecting and monitoring through all aspects of energy. This episode features Michael Nofal, H2scan's Vice President of Global Sales and Business Development, and Gid Herman, Director of Sales and Business Development, with this dynamic duo leading the way when it comes to ensuring hydrogen detection technology advances to keep pace with the hydrogen economy to ensure safety issues are never a concern or impediment to the future of hydrogen. Listen in as Michael and Gid chat with podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester on what energy leaders should be doing today and in the years to come with regard to hydrogen monitoring technologies and safety measures.

Key Links:
Energy Central Post with Full Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-121-looking-future-safety-hydrogen-energy-michael-nofal-and-gid-herman

First Episode in the H2scan series, Episode #116: 'Detecting Hydrogen Gas to Extend Transformer Health' with Bill Whitehead and Leon White of H2scan [an Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast]: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-116-detecting-hydrogen-gas-extend-transformer-health-bill-whitehead-and

Second Episode in the H2scan series, Episode #119: 'Upholding Safety in Power with Hydrogen Gas Detection' with Jeff Donato of H2scan [an Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast]: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-119-upholding-safety-power-hydrogen-gas-detection-jeff-donato-h2scan

Michael Nofal's Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/michael-nofal

Gid Herman's Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/gid-herman

Did you know? The Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast has been identified as one of the industry's 'Top 25 Energy Podcasts': blog.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts/

In the modern utility landscape, rapid response and thorough follow ups are key when major events occur, and that requires the teaming up of various corners of the industry. To assist in that process, the Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council (ESCC) serves as the primary liaison between the federal government and the electric power industry in preparing for and responding to national-level disasters or threats to critical infrastructure. The ESCC may fly under the radar but the impact of its work surely does not.

In this episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast, Kevin Wailes, CEO of Lincoln Electric Systems and member of the ESCC joins to discuss the evolution of the ESCC, its priorities, and actions in response to the changing landscape of the power industry. Listen in as Kevin shares with podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester some of the most pressing issues facing power providers today, including cybersecurity and physical security, supply chain issues, and the importance of federal cooperation.

Key Links:
Full Energy Central post with episode transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-120-electricity-subsector-coordinating-council-and-utility-role-power

Kevin Wailes's Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/kevin-wailes

Did you know? The Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast has been identified as one of the industry's 'Top 25 Energy Podcasts': blog.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts/

While the role of the utility has evolved over time, and especially in recently years, one area of concern has been atop the priorities for the industry's entire history: safety. When dealing with powerful equipment, potentially volatile fuels, and a grid infrastructure that is ubiquitous, ensuring that none of this leads to unnecessary risks or outcomes to people, property, and the environment is paramount.

The tools required to ensure a top-tier level of safety in the power sector can be extensive, but detecting the presence of hydrogen gas where it's not supposed to be has been critical for many years, whether utility professionals actively recognized such monitoring was taking place. In this second installment in the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast series with H2scan, Jeff Donato joins the podcast booth to discuss the importance of and trends in hydrogen detection for safety. As H2scan's Sales Director of Safety Products, Jeff shares with podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester the ins and outs of this essential but too often overlooked measure of utility safety.

Key Links:
Energy Central Post with Full Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-119-upholding-safety-power-hydrogen-gas-detection-jeff-donato-h2scan

First Episode in the H2scan series, Episode #116: 'Detecting Hydrogen Gas to Extend Transformer Health' with Bill Whitehead and Leon White of H2scan [an Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast]: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-116-detecting-hydrogen-gas-extend-transformer-health-bill-whitehead-and

Jeff Donato's Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/jeffrey-donato

Did you know? The Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast has been identified as one of the industry's 'Top 25 Energy Podcasts': https://blog.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts/

While the growth in sales of electric vehicles (EVs) remains a steady climb in the United States as consumers must still tangle with high costs, range anxiety, and other challenges, the utility sector has recognized that the explosive growth and further penetration of EVs is inevitable. This realization is why utilities across the country are constantly talking about grid preparedness, making sure they have enough generation and transmission capacity to charge potential EVs where and when that electricity is needed.

