Renewable Rides

Today we are joined by two guests from the Loan Programs Office (LPO): Arpita Bhattacharyya, Senior Advisor and Chief Climate Officer, and Jigar Shah, Director. They discuss how the LPO helps businesses overcome barriers to accelerate energy opportunities and share a bit about the financing of the Lithium Americas Corp processing plant in Nevada. You'll also hear about their early inspirations for pursuing energy solutions, as well as the story behind the Viejas Microgrid and how more businesses and communities can access funding like this.

Listen in as we talk about how to balance supply and demand sustainably, the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act, and why businesses must now take a more proactive role in managing their energy needs. You will learn the role of industrial strategy in the U.S. and the importance of coordination and enabling technologies to meet the growing demand for sustainable energy solutions. From the benefits of solar rooftops to the necessity of battery storage, this episode offers practical insights for navigating the evolving energy landscape.

What You'll Learn In Today's Episode:

• How the LPO helps to remove the barriers to businesses to accelerate energy opportunities.
• The story behind Viejas Microgrid.
• How more businesses and communities can access funding.
• The financing of the Lithium Americas Corp processing plant in Nevada.
• How we can balance supply and demand more sustainably.

Ideas Worth Sharing:

• “We’re ready for this growth moment. But I do think folks have to just take a deep breath, recognize that we have the solutions, and then go out every day to push them forward.” – Jigar Shah
• “I think in the 1970s, we somehow decided that these infrastructure things would be done by other people and we don’t have to worry about it. The electric utility was going to handle it, the water utility was going to handle it. Whatever it is, they were going to do it. And I just run my business, and I don’t need to be concerned. And now we’re realizing that you kind of do.” – Jigar Shah
• “The Inflation Reduction Act did a great job of creating levers for both demand and for supply. For creating demand, we have all the tax incentives to figure out how to ensure the affordability of solar panels, wind, hydrogen, geothermal, etc. The LPO is on the supply side, making sure we have the supply to meet all of that.” – Arpita Bhattacharyya

Resources In Today's Episode:

• Arpita Bhattacharyya: LinkedIn
• Jigar Shah: LinkedIn
• Gareth Evans: LinkedIn
• Dan Roberts: LinkedIn
• FY 2023 Annual Portfolio Status Report: Accelerating Portfolio Growth | Department of Energy
• LPO Announces Conditional Commitment to Viejas Microgrid to Build Renewable, Utility-Scale Generation and Storage on Tribal Lands | Department of Energy
• LPO Announces Conditional Commitment to Lithium Americas Corp. to Help Finance the Construction of a Lithium Processing Plant in Nevada | Department of Energy
• VECKTA: News

You can view a video of the conversation on VECKTA's website here: https://tinyurl.com/se2uc2hv 

Our season 2 premiere addresses the recurring question: What does VECKTA do? Join us as we share the background of our company and demystify the concept of onsite energy systems. Discover how onsite energy transforms businesses into prosumers, enhancing grid reliability and generating revenue. We explore the critical need for data-driven decision-making in energy management and how the VECKTA platform simplifies this process.

You will learn why onsite energy presents a lucrative opportunity for companies to drive profitability and sustainability, leaving a lasting impact on both their bottom line and community. Listen in as we explain the reasons behind the slow adoption of sustainable energy systems, the pivotal questions every business leader should be asking, and the challenges faced in scaling onsite energy deployment.

What You'll Learn In Today's Episode:

• What VECKTA does.
• What an onsite energy system is.
• The cost of delivering the electricity demand.
• Why more companies aren’t deploying these sustainable systems.
• The three questions that business leaders need to be asking.
• A major challenge in deploying onsite energy at scale.
• How we came up with the name VECKTA.
• Our core values within our business.

