Environmental, Social, and Governance factors (ESG's) refer to a set of standards that socially conscious investors use to screen potential investments. ESG's are increasing in importance and many companies are looking to ESGs to guide sustainability decisions and to prove their sustainability commitment to customers and stakeholders.  Join us for this episode as Cari Boyce, Katherine Neebe, and Doug Esamann join host John Failla to discuss the steps Duke Energy has taken in the adoption and implementation of ESGs in moving toward its sustainability goals. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... Introducing this episode’s guests and their experience with renewable energy [2:01] Why Katherine chose to move from Walmart to join Duke Energy [5:30] What is ESG investing and why is it of such importance these days? [10:01] Duke’s 20-year history in sustainability planning and its current goals [18:20] To what degree are ESG goals a business imperative for energy companies? [29:39] The role energy storage and emerging tech will play in Duke’s ESG picture [42:16] Collaboration is key in the energy transition [50:01] The role of investment in moving forward in a greener, cleaner way [53:13] A closer look at the role of ESG in corporate responsibility ESG refers to how a company performs in these three key areas: Environmental criteria: how does the company perform in terms of its ecological and environmental responsibility to the community? Social criteria: how does the company manage relationships with employees, suppliers, customers, and the communities where it operates? Governance: how does a company’s leadership, executive pay, audits, internal controls, and shareholder rights operate? Companies that navigate trends in the ESG space tend to outperform companies that ignore those trends. For that reason, ESG's should be a core consideration to a company’s strategy and fundamental to the way the company does business. Sustainability has been a core value at Duke Energy for 20 years Duke Energy, being a major electricity provider, sees itself as a major contributor to the well-being and fulfillment of the people who live in the communities it serves. As a result, the team at Duke has learned to listen to stakeholders, customers, and investors to know what’s important to everyone. The company also pays close attention to the environmental needs and impact of any projects it is involved with. When it comes to ESG goals, Duke’s emphasis tends to be more on environmental aspects since it is a company that impacts the environment directly by virtue of what it supplies. But the social and governance aspects are just as important. The challenges are many; among them are the pressures to “green” their energy supply while doing it in ways that are affordable for customers. The Duke team is committed to continuing the search for the right balance and proper perspective to make it possible to do both. It’s imperative for companies like Duke to focus on ESG goals As the demand for ESG consideration increases from investors and customers alike, Duke Energy is proving themselves to be a leader in the field. Emerging energy technologies like solar and wind are options customers want to have as energy options, and Duke is providing them. As proof of its commitment in these areas, to-date, Duke has retired more coal-based power plants than any other industry player and by 2030 Duke will no longer be producing energy via coal within the Carolinas. In Indiana (which is considered “coal country”) it will only be 10 to 15 years before coal-based energy production is no more for Duke. As a result of these commitments, the carbon intensity Duke is serving to its customers is some of the lowest in the country. Though many who are driving the renewable energy transition want Duke and other energy suppliers to make this transition more quickly, it’s an issue where goals have to be pursued at the proper pace. Duke has a two-fold commitment, to supply reliable energy for customers while at the same time moving the needle forward in the renewable transition.  Resources & People Mentioned The Principles for Responsible Investment RP 101: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP2sujth2AU&feature=youtu.be  OR www.duke-energy.com/our-company/irp The Electric Power Research Institute Connect With Our Guests Cari P. Boyce - SVP Enterprise Strategy & Planning Finance Managing Director, Duke Energy Cari Boyce serves as senior vice president of enterprise strategy and planning for Duke Energy. She leads the company’s strategy development and strategic analysis efforts. Her team is also responsible for market fundamentals and load forecasting. Before assuming her current position in October 2019, Boyce was Duke Energy’s Senior Vice President of Stakeholder Strategy and Sustainability and President of the Duke Energy Foundation. She led the company’s philanthropic activities to address the needs of the communities where its customers live and work. The Duke Energy Foundation annually provides more than $30 million in charitable grants. In addition, she was responsible for developing the company’s stakeholder outreach strategy and overseeing sustainability initiatives and reporting. Prior to that, Boyce was Duke Energy’s Vice President of Policy, Sustainability, and Stakeholder Strategy. She was responsible for the development, communication, and integration of the company’s position on environmental and energy policy issues, sustainability initiatives and reporting, as well as stakeholder outreach. From August 2016 through March 2017, she also served as the interim lead of the company’s federal government affairs office. Boyce served as Vice President of Environmental and Energy Policy from 2012 through 2015. She also served as Vice President of Corporate Communications for Progress Energy from 2009 through 2012. Boyce joined Progress Energy in 2006, initially serving in the role of Director, External Communications. Prior to her employment at Progress Energy, Boyce worked in state government in New York and North Carolina for 15 years. She served as the Director of Communications for the North Carolina governor’s office and was later promoted to the role of Director of External Affairs, where she was responsible for managing the federal and regional offices for the governor, as well as the governor’s communications and constituent relations offices. She also served as a senior adviser for policy and communications for the North Carolina attorney general, and as a legislative assistant in the New York State General Assembly.  Boyce currently serves on the board of the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce. A native of Ticonderoga, N.Y., Boyce earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and history from Siena College. She also earned a Master of Education degree from North Carolina State University. Boyce has one sheltie, Archie. Follow Cari P. Boyce on LinkedIn Katherine Neebe, President, Duke Energy Foundation, VP National Engagement & Strategy, and Chief Sustainability Officer  Katherine Neebe serves as Vice President of National Engagement and Strategy and Chief Sustainability Officer for Duke Energy. She also serves as President of the Duke Energy Foundation. In these capacities, she leads Duke Energy’s stakeholder engagement efforts to develop solutions to meet customer needs for continued reliable and affordable energy – while simultaneously working to achieve the company’s goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. Katherine joined Duke Energy in August 2020 from Walmart, where she led environmental, social, and governance strategy and oversaw stakeholder engagement on behalf of Walmart’s sustainability team. From 2007-2013, Katherine worked for the World Wildlife Fund where she managed one of the world’s largest corporate-NGO partnerships, a $97 million sustainability-driven initiative focused on water, agriculture, and climate that was active in over 45 countries. Over the past 20 years, Katherine has worked with a wide range of corporate, government, and nonprofit organizations. Weaving together her intensive business experience and commitment to social and environmental responsibility, she brings in-depth insight to effective stakeholder engagement and an ability to ground sustainability into actionable terms. Katherine is a First Movers fellow through the Aspen Institute, received her Master of Business Administration from The Darden School at the University of Virginia, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Colorado College. Follow Katherine Neebe on LinkedIn Douglas F (Doug) Esamann, EVP, Energy Solutions and President, Midwest/Florida Regions, Duke Energy  As Executive Vice President, Energy Solutions, Doug Esamann is responsible for corporate strategy and planning, emerging technology, and the company’s regulated and commercial renewable energy operations. Additionally, he has responsibility for sales and services to commercial, industrial and wholesale customers; the development and marketing of products and solutions for all customer segments; and the company’s economic development efforts. As President of the Midwest and Florida regions, he has responsibility for the profit/loss, strategic direction, and performance of the company’s regulated electric utilities in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Florida. Esamann also serves as President of Duke Energy’s natural gas business, where he oversees all of the company’s natural gas operations in the Carolinas, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Previously, Esamann served as President of Duke Energy Indiana, the state’s largest electric utility, serving approximately 810,000 customers in 69 of the state’s 92 counties. He was responsible for the company’s regulatory, governmental relations, economic development, and community affairs work in Indiana. He served in that role from November 2010 until June 2015. He assumed added responsibility for the natural gas business in October 2019. Prior to that, Esamann was Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy for Duke Energy, where he led the company’s strategy development and business planning efforts, including load forecasting and market fundamentals. Following the merger between Duke Energy and Cinergy in April 2006, Esamann served as Group Vice President of Strategy and Planning for Duke Energy’s regulated utilities, with responsibility for integrated resource planning, environmental compliance planning, transactional support, customer market analytics, load research, and renewable energy compliance. With Cinergy, he served as Senior Vice President of Energy Portfolio Strategy and Management for Cinergy’s commercial business unit, with responsibility for fuel management, environmental risk management, generation dispatch, power purchases and sales, portfolio analytics, load forecasting, generation asset planning, demand-side management planning, and environmental compliance planning. Esamann began his employment with Public Service Indiana (predecessor of PSI Energy) in 1979. In the course of his PSI/Cinergy career, he held a variety of leadership roles, including Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the commercial business unit from 1999 until 2001, and president of PSI Energy from 2001 until 2004. Esamann has been active on a number of community and industry boards. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board for Energy Systems Network, a nonprofit industry initiative focused on clean technology development. He is a member of the board of directors for the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). He also serves on the board of trustees for Discovery Place, a hands-on science and technology museum for visitors of all ages based in Charlotte, N.C. A native of Plainfield, Ind., Esamann earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Indiana University. He and his wife, Kimberly, have two daughters, a son, and six grandchildren. Follow Douglas F. Esamann on LinkedIn Connect With Smart Energy Decisions https://www.smartenergydecisions.com/ Follow them on Facebook Follow them on Twitter Follow them on LinkedIn  

