Power Flow

Amy Simpkins

The energy revolution is coming, and it's all hands on deck. Amplifying the expertise of the leaders in the new energy economy and inviting diverse voices to the table, we'll talk solar power, battery storage and battery alternatives, microgrids, renewable energy, distributed energy architectures, energy policy, energy equity, and all things energy. I'm your host, Amy Simpkins, renewable energy CEO (and Rocket Scientist) and I am passionate about creating sustainable change. I believe that access to electricity is no longer a luxury -- it's a human right. I'm driven by the desire to leave this world better than I found it. I believe in the power of collaboration -- that innovation doesn't happen in a vacuum. And innovation is the only way our planet will survive. Recent natural disaster events impacting access to power, like the Texas Power Crisis during the winter storms of 2021 or the raging California wildfires of 2018-2020, combined with concern over anticipated future events, like a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake in Oregon, have elevated conversations about resilience, independence, and sustainability to new, more urgent heights. If we are truly going to meet the challenges to the energy revolution and to achieve these ideals, we need to bring all minds to the whiteboard. That’s why Power Flow Podcast was born. I've always worked in male-dominated environments. Yet, the more I engage with women, the more I witness very different approaches to innovation, problem solving, and solution implementation. We possess a treasure trove in untapped riches of expertise from female, non-binary, and BIPOC professionals, all relentlessly working to make this new energy future a reality, yet too often unseen and unheard. What does that future look like? Solving the challenges we face in the energy industry can solve intersectional problems for Earth and its residents. A shift from fossil fuels to renewables not only increases sustainability -- an important component of slowing and reversing climate change -- it will also reduce pollution near low-income or racially diverse neighborhoods. A shift to distributed energy improves community resilience through microgrids and minigrids. Community resilience and distributed energy lead to energy equity - ensuring access to clean, reliable energy for all. I began my career in aerospace - yes, as an actual rocket scientist - believing that technical and scientific advancement through the exploration of space would be the ultimate way to change the world. After 10 years of designing, modeling, integrating, and flying spacecraft, I began looking for ways to have a more direct and powerful impact. When I co-founded renewable energy startup muGrid Analytics with my partner, it used all of my gifts and skills from my entire career to do good in the world. The thing is, I see the world as a set of linkages. I can see how everything is connected in a complex web of synergy and interdependence. The further I explored the energy economy, the more I could see its far-reaching impacts for individuals, for the people, for the planet. Join me in a deep dive exploring the solutions clean energy can offer to our earth as we bring more voices to the microphone and more minds to the whiteboard, shining a spotlight on new ideas and perspectives, tapping into the vast expertise and intersectional thinking that's already here. As we thoughtfully consider the tremendous challenges of the energy revolution, we can collaborate to achieve sustainability, equity, and resilience. It’s time to amplify new ideas that can help us innovate more efficiently, with better outcomes, harmonizing the threads of collaboration so we can build the future together. Find us at http://powerflowpodcast.com read less
TechnologyTechnology

Episodes

3.07 On Holistic Sustainability and Solar Packaging with Vanessa Benkert
Mar 19 2024
3.07 On Holistic Sustainability and Solar Packaging with Vanessa Benkert
In this episode, Vanessa Benkert shares her passion for working in the renewable energy field, the power of storytelling and innovation, and an overlooked, yet important piece of the solar puzzle: transporting solar panels with reusable packaging.Learn more: https://www.pvpallet.com/With ~20 years of experience, Vanessa has a proven track record of developing and executing marketing initiatives for a range of companies, from small startups to large international organizations. Her skillset includes big picture thinking as well as hands-on tasks like website development, graphic design, and writing. Successfully starting and managing her own marketing agency for over 10 years highlights her entrepreneurial spirit and leadership. Vanessa sets herself apart in her ability to masterfully blend creativity and storytelling with strategy.Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pvpalletInstagram: @pvpalletTwitter: @pvpalletFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/pvpalletYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pvpalletIf you enjoyed the conversation, please share the episode with other innovators. Leave us a positive review and subscribe to Power Flow on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Check out our awesome merch! And hey, we’re new, so you can even apply to be a sponsor or a guest.You can follow Power Flow Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.  Thank you for listening. See you at the whiteboard!
3.06 On Streamlining Technology Deployment in the Field with Sierra Fan
Jan 30 2024
3.06 On Streamlining Technology Deployment in the Field with Sierra Fan
In this episode, Sierra Fan describes co-founding illu to better support technicians in the renewable energy field. She says, “It really came from personal experience… we tried to look for the software. We thought someone must have built something that makes this easier. We kept looking for it. We couldn’t find it… and that’s how we got started with this.”She and Amy also discuss international renewable energy projects vs those in the US from her experience as a developer of solar and storage microgrids in Myanmar. Quotes“These are such cool, motivated entrepreneurial people that are doing this work. How do we make it easier for them to get the information they need?” – Sierra Fan“I’m really excited about innovations that have their roots internationally, that are being brought back into the ‘developed world.’” – Sierra Fan“Distributed energy is no longer out of sight, out of mind. You start to see all these stove pipes start to come down; that energy really does touch everything.” – Amy Simpkins“There’s urgency that we need all these solutions to get on the ground and we need people to work together … to speed up the deployment of all these things where the technology is already there.” – Sierra FanSierra Fan is the Co-Founder and COO of illu, providing software solutions for solar, storage, and EV charging companies to more easily onboard and manage their installers and technicians. She also founded Mee Panyar, a developer of solar and storage microgrids in Myanmar. Previously, she financed more than $10Bn in energy and infrastructure projects while at Morgan Stanley, including 1.7GW of utility-scale renewable energy in the US.Resources:Check out illu’s website: https://www.illu.works/.Connect with Sierra on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sierrafan/ . If you enjoyed the conversation, please share the episode with other innovators. Leave us a positive review and subscribe to Power Flow on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Check out our awesome merch! You can even apply to be a sponsor or a guest.You can follow Power Flow Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.  Thank you for listening. See you at the whiteboard!
