Energy Crossroads

In this episode of Energy Crossroads, we are joined by Michael Jewell, the Managing Attorney of Jewell and Associates.  Michael is a government affairs professional with more than 30 years of experience in and with Texas Government. He helps national and international corporations and organizations shape public policy positions with state legislators, key executive officials, and state regulatory agencies, including testifying before state legislative committees.

We discuss a subject that is still a ‘hot’ topic for many Texans: the Great Texas Black Out (aka Winter Storm Uri), that drastically impacted the state in February 2021.  What have we learned about what actually happened, what caused the problems with the power grid, and how can prepare for an event like this if it were to happen again?

We also explore the concept of ‘energy burden’ as it relates to low-income communities, and the steps being taken to deliver affordable power to the people who need it the most.

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In this episode of Energy Crossroads, we are joined by Dana Harmon, the executive director of Texas Energy Poverty Research Institute (TEPRI).  Dana has spent over 15 years working in the energy and consumer products space, and TEPRI is dedicated to inspiring lasting energy solutions for low-income communities.

Leveraging Dana’s expertise, we explore how affordable clean energy solutions can help bridge the green divide. In Texas, the impact of Winter Storm Uri (coupled with issues related to the COIVD-19 pandemic) are highlighting the continued need for conversations and sustainable practices that will address the growing energy-poverty nexus and renewable energy opportunities.

As a resource boost, check out TEPRI's recent blog post on lived experiences of the winter storm.

Subscribe to Energy Crossroads wherever you consume your podcasts.  We want to hear from you.  Visit energyhub.HARCresearch.org to learn more about what we are up to.

In this episode of Energy Crossroads, we are joined by Ariane Beck PhD, a Research Fellow in the Energy Systems Transformation Research Group at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin. Ariane has nearly two decades of experience studying novel and innovative technologies ranging from devices to smart grids.

Community solar programs are a relative newcomer to the clean energy stage.  Our discussion centers around the increasing presence of these programs, and the opportunities and challenges for expanding access to this cost-effective, safe, and reliable way to get energy.

As a resource boost for this episode, check out the research paper Ariane and her colleagues recently published focusing on scaling community solar in Texas and the HARC solar + storage calculator.

Subscribe to Energy Crossroads wherever you consume your podcasts.  We want to hear from you.  Visit HARCresearch.org or energyhub.HARCresearch.org to learn more about what we are up to. Enjoy this episode of Energy Crossroads !

In this episode of Energy Crossroads, we are joined by Greg Rosen, Founder and Principal at High Noon Advisors, an advisory firm focused on the rapidly evolving space comprised of renewable energy, efficiency, storage, software, finance, policy, and energy access.  Greg is a renewables finance veteran and strategist who has developed or financed more than $400 million worth of residential, commercial, and utility solar projects.

There is never a dull day in the energy markets!  This discussion explores the need to scale up renewable finance strategies to correspond to the increase in private financing for clean energy, such as wind and solar, and energy efficiency projects. We also gain Greg’s insights as to 2021 trends to look for, and we learn more about some of the interesting projects he is currently leading.

As a resource boost for this episode, visit www.energywelltexas.com.

Subscribe to Energy Crossroads wherever you consume your podcasts.  We want to hear from you.  Visit HARCresearch.org or energyhub.HARCresearch.org to learn more about what we are up to. Enjoy this episode of Energy Crossroads!

Energy Crossroads – Residential Solar Market Trends and Financing

Welcome to Energy Crossroads, where we talk Texas clean energy. This podcast is powered by HARC, a research hub providing independent analysis on energy, air, water issues to people seeking scientific answers, and is underwritten by the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO), and our new sponsor, the Mitchell Foundation.

In this episode of Energy Crossroads, we are joined by Jordan Fruge’, a national leader in the renewable energy and solar industries and founder and President of Fastrac Energy Services, a residential solar installation provider.

Leveraging Jordan’s expertise, we take a deep dive into the current state of residential solar, as the push to decarbonize reshapes energy markets. We explore solar financing options, trends in the Texas market, and how property owners can assess the choice that works best for them. We also unpack the dramatic changes in the energy markets and talk through the shift to distributed local energy.