Ideas Worth Sharing:

• “Onsite energy allows businesses to become prosumers and interact with the grid and improve grid reliability with things like demand response programs while generating revenue along the way.” – Dan Roberts
• “Business leaders are good at running their businesses, but they’ve never really had to think about energy before. Being able to provide all the stakeholder groups in a company with the data and intelligence they need to make accurate, informed, and confident decisions is critical.”  – Gareth Evans
• “With onsite energy, there is an opportunity for companies to drive greater profitability, greater sustainability, and distinguish themselves. In the process, business leaders will elevate their careers and have a major and positive, lasting impact on their community.” – Gareth Evans

Resources In Today's Episode:

• Gareth Evans: LinkedIn
• Dan Roberts: LinkedIn
• VECKTA: News

You can view a video of the conversation on VECKTA's website here: https://tinyurl.com/3yevznh5 

As Season 1 draws to a close, we reflect on the lessons learned from our journey through the previous 35 episodes. One crucial lesson stands out throughout the uncertainty: the power of community and shared experiences. Our podcast venture has highlighted the importance of taking action, learning from others, and embracing the dynamic nature of progress. This sentiment echoes into the energy transition, where resistance yields to innovation. In this episode, we discuss the evolving landscape of onsite energy, the pivotal role of profitability alongside sustainability, and how to navigate the complexities of energy management while fostering growth and resilience.

Listen in as we explore energy sovereignty, encouraging businesses to take control of their energy costs and future-proof their operations. As energy expenses soar unpredictably, businesses grapple with the need for strategic energy solutions to sustain growth. Education is the cornerstone in this transition, paving the way for informed decisions and sustainable practices.

What You'll Learn In Today's Episode:

• The power of community.
• Why you must take action sooner rather than later.
• The benefit of deploying onsite energy.
• The global impact of the energy transition.
• Why businesses need to take control of their energy.
• How tracking your energy costs can help your business.

Ideas Worth Sharing:

• “When everyone is moving into the unknown, the important thing to do is build community and share stories and learn from others' mistakes or the things that went well.” - Dan Roberts
• “It’s critical that businesses start looking closely at their energy costs because they will be blown away by how much they consistently go up and will continue to go up in a very unpredictable way. It is very hard to run our businesses when one of the biggest cost inputs may be going up 3% this year, 20% next year, and 50% the year after that.” - Gareth Evans
• “Energy sovereignty is going to be something that is stifling growth in some cases, let alone impacting some business's ability to operate.” - Dan Roberts

Resources In Today's Episode:

• Gareth Evans: LinkedIn
• Dan Roberts: LinkedIn
• VECKTA: News

You can view a video of the conversation on VECKTA's website here: https://tinyurl.com/4crhabxt

In a world where the urgency for sustainable energy solutions grows by the day, Ned Baxter, VP of Green Hydrogen at Worley, brings a fresh perspective to the table. With an unwavering commitment to maximizing impact and embracing innovation, Ned shares his thoughts on the transformative potential of green hydrogen. Join us as he shares his vision for delivering productized solutions that not only address current energy challenges, but also pave the way for a more sustainable future.

Discover how Worley is spearheading efforts to decarbonize large-scale assets, leveraging green hydrogen as a pivotal component of the energy mix. Through collaboration and standardization, Ned sheds light on the path toward scalable and competitive green hydrogen solutions, offering a glimpse into the applications of this technology both today and in the years to come.

What You'll Learn In Today's Episode:

• What gets Ned excited about green hydrogen.
• How Ned thinks we can start solving the energy issue.
• The applications for green hydrogen today and in the future.
• How we can make green hydrogen commercially attractive.
• The importance of collaboration to make this a viable option.

Ideas Worth Sharing:

• “We're collaborating across the broad industrial and power ecosystem to come up with green hydrogen solutions that are standardized, competitive and leverage our partner's expertise. We need solutions that can scale.” - Ned Baxter, VP of Green Hydrogen at Worley
• “We're are at a point with green hydrogen where we need to start putting buzz and theory to practice at scale. It needs to start making an impact on the total energy mix for us to learn from current applications of the technology.” - Ned Baxter, VP of Green Hydrogen at Worley
• “At Worley, we are working on decarbonizing large or industrial scale assets by using green hydrogen as part of the power source. We're seeing a lot of potential for integrating green hydrogen as part of a large scale energy hub where other low-carbon technologies don't make sense.” - Ned Baxter, VP of Green Hydrogen at Worley

Resources In Today's Episode:

• Ned Baxter: LinkedIn
• Gareth Evans: LinkedIn
• Dan Roberts: LinkedIn
• VECKTA: News

You can view a video of the conversation on VECKTA's website here: https://tinyurl.com/5peksjwk 

Today we are discussing electric vehicles and broader electrification initiatives with Cory Hewett, Director of Electrification at Stealth Mode. As passionate as he is about emerging technologies, Cory sheds light on the critical intersection between community, technology, and sustainability. Surprisingly, the challenges surrounding EVs aren't solely engineering-related but are heavily influenced by perceptions, emotions, and political dynamics, making timing a crucial factor. Cory shares insights drawn from his own journey, emphasizing the importance of knowing your personal values and aligning them with your actions.

Listen in to hear Cory's advice for identifying and living by your core values, as well as his perspectives on the obstacles facing electric vehicle adoption. From debunking misconceptions to emphasizing the role of education in driving change, this episode offers a compelling exploration of electrification's potential and the path forward for those curious about getting involved.

What You'll Learn In Today's Episode:

• The importance of knowing your personal values.
• Cory’s advice for finding your own personal values.
• How Cory lives by his core values every day.
• The biggest challenges electric vehicles are facing.
• The importance of education when it comes to electric vehicles.
• What Cory listens to and reads to stay up to date.
• How to get involved in electrification.

Ideas Worth Sharing:

• "Right now, the major challenges with EVs seem less related to engineering and are instead now more about perception, more emotional, more political and more timing based." - Cory Hewett
• "We're firm believers that within any transition, energy, transportation or otherwise, there are going to be winners and losers. There are going to be those who embrace the change and there will be those who resist it." - Dan Roberts
• "I owe my success to having listened to the best advice and gone away to do the exact opposite. I don't have the answers. If you listen to this episode and you're like, 'Oh, I'll do what he did'...you're screwed. I want to have as little advice as possible, but I'm happy to share my experience of trying, doing, failing, and occasionally being met with some success." - Cory Hewett

Resources In Today's Episode:

• Cory Hewett: LinkedIn
• Gareth Evans: LinkedIn
• Dan Roberts: LinkedIn
• VECKTA: News
  
  

You can view a video of the conversation on VECKTA's website here: https://tinyurl.com/3vj2acb4 

Today we’re joined by Isaac Vanderburg, President & CEO, and Matt Nejati, Principal – Deployment, of Launch Alaska, a nonprofit dedicated to accelerating climate tech deployment. In this episode, they will be discussing the EnergyShed project, Launch Alaska’s mission, inspired origins, and the transformative Tech Deployment Track Program (TDT). Explore the power of community and the EnergyShed Program’s goals, aimed at alleviating energy challenges faced by Alaskan communities.

Listen in to hear how Launch Alaska and VECKTA's collaboration addresses energy affordability and reliability issues. You'll learn about the strategies for effective integration and benefit of energy projects within local populations, as well as the scalability potential of the EnergyShed program's model beyond Alaska.

What You'll Learn In Today's Episode:

• What Launch Alaska is and how it was inspired.
• What the Tech Deployment Track Program is.
• The power of community.
• The origins and primary goals of the EnergyShed Program.
• How EnergyShed will impact Alaskan communities.
• Who their partners are in helping this come to fruition.
• How VECKTA’s platform addresses the needs of the EnergyShed program.
• How EnergyShed is going to be collaborating with local communities.
• Whether they plan on replicating this framework in other regions.