3.05 On Unlocking the Barriers to Accessible Solar Solutions with Erika Ginsberg-Klemmt
Dec 12 2023
3.05 On Unlocking the Barriers to Accessible Solar Solutions with Erika Ginsberg-Klemmt
In this episode, Erika Ginsberg-Klemmt shares her family’s journey to creating Gismo Power, her joy in driving EVs and traveling the seven seas, as well as her drive to make solar solutions more accessible to everyone.Quotes“It’s fun to run on sun.” – Erika Ginsberg-Klemmt“Ease of interconnection, especially for small systems, would really explode growth.” – Amy Simpkins“There are things that have to be addressed at a regulatory level that can help more than just this technology.” – Amy Simpkins“I feel like I’m much more of a public servant, much more of an activist than an entrepreneur.” – Erika Ginsberg-KlemmtIn 1990, realizing that she wanted to see more of the world before she sold it, Erika abandoned an upwardly mobile position at a travel agency for a one-way ticket to the South of France. She lived and worked in Cannes, Paris and Hamburg before embracing the liveaboard life with her husband on their sailboat Pangaea for the last seven years. The spirit of Pangaea's Wandering Website took form decades ago as an informal newsletter while she studied at UC Berkeley. Indigenous of Laguna Beach, California, Erika became a grassroots Technomad, faithfully maintaining her wireless Internet updates while sailing around the globe.  Then the word "blog" arrived on the scene and she stopped writing for 20+ years, raising her 3 kids and establishing her first company, SRQUS LLC, with which she bootstraps GismoPower. Now she's a solar justice peace-seeker and kochluffel (look it up.)Resources:Check out Gizsmo Power’s website: https://gismopower.com/.Connect with Erika via email: erika@gismopower.com. If you enjoyed the conversation, please share the episode with other innovators. Leave us a positive review and subscribe to Power Flow on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Check out our awesome merch! And hey, we’re new, so you can even apply to be a sponsor or a guest.You can follow Power Flow Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
3.04 On the Push for Long Duration Energy Storage with Julia Souder
Oct 31 2023
3.04 On the Push for Long Duration Energy Storage with Julia Souder
In this episode, Julia Souder shares her passion for Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) and shares her ideas on how global organizations can work together to make it more widespread as an extremely resilient energy solution.Quotes“We are a huge part of the solution in the green energy transition.” – Julia Souder“Despite what they tell you, it’s not a solved science.” [battery energy storage] – Amy Simpkins“LDES really does de-risk the transition. It just needs more doors opened to play on the playground with everyone else.” – Julia Souder“LDES is at the tipping point to provide the benefits.” – Julia SouderAboutJulia Souder is a strategic executive with over 20 years of expertise in the energy and environmental sectors as a coalition builder and advocate. She has been a longtime champion of clean energy technology, working extensively to support environmentally friendly technologies and equitable policies.Julia leads the LDES Council’s strategy and vision to enable the advancement of long duration energy storage to the center stage of the energy transition worldwide.Julia served as the Executive Director of the Long Duration Energy Storage Association of California (LDESAC). While there, she led the education and outreach of emerging and existing long duration energy storage developers, focusing on its importance to grid reliability and meeting climate goals.Julia launched JAS Energies in 2019 to bring inclusive, diverse, and equitable transitions and policies into fruition. She provided a deep understanding of challenges facing the US electricity sector in reducing carbon emissions, building renewable energy projects, creating markets, and implementing a clean energy vision. Previously, Julia was a Director at the The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), focused on market and energy policy creation and implementation, creating coalitions and interpreted real-time grid operations and transmission planning.Julia’s prior roles include senior positions at Clean Line Energy Partners, North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).Resources:Check out the LDES council’s website: https://www.ldescouncil.com/.Connect with Juila on LinkedIn.If you enjoyed the conversation, please share the episode with other innovators. Leave us a positive review and subscribe to Power Flow on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Check out our awesome merch! And hey, we’re new, so you can even apply to be a sponsor or a guest.You can follow Power Flow Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.  Thank you for listening. See you at the whiteboard!
3.03 On Delivering Financial Returns for Energy Storage and Microgrids with Amy Simpkins featuring Laura Novak
Oct 10 2023
3.03 On Delivering Financial Returns for Energy Storage and Microgrids with Amy Simpkins featuring Laura Novak
In this episode, Laura and Amy discuss the energy storage and microgrid landscape, with a peek behind the curtain as Amy Simpkins finally answers her own questions as CEO of muGrid Analytics and microgrid architect.Fresh from the RE+ 2023 conference, Amy and Laura explore the gap between the marketing around battery systems as solved science versus how much more research is truly necessary. Amy explains why 15 years of industry experience led to muGrid’s transition from strictly energy consultants to software vendors, tackling the current chasm between actual economic results delivered and how much more is possible, as well as why the financials are vital.According to Amy, “The intelligent economic decisions are critical for any kind of battery technology and that is something that gets lost.”Quotes - all by Amy Simpkins“The entire value proposition of an energy storage system is in its control, in its decision making piece.”  "No matter which element on the periodic table you are using, you still have to intelligently command the battery to work and make intelligent decisions that will deliver financial results from your battery.” "In order to actually deploy energy storage and associated hybrid systems, they have to generate revenue."“We’ve made the transition from consultants who said what could be possible to a product vendor who says we can DO this. It’s not just probable, it’s possible, and we’re doing it.”AboutAs co-founder and CEO at muGrid Analytics, Amy Simpkins solves wicked problems at the intersection of energy technology and economics using math and modeling. muGrid provides bankable techno-economic analysis, optimized control, and project development of renewable energy, energy storage, and microgrids to maximize economic return, increase energy resilience, and promote energy equity in the US and around the world. Amy is also an internationally recognized speaker on innovation and iterative development for entrepreneurs. She is the author of Spiral: A Catalyst for Innovation and Expansion and host of the Power Flow Podcast, which amplifies diverse voices in the energy revolution. Prior to muGrid, Amy designed and operated spacecraft as a Systems Engineer with Lockheed Martin. Her technical expertise includes system and software architecture, system-level performance modeling, and design tradespace analysis. Amy holds an MS in Astronautical Engineering from the University of Southern California and an SB in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.Connect with Amy on LinkedIn.Check out muGrid’s website.Connect with muGrid Analytics on LinkedIn or Facebook.If you enjoyed the conversation, please share the episode with other innovators. Leave us a positive review and subscribe to Power Flow on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Check out our awesome merch! And hey, we’re new, so you can even apply to be a sponsor or a guest.You can follow Power Flow Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. Thank you for listening. See you at the whiteboard!
3.02 On the Sustainable Future of Lithium with Ali Haji
Sep 26 2023
3.02 On the Sustainable Future of Lithium with Ali Haji
In this episode, Amy and Ali discuss lithium mining and how it affects the clean energy future.Ali Haji is the CEO of ION Energy - a leader in the exploration and development of lithium salars within Mongolia and a strong pioneer in the third wave of the green energy revolution.Together, Ali and Amy explore the split between mobility/electric vehicles and stationary batteries, the supply and demand of minerals (including the rising cost of lithium and the importance of recycling) as well as lithium extraction technology, and lithium vs other chemistries, like vanadium oxide, in addition to how much the grid can actually support.According to Ali, “Batteries, in essence, are going to fuel the growth of everything.”*A correction: The Mercedes car mentioned got 1000 km (621 miles) on a single charge, not 1000 miles.Quotes“We need to bring more resources online to help fuel this electrification.” – Ali Haji“Ultimately with today’s prices, it’s clear and evident there is a massive supply chain gap that needs to be filled in order for us to carry on down this path of the clean energy revolution.” – Ali Haji“Education is paramount. People don’t realize the importance of mining and what it’s doing to allow us to move towards this revolution. It’s an integral part of essentially everything we do, yet as far as I can remember, no one in school ever learned about mining.” – Ali Haji“Moving into a future where we can view mining through an environmental lens and an ethical lens is going to be important in the future.” – Amy Simpkins“Mining is a big part of everything that we do, whether we like it or not, but the best way to move forward is to educate people on its importance, but also ensure that we’re doing it sustainably.” – Ali Haji“The fact that people are starting to think about where their energy comes from, where the equipment is coming from, where the raw materials that goes into that equipment is coming from signals a positive shift and makes me, in spite of all evidence, optimistic.” – Amy SimpkinsAbout/ConnectAli Haji is the CEO of ION Energy - a leader in the exploration and development of lithium salars within Mongolia and a strong pioneer in the third wave of the green energy revolution. Since 2019 the company has been aggressively growing its assets in its extensive growth strategy through acquiring new resources and sites.Website: https://www.ionenergy.ca/You can connect with Ion Energy on Youtube, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.If you enjoyed the conversation, please share the episode with other innovators. Leave us a positive review and subscribe to Power Flow on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. And hey, check out our awesome merch! You can follow Power Flow Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.  Thank you for listening. See you at the whiteboard!
2.13 On Disaster Mitigation and Recovery with Jennifer Gray Thompson
May 17 2022
2.13 On Disaster Mitigation and Recovery with Jennifer Gray Thompson
Jennifer Gray Thompson is a lifelong resident of Sonoma Valley in Northern California. She attended Santa Rosa Junior College and graduated from Dominican University in 2001 with degrees in English and History. After teaching high school for 10 years, Jennifer went on to earn a master’s degree in Public Administration from University of Southern California’s Price School of Public Policy. Post graduate school, Jennifer worked for the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. She is the CEO of After the Fire, an initiative of 501c3 nonprofit Rebuild NorthBay Foundation (RNBF), which was founded after the devastating fires in the North Bay of San Francisco in October 2017. RNBF is an organization dedicated to helping the region rebuild better, greener, safer, and faster. In summer of 2021, RNBF created After the Fire USA in response to the prevalence of massive megafires in response to climate change and wildland imbalances. Our tagline remains “Recover. Rebuild. Reimagine.” Jennifer is nationally recognized as a leader in the space of wildfire and has presented at several national conferences on the issue by invitation of the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation, HAC, Fannie Mae, Brownsfield, Smart Cities, FEMA, and many more. She is cofounder of CANVAS, an association of professional leaders in disaster working together to “listen locally, act regionally, reform nationally.” Jennifer is the creator and host of the How to Disaster podcast, which highlights proven and effective leaders with great ideas in the space of disaster. She is on the board of directors of La Luz Center, a nonprofit serving primarily the Latino community in Sonoma Valley.Jennifer interviewed Amy Simpkins on How to Disaster on Enhancing Equity and Sustainability back in September of 2021.Quotables“Every single community can recover at the same rate as another community if they are offered the right tools and capacity and funding and support.” - Jennifer Gray Thompson“Energy is also an ecosystem.” – Jennifer Gray Thompson"What is good for the ecology is good for the economy." – Jennifer Gray Thompson“The renewal of faith in humanity is really common in disaster places.” – Jennifer Gray Thompson“The American culture is very good in a crisis and is very good at stepping in with heroics in a crisis. But what we’re bad at culturally is taking responsibility for our neighbors and our communities prior to the crisis.” – Amy Simpkins“Disaster is a great leveler and a great teacher.” – Jennifer Gray Thompson“There is a way forward and I believe clean energy is at the center of that.” – Jennifer Gray ThompsonIf you enjoyed the conversation, please share the episode with other innovators. Leave us a positive review and subscribe to Power Flow on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. And hey, we’re new, so you can even apply to be a sponsor or a guest.You can follow Power Flow Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Tik Tok. Thank you for listening. See you at the whiteboard!
2.12 On Planning For Community-Centered Resilience with Jordana Vasquez
May 10 2022
2.12 On Planning For Community-Centered Resilience with Jordana Vasquez
Trained as an architect, Jordana is passionate about socially-driven multidisciplinary projects that advance climate resilience and social justice. Currently, she is the Manager for Climate Resilience & Equity at Resilient Cities Network (R-Cities). At R-Cities, she focuses on supporting cities in developing actions and implementation projects with climate resilience and equity lens. Prior to her work at R-Cities, she worked at Building Energy Exchange (BE-Ex), developing BE-Ex's industry resources in response to climate change. Before BE-Ex, she worked as a sustainability consultant and community development officer providing high-performance technical assistance and development aid for Hurricane Sandy's multifamily recovery and resiliency efforts. She graduated from Pratt Institute with a Bachelors in Architecture, and is a LEED Green Associate. She holds certifications from the Environmental Leadership Program and the Global Leadership Human Impacts Institute. Lastly, in 2019 she launched and co-founded Women of Color Collective in Sustainability (WOC/CS) - the only global digital collective and community that is 100% dedicated to advancing women of color working across the sustainability industry. Since then the community has brought together over 5,000 women of color through virtual and in-person events, social media channels, a digital community, and online publication. Referenced episode Episode 2.03 On Intentionality & Intersections in Energy with Melanie Santiago-MosierQuotables“What does resilience actually mean?” – Amy Simpkins“The way I would define resiliency would be threefold: the ability to survive, the ability to adapt, and the ability to grow/thrive, no matter what kind of shocks and stresses.” – Jordana Vasquez“The best thing you can do as an ally is listen. Don’t make assumptions.” – Jordana Vasquez“Our reliance on fossil fuels for power and transportation needs to change.” – Jordana VasquezJordana mentioned a quote by JFK: “Fix the roof while the sun is shining.”“As communities, as cities, as a country, we are in a really unique position as a society to demand how we want to live in cities, how we want to power our cities, and how we want to prepare the next generation.” – Jordana VasquezIf you enjoyed the conversation, please share the episode with other innovators. Leave us a positive review and subscribe to Power Flow on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Check out our awesome merch! And hey, we’re new, so you can even apply to be a sponsor or a guest.You can follow Power Flow Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Tik Tok. Thank you for listening. See you at the whiteboard!
2.11 On Fueling the Energy Revolution Through Startups with Claire Broido Johnson
May 3 2022
2.11 On Fueling the Energy Revolution Through Startups with Claire Broido Johnson
A senior operations and finance executive, Claire Broido Johnson is the director of the University System of Maryland Momentum Fund. (MMF). She has a proven track record in creating and managing successful businesses and driving operations: including as founder of SunEdison and program executive at the Department of Energy during the Obama Administration.  At DOE, Claire guided the deployment of $11 billion in economic stimulus funds in 2009-2010 to improve the economy through the deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. A bottom-line focused innovator, Claire also runs CBJ Energy where she developed an energy efficiency financing product for Serious Energy, launched new products and new states for Next Step Living, and managed energy projects and research for Katerra.  Recognized for financial and operational expertise, she currently serves on the boards of BlocPower.io,  the National Sierra Club Foundation, and Living Classrooms. Claire is also on the advisory board of Upsurge Baltimore, a Baltimore-based incubator, and a member of Blu Ventures network of early-stage DC/Baltimore investors   Claire earned a B.A. in environmental science and public policy from Harvard College, where she helped to create that major, and an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School.    Claire recommends Rocket Fuel: The One Essential Combination That Will Get You More of What You Want from Your Business by Gino and Mark C Winters to supercharge your entrepreneurial efforts. Quotables“I think finally even the most unresponsive person is realizing that climate change is here and there need to be solutions.” – Claire Broido Johnson“I think all of us who are mentors and who care about climate change have to support early stage startups with good ideas.” - Claire Broido Johnson“I have believed for a long time that the way we do innovation in this country, in general, is broken.” – Amy Simpkins “I am trying to innovate the process of innovation.” – Amy Simpkins“I move fast and break things.” – Claire Broido Johnson“The small scrappy startups are here because we believe we can make a difference fundamentally.” – Amy Simpkins“If you have one of those great ideas there’s no time like the present to find your mentor, fill your toolbox, and go make it happen because the world depends on you.” -Amy SimpkinsIf you enjoyed the conversation, please share the episode with other innovators. Leave us a positive review and subscribe to Power Flow on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Check out our awesome merch! And hey, we’re new, so you can even apply to be a sponsor or a guest.You can follow Power Flow Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Tik Tok. Thank you for listening. See you at the whiteboard!
2.10 On the EV Battery Lifecycle - From Chemistry to Infrastructure with Dr. Veronika Wright
Apr 19 2022
2.10 On the EV Battery Lifecycle - From Chemistry to Infrastructure with Dr. Veronika Wright
Dr. Veronika Wright is an electrification enthusiast, consultant, and author. She holds a PhD in Technical Physics from the Graz University of Technology in Austria and gained extensive industry experience in batteries and electrification before founding her own social enterprise, Electrified Veronika, in 2021. With a passion for people and technology, she provides education, technical advice, and mentoring in battery lifecycle management for clean transportation and energy. Having grown up in Austria and now living in the US, she lives by the mantra, “it is 100% impossible if you don’t try,” and is passionate about sharing this global perspective on the world’s “Drive to Electric.” Dr. Veronika's book: The Drive to ElectricDr. Veronika's YouTube ChannelElectrified Veronika PodcastQuotables“We’re ten years in and we’re still calling [Electric Vehicles] nascent technology.” – Amy Simpkins“[These regulations] will be driving the recycling of materials and will help turn this chaos we have right now into something we can track and hopefully into the circular economy.” -Dr. Veronika Wright“The lack of the feedback loop, the lack of accountability is a really big issue across the industry.” – Amy Simpkins“We need to bring together the transportation sector and the energy sector… it will then enable the circular economy.” – Dr. Veronika WrightResourcesDr. Veronika's book: The Drive to ElectricDr. Veronika's YouTube ChannelElectrified Veronika PodcastIf you enjoyed the conversation, please share the episode with other innovators. Leave us a positive review and subscribe to Power Flow on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Check out our awesome merch! And hey, we’re new, so you can even apply to be a sponsor or a guest.You can follow Power Flow Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Tik Tok. Thank you for listening. See you at the whiteboard!
2.09 On Innovation in Shared Mobility & Public Transit with Linda Khamoushian
Apr 12 2022
2.09 On Innovation in Shared Mobility & Public Transit with Linda Khamoushian
Linda Khamoushian is a Los Angeles native, and a graduate of UC Berkeley and UCLA. She holds a Masters degree in Urban and Regional Planning. She currently serves as the Director of Shared Mobility at GRID Alternatives. Previously, she worked as the Policy Director for the California Bicycle Coalition and as an urban planning researcher in health equity, environment, and transportation. She has over 15 years of experience in organizational development, public policy, and community engagement. She also has a strong passion for protecting and preserving the environment, and seeks opportunities to promote well-being of the planet and people.Quotables“Shared mobility is a very under-utilized tool in our ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector.” – Linda Khamoushian“You’re cutting off folks from economic opportunity by enforcing the carcentric idea.” – Linda Khamoushian“Who are we designing for and how do we address outliers in a way that’s supportive of communities?” – Amy Simpkins“We want to make sure that we’re not leaving anyone behind - in fact, that we’re including and inclusive and centering people at the forefront of this transition.” – Linda Khamoushian If you enjoyed the conversation, please share the episode with other innovators. Leave us a positive review and subscribe to Power Flow on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Check out our awesome merch! And hey, we’re new, so you can even apply to be a sponsor or a guest.You can follow Power Flow Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Tik Tok. Thank you for listening. See you at the whiteboard!
