Welcome to TRC Energy Talks, a podcast about ‘All Things Energy.’ Produced and hosted by the staff of TRC’s Advanced Energy practice, this podcast is a discussion forum for current trends in the energy industry, from decarbonization, to resiliency, to energy equity and the responsible transition to a low-carbon future.
TRC Podcasts are available on Apple, Spotify, Google, iHeart and Stitcher.
Scroll down to browse recent episodes!
Episode 6 – Monetizing Environmental Attributes of Building Decarbonization Programs
How are utilities and states that are administering building decarbonization programs currently valuing the environmental attributes generated by their programs? Join industry experts with experience in wholesale energy and environmental commodity markets as we discuss energy attribute certificates (EACs), including RECs, as a key mechanism for enabling a more rapid and inclusive transition to a decarbonized built environment.
Speakers:
Lisa Barrett– Director, Advanced Energy United. Lisa’s work focuses on removing barriers and expanding opportunities for advanced energy technologies to participate in wholesale energy markets, focusing on the Midcontinent ISO and Southwest Power Pool. She has over 15 years of experience in the energy industry, including representing distributed generation projects in renewable energy certificate, forward capacity, and real-time energy markets in New England.
McGee Young – Founder, WattCarbon. McGee developed an energy procurement platform that’s scaling the transition by making high impact clean energy accessible to any organization. The WattCarbon Energy Attribute Tracking System is the first ever registry designed specifically for distributed energy resources, enabling buying for any hour, from any clean energy resource.
Maddie Emerson – Strategy & Regulatory Manager, TRC. Maddie leads initiatives within TRC’s Advanced Energy practice to drive decarbonization and energy efficiency in the commercial, industrial and residential sectors for our utility client partners. Based out of St. Louis, MO, Maddie is host of the TRC Energy Talks Podcast, an open discussion forum for “all things energy.”
Further Reading: https://www.trccompanies.com/insights/monetizing-the-environmental-attributes-of-building-decarbonization-programs/
Episode 5 – What’s Next for the Clean Energy Transition?
What is the Clean Energy Transition, and where is it headed next? We posed this question to three energy industry veterans, all of whom launched their careers in the 1990s at the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA), and who’ve remained friends in the decades since. Join this engaging conversation to hear how our industry’s priorities have evolved over the last 30 years, and some predictions on what’s coming next.
Speakers:
William M. Flynn – Harris Beach, PLLC. Bill leads the Harris Beach Energy Industry Team and advises clients on local, state and federal governmental affairs. Previously, Bill served as Chairman of the New York State Public Service Commission (NYS PSC), and was President of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
Michael Colgrove – Executive Director, Energy Trust of Oregon. Previously, Mike spent 15 years with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) where he was director of the New York City office and multifamily programs. In that role, he led a national working group that developed ENERGY STAR® standards for multifamily high-rise buildings.
Mark Coleman – Director, Advisory & Innovation, TRC. Mark works with agencies and utilities to transform energy usage. Mark launched his career at the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
Maddie Emerson (Moderator) – Strategy & Regulatory Manager within TRC’s Advanced Energy practice. Maddie leads initiatives to drive decarbonization in the commercial, industrial and residential sectors.
Further Reading: https://www.trccompanies.com/insights/whats-next-for-the-clean-energy-transition/?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=socialmedia&utm_campaign=ae-clean-energy
Episode 4 – Carrots and Sticks of Building Decarbonization
In this episode, we discuss two large-scale tools to advance the decarbonization of buildings in the United States: 1) incentive-driven building efficiency and electrification programs, and 2) building energy codes and standards . These are “carrots and sticks” of market transformation, and they have an interesting and complex relationship. How do these tools interact in the market? Find out with our team of guest experts.
Speakers:
Kelly Cunningham – Codes & Standards Program Manager at Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E). Kelly supports the evolution of energy policy in California at both the state and local level.
Jay Madden – Codes & Standards Senior Engineer at Southern California Edison (SCE). Jay also supports energy policy evolution in California and has a background as a “customer” of energy codes, working in HVAC system design.
Farhad Farahmand – Senior Project Manager, TRC. Farhad leads reach code adoption and Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standard improvements for utility and community-based projects in California.
Ian Metzger – Director of Program Design and Innovation, TRC. Ian works with utilities to design, implement, and verify performance of demand side management (DSM) incentive programs across the country.
Maddie Emerson (Moderator) – Strategy & Regulatory Associate Manager within TRC’s Advanced Energy practice.
Further Reading: https://www.trccompanies.com/insights/carrots-and-sticks-for-building-decarbonization-incentive-programs-and-codes-standards/
Episode 3 – Residential Heat Pumps
In this episode, we discuss residential heat pumps, and how they represent a huge opportunity for decarbonizing energy use in the U.S. and globally. By replacing fossil-fired space and water heaters with electric heat pumps, utilities and states can fulfill climate or GHG emissions reduction goals – especially if this equipment replacement is scaled up to millions of homes and buildings.
Speakers:
Dana Fischer – Manager of Utilities and Electrification, Eastern Region at Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC U.S. Dana supports the transition of building heating infrastructure to renewable energy with the use of high performance heat pumps.
Matthew Christie – Director of Energy Efficiency at TRC, Matthew focuses on advancing the residential building sector towards a decabonized future, including engaging with heat pump manufacturers, distributors and contractors.
Maddie Emerson – Strategy & Regulatory Associate Manager within TRC’s Advanced Energy practice. Maddie supports initiatives to drive decarbonization in the commercial, industrial and residential sectors.
Episode 2 – Transportation Electrification
This discussion focuses on one of the biggest market shifts occurring on a global scale: transportation electrification. Join three experts from TRC as we review the opportunities, benefits, and challenges of electrifying passenger, non-road, and commercial fleet vehicles on a mass scale. We talk about implications including grid impacts, funding and the role of incentive programs.
Speakers:
Brenda Enos – Director of Energy Efficiency for TRC’s Advanced Energy Practice. Brenda works with utilities, businesses, government agencies, and transportation authorities to design and implement electric vehicle programs.
Cal Silcox – Senior Consultant in TRC’s Advanced Energy practice. Cal specializes in transportation electrification, utility strategy, and policy analysis.
Maddie Emerson – Strategy & Regulatory Associate Manager within TRC’s Advanced Energy practice. Maddie supports initiatives to drive decarbonization in the commercial, industrial and residential sectors.
Further Reading: Start Your Batteries: Mass Fleet Electrification is Coming (And What We Can do to Prepare)
Episode 1 – FERC Order 2222
In this episode, we talk about “the good, the bad, and the ugly” of FERC Order No. 2222, an important piece of energy legislation that opens the wholesale market for Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) and represents an industry-transforming opportunity for decarbonization and innovation in the power industry.
Speakers:
Angela Gordon – TRC’s Regulatory & Policy Director, with 30 years of experience in the electric, natural gas, and water industries. Angela focuses on rates and regulatory issues, industry reforms and demand side management program design.
Scott Steiner – Vice President of TRC’s Advanced Energy practice. Scott manages a broad portfolio of demand side management programs including efficiency, demand response and electrification.
Maddie Emerson – Strategy & Regulatory Associate Manager within TRC’s Advanced Energy practice. Maddie supports initiatives to drive decarbonization in the commercial, industrial and residential sectors.
Further Reading: FERC Order No. 2222, DERs & Energy Technology