Power Flow
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
Episodes
In this episode, Amy and Diane discuss the past and present landscape of opportunities in solar, along with the viability of commercial energy storage and the art of architecture in renewable energy projects.
“It is hard to do this, but the hard work needs to get done.” – Diane Dandeneau
Diane Dandeneau is a serial entrepreneur and lifelong artist. She has had a passion for renewable energy since living in a passi...
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 co...
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 ...
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 b...
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...
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 exp...
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 ...
On this episode’s one year anniversary, we are sharing for the first time our recording from the LIVE episode with Julia Hamm on her last days as the founder of Solar Power International (now RE+) and President and CEO of SEPA. This episode was recorded at RE+ in September 2022.
Quotes:
“We all want to accelerate this transition as fast as possible but we cannot do it in a way that sacrifices reliability or affordabili...
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 t...
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...
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 fun...
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 li...
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...
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 ...
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 beginnin...
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 anal...
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 ...
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 ...
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 t...
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 progra...
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