As we approach Earth Day, the electrification of the transportation sector is one of the most important and highly-watched ways of decarbonizing the economy, and again it brings together the automotive industry with the power sector, as well as other stakeholders. Ensuring these different players are being informed by the same accurate and timely information and forward-looking models is critical, which is where the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and its Vehicle Electrification work comes in. In this supercharged episode of the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast, Timothy Pennington, the Research Group of Vehicle Electrification of INL, highlights the work this crown jewel under the U.S. Department of Energy is doing to plan for the EV charging of the future to be intelligent, responsive, flexible, and nuanced. Listen in as Timothy shares with podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester the role INL plays and how utility leaders should be planning smarter for the EV charging grid of the future.

Key Links:
Episode post on Energy Central with Full Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-118-building-charging-intelligence-ev-future-timothy-pennington-research

Did you know? The Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast has been identified as one of the industry's 'Top 25 Energy Podcasts': blog.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts/

Nearly every utility these days has made the leap to set decarbonization targets, whether that's committing to a certain percentage of net zero, renewable energy, clean energy, or other metric in the coming decades. While the focus for these ambitions often centers on switching electric utilities from fossil fuels to non-carbon alternatives, the reality remains that the natural gas utilities across the country will continue to play a critical role over the coming decades, even with more electrification pushes. But the presence of natural gas utilities doesn't need to work counter to decarbonization goals, and Nicor Gas is a leading innovator in the gas utility space that is demonstrating that fact.

Specifically, Nicor Gas is also working towards their own net zero goals by 2050, through tools like net zero methane, reducing operational emissions, leak detection, renewable gas pilots, and more. In this episode, the Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast is joined by Meena Beyers, Nicor Gas's Vice President of Business and Community Development to highlight some of the unique pilot projects, including their Smart Neighborhoods program, that's changing the conversation around what a gas utility can do to be a key part of the clean energy future. Listen in as Meena shares with podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester about the Nicor Gas net zero goals and the roadmap to meeting those targets.

Key Links:
Energy Central Post with Full Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-117-preparing-natural-gas-utilities-decarbonized-future-meena-beyers-vice

Meena Beyers' Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/meena-beyers

The Role of Gas Companies in a Net Zero Future: A Spotlight on Nicor Gas Smart Neighborhoods™: https://energycentral.com/c/pip/role-gas-companies-net-zero-future-spotlight-nicor-gas-smart-neighborhoods%E2%84%A2

Did you know? The Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast has been identified as one of the industry's 'Top 25 Energy Podcasts': blog.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts/

Hydrogen has become a buzzword in the energy sector recently, but many in the utility sector may not have realized how critical hydrogen gas has been for the power grid for decades. Rather than being a matter of producing hydrogen as an energy source, though, the key use case has been monitoring the generation of byproduct hydrogen gas by power transformers and using that as a way to monitor health and status of these critical grid assets.

In today's environment of supply chain challenges for major grid equipment and a renewed focus on the safety and security of utility assets, staying on top of the most modern version of the sensors needed to detect hydrogen gas has become more important than ever before. And that's why today's conversation with two of H2scan's key leaders is so timely. Bill Whitehead, International Accounts Director, and Leon White, VP of Transformer Sales & Business Development, join today's episode to provide the education on this critical topic to those for whom it's flown under the radar and to advance the conversation to the latest and greatest capabilities of hydrogen sensors for transformers moving forward. Listen in as Bill and Leon share with podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester what they need to know, teasing out the first in a three-part series highlighting this essential technology.

Key Links:
Energy Central Post with Full Episode Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-116-detecting-hydrogen-gas-extend-transformer-health-bill-whitehead-and

Online Transformer Data Comes at a Price: https://energycentral.com/o/h2scan/online-transformer-data-comes-price

Leon White's Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/leon-white-pe

Bill Whitehead's Energy Central Profile: https://energycentral.com/member/profile/william-whitehead
Register for Energy Central: EnergyCentral.com/user/register

Did you know? The Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast has been identified as one of the industry's 'Top 25 Energy Podcasts': blog.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts/