Electric Perspectives

037 Electric Perspectives: What’s Next for the Carbon-Free Technology Initiative?

In February 2021, EEI and its members worked with industry leaders and leading environmental groups to launch the Carbon-Free Technology Initiative (CFTI). The primary goal of CFTI is to identify and advocate for specific policies that can help to ensure the commercial availability of key technologies, so that they can be deployed in a timely manner to achieve net-zero emissions in the U.S. electric power sector and to ensure electricity remains affordable and reliable.

In this episode, Jeff Lyng, area vice president of energy and sustainability policy at Xcel Energy, and Eric Holdsworth, managing director of clean energy and environmental policy at the Edison Electric Institute, reflect on the progress of CFTI’s policy and funding goals and discuss what comes next. Learn more about CFTI at carbonfreetech.org.

036 Electric Perspectives: Women in Leadership

March is Women’s History Month, and EEI honors and recognizes the achievements and contributions of women throughout the electric power industry. As our member companies make progress on their diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments, it’s important to create career pathways for employees that can lead to leadership opportunities.

 

In this episode, EEI General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, and Senior Vice President of Clean Energy Emily Fisher speaks with Puget Sound Energy President and CEO Mary Kipp and American Electric Power Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Lisa Barton about how female representation has changed in the workplace, how companies are empowering their female employees, Mary and Lisa’s advice to women who want to advance in their careers, and more.

 

Registration for EEI 2022 is now open! This reimagined thought leadership forum will focus on the technologies, pathways, tools, and partnerships needed to continue reducing carbon emissions in the electric power sector and across the economy. During our biggest event of the year, we will explore various topics related to providing resilient clean energy to power a net-zero economy, including technology development and deployment, the role of transmission, electric transportation, and more. EEI 2022 will take place June 20-22 at the JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes. Register now: https://bit.ly/3DgsaPE

 

035 Electric Perspectives: AES Corporation’s Robot Accelerates Solar Construction

EEI’s member companies are always finding innovative new ways to help their employees work safely and more efficiently. As they move toward a cleaner energy future, they also are finding ways to use these innovations to accelerate the deployment of clean energy. The AES Corporation announced its launch of Atlas, a first-of-its-kind solar installation robot that makes it faster, more efficient, and safer to construct new solar facilities.

 

In today's episode, AES Next President Chris Shelton and AES Manager of Solar Automation Deise Yumi Asami discuss this innovative technology and how it will help AES further advance its solar energy capabilities.

034 Global Circuit: Utilizing Social Networks to Create Lasting Change

The path to address climate change and further the energy transition is full of new information, ideas, and innovation. Processing this information and implementing these ideas requires collaborative effort and a shift in beliefs and behaviors. What can social network theory tell us to ensure successful spread of innovation? How can we drive behavioral change to keep pace with new ideas? And what does it mean to consider the width of a bridge in collaboration? Damon Centola, Author of Change: How to Make Big Things Happen, Professor of Communication, Sociology and Engineering, and Director of the Network Dynamics Group at the University of Pennsylvania joins this episode of Electric Perspectives Global Circuit.

The Global Circuit is brought to you by EEI International Programs as part of EEI’s Electric Perspectives podcast. For more information about EEI International Programs, visit www.eei.org/international

033 Electric Perspectives: Advancing DEI at Electric Companies

EEI’s member companies are committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, or DEI, in their companies and in the communities they are proud to serve. In late 2020, EEI launched an industry-wide DEI initiative to build on programs that were already underway at electric companies across the country.

 

In this episode, we are joined by EEI Chief Human Resources Officer Courtney Peterson and EEI Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Transformation Todd Manuel to discuss our industry-wide DEI commitment, DEI programs at electric companies, how electric companies can promote more equitable practices, and more.

032 Electric Perspectives: Electric Power Industry Outlook 2022

In early February, executives from the Edison Electric Institute briefed Wall Street analysts, bankers, investors, and other industry stakeholders on the state of the U.S. electric power industry in New York City. Today's episode will feature a recap of the briefing, which featured presentations from Brian Wolff, EEI's Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Vice President of Public Policy and External Affairs; Emily Fisher, EEI's General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, and Senior Vice President of Clean Energy; Phil Moeller, EEI's Executive Vice President of Business Operations Group and Regulatory Affairs; and Richard McMahon, EEI's Senior Vice President of Energy Supply and Finance.

These leaders covered several high-priority topics, including clean energy and the clean energy tax policies that EEI supports; electric transportation; carbon-free technologies; energy grid security and resilience; and electric companies' adaptation, hardening, and resilience investments.  

You can watch the full presentation and read the prepared remarks on EEI’s website.

031 Global Circuit: Harnessing Today’s Technology to Reach Tomorrow’s Energy Future

In the race to net zero, electric companies are placing importance on diversifying fuel sources without compromising reliability. How can existing technologies today bring us closer to this goal? What is the future and viability of new fuel sources like hydrogen? And how can companies pursue new ideas while balancing current customer needs? Toshifumi Watanabe, President and CEO of J-POWER, joins this episode of Global Circuit.

The Global Circuit is brought to you by EEI International Programs as part of EEI’s Electric Perspectives podcast. For more information about EEI International Programs, visit www.eei.org/international

030 Electric Perspectives: Unlocking Hydrogen’s Potential

America’s electric companies are leading a clean energy transformation. They understand that we can’t just rely on any one clean energy technology; we will need every tool in the toolbox to achieve our clean energy goals. Hydrogen, in particular, will be a crucial clean energy resource of the carbon-free energy future. This episode focuses on the potential for hydrogen, and we are joined by Sandi Safro, EEI associate general counsel for energy and technology regulation, who dives into some of the hydrogen pilot projects underway with Matt Valle, vice president of development at Florida Power and Light, and Don Chahbazpour, director of regulatory strategy at National Grid. 

029 Electric Perspectives: Investing in a Resilient, Hardened Energy Grid

The reliability and resilience of the nation's energy grid are top priorities for the electric power industry. As the frequency and intensity of storms, wildfires, and other extreme weather events continue to increase, and as cyber-attacks become more sophisticated, increasing capital investment in adaptation, hardening, and resilience is vital.

On today's episode, we'll hear from Richard McMahon, EEI’s senior vice president of Energy Supply and Finance, who will open the conversation by highlighting the types of investments EEI’s member companies are making in adaptation, hardening, and resilience. Then, we'll hear from Jim Schaefer, senior managing director at Guggenheim Partners; Maria Rigatti, executive vice president and Chief Financial Officer at Edison International; and Drew Marsh, executive vice president and Chief Financial Officer at Entergy Corporation, who all joined us this past fall for this conversation.

028 Electric Perspectives: Working Together to Bridge the Digital Divide

 The sudden shift to working and learning from home during the pandemic highlighted the value of electricity, as well as the importance of affordable, reliable broadband. Millions of Americans are living in a “digital divide,” with limited or no access to reliable internet. Electric companies are well-positioned to help address the challenge of broadband inequity and are working to identify opportunities to leverage their fiber investments to provide middle-mile broadband infrastructure, in partnership with telecommunications companies and last-mile internet providers. This is a win for all stakeholders, particularly customers and communities in underserved and unserved areas.

 

On this episode of Electric Perspectives, we are joined by Alan Bradshaw, vice president of strategic partnerships for Dominion Energy, who will discuss Dominion Energy’s projects and partnerships to expand broadband access to customers. Then, Mississippi Public Service Commission Commissioner Brandon Presley, who recently also served a term as president of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, joins Brad Viator, EEI’s vice president of external affairs, to discuss broadband policy and national efforts to bridge the digital divide.