2.08 On Inspiring the Next-Gen Clean Energy Workforce with Chaun MacQueen
Apr 5 2022
2.08 On Inspiring the Next-Gen Clean Energy Workforce with Chaun MacQueen
Chaun MacQueen oversees CE - Clean Energy. Bright Futures., a clean energy and career-connected education program at the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF). She offers innovation and creative thinking in scaling the impact of CE’s work throughout the U.S.  Chaun has over 25 years of experience designing and managing environmental education and social impact programs in the U.S. and abroad for diverse audiences. In September 2021 (and also in 2015 and in 2008), BEF’s CE program was selected for a Green Power Leadership Award for Leadership in Green Power Education, presented by Center for Resource Solutions and EPA.  CE began in 2002, originally called Solar 4R Schools, and they’re celebrating 20 years this year! Prior to working for BEF, Chaun worked as a Senior Analyst at The Cadmus Group, Inc. where she implemented and evaluated energy education programs and conducted process evaluations of utility energy efficiency programs in various states in the U.S. Chaun served as Program Director for Community Energy Project in Portland for nine years, where she managed energy education, water conservation and environmental health education, direct service, and professional training programs. She also has experience with stakeholder engagement, coalition building and startup of new social and environmental impact initiatives both stateside and abroad. Chaun has an M.S. in environmental studies from the University of Oregon and she graduated from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry with a B.S in Natural Resource Management and Environment & Forest Biology. She also served as a community forestry Peace Corps Volunteer in Far-western Nepal (1997-1999).Quotables“The only way that innovation happens is by doing projects.” – Gregg Fraley“I want to stay in my lane, but I don’t want to be stovepiped, either.” – Amy Simpkins“These young people are going to help you remember why what you’re doing is so cool.” – Chaun MacQueen “Bringing it [knowledge of the energy grid] all more into the forefront and saying no it’s not boring and it’s not solved science and it’s not all figured out. This is very interesting, very cool, and ripe for innovation.” – Amy Simpkins“My niece and nephew are going to have to think about car purchase in terms of kilowatt hours, not miles per gallon.” – Chaun MacQueen“Energy literacy is changing and appreciation of not just energy but all the roles of the people doing it.” - Chaun MacQueen“Those kids are one strategic plan away from joining you in the field already.” – Chaun MacQueenIf you enjoyed the conversation, please share the episode with other innovators. Leave us a positive review and subscribe to Power Flow on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Check out our awesome merch! And hey, we’re new, so you can even apply to be a sponsor or a guest.You can follow Power Flow Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Tik Tok. Thank you for listening. See you at the whiteboard!
2.07 On Turning Energy Data into Actionable Information with Elizabeth Sendich
Mar 29 2022
2.07 On Turning Energy Data into Actionable Information with Elizabeth Sendich
Elizabeth Sendich is Lead Economic Modeler with the Energy Information Administration (EIA)’s Macroeconomic and Emissions Team with the Office of Integrated & International Energy Analysis, and delights in the world of how and where things are made. She helps maintain EIA’s long-term international economic forecasts and enhances public understanding of important issues related to the industrial sector. Before beginning work with EIA, Elizabeth studied chemical engineering at Michigan State University, finishing her BS in 2004 and her PhD in 2008, while working in the DOE-funded Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Laboratory.  Her dissertation covered the development and results of her model to simulate biorefineries integrated with realistic agricultural landscapes as providers of feedstocks and other goods simultaneously. In her free time, she enjoys video games and crochet, and she loves nature and "wild" animals, particularly her husband, daughter, and service-dog-in-training.Quotables "Someone's got to support the decision making with something that we can at least start with as a point of agreement, and data is a great place for that." – Elizabeth Sendich “Fusing these elegant models with human intuition is so powerful.” – Amy Simpkins“We need data that is translated into information so that information can be translated into understanding.” - Elizabeth SendichResourcesYou can find the data as legos image referenced in this episode on the Power Flow website (under "Resources.")Referenced 2.04 with Nancy LaPlaca - the balance between simplicity and complexity (especially as regards data availability.) Referenced future episode 2.08 with Chaun MacQueen (coming next week!) on energy education.If you enjoyed the conversation, please share the episode with other innovators. Leave us a positive review and subscribe to Power Flow on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Check out our awesome merch! And hey, we’re new, so you can even apply to be a sponsor or a guest.You can follow Power Flow Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Tik Tok. Thank you for listening. See you at the whiteboard!
2.06 On Architecting the Clean Energy Future through Collaboration with Amy Simpkins featuring Laura Novak
Mar 22 2022
2.06 On Architecting the Clean Energy Future through Collaboration with Amy Simpkins featuring Laura Novak
For this 20th Power Flow episode, we flip the script - Power Flow Creative Director, Laura Novak, interviews our erstwhile host, Amy Simpkins, putting her on the hot seat and giving her a dose of her own tough questions. As co-founder and CEO at muGrid Analytics, Amy Simpkins solves wicked problems at the intersection of energy technology and economics using math and modeling. muGrid provides bankable techno-economic analysis, optimized control, and project development of renewable energy, energy storage, and microgrids to maximize economic return, increase energy resilience, and promote energy equity in the US and around the world. Amy is also an internationally recognized speaker on innovation and iterative development for entrepreneurs. She is the author of Spiral: A Catalyst for Innovation and Expansion and host of the Power Flow Podcast, which amplifies diverse voices in the energy revolution. Prior to muGrid, Amy designed and operated spacecraft as a Systems Engineer with Lockheed Martin. Her technical expertise includes system and software architecture, system-level performance modeling, and design tradespace analysis.Amy holds an MS in Astronautical Engineering from the University of Southern California and an SB in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is a messy chef, a world traveler, a taekwondo green belt, a vocal music minor, a mom to three curious innovators, and a tough cookie in the Colorado backcountry. QuotablesAll quotes by Amy Simpkins“The drive for simplicity results in inefficiency.” “We said ‘yes, simplicity and stability at any cost.’ And when I say any cost, I mean any economic cost and at the cost of the planet in carbon emissions. And the trouble is, we can no longer say that.”“I think we need to have more spaces that are devoted to free exchange of ideas without fear of competition.”“The economic market is what’s going to drive the widespread change.” “Stability and efficiency at the cost of the planet is not acceptable.”“We need to be able to take baby steps back from oversimplification, stovepiping, and this unwavering commitment to stability at any cost.”“We are all interacting with the system. Whether you work in the industry or not, you live in it.”Resources:Connect with Amy on LinkedIn.Check out muGrid’s website.Connect with muGrid Analytics on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter.If you enjoyed the conversation, please share the episode with other innovators. Leave us a positive review and subscribe to Power Flow on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Check out our awesome merch! And hey, we’re new, so you can even apply to be a sponsor or a guest.You can follow Power Flow Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Tik Tok. Thank you for listening. See you at the whiteboard!
