Julia Hamm, Partner at The Ad Hoc Group and former CEO of the Smart Electric Power Alliance, joins the show today to share insights from her extensive career and her passion for connecting people in the energy sector. In this episode, Julia discusses the challenges utilities face in a growing market, the importance of affordable energy and investment in the system, and how businesses can start small on their sustainability journey.

Listen in as Julia talks about the power of utilities as orchestrators and connectors in this evolving landscape. You'll learn about the need for businesses to transition into prosumers, interacting with utilities and the grid, and participating in demand management programs. With natural disasters becoming more frequent and severe, understanding the impact of power loss on business operations and ensuring resiliency is crucial for the future of energy, so don't miss this important episode!

What You'll Learn In Today's Episode:

• Julia’s career trajectory.
• What intrigued her about The Ad Hoc Group.
• The value and importance of partnership.
• Why the energy transition will take time.
• How organizations can take the first step.
• How to make your business more resilient.
• The best way to prepare your business for climate change.

Ideas Worth Sharing:

• “For decarbonization and energy transition efforts, you need a cross-functional senior-level team involved from the beginning. They need to A, be brought into the roadmap at first, but then B, be responsible for ensuring that the execution is moving forward. People from all of those teams across the entire company are going to need to be involved in order to execute successfully.” - Julia Hamm
• “Thinking about resiliency is a huge piece of it because no matter where you are in the country, whether it's hurricanes or floods or ice storms or wildfires … just keep listing the natural disasters, they're getting more frequent. They're getting more severe. When a business loses power for any amount of time, it has a huge impact on its bottom line.” - Julia Hamm
• “The main relationship businesses have traditionally had with utilities is one where they just consume the power and don't need much support. But now there's a need to transition into a prosumer where businesses interact with the utility and the grid. The utility feeds energy to users and users with their own generation feed it back to the grid. Then you add on demand management programs that are impacting load and supply.” - Dan Roberts

Resources In Today's Episode:

• Julia Hamm: LinkedIn
• The Ad Hoc Group
• Smart Electric Power Alliance
• The Gist
• Gareth Evans: LinkedIn
• Dan Roberts: LinkedIn
• VECKTA: News

You can find show notes, resources, and more here: https://tinyurl.com/2svj5eua

Are you prepared for the evolving landscape of the electricity sector? John Cooper, an energy entrepreneur and recognized innovator in the electricity sector, joins the show to discuss the shifting dynamics of the grid and utilities. With his extensive experience in integrating decarbonization, resilience, energy self-sufficiency, transportation, building electrification and data/digitalization, John sheds light on why the traditional way of operating the grid is becoming less reliable.

Listen in to hear about the future of grid management, as well as the transition from manned operations to smart systems and data-driven decisions. You’ll learn the importance of software systems like ADMS in control rooms and the value of data processing in modernizing operations. John also explains what large business leaders can do to optimize their operations in the face of climate change. It’s time to step up and take on more responsibility to make a difference!

What You'll Learn In Today's Episode:

• How John became involved with energy.
• How AI can help the energy transition.
• The importance of leaning on data.
• What large business leaders can do to optimize their operations.
• How every single person can help the energy transition.
• Why business leaders are going to have to take on more responsibility.

Ideas Worth Sharing:

• “The future of running something as complex as the grid is not controlling it ever tighter and having old, experienced hands in the control room to make decisions. It’s moving to software systems like ADMS in the control room, so that we can lean on the value of data, data processing and smart systems and shift a lot of our operations from man operations to machine operations.” – John Cooper
• “For business leaders thinking they can just pay their utility bills and then leave that up to the utilities to take care of is to cede a lot of the control of your business to a third party. And I think it represents an unacceptable risk.” – John Cooper
• “Changes are afoot, and the old way of operating the grid and utilities are on the way to not being seen as stable and reliable as they used to be.” – John Cooper

Resources In Today's Episode:

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

You can find show notes, resources, and more here: https://tinyurl.com/3z47svd4

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 find show notes, resources, and more 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 find show notes, resources, and more 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