Beyond The Meter

ESG Investing & Innovative Financing Models Including Green Bonds, Ep #13

We’ve all heard of the new electric vehicles that Tesla and other manufacturers are producing, but when you look at electric vehicles from a broader fleet perspective, the possibilities for reducing carbon emissions long-term are exciting! The Smart Energy Decisions team believes this issue of fleet and public transportation conversion to be a key component in moving the energy transition forward, so this conversation was especially interesting to us.   Our guests on this episode are Catherine Kummer, Climate Advisor for the American Cities Climate Challenge to the City of Charlotte, NC, and Michael Luhrs, Vice President of Market Strategy and Solutions for Duke Energy. Speaking from their unique positions, each of them provides a wonderful perspective on the issues driving the move toward fleet and public transportation electrification, how it’s being accomplished on the ground, how the issue impacts corporations, and what role utilities like Duke are playing in making the transition possible. It’s exciting to hear what’s happening and what is projected to happen in the years to come. Don’t miss this enlightening and encouraging conversation.   You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...   Catherine Kummer’s background in renewable energy and transportation [1:44] Michael Luhrs’ work with clean energy and energy efficiency at Duke Energy [2:39] What is driving interest in electric vehicle pilot programs in cities? [3:42] The key drivers of corporate initiatives to create electrified fleets [11:06] Why utilities are embracing the move toward electrification of vehicles [13:47] Reasons cities and businesses believe electrification of vehicles is essential [17:57] Why the total cost of ownership makes the Electric Vehicle (EV) transition a total win [22:28] The role utilities need to play in the EV transition [33:21] Barriers to making the EV switch and how to overcome them [43:55] Looking 3 to 5 years into the future when it comes to vehicle electrification [49:50]   Charlotte, NC is leading the charge in electrifying its fleets   When asked what is fueling the drive behind the electrification of municipality fleets and public transportation, Catherine says that, quite honestly, it’s the cities themselves. As the Climate Advisor for the City of Charlotte, NC she has a front-row seat to the initiatives that the City Hall and City Council are taking in this important step toward the smart energy transition.    The city of Charlotte has implemented an aggressive public education campaign surrounding its clean energy goals, which include community outreach and engagement via many platforms. The city has also put into place two new policies that support electrification goals. These come directly from their Strategic Energy Action plan and aim to entirely electrify the city's fleet by 2030. Currently, as part of that plan, they are working toward the addition of 27 electric vehicles to their light-duty fleet, at an investment of over $740,000, which would make 42 total electric vehicles for the city. The city is also ensuring that the charging infrastructure required is part of that expansion. It’s cities like Charlotte that are leading the way nationwide.   Corporate & utility drivers toward electrification of vehicles   When it comes to why corporations are moving toward the electrification of their vehicles, Michael puts it best when he says it's about sustainability and efficiency — or being clean and cost-effective. Duke Energy has recognized that its constituents are taking on the mantle of the renewable energy transition. With that, corporations are adapting to provide the value to their customers that they want and need. A significant benefit can also be derived from the cost savings involved when implementing electric vehicles. Maintenance, fuel expenditures, noise and emissions pollution, and more go into these savings.    Utilities see the fundamental shift occurring globally in the form of mandates from many cities around the globe that ban emission-producing vehicles by specific dates. Utility companies like Duke can look across the value chain to both produce and deliver the resources needed. The initial load increase for utilities will only be 2% to 4% in most cases, but long term, that demand will grow. The ability to put the infrastructure needed in place is the strength of the value proposition utilities provide.    The total cost of ownership enables the cost of EVs to make sense   Much of the debate about the cost of electrifying municipal or corporate fleets and public transportation has to do with the initial outlay of cash required to get started. While it is a significant upfront investment, that should not be allowed to be the deciding factor. Why? Simply put, it’s an extremely short-sighted approach.   Both Catherine and Michael speak persuasively about the long-term benefits that come from fleet electrification in terms of cost reduction, emissions reduction, and other infrequently considered benefits. Because of this issue, Catherine has developed her own “Total Cost of Ownership” calculations to show exactly how and when cost reductions will occur in the implementation of the Charlotte plan so that all stakeholders can see the black and white of the issue and make informed decisions that benefit the big picture.     Connect With Our Guests   Catherine Kummer - Climate Advisor American Cities Climate Challenge    Catherine Kummer serves as a Climate Advisor for the City of Charlotte as part of the Bloomberg Philanthropies American Cities Climate Challenge—and in partnership with NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council)—which works to accelerate climate action in 25 cities throughout the United States. Catherine joined the Climate Challenge advising the City of Charlotte after spending the last eight years as the Senior Director of Green Innovation for the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing, NASCAR.  A native of Raeford, North Carolina, Catherine holds a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an M.A. in Sustainability from Wake Forest University and Executive Education for Sustainability Leadership from Harvard University.   Follow Catherine Kummer on LinkedIn   Michael Luhrs - VP Market Strategy & Solutions   Michael Luhrs serves as Vice President of Market Strategy and Solutions for Duke Energy. In this role, he is responsible for bringing integrated solutions across the digital and physical energy infrastructure to provide unique value and solutions nationally. Michael’s strong focus on innovation, transformation and growth of customer solutions has proven successful with improving and accelerating departments through disciplined innovation, strategy alignment, revenue growth, regulatory adaptation and driving cost efficiencies.   The teams aligned under Michael’s purview are: Home & Business Services, Market Strategy, Connected Communities, Solutions Development, Solutions Partner, Transportation Electrification, and Portfolio Structuring. Collectively, the Market Strategy and Solution team generate approximately $500M in EBIT each year. The functions of these departments lead the evolution of the business from strategy to solutions development to execution across all customer segments. They cover a broad range of solutions from demand response, non-regulated products (such as behind the meter energy protection and insurance/risk mitigation services), digital infrastructure services, small cell and macro wireless, outdoor lighting, and electrification of transportation. Michael offers more than 20 years of experience in the energy industry. Known for his excellence in business strategy and operations, Michael is a creative thinker and problem solver. He has a knack for developing client-centered solutions and generating a positive impact to the bottom line.   Before assuming his current position, Michael served as General Manager of Business Excellence for Duke Energy. Prior to the merger with Progress Energy in 2012, Michael served as General Manager of Energy Supply Finance for Progress Energy. He has held several other leadership roles including Resource Planning Manager, Audit Manager, as well as roles in Generation Operations. Born in Colorado, Michael holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering, as well as Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Management Finance and Economics, from North Carolina State University. He was also distinguished with Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa honors.   Follow Michael Luhrs on LinkedIn   Connect With Smart Energy Decisions   https://www.smartenergydecisions.com/ Follow them on Facebook Follow them on Twitter Follow them on LinkedIn 

