Recorded on Zoom in early July 2021, episode 39 shines a light on Newfoundland Power, the tenth enterprise to be designated a Sustainable Electricity™ company. The featured discussion is with Gary Murray, President & Chief Executive Officer at Newfoundland Power. In my conversation with Gary, we discuss the company’s sustainability journey to their designation, the unique challenges of operating in Newfoundland, the pandemic, “Snowmageddon,” and promoting diversity in the trades. And like many previous podcasts, we close the conversation with a book recommendation, in this case, with a climate spin.

Recorded on Zoom in late June 2021, episode 38 focuses on customer expectations and differences between the various generations. The featured discussion is with Alison Copeland, Senior Director of Marketing at Kubra, a company that provides customer experience management solutions to some of the largest utility, insurance, and government entities across North America. In my conversation with Alison, we discuss a recent report by her firm, “From Gen Z to Baby Boomers”, that looks at different customer expectations based upon generations, an interesting approach to customer segmentation, including how different generation want to engage with companies. And like many previous podcasts, we close the conversation with a book recommendation.

Recorded on Zoom in late June 2021, episode 37 is the fourth in a series of podcasts seeking to unpack Canada’s Net Zero 2050 greenhouse gas target. For this episode, Brian Bentz, President and CEO of Alectra Inc., the largest municipally-owned utility in Canada, discusses Net Zero by 2050 from an electricity distribution company’s perspective. In my conversation with Brian, we discuss the evolution of Alectra, their 2025 GHG reduction targets, their 2050 aspirations, and what the distribution company of tomorrow may look like. We also talk about the urgent need to redefine the regulatory compact to enable future innovation. And, as with previous discussions, the conversation wraps with a book recommendation from Brian.

Recorded on Zoom in June 2021, episode 36 is the third in a series of podcasts seeking to unpack Canada’s Net Zero 2050 greenhouse gas target. For this episode, Mollie Johnson, NRCan’s Assistant Deputy Minister - Low Carbon Energy Sector, discusses Net Zero by 2050 from a government of Canada perspective. In my conversation with Mollie, we discuss what the Low Carbon Sector is, and the prospects for energy and electricity as Canada pursues its GHG targets. We also talk about Canadian GHG reduction aspirations in an international context, both challenges and opportunities. And, once again, the conversation wraps with a book recommendation; in this case, Mollie recommends a book for young readers.

Recorded on Zoom in early June 2021, episode 35 is the second in a series of podcasts seeking to unpack Canada’s Net Zero 2050 greenhouse gas target. For this episode, Capital Power’s Senior VP Kate Chisholm discusses the commitments her company has made to carbon intensity reduction by 2030 and Net Zero by 2050. In my conversation with Kate, we discuss the accelerated move off coal in 2023, the role new technologies (including carbon capture, utilization and storage; and direct air capture) will play in the future, and prospects for Canadian leadership in GHG reduction technologies. We also talk about sustainability and the growing importance of ESG for tomorrow’s investor. And, once again, we close the conversation with a book recommendation, in this case, Kate is recommending a book I just bought but have not yet opened.

Recorded on Zoom late April 2021, episode 34 is the first in a series of podcasts seeking to unpack Canada’s Net Zero 2050 greenhouse gas target. For this first episode, Ontario Power Generation’s CEO Ken Hartwick discusses the commitments his company has made to be a Net Zero company by 2040. In my conversation with Ken, we discuss the challenges of GHG reduction targets, including technological, political, and corporate culture change. We also talk about the importance of taking immediate actions to start decarbonizing, and the wide array of technologies that will be needed to meet targets. And like many previous podcasts, we close the conversation with a book recommendation, in this case, Ken has two book recommendations, fiction and non-fiction.

Recorded on Zoom for Earth Day 2021, episode 33 shines a light on Maritime Electric, the ninth entity to be designated a Sustainable Electricity™ company. The featured discussion is with Jason Roberts, President & Chief Executive Officer at Maritime Electric in Prince Edward Island. In my conversation with Jason, we discuss the company’s sustainability journey to their designation, challenges of running an island system, Covid-19 from Maritime Electric and Atlantic bubble perspectives, promoting diversity in the trades, and electric vehicles. And like many previous podcasts, we close the conversation with a book recommendation, in this case, with a bit of an East Coast spin.

Recorded on Zoom in mid-March 2021, episode 32 focuses on how contractors work with electricity companies to meet the challenges of building major projects. The featured discussion is with Keith Sones, Executive Vice President of Strategy & Business Development and VP of Ontario operations for Valard. In my conversation with Keith, we discuss project complexity, working with communities and first nations, the challenges of building infrastructure, of building for a net zero future, and making sure we have the people to meet what the future may bring. And like many previous podcasts, we close the conversation with a book recommendation.