More Power To You®️

Electric Vehicles (EVs) represent the largest new source of electric load since the air conditioner was invented. They also represent new, flexible sources of distributed energy resources (DERs) that can put power back into the grid. In this episode we delve into these challenges and opportunities with Erika Myers, Director of Research at SEPA, the Smart Electric Power Alliance. Erika authored a recent report titled Utilities and Electric Vehicles: The Case for Managed Charging which serves as the basis for our conversation.

We begin by defining the term "managed charging" and continue with a discussion about why SEPA decided to research the issue; what questions Erika had when she began the research, and what findings surprised her. Erika summarizes three pilot programs involving both utilities and OEM manufacturers; shares some of the findings from the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)'s look at the impact of different EV adoption scenarios; and describes some of the complex barriers to achieving real VGI or vehicle-grid integration. We close the conversation with Erika describing her career path that led her to SEPA, and what she predicts the managed charging landscape will look like five or ten years from now.

Recorded July 19, 2017.

Published July 24, 2017.

This episode is all about Property Assessed Clean Energy, or PACE -- a relatively new financing mechanism that allows property owners to pay for energy efficiency and clean energy upgrades without spending a dime out of pocket. Our guest is Gerard Neely, Manager of Maryland Commercial PACE, a statewide administrator for commercial PACE projects across Maryland. We discuss how the PACE financing mechanism works; how PACE got its start; the extent to which PACE has been adopted nationally; statistics about PACE in Maryland and other states; and close with Gerard's prediction about the future of PACE financing.

Other references mentioned in the show include:

• PACE Financial Servicing
• Connecticut Green Bank
• Maryland Clean Energy Center
• PACE Nation
• Clean Energy Leadership Institute
• And last but not least, Cumberland, Maryland's Queen City Creamery

  Recorded July 6, 2017

Published July 10, 2017

In this episode we finally dive into solar energy with Pam Cargill, Principal at Chaolysti consulting and a board member of SEIA, the Solar Energy Industries Association. Our conversation begins with a look at the type of solar consulting work Chaolysti does, and continues with SEIA's recent Lobby Day on Capitol Hill; a discussion about the Suniva trade petition, its potential impact on the domestic solar industry, and how it will proceed; how the politics of solar have changed over the years; how utilities are addressing the growth in distributed generation and rooftop solar; some of the legislative approaches California is taking; and closes with Pam's prediction about the future of solar over the next ten years.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

• Pam's interview on Barry Cinnamon's podcast The Energy Show
• SEIA's article about expected solar industry job loss if the Suniva trade petition is upheld
• North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center's "50 States of Solar" 1st Quarter 2017 Report
• Grid Geeks podcast Episode 3: Western Markets and Regionalization: Why Should We Care?

Recorded June 23, 2017

Published June 26, 2017

This special episode of More Power To You comes to you from the Aspen Institute in Washington, D.C. Hosted by the Institute's Community Strategies Group (CSG) and Rural Development Innovation Group (RDIG), the event focuses on the unique importance of infrastructure in fueling economic development in rural communities.

The event kicks off with opening remarks from CSG Executive Director Janet Topolsky and RDIG's Connie Stewart, Executive Director of the California Center for Rural Policy.

The event is moderated by Nancy Marshall-Genzer, Senior Reporter at NPR's Marketplace. The panelists represent three different types of intermediaries: a tribal government, a local government, and a community foundation. The three case studies illustrate different types of infrastructure challenges faced by rural communities, and examples of innovative solutions to spur economic growth.

• Justin Taylor, Former Town Supervisor, Town of Clayton, NY
• Eric Cutwright and Bari Talley, Karuk Tribe, Orleans, CA
• Kelly Ryan, President & CEO, Incourage Foundation

A technical note: the audio feed at the Institute was not operating for the first minute or two of the event, so the recording starts in the middle of Janet Topolsky's opening remarks.

Recorded May 22, 2017.

Published Jun 12, 2017.

On this episode of the podcast we sit down with Barry K. Worthington, Executive Director of the United States Energy Association, for a big-picture discussion about U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord, the prospects for a carbon tax, and grid reliability. We close with Barry's prediction about what the U.S. grid will look like ten years from now.

The interview was recorded the morning of June 1, 2017, just a few hours before President Trump held a news conference in the White House Rose Garden to announce his intentions with regards to U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord.

Recorded June 1, 2017

Published June 1, 2017

This special episode of More Power To You was recorded last week at the Bipartisan Policy Council in Washington, D.C. The BPC and the International Council on Clean Transportation sponsored a fascinating panel discussion entitled "International Competitiveness and the Auto Industry: What's the Role of Motor Vehicle Emission Standards?"