Electrification of Transportation with Catherine Kummer and Michael Luhrs, Ep #12

Institutes of higher education are large consumers of energy. From the lights and heat that are needed to keep students and faculty comfortable enough to learn effectively, to the equipment, technology, and staff required to keep things running, the expense is enormous. But for those same reasons, these institutions have a tremendous opportunity to push forward the move toward sustainable energy solutions, which will result in a cleaner environment and better future, and cost savings for them. Today, three guests from the realm of higher education join John for a frank conversation about the overall challenges faced by institutions of higher learning when it comes to renewable energy. Join John and his guests, Bill Guerrero of Ithaca College, Dennis Elliot of Cal Poly, and Wayne Johnson of Duke Energy for this enlightening conversation.   You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... The experience and background of our guests, leaders in Higher Education [0:55] A big-picture view: Energy management and sustainability in Higher Education [7:24] Some of the most productive investments in energy efficiency [16:38] The role of resiliency in energy solutions for Higher Education [24:12] How to pay for the improvements needed [32:56] Master Plans enable colleges & universities to plan toward sustainable energy There are vast differences in the way institutes of higher education make decisions and implement them when it comes to the capital improvements required to move toward sustainable and energy-efficient solutions for their campuses. The predominant way these institutions move the needle is through the inclusion of sustainability initiatives within the university or college’s Master Plan. These plans are revisited and revamped often because the situation on school campuses is changing all the time. New needs arise and circumstances demand new approaches. It’s a perfect opportunity to move their energy usage toward sustainable solutions. This conversation highlights the approach two leaders in higher education have taken when it comes to renewable energy improvements on campus. Cal Poly and Ithaca College have both focused on integrating sustainable energy improvements into their Master Planning process, with one of those schools even creating an independent energy Master Plan due to the increased importance of the issue. The issue of resiliency is of paramount importance for higher education The wildfires that have raged across California in 2020 illustrate one of the many reasons colleges and universities need to build resiliency into their energy procurement solutions. Cal Poly discovered that their energy solution was inadequate as a result of the fires. The institution relied on a sole provider and delivery mechanism that was endangered by the wildfires. The impact of a power loss is massive to facilities, educational systems, remote learning, and more. To address these issues, many opportunities exist to ensure power is not disrupted and education continues. Regional transmission systems with various substations are one solution, as are generators use in a synchronized fashion. On-site batteries can be used to implement load-shifting during peak energy consumption hours, and larger schools are looking into microgrids, co-generation, and combined heat and power sources.   The most effective ways to fund energy improvements The COVID pandemic of 2020 has shown all of us that the economic conditions we enjoy one day may be in jeopardy the next. It’s an example of how various crises can shift the focus of an organization or institution to new areas, and environmental sustainability goals could be a regrettable casualty when this occurs. Add to that, the fact that many colleges face serious asset replacement issues shortly. 80% of schools surveyed say they plan on funding those capital improvements through increased enrollment, but because of the pandemic, full enrollment is not expected to happen for many years. The reality is that sustainability initiatives compete with every other need at institutions of higher learning, and the assets needed for energy projects are behind-the-scenes and not as easily noticed as the other more superficial things like paint, carpet, landscaping, and building facades. Those in charge of energy, facilities, and capital improvements have their work cut out for them in trying to gain the buy-in for energy improvements and upgrades during such times. But it’s entirely possible, and our guests give many helpful suggestions about how to position your budget requests in ways that enthuse and engage your stakeholders. Resources & People Mentioned Ithaca College California Polytechnic Institute Connect With Our Guests Bill Guerrero, Vice President for Finance and Administration, Ithaca College Bill has served in the education industry for over 21 years in education and independent schools. Ithaca College is a Private, Residential, Liberal Arts College with about 5,800 students and 1,700 faculty/staff. Bill’s areas of responsibility are Finance & Accounting, Auxiliary Services, Information Technology, and Facilities Services including Environmental Sustainability. With 2.6 M feet of space, the majority of which was built in the 1950s and 1960s, Ithaca’s initiatives have secured it the AASHE Gold Star Rating. The Environment America Research & Policy Center ranks Ithaca College #8 in percent of electricity derived from renewable resources. Follow Bill on LinkedIn Dennis Elliot, Director of Energy, Utilities, and Sustainability, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.  Dennis Elliot serves as the Director of Energy, Utilities, and Sustainability in the Facilities Management and Development Department at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Dennis holds a bachelor's degree from Cal Poly in Mechanical Engineering, is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of California, and a Certified Energy Manager. In his 37 years at Cal Poly in a variety of energy-related roles, Dennis has helped lead operation and maintenance of building HVAC and central plants; design, construction, and commissioning of new buildings and utility systems; utility metering, building automation, SCADA, and building data analytic systems; energy and water conservation programs; renewable energy projects; sustainability educational outreach and curriculum infusion initiatives; LEED Certification and AASHE STARS programs; Master Planning and Strategic Planning; Zero Waste Programs and the campus' Climate Action Plan. Dennis helped found and still mentors Cal Poly's Green Campus Program of student peer educators, serves on Cal Poly’s Academic Senate Sustainability Committee, and chairs the campus Sustainability Advisory Committee. Follow Dennis on LinkedIn Wayne Johnson, Duke Energy’s Key Segment Manager For EducationWayne has served as a Facilities Management and Energy Executive in Higher Education and brings a wealth of experience to Duke Energy.  Wayne has also managed safety and accreditation processes for his campus and has provided oversight and program responsibility for a regional K-12 outsourced facilities management firm.  Wayne has a passion for “out of the box” thinking that generates a creative process in meeting the challenges facing energy infrastructure and asset management in education.  Wayne strives to create a “synergy” that builds solutions to meet the needs of all campus constituents: Facilities leaders, CFOs, Presidents, Head of School, faculty, staff, students, and local communities.  His unique perspective and experience when combined with Duke Energy’s ability to execute can be of great support as schools look to become energy efficient, sustainable, and viable for the future.  Wayne enjoys international travel, time on the lake and hiking, especially when his extended family and wife can join in the adventure.  Wayne has worked as a licensed electrical and general contractor and has degrees from Mars Hill University and The University of South Carolina where his advanced degree is in Education Administration. Follow Wayne on LinkedIn Connect With Smart Energy Decisions https://www.smartenergydecisions.com/ Follow them on Facebook Follow them on Twitter Follow them on LinkedIn Subscribe to Beyond The Meter on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