2.05 On Solar Reuse for Low Income Communities & a Whole-Life Approach with Maria Agazio
Mar 15 2022
2.05 On Solar Reuse for Low Income Communities & a Whole-Life Approach with Maria Agazio
Maria Agazio is a sustainability and renewable energy professional who serves the rocky mountain region. She is the Co-founder of Equitable Solar Solutions(TM), a nonprofit program that reallocates discarded solar panels that still have a useful life by installing them in low income communities in an effort to close the gap in access to solar. She was awarded the Forbes 30 under 30 class of 2022 for her efforts. She is passionate about preserving and restoring diverse, resilient communities that fit the needs of both the landscape and its inhabitants. She has a B.A in Environmental Sustainability a B.A in Business Administration and a minor in art from Western Colorado University. She is a LEED Green Associate, EcoDistrictsAP, and Post landfill Action Network certified Zero Waste Lead, and is pursuing a TrueAdvisor Zero waste certification. Maria has worked with the global leader in waste diversion, Terracycle, on their zero waste box team and industrial design team. She has also worked with the second largest manufacturing company in America, Goodman, as a Sustainability and Energy Efficiency Lead for their multifamily and student housing division. Along side her role at ESS(TM) she currently works for a sustainability consulting and energy engineering firm called Iconergy. In that role she helps commercial and multifamily developers, architects and owners reduce their energy consumption through on-site renewable installations, energy modeling, commissioning, design review, and many other services centered around creating healthy, sustainable low polluting buildings. In her free time, she enjoys crafting pottery and cruising in her bio-fueled 1969 Chevelle.Quotables“It’s crucial that we are very delicate with our resources right now and that we are ensuring we are using every piece of the raw material that we pull out for good.” – Maria Agazio“I just hope that we as a collective put a focus on the beginning processes of innovations where we are gathering raw materials and also the end process of innovations because its so crucial we are taking a holistic view of these wonderful innovations… because in twenty years, where is it going to go?” – Maria Agazio“That’s the cultural shift that has to happen towards sustainability: We have to start thinking about where things go when we’re done with them – whether that’s the banana peel you just put in the garbage or a solar panel.” – Amy Simpkins“A new solution can be built every day, so take the opportunity to really push those boundaries and challenge what traditional renewable energy looks like.” – Maria Agazio You can connect with Maria on LinkedIn.If you enjoyed the conversation, please share the episode with other innovators. Leave us a positive review and subscribe to Power Flow on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can follow Power Flow Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Tik Tok. Thank you for listening. See you at the whiteboard!
2.04 On Gaps in Data Access & Balancing Complexity with Nancy LaPlaca
Mar 8 2022
2.04 On Gaps in Data Access & Balancing Complexity with Nancy LaPlaca
Nancy LaPlaca, J.D., is a regulatory policy consultant who has worked at the cutting edge of regulatory policies that affect clean energy. In 2006, Nancy challenged the permit for a so-called “clean” coal plant with carbon capture and sequestration. Nancy and colleagues helped to stop that boondoggle, as well as other “clean” coal boondoggles around the U.S. Nancy served as Policy Advisor to an AZ Public Utilities Commissioner for 4 years, helped to promote policies that increase solar, energy efficiency and other clean energy solutions. Nancy has worked on natural gas supply and reserve issues, natural gas pipelines, methane leakage, GHG accounting, rate design, renewable portfolio standards, transmission and distribution, power plant permits, Integrated Resource Planning and ethics issues. Nancy offers a webinar series on the regulatory system for energy and how it affects the clean energy transition at Clean Aire NC.Nancy has worked extensively with Leslie Glustrom of Clean Energy Action, featured on episode 1.05 of Power Flow ("On Citizen Power for the Climate Crisis.")  Leslie's episode inspired Power Flow listener Kelly to create 15minutesaweek.com - to support regular folks getting involved in energy policymaking with a commitment of just 15 minutes per week.  Check it out!  And get inspired by what the Power Flow community can do!Quotables:“They [utility companies] get away with it because so few people know how to access critical but extremely understandable information.” - Nancy LaPlaca“The reason why I think the utilities are getting away with – literally with murder when you consider how we are murdering the future and killing the planet – is because we need this data. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a due process violation to not make this information available.” - Nancy LaPlaca“Knowledge is power and data is knowledge.” – Amy Simpkins“I still remember Leslie [Glustrom] getting escorted out of the room for saying the words ‘climate change.’” - Nancy LaPlaca“It’s the regulators’ role to be watch dogs, not lap dogs.” - Nancy LaPlacaIf you enjoyed the conversation, please share the episode with other innovators. Leave us a positive review and subscribe to Power Flow on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Check out our awesome merch! And hey, we’re new, so you can even apply to be a sponsor or a guest.You can follow Power Flow Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Tik Tok. Thank you for listening. See you at the whiteboard!