Ideas Worth Sharing:

• “By aggregating energy projects and having a platform that enables visibility and transparency, we can start to bring in investment funds to places that are not otherwise seeing those dollars. And that's what we're really excited about. That's the impact we're aiming to have." - Launch Alaska
• "VECKTA has built the critical tool we needed to look at a large variety of project options that are all clean and energy-focused. We can then layer on optimization and feasibility study results—to give insight and help stakeholders make informed decisions about what is worth doing. And then having a pathway through the marketplace to not just source the equipment, but also services and financing really captures the entire focus of the energy shed project. It was really a perfect technology fit for us." - Launch Alaska
• “We're seeing more and more communities all around the world realizing that if we continue to rely on utilities and be passive consumers of energy, and not actually take direct control over our own destiny, then there are challenges with that. There is an opportunity to prove this concept and create massive value for communities." - Launch Alaska

Resources In Today's Episode:

• Isaac Vanderburg: LinkedIn | Launch Alaska
• Matt Nejati: LinkedIn | Launch Alaska
• Gareth Evans: LinkedIn
• Dan Roberts: LinkedIn
• VECKTA: News

You can view a video of the conversation on VECKTA's website here: https://tinyurl.com/36t4f75v 

How do we meet the escalating global energy demands while curbing carbon emissions? Tucker Perkins, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), is an advocate for cleaner energy solutions to combat environmental challenges, and in this episode, he shares the role of propane in achieving zero emissions. Emphasizing propane's versatility and efficiency in various sectors, Tucker sheds light on its potential as a cleaner alternative to traditional fuels.

Listen in as Tucker describes what goes into propane production, its environmental benefits, and its seamless integration into existing energy infrastructures. He challenges conventional perceptions, urging listeners to rethink propane's role in the broader energy landscape. You will come away with a deeper understanding of propane's potential to drive decarbonization and propel us toward a sustainable future.

What You'll Learn In Today's Episode:

• How Tucker became so passionate about the propane and energy industry.
• The different use cases for propane today.
• How people should think about propane in the energy transition.
• The advantages of using propane.
• How propane is produced.
• If there is enough supply for businesses.
• What Tucker is most excited about in the space.

Ideas Worth Sharing:

• "Propane is clearly a part of the energy transition going forward. We are in an energy transformation.” - Tucker Perkins
• “Propane is cleaner to store, cleaner to burn, and we can do it simpler.” - Tucker Perkins
• “We don’t ever want to fear failure. We want to be on the edge of innovation, so failure is clearly an option. And when we do fail, we want to fail fast.” - Tucker Perkins

Resources In Today's Episode:

• Tucker Perkins: LinkedIn
• Gareth Evans: LinkedIn
• Dan Roberts: LinkedIn
• VECKTA: News

You can view a video of the conversation on VECKTA's website here: https://tinyurl.com/45jzkdde 

In the ever-evolving landscape of sustainability, one chain giant has achieved a remarkable feat: Walmart has slashed its emissions to a mere fraction of the USA's annual CO2 output from its supply chains. Today, we delve into the strategy behind this monumental accomplishment and uncover the concept known as Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. Discover how Walmart transformed its sustainability efforts into a profitable venture without compromising its bottom line.

What's truly exciting is that Walmart serves as a beacon, proving that sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand. Through innovative initiatives like deploying onsite energy systems at hundreds of facilities worldwide, Walmart not only reduced emissions but also bolstered its revenue. As other businesses are urged to follow suit, those leading the charge stand to gain a competitive edge, attracting top contracts by demonstrating their commitment to sustainability. Listen in as we explore the shifting dynamics of corporate responsibility and the immense opportunities that lie ahead for businesses willing to embrace sustainability as a cornerstone of their operations.

What You'll Learn In Today's Episode:

• How much Walmart was able to reduce its emissions.
• What Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions are.
• How Walmart was able to achieve such a huge milestone.
• The value in aligning with science-based targets.
• Why sustainability doesn’t have to come at the expense of profitability.
• The opportunity this provides for other businesses to follow suit.