Evolving Energy Strategies In Higher Ed - What's Next?, Ep #11

While many people know Kroger as the nation’s largest traditional food retailer, few know that they are effectively the fifth largest consumer packaged goods manufacturer in the nation and have more than 2800 retail food stores under a variety of banner names. In this episode, we learn that Kroger is committed to protecting people and the planet by advancing positive change in their company and communities and realizing that they could have multiple environmental and social impacts through their own operations, through the supply chain, and in other areas. Zero Hunger, Zero Waste is what Kroger named their social impact plan to end hunger in their communities and to eliminate waste in their company by 2025. This plan was launched in September of 2017 and was inspired by their purpose to feed the human spirit. They are always looking to the future and have recently announced their new, and very ambitious, 2030 ESG Goals. Joining Smart Decisions Founder John Failla for this closer look are Kroger’s Lisa Zwack, Head of Sustainability, and Denis George, Category Manager – Energy.    You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [1:58] A brief scope & scale of Kroger and Lisa & Denis’ roles and responsibilities [5:00] Drivers and commitments related to Kroger’s sustainability and energy management [8:30] Drivers behind Kroger’s energy programs [10:50] Safety and quality are paramount [12:30] The role that investor interest has played [20:45] More about Kroger’s approach to Climate Impact [25:08] Two key ideas for  getting store-level associates to buy into the idea of saving energy [29:17] the La Habra Baking Project [34:01] What role, both internally and externally, do you see relationships playing in pursuit of your ESG goals? [41:45] What is unique about Kroger’s relationship with Duke Energy? [43:57] Talk about the future and where things are headed Stakeholder/Investor Engagement Stakeholder engagement is a great way for Kroger to learn what their key internal and external stakeholders think about what they are doing and what they think Kroger should be doing moving forward. Kroger engages with its stakeholders through its materiality assessment early in the year. It is a great focused opportunity to get input from their various stakeholders, investors, NGOs, and any number of people outside of the company as well as inside the company. Kroger wants to hear what is most important to their leaders as well. Investors are a key audience. There is increased investor interest in how companies are managing climate risk and climate impact and how they are reducing energy usage and moving to more renewables and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Kroger is generally always trying to increase and improve the amount of transparency that they use when they talk to their stakeholders as they know that they are trying to get more decision-useful information for their purposes of making investments in different companies. Kroger prides itself on being very in tune with what investors are looking for and being responsive to that. They also took part in a qualitative climate risk assessment late last year. Kroger assesses and manages risk as a company overall, but this assessment was a great foray into the more dedicated climate risk assessment process, which is something else investors are looking for companies to do.  Historically Driven by Expense Savings Twenty-some years ago, when Denis started with the company, they were more “Zero Energy, Zero Waste” before they were “Zero Hunger, Zero Waste.” Denis states that if they can fulfill their mission to their customers by using less energy, that is just a smart way to operate a business. They learned long ago that through energy efficiency they could achieve that very quickly and very uniformly. They have also found that one can achieve cost reduction in many other ways - through contract negotiations, better rates from utilities, items of that nature, and, as renewables continue to come on and there are more and different ways to engage in renewable energy acquisition those costs are coming down.  This is very consistent with Kroger’s desire to reduce expenses, to maintain reliable well-lit stores, keep food safe and tasty while ensuring the quality of their food, as well as to contribute to the environment. Denis comments that it is wonderful when all those goals that can sometimes seemingly conflict come together and, by doing what they have been doing with reducing the amount of energy and starting to bring on additional renewable purchases, that they are beginning to achieve a lot of the goals all at the same time.  Safety and Quality are Paramount Three of Kroger’s four drivers mentioned in this podcast come up in varying order. Cost reduction is number one nearly 80 percent of the time, followed by greening the environment, but the one most interesting point of the conversation is the notion of food safety because that is a unique and very important driver for the entire food industry. You could save a lot of money by turning everything off, but ice cream doesn’t work well in a zero-energy environment. Everyone’s been inside a grocery store and knows how much energy it uses, but milk has to maintain a certain temperature, the quality of ice cream depends on how cold you keep it - too cold is actually as bad as too warm. There are not only a lot of state, federal, and local food requirements to follow but a lot of other things Kroger wants to do to maintain freshness as well. Those are the rules by which Kroger must live that perhaps might not be needed in a clothing retail store or an auto parts place where humidity and temperature would not affect the product as much as it does fresh produce and fresh meat. Kroger must respect those guidelines and principles to sell their product to their customers in a very safe and comfortable environment. Resources & People Mentioned Duke Energy CDP Climate Questionnaire Kroger 2020 ESG Report Kroger Zero Hunger Zero Waste Sasb.org Standards Connect With Our Guests Lisa Zwack, Head of Sustainability Lisa is the Head of Sustainability at The Kroger Co., the nation’s largest grocery retailer, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. In this role, she leads and executes on Kroger’s sustainability strategy across a variety of topics, including the company’s progress towards its 2020 sustainability goals as well as goals for the next decade. Previously, Lisa served as Sustainability Manager for Staples, Inc. for nearly five years, where she played a key role in implementing and communicating the company’s global sustainability vision. She earned her MBA from the Ross School of Business and her MS and BS degrees from the School for Environment and Sustainability, all at the University of Michigan, during which time she worked with several leading companies on sustainability-related projects. Follow Lisa Zwack on LinkedIn Denis George, Category Manager – Energy As Category Manager — Energy for The Kroger Co. (www.thekrogerco.com) — one of the Nation’s largest grocery and retail companies — Denis George manages the Company’s renewable energy acquisition, gas & electricity contracts, utility agreements, regulatory intervention, and related matters. From 1998 to 2016, Denis served as Kroger’s Corporate Manager — Energy with responsibilities that also included energy efficiency initiatives, carbon footprint calculations, mechanical system design, and Energy Star program compliance. Over these years, Kroger received numerous national and regional awards for energy efficiency and sustainability, including the Energy Star “Partner of the Year” Award (twice), the Alliance to Save Energy's top award — the "Galaxy" Star of Energy Efficiency, and an “Award of Excellence” from Platt’s Publications. Mr. George has presented before numerous Commissions and Associations, including the Edison Electric Institute, American Public Power Association, Touchstone Energy Partnership, Green Retail Decisions, Smart Energy Decisions, and the Critical Consumer Issues Forum.  He serves on the Customer Advisory Board of Smart Energy Decisions and has previously served on numerous utility customer advisory groups. Denis also served two terms on the State of Ohio Public Benefits Advisory Board, a non-compensated Board advising the State of Ohio and utilities on low-income consumer energy needs. From 1980 to 1997, Denis worked at The Dayton Power and Light Company, serving in several legal and management positions that included appearances and representation before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio as well as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Mr. George received a Juris Doctor Degree in 1985 from The University of Cincinnati College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics/Business Administration, cum laude, from Wittenberg University in 1980. He remains a licensed Attorney at Law in the State of Ohio. Denis and his wife, Alice Sutherland George, live in Loveland, Ohio. Follow Denis George on LinkedIn Connect With Smart Energy Decisions https://www.smartenergydecisions.com/ Follow them on Facebook Follow them on Twitter Follow them on LinkedIn Subscribe to Beyond The Meter on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

