Welcome to Episode 4 of The Battery Belt, presented by the Georgia Network for Electric Mobility (GNEM). This episode continues our deep dive with battery expert Jill Pestana, Founder & CEO of Pestana Solutions.

In Part 1, Jill broke down the fundamentals of battery chemistry, why lithium-ion dominates today’s technology landscape, and what emerging chemistries—from solid-state to sodium-ion—mean for the future of mobility and energy storage. In Part 2, we move from the science to the systems shaping how these technologies scale across the Battery Belt and beyond.

This episode explores the path from lab breakthroughs to full-scale U.S. manufacturing, the policy and infrastructure challenges ahead, and how batteries are transforming far more than vehicles. From grid-scale storage to AI and data center demand, we look at the massive opportunities emerging across the Southeast’s rapidly expanding energy ecosystem.

Listeners will learn about:
• What it takes to commercialize new chemistries at scale
• The biggest gaps between innovation and U.S. manufacturing capacity
• How stationary batteries support the grid, AI workloads, and data center growth
• Workforce needs and emerging job pathways across the Battery Belt
• The human side of Jill’s work—and her advice to the next generation of innovators

Insightful, accessible, and grounded in real-world industry experience, Part 2 closes out a comprehensive look at the battery technologies reshaping mobility, energy, and economic development across the Southeast.

Whether you’re in industry, policy, research, or simply interested in the future of how we power our world, this two-part conversation is essential listening.