2.03 On Intentionality & Intersections in Energy with Melanie Santiago-Mosier
Mar 1 2022
2.03 On Intentionality & Intersections in Energy with Melanie Santiago-Mosier
Melanie Santiago-Mosier is an award-winning energy expert and thought leader, implementing a vision for diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in and through clean energy.  She is the Deputy Director for Clean Energy Group & Clean Energy States Alliance, sister nonprofits who provide technical expertise and independent analysis in support of communities and government leaders working for an equitable clean energy transition.  Melanie ensures the organizations pursue their highest strategic goals while embedding principles of equity into all areas of work. Before joining CEG & CESA, she was the Managing Director for Access & Equity for Vote Solar, where she managed Vote Solar’s work to build equitable partnerships with frontline communities; oversaw collaboration with those communities to design and advocate for programs that open up solar’s opportunities and benefits; and supported the organization’s internal work to grow as an organization that welcomes and supports people from all races, genders, backgrounds, and identities. She has advanced clean energy policy for over a decade, including leading the government affairs efforts for organizations such as the Maryland Public Service Commission and Washington Gas Energy Services, after serving as counsel and policy analyst for the MD General Assembly. She also served as a regional policy director for SunEdison. In 2015, Melanie was named one of Maryland’s “Leading Women” by The Daily Record, MD’s premier business and legal news publication. In 2019, she was awarded a WRISE Honor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion by Women in Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy.  In 2020, she was named one of “MD’s Top 100 Women” by The Daily Record.  Melanie is an attorney licensed to practice law in Maryland. She holds her JD from the University of MD School of Law and her BA from St. John’s College.  She serves on a number of volunteer boards and is a volunteer mentor for law students.Quotables“We’re all rowing in the same boat. We’re going in the same direction. It’s all about how do we best build out the clean energy system of the future and help different people get there.”     – Melanie Santiago-Mosier“We are rebuilding the way that we do energy in this country, in the world. We are also simultaneously rebuilding the way we do work and the way we do business and doing that from a more equitable perspective, from a more justice-oriented perspective.” – Amy Simpkins“Centering communities doesn’t mean coming and giving handouts to communities. Centering communities means being in a listening posture first and foremost.” – Melanie Santiago-Mosier“Environmental racism is a real thing.” – Melanie Santiago-MosierResourcesMelanie recommends that you check out Vote Solar to find out how you can get involved in creating inclusive and expansive renewable energy policies.Check out the Initiative for Energy Justice for more information on important energy equity and energy justice principles. And you'll also want to spend some time with the Jemez Principles, which according to Melanie are "foundational for climate justice work!"Also mentioned: Emergent Strategy by adrienne marie brownThank you for listening. See you at the whiteboard!
2.02 On Market Parity for Solar & an Expansive Future with Darryl Parker
Feb 22 2022
2.02 On Market Parity for Solar & an Expansive Future with Darryl Parker
An experienced and highly motivated business leader, Darryl Parker’s work in 57 countries makes him a leader in driving innovation across global, matrixed organizations and developing and executing strategies for complex organizations. He brings a strong entrepreneurial mindset, business acumen, passion for innovation and a true commitment to developing the talent around him to every role. He also designs sales and marketing programs that achieve financial targets and deliver beyond customer expectations.Darryl shifted to renewable energy - specifically solar - from other high growth industries: high tech information systems and communications, leveraging the skills of guiding and growing organizations for his current role at Clean Energy Associates.Prior to joining Clean Energy Associates, Parker held the role of Vice President, Sales and Marketing for Ampt, a PV power electronics business where he oversaw the global sales and field application engineering team, delivering significant customer value and 10X sales growth over the past five years. He holds undergraduate degree in electrical engineering and an MBA in global management. Quotables “The grid has always been an amalgamation of multiple types of energy generation.” – Darryl Parker “It’s so interesting to watch the evolution as people start to transform their knowledge from one form of energy generation to another.” – Darryl Parker“You know when the ‘go big or go home’ guys are getting involved that the industry has real momentum.” – Amy Simpkins “It’s just power. It’s just electrons running on a wire that helps us run our daily life. And how we get it the fastest, cheapest, most economical way- whatever. Let’s just do that! And make it available to everyone.” – Darryl ParkerIf you enjoyed the conversation, please share the episode with other innovators. Leave us a positive review and subscribe to Power Flow on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Check out our awesome merch! And hey, we’re new, so you can even apply to be a sponsor or a guest.You can follow Power Flow Podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Tik Tok. Thank you for listening. See you at the whiteboard!