Teaming on Sustainability: Manufacturing & Retail , Ep #10

Most of us live day to day in our city of choice without giving much thought to the infrastructure and services that living in the city provides. But when a natural disaster or outage happens, we immediately recognize that vitally important things were going on behind the scenes that we benefit from directly. This episode highlights the steps the city of Greensboro, NC has taken to begin its “Smart City” initiative, which includes a number of renewable energy approaches. You’ll enjoy hearing from three officials from the city of Greensboro and how their varied roles provide unique looks at the challenges of becoming a Smart City. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... The guests on this episode and their role in energy & renewables [0:58] How Greensboro started its “Smart City” journey [4:48] The overview of Greensboro’s energy management evolution [9:01] Greensboro’s actions compared to other municipalities [12:59] The consequences associated with power outages for cities [18:08] How does resiliency intersect with renewable energy sources? [26:25] Greensboro’s kiosk program: why it was created and what it’s accomplished [28:43] How Duke and other energy suppliers can partner toward renewables [33:46] Prioritizing investments in smart city and renewable energy projects [35:41] Are energy-as-a-service programs helpful for municipalities? [40:10] Emerging priorities for cities and the communities they serve [47:17] The Smart City journey the City of Greensboro is on The city of Greensboro, North Carolina started its journey to becoming a Smart City when neighboring cities began working on fiber installations. Greensboro’s leadership began investigating its own options for fiber installations since high-speed data connections are foundational to the technology needed to implement Smart City approaches. From there, many additional developments have come about. In their current approach, the city’s leaders are continuing to ask, “How can we leverage the Smart Cities approach for growth and economic development?” Some of the initiatives they’ve implemented so far are the city’s smart connected corridor, which includes informational kiosks visitors can use to find out about the city, locate destinations, and connect with public transportation. Find out more by listening to this conversation!  Why resiliency is vital for municipalities like Greensboro The situation in Greensboro mirrors the reality of many municipalities around the nation. For Greensboro, 30 out of 80 facilities are emergency-related, so when the power for the city experiences a disruption, there’s not only a dollar impact, it can also create a logistics nightmare. A tornado a few years ago made it abundantly clear that resiliency for the city’s power grid was of the utmost importance. Greensboro’s CIO, Jane Nickels says that if the data center goes down, everything in the city shuts down, and it would take days to get the data center back up. For that reason one of the resiliency measures they are adopting is a migration of everything possible to the cloud. As well, all projects — Smart City related or not — have resiliency in mind. From the creation of “battery buses” to the use of solar power to charge them, the city is well on the way to making its power needs resilient. How Greensboro pursues financing through partnerships  City budgets are not known for being lavish and the budget in Greensboro is no exception. The city had no budget at all set aside for Smart City initiatives when the idea came to the forefront, so those leading the charge had to look for partners. When they keep their ears open to what’s going on in the city and do the legwork of discovering what projects are slated by other companies, they can often find ways to attach a Smart City initiative to that project. These are collaborations that enable them to leverage Smart City ideas into the projects other organizations are already budgeting. Listen to learn more about how Greensboro is utilizing smart energy and building resilient systems. Resources & People Mentioned Smart City Media Duke Energy Connect With Our Guests Michael Kilpatrick, Key Segment Manager, State Governments, Municipalities, and Co-ops   Michael leads strategic planning and engagement within state government, municipal, and co-op segments and is tasked with expanding revenue, profitability, and customer satisfaction by delivering solutions from an array of Duke Energy products and services, including but not limited to renewables, microgrids, and other energy-as-a-service offerings. Follow Guest Name on LinkedIn Jane Nickels, CIO, City of Greensboro As CIO for the City of Greensboro, Jane Nickles serves in the executive capacity as the director of Information Technology and Enterprise Solutions. Under Jane’s leadership, the City of Greensboro has been recognized as a Top 10 Digital City by the Center for Digital Government since 2014. Jane led the TriGig Regional High Speed Broadband initiative to bring competitive gigabit internet services to Greensboro and surrounding areas. Other areas of focus include Data Driven Government, Open Data strategies, Digital Equity, Smart City initiatives and continuous innovation. Follow Guest Name on LinkedIn Butch Shumate, Facilities Manager at City of Greensboro Butch is an experienced Division Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the government administration industry. Skilled in Budgeting, Contractors, Government, Project Estimation, and Facility Management (FM).  Follow Butch on LinkedIn Sergey Kobalev, Energy and Sustainability Management Engineer Sergey Kobelev serves as the Energy Management Engineer for the city of Greensboro facilities, a position he has had since 2017. In this role, Sergey works to improve sustainability and energy efficiency in over 80 buildings and structures of the city of Greensboro Facilities. His primary focus is on improving existing energy conservation policies and developing new ones, often by incorporating emerging technology for the City facilities to achieve financial and sustainability goals set by the City Council. Follow Sergey on LinkedIn Connect With Smart Energy Decisions https://www.smartenergydecisions.com/ Follow them on Facebook Follow them on Twitter Follow them on LinkedIn Subscribe to Beyond The Meter on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts Audio Production and Show notes byPODCAST FAST TRACKhttps://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Resiliency and Technology in Cities, Ep #9  

Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy were each crisis situations in their own right and one of the sectors impacted that brought the issue of power resilience to the forefront was healthcare. It’s easy to see how life and death are on the line when power outages or disruptions impact a care facility. Join host, John Failla as he speaks with Eric Bennett of Duke Energy and Matt Stiene of Novant Healthcare as they discuss the current state of resiliency in healthcare systems, the challenges faced in becoming more resilient, and what the future may hold. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... The role and responsibilities of today’s guests [1:12] Resiliency is an important consideration for the healthcare sector [3:05] How does compliance impact the application of resilient measures? [7:27] The unique challenges to adopting new technologies in light of regulations [10:16] Utilizing partnerships to move redundant systems and projects forward [19:11] Energy management budgets and the challenges organizations face [21:47] Guidelines Novant uses to consider financing renewable energy structures [28:35] The greatest challenges in resiliency management going forward [31:33] What’s next for Novant and the healthcare industry in terms of energy? [36:45] Healthcare resilience can easily be an issue of life and death Life support and medical systems of all kinds that are typical to health systems require power to operate. Those in charge of running healthcare facilities and those responsible for their construction have to think through how to provide that power in an uninterrupted fashion so that patient care is not compromised. Matt Stiene shares how Novant Healthcare is committed to multiple sources of power for its facilities, with secondary systems many times taking the form of backup generators that can power entire facilities for long periods if needed. But even so, the desire to move toward sustainable sources of energy is becoming a greater consideration. Listen to hear how Novant is addressing these challenges and how the healthcare sector is doing at addressing the energy challenges it faces.  The application of microgrids promises great potential for healthcare The latest statistics reveal that the healthcare industry is the 5th largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world. With the amount of power required for the average healthcare facility, that shouldn’t be a surprising figure. But given that healthcare should be focused on overall health, including how health is impacted by the environment, those figures are dominant on the radar of many senior leaders in the healthcare sector.  Microgrid solutions, built on-sight as power backups are one option being pursued. Two of Novant’s facilities only have one primary service available either in terms of the source the power comes from or in the means of delivery the provider employs. An on-sight battery storage facility is one microgrid option the organization is pursuing in those situations. Matt admits that due to the limitations of how battery systems work, it’s not a long-term fix but could allow for uninterrupted operations for a significant time while getting the facility’s primary power systems back online. How do renewables fit into the resiliency picture? Healthcare organizations are taking a closer look at renewable energy these days. That’s because leaders in the industry see it as their responsibility to contribute to the overall health of those in their communities, not just to the acute or responsive care that’s typically provided in a healthcare facility. For Novant, the mission of “Improving the health of our communities one person at a time” is taken very seriously and sustainability figures into that. He says that the internal pressure to move toward sustainable sources of energy is growing and also says that the communities they serve are expressing growing concern about the issue as well.  But the metrics around costs make it challenging. Novant shoots for energy projects that they can pay back within two years and many others in the sector consider a three to five-year payback of capital acceptable. But when power from the regular power grid can be bought for less, it can be a hard sell to the finance department. Listen to hear how Novant and other organizations are addressing these issues with the help of their energy partners, like Duke. Connect With Our Guests Eric Bennett - Duke Energy, Key Segment Manager Health Care With over 15 years of experience in the energy industry, Eric leads Duke Energy One’s Health Care segment.  He works with customers and stakeholders across the Health Care segment to identify emerging trends, technological developments, and market Solutions. Follow Eric on LinkedIn Matthew Stiene, VP Construction and Engineering, Novant Health Matt has a 20-year history of solid accomplishments and excels developing high-performing teams, creating metrics to track performance for continuous improvement, developing and implementing infrastructure capital renewal plans, developing facility and land use master plans, and developing and implementing energy reduction strategies. Active in his profession and the community, Matt is a past-president of the International Facility Management Association, Charlotte chapter, a member of the American Society of Healthcare Engineers, the North Carolina Healthcare Engineers Association and a professional member of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers. He serves on the board of directors of the Hospitality House of Charlotte, the Town of Harrisburg Fire Advisory Board, as well as a youth baseball coach. Follow Matt on LinkedIn Connect With Smart Energy Decisions https://www.smartenergydecisions.com/ Follow them on Facebook Follow them on Twitter Follow them on LinkedIn Subscribe to Beyond The Meter on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts Audio Production and Show notes byPODCAST FAST TRACKhttps://www.podcastfasttrack.com