Subscribe to Energy Crossroads wherever you consume your podcasts. We want to hear from you. Visit HARCresearch.org or energyhub.HARCresearch.org to learn more about what we’re up to.

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Facility managers are key drivers for a building’s operational efficiency, occupant well-being, and resource efficiency. Their work can help to decrease a facility’s carbon footprint and reduce costs.

In this episode of Energy Crossroads, we discuss the benefits and value of financing energy efficiency, through the lens of facility and energy managers. Listen to our conversation with Dean Stanberry (Office of Facilities Management, USGSA; IFMA Board of Directors Second Vice Chair) and Rob Hamon (Director of Energy and Sustainability, Boxer Properties) as we explore ways to finance energy efficiency projects. We also talk about the future of financing energy projects, given the impact of COVID-19 and other trends affecting the industry.

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On this episode of Energy Crossroads, we discuss Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy Finance or C-PACE programs.

C-PACE is an innovative financing vehicle for energy efficiency, water conservation and distributed generation improvements in commercial, industrial and multifamily real estate developments. This program has been around since 2005 with over $1.5B in investment across the country. Currently 22 states plus Washington DC have active programs. Texas adopted the program in 2013 as a local adoption model. With 254 counties and 1,200 cities that is a lot of geography!

Listen as we explore the world of Texas PACE with Rachel Davis (Senior Vice President of Sales at Petros) and Seth Eslami (Chief Operating Officer and Property Manager at 1225 North Loop West) and suggest resources for our listeners who,choose to take a deeper dive on the topic.

We encourage you to subscribe to Energy Crossroads wherever you consume your podcasts.  We want to hear from you.  Contact us at [email protected] to share your feedback about this episode and recommend topics that you want to hear more about.

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Across Texas, we continue to see adoption of existing building energy retrofits, renewable energy developments and distributed solar generation.  As owners and developers look for ways to improve operational efficiencies and market demand, investments in energy efficiency and clean energy projects make sense.

In this episode of Energy Crossroads, we continue our deep dive into the world of energy finance in the second of this two-part series.   We discuss how to finance clean energy projects in Texas and how to attract capital to implement wide-scale energy efficiency improvements.

We are joined by Steve Brown, President of Capital Assets, a company that focuses on sustainable energy development and public affairs; and Jonathon Blackburn, Renewable Energy M&A and Development for RWE, and former Managing Director of Texas PACE Authority.

Steve and Jonathon discuss the impact of COVID-19 on these efforts and share practical actions that can be taken to salvage or reboot a project when it stalls.

We encourage you to subscribe to Energy Crossroads wherever you consume your podcasts.  We want to hear from you.  Contact us at [email protected] to share your feedback about this episode and recommend topics that you want to hear more about.

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Investments in energy efficiency and clean energy projects have been on the rise over the past decade as local and regional governments have adopted ambitious targets to improve resilience and combat climate change.

In this episode of Energy Crossroads, we discuss how businesses can remain on the cutting edge of effective investments in renewable and efficient energy measures with two experts in this field.  The first, Natalie Campos Goodman is Founder of Incentifind, a company that connects property owners with green incentives; the second is Sean Ribble, Business Development Director at Greenworks Lending, a financing source for clean and renewable energy.

Natalie and Sean talk about what motivates them to work in the clean energy space, and they share tactics on how to source capital for energy projects and how they can assist facility managers with their projects. 

We encourage you to subscribe to Energy Crossroads wherever you consume your podcasts.  We want to hear from you.  Contact us at [email protected] to share your feedback about this episode and recommend topics that you want to hear more about.

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HARC, an independent research hub in The Woodlands, Texas, hosts a series of conversations with solution providers, finance experts, and end users to discuss clean energy investment best practices and financing tools. The podcasts, sponsored by the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO),  will explore some of the most challenging issues commercial, industrial and institutional property owners and managers face when making clean energy investment decisions and how they have overcome them and been successful in their clean energy projects.