BPC president Jason Grumet kicks things off with some introductory remarks, ICCT Executive Director Drew Kodjak takes the podium to moderate the discussion. The five panelists are:

• David Vogel, Professor Emeritus and Solomon P. Lee Chair in Business Ethics, UC Berkeley
• Richard Perkins, Associate Professor of Environmental Geography and Associate of Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, London School of Economics and Political Science
• John German, Senior Fellow / US Co-Lead, ICCT
• Zoe Lipman, Director, Vehicles and Advanced Transportation Program, BlueGreen Alliance
• Tim Johnson, Director, Emerging Regulations and Technologies, Corning

This discussion about U.S. emissions standards and America's international competitiveness is covers a range of issues including: emission standards policy diffusion among states and also across countries; first mover advantage for countries that adopt higher emission standards; the impact of higher standards on domestic innovation, investment in production facilities and jobs; what the difference between the U.S. and China's national emissions strategies may mean for global leadership in the future; the outlook for technology advances in biofuels, internal combustion engine vehicles and electric vehicles; and more.

Recorded May 22, 2017

Published May 30, 2017

This special episode of More Power To You brings you Congressman Joe Barton's remarks at the United States Energy Association's 2017 Annual Membership Meeting and Public Policy Forum. The event was held at the National Press Club in downtown Washington, D.C.

USEA presented Rep. Barton with its Annual Energy Award for his longtime contributions to the energy sector. Congressman Barton has served in Congress since 1985 and currently serves as Vice-Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Rep. Barton's comments span his three decades of service in Congress. As you might imagine, he shares some funny anecdotes about elected officials he's served with and covers topics ranging from the repeal of the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978; where the U.S. ranks globally for electricity generation in different sectors; the prospects for Congress taking up a new energy bill; and his role in—and the impact of—Congress prohibiting EPA regulation of hydraulic fracturing and repealing the 40-year old crude oil export ban.

After Rep. Barton's remarks, the program continues with brief remarks from Tom Kuhn, president of the Edison Electric Institute, and Dave McCurdy, president and CEO of the American Gas Association.

Recorded May 4, 2017

Published May 22, 2017

Americans have had a longtime love affair with the automobile. You could even say it's ingrained into our national psyche. It's not surprising, then, that this industry in which 90% of fuels are fossil-based generates 27% of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Fortunately, this high-carbon transportation model is being disrupted by the emergence of clean electric vehicles.

In this episode we focus on EV chargers, a critically important but less-often discussed aspect of the EV revolution. Our guest is Mahi Reddy, the founder and CEO of SemaConnect, a national EV charger manufacturing company based in Bowie, Maryland.

We begin with a discussion about why and how Mahi founded SemaConnect and continue with a wide-ranging conversation about how EV charging works; what SemaConnect's business model is and how it compares with those of other EVSE (electric vehicle supply equipment) companies; how EVs—unlike some distributed generation—are a promising source of revenue for traditional utilities; the challenges of starting and running a national company in a young industry in which the policy and regulatory landscape is evolving; and how national and state policies are shaping EV investment and growth. We close with a prediction from Mahi about what the next decade will mean for electric vehicles and autonomous driving.

Recorded May 10, 2017

Published May 15, 2017

On this episode we're talking about biology. Not your high school biology, though; we're talking about biotechnology and biofuels with Paul Winters, Director of Communications, and Erick Lutt, Director of Industrial and Environmental Policy, for BIO, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization. Paul and Erick start off with the basics of how agricultural products such as corn are converted into biofuels such as ethanol. Then the discussion covers how biofuels are more climate friendly than fossil fuels; how renewable fuel standards have impacted the biofuels industry both domestically and abroad; how the current political dynamic looks for biofuel support; why BIO believes the federal government should continue to support development and production of biofuels; and closes with a prediction about biochemical production and use of biofuels in the aviation industry.

Recorded April 27, 2017

Published May 8, 2017

So much of the discussion about the environment and the clean energy transition these days centers on the new Trump Administration and on Congress. So, who better to talk about it than someone who is in the midst of it every day—U.S. Senator Ben Cardin from Maryland. Senator Cardin joins the podcast from his office on Capitol Hill to share his perspective on what the Trump Administration means for Chesapeake Bay restoration, the Clean Power Plan and the United States' participation in the Paris Agreement.

Recorded April 27, 2017

Published May 1, 2017