Resiliency In Healthcare, Ep #8

Lower emissions are one of the many goals being set by corporations across the country to reduce their carbon footprint and exercise corporate responsibility. Naturally, every company has its own unique set of hurdles to overcome in setting and attaining such goals. In this conversation Amy Bond, Energy and Sustainability Program Manager at Sprint explains how Sprint started looking into what it could do to procure energy from renewable sources back in 2008, but nothing fit their situation at that time. Fast forward to 2018 and it’s an entirely different story. Join Smart Energy Decisions Founder, John Failla as he speaks to Amy about Sprint’s journey. Joining the conversation is Scott Macmurdo, Business Development Director at Duke Energy, Sprint’s partner in its recent Virtual Power Purchase Agreement. Outline of This Episode [0:33] John’s introduction of this conversation from the 2019 Renewable Energy Sourcing Forum [1:20] Amy Bond’s big announcement: Sprint’s first PPA with Duke Energy Renewables [4:20] The beginning of Sprint’s journey, the SED conference in Austin, TX [6:20] Starting on the journey with no overarching climate goals [8:09] Internal and practical obstacles faced in getting the deal done [12:36] Explaining the opportunity across departments [15:17] Key things corporate buyers should be thinking about [21:13] How the CEO was enlisted as an ally early in the process Sprint’s first Power Purchase Agreement in partnership with Duke Energy Renewables At the recent 2019 Renewable Energy Sourcing Forum, Amy shared the culmination of Sprint’s journey for the first time. It’s a 12 year Virtual Power Purchase Agreement that Duke Energy has put together. Duke will build and operate a 182-megawatt wind farm in West Texas and Sprint will purchase 95% of the output from the facility for use in its facilities. Amy says that amount us almost 30% of Sprint’s entire energy consumption. But please understand, Sprint did not come to this place overnight. Their journey toward sustainability goals that made sense for them as a company was begun in 2008. Ten years later, it’s finally coming to fruition.  Ten years of trying, iterating, and striving to come to renewable energy success Sprint first launched its environmental goals in 2008 and hoped to meet them by 2017. One of those goals was to acquire 10% of the company’s energy from alternative sources by 2017. Those goals were not met. The first option the company considered was the purchase of hydrogen fuel cell racks in 2008. The project proved to be impractical from a cost perspective.  The first VPPA Sprint ever considered came in 2014, but again the economics didn’t make sense at the time. But Amy says that the unexpected by-product that came from those efforts was that an internal renewable energy team was assembled, so when 2018 came around all of those team members were still with the company and were still interested in working toward a way to reduce emissions as a company. This gave them a jump start on moving projects forward once the costs were more aligned with their goals and needs. Sprint had no overarching climate goals - but engaged with renewable energy anyway The goals Sprint generated back in 2008 were never realized. When Amy came to see that the practical and financial limitations previously experienced were no longer the case, she began pitching the idea to key stakeholders right away. Through months of discussion and hard work, the team cooperated with Duke Energy Renewables to put a plan in place that everyone involved could sign off on. Notice something important - Sprint had no renewable energy goals in place at the time but the company was able to move forward anyway. Don’t let any perceived lack in your renewable energy policy or goals hold you back from moving to reduce emissions for your company. You can do it! Key things for corporate buyers to be thinking about When looking at a potential VPPA deal, there are many things to pay close attention to in order to move the deal forward. First, you need to work hard to frame the project in ways that make sense within your organization. Amy also stresses that you need to look closely at your developer (Duke Energy Renewables, in this instance). The relationship will be a 12-year relationship in Sprint's case. It’s important to feel comfortable and confident - and to know that all the stakeholders can feel the same - as you move into that kind of relationship. Scott points out that corporate buyers should understand that the timeline you work from initially will not remain intact. It’s not that anyone is communicating wrongly or misrepresenting the deal, it’s that hurdles will arise and you'll have to find workarounds. Because that’s always the case - be sure you seek help. Third-party consultants that specialize in renewable energy are worth having on board. Even though they will result in higher initial costs, they enlarge the pie for everyone by equipping your organization with the knowledge you need to get the deal to the finish line. Resources & People Mentioned The Renewable Energy Sourcing Forum Duke Energy Renewables Cinemark Sustainability Efforts Cargill Sustainability Efforts The Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit Sprint’s Corporate Sustainability Goals Connect with Amy and Scott Amy Bond on LinkedIn,  Scott Macmurdo on LinkedIn Connect With Beyond The Meter https://www.smartenergydecisions.com/podcasts/beyond-the-meter Subscribe to Beyond The Meter onApple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Android, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, aCast, PlayerFM, iHeart Radio