Ideas Worth Sharing:

• "The best businesses in the world will be the ones initiating action on emissions instead of getting pushed by buyers. As a result, they're going to attract and retain the best contracts in the world by being the most sustainable, the most reliable and the most profitable businesses that they can possibly be." - Gareth Evans
• "A part of Walmart's success has come from deploying onsite energy systems at over 600 of their facilities globally to efficiently reduce Scope 2 emissions. They're also able to lower their operating costs and increase their operational resilience." - Dan Roberts
• "For companies, Scope 3 emissions are typically the largest portion - in some cases representing 99% of their overall emissions. And so businesses can work really hard to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2, but they’re left with this huge chunk under Scope 3. In the last few years, we've seen more and more VECKTA customers and businesses doing a really good job at starting to reduce the first two buckets, but primarily because they're being driven to do that by the people that they want to sell to." - Gareth Evans

Resources In Today's Episode:

• Gareth Evans: LinkedIn
• Dan Roberts: LinkedIn
• VECKTA: News

You can view a video of the conversation on VECKTA's website here: https://tinyurl.com/47tub9n7 

Howard Thomas, Principal at Thomas & McKinlay Consulting, brings a fresh perspective to the table as he discusses simplifying our approach to the energy transition. With candid insights that challenge traditional norms, Howard emphasizes the necessity of authenticity and critical thinking in driving impactful change. 

By addressing the tendency to prioritize easy tasks over crucial ones, Howard highlights the urgency of focusing on initiatives that yield the most significant impact. Through constructive dialogue and a commitment to challenging the status quo, he demonstrates how embracing simplicity can lead to both profitability and sustainability in the energy sector.

What You'll Learn In Today's Episode:

• How doing the right thing can translate to being the profitable thing.
• The value in being open to critical thinking.
• Why it is important to challenge the status quo.
• How we can simplify the energy transition.
• The opportunity to be more efficient in the energy transition.
  
  

Ideas Worth Sharing:

• “They say life is a mirror, what you give out is what you get back. So, you’ll get a long way by smiling.” - Howard Thomas
• “The more we can electrify on the demand side, the more we can create the vehicle for using that renewable electricity directly. That must be a self-evident efficiency gain.” - Howard Thomas
• “You have to open up people to the benefits of critical thinking.” - Howard Thomas

Resources In Today's Episode:

• Howard Thomas: LinkedIn
• Simplicity from Complexity by Howard Thomas
• Thomas & McKinlay Consulting
• The Stupidity Paradox by Mats Alvesson
• Gareth Evans: LinkedIn
• Dan Roberts: LinkedIn
• VECKTA: News

You can view a video of the conversation on VECKTA's website here: http://tinyurl.com/yhnntc6z 

Today we are talking about how rising supply chain costs are impacting businesses and consumers alike. Inspired by recent revelations from a major restaurant chain, we take a look at the escalating menu prices and their impact on consumer behavior. From California's landmark labor deal to the surge in food and energy prices, we dissect the intricate web of factors driving these cost increases and explore their far-reaching implications.

Listen in as we explore innovative commercial models and hedging strategies, shedding light on the interconnectedness of supply chain costs and the pivotal role of energy management in shaping the business landscape of tomorrow. You'll learn how businesses can proactively manage their energy consumption to mitigate the impact of supply chain disruptions and more.

What You'll Learn In Today's Episode:

• How food prices are closely tied to the cost of energy.
• What causes increased food prices.
• The importance of taking control of your energy.
• The interconnections of supply chain costs.
• Commercial models in onsite energy.

Ideas Worth Sharing:

• “Research shows that food prices are very closely tied to the cost of energy.” - Gareth Evans
• “As we look across how businesses are being impacted by labor, raw materials, food increases, they can do something about energy increases, so there is hope on the horizon.” - Dan Roberts
• “They say control the controllables and energy is a controllable part of your business.” - Gareth Evans

Resources In Today's Episode:

• Gareth Evans: LinkedIn
• Dan Roberts: LinkedIn
• VECKTA: News

You can view a video of the conversation on VECKTA's website here: http://tinyurl.com/2s4f8d2e