Look Who Switched To Renewables: Sprint’s Journey To Lower Emissions, Ep #7

More and more companies are making corporate sustainability pledges - and it’s a good thing. Corporations are some of the largest consumers of energy in the world. When these companies take steps to reduce their carbon footprint by procuring their energy from renewable sources, they have a significant impact on the overall environmental issues our world is facing.  This conversation inspires hope because it illustrates how a communication industry giant is leading the way in the sustainability movement. That company is AT&T. Guests on this episode are Shannon Carroll, Director of Global Environmental Sustainability at AT&T, and Scott Macmurdo, Business Development Director at Duke Energy Renewables. Their companies recently partnered on a renewable energy project that illustrates the kind of steps that can and should be taken by companies large and small. You will enjoy this conversation. Outline of This Episode [1:01] The background of each guest in the sustainability arena [8:09] The role corporate sustainability goals have in driving asset sourcing [12:37] The involvement of the C-suite in sustainability pledges [17:18] Who are the main stakeholders in the AT&T pledge toward sustainability? [21:36] AT&T’s journey in renewable energy sourcing [27:26] The anatomy of a renewable energy purchase [34:40] The challenges that had to be overcome in the recent Duke / AT&T deal [40:15] What’s the future of renewable energy hold? The AT&T 10X Goal for environmental responsibility and sustainability When it comes to corporate sustainability pledges, AT&T has set the bar pretty high. Not only are they committed to lowering their own operational carbon footprint as much as possible they are also committed to enabling their customers to reduce their carbon footprint as well. That’s where the 10X Goal for Environmentally Responsibility and Sustainability comes in. The AT&T pledge is this: We’ve set a goal to enable carbon savings 10 times the footprint of our operations by 2025. We’re calling this our 10x Carbon Reduction Goal, or more simply, our “10x” Goal. To meet the goal, we’re making our network more efficient and we’re working with our customers to deploy technology that can help reduce GHG emissions, save water, and more. AT&T is also teaming up with companies to measure the GHG emissions reduction of specific products. The AT&T energy team worked with experienced third party consultants in the renewable energy space to come up with the strategy and then put it into place officially. Listen to this discussion to learn how they made it happen. The fastest and most significant way to reduce your company’s carbon footprint In recent years we’ve seen record rates of sustainability goals by corporations. Not coincidentally, we’ve also begun to see record levels of corporate renewable energy procurement. Simply put, companies are taking the initiative to sidestep traditional forms of carbon-based energy to use renewable energy instead. Undoubtedly, this is the best way to dramatically draw-down on a company's CO2 footprint in the least amount of time. As explained by the guests on this episode, there are a handful of things companies could do to be true to their commitment to corporate sustainability. Some of the solutions are: Moving toward energy efficiency The build-out of renewable energy sources of their own Changing gas-powered fleet vehicles to electric While good and needed steps, in most cases, these are not the way to create a significant change in a short amount of time. Then how are they doing it? Through large-scale renewable energy procurements. Think of it as the largest “ROE” - return on effort. Limited resources demand the biggest bang for the buck - which is accomplished through switching energy sourcing to large scale solar or wind projects. Goal alignment and good communication drive corporate sustainability efforts As the AT&T team began to make efforts to reduce the company’s CO2 footprint, many options were considered and tried. But by far, large scale Power Purchase Agreements became the fastest and best way to make a difference. The team researched what would best meet the needs of the company and best serve the customer and solicited the help of third parties from the renewable energy industry who could advise about best-practices. The key to aligning stakeholders was to stay focused on their common sustainability goals and to talk to all the teams involved: energy -supply chain - finance - C-suite - and on-the-ground managers. Their goal was to ensure that the projects being considered made sense across the board, while at the same time understanding and quantifying the risk openly. In the AT&T approach, the upside had to outweigh the risks. Trends that impact the future of corporate renewable energy sourcing Will more companies follow AT&T’s lead and develop renewable energy pledges of their own? It’s likely, for several reasons. FIRST - The cost of renewable energy is going down overall. This translates into better value for buyers, who in this case, would be corporations. SECOND - Customers are gaining a better understanding of the risks involved and are learning to mitigate those risks effectively by shifting it to developers. THIRD - Many new renewable energy companies are coming into the marketplace. The competition that is developing makes overcoming supply-chain hurdles and cost factors, less of an issue. You’ll be inspired by the commitment to corporate sustainability the AT&T goals represent and after listening, you’ll have a good idea of the challenges and benefits of developing a renewable energy plan of your own. Please listen! Resources & People Mentioned The AT&T 10X Goal The AT&T CSR page AT&T flexware product Emerson’s “Grind To Energy” AT&T’s climate change tool, developed with Argonne National Labs The “We Are Still In” Movement Science Based Goals RE100 Charlene Lake, AT&T Chief Sustainability Officer AT&T’s recent renewable power purchase deal with Duke Energy Renewables The Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit Walmart’s Project Gigaton Connect with Shannon and Scott Shannon Carroll on LinkedIn Scott Macmurdo on LinkedIn Connect With Beyond The Meter https://www.smartenergydecisions.com/podcasts/beyond-the-meter   Subscribe to Beyond The Meter onApple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Android, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, aCast, PlayerFM, iHeart Radio

How AT&T’s Corporate Sustainability Pledge Is Coming To Life, with Shannon Carroll and Scott Macmurdo, Ep #6  

As one of the largest energy providers in the United States, Duke Energy is positioned to make a significant impact on the move toward renewable sources of energy. Duke provides electricity to 7.7 million retail customers in six states. While some might see the renewable energy movement as a threat to a company like Duke, its leadership sees renewable energy as the future of energy providers across the nation. As a result, Duke’s commercial business owns and operates diverse power generation facilities in North America, including a growing portfolio of renewable energy assets. The company is leading the way with the modernization of its energy grid, generating cleaner energy to create a smarter energy future for customers. This conversation features Doug Esamann, Executive Vice President of Energy Solutions at Duke and Chris Fallon, Vice President of Duke Energy Renewables. Listen to learn how energy providers like Duke are positioning themselves to serve customer needs through renewable energy. Outline of This Episode [1:10] The background and involvement Doug and Chris have in energy utilities [4:00] Duke Energy’s history in renewable energy procurement [7:41] In deregulated markets, Duke has been very active. Here’s how [9:16] The role renewable energy has played in the company overall [13:10] How Duke communicates with customers regarding renewable energy [18:20] A wide range of customers in renewable energy projects [24:56] The biggest obstacle for Duke’s renewable energy projects: uncertainty [29:35] Why Duke is bullish about renewable energy [34:40] How the “Energy Integrator” concept impacts the approach of utilities like Duke The renewable energy story at Duke begins with commercial business The leadership at Duke energy could see the writing on the wall as more and more states were becoming focused on renewable energy in the development of legislated energy standards. It meant a change for the way Duke creates and supplies energy to its customers, but the team was ready to respond.  Renewable energy at scale was a natural fit for Duke to consider as it sought to offer utilities to municipalities and cooperatives who were under the requirements to meet renewable standards. At first, justifying the investment in renewable options was difficult from a price perspective but the company’s leadership was committed to sustainably growing the business. As costs have come down in regulated markets and tax credits have made renewables competitive with traditional options, Duke has looked to replace coal plants and other carbon-free options with cleaner forms of energy. Balancing profitability with customer needs and CO2 emission goals Traditionally, energy suppliers like Duke have looked for opportunities of a long-term nature that allow the company to build out a power plant or facility and be able to rely on a return on that investment coming back over time. While not the same thing structurally, renewables allow customers with good credit history to provide a similar long-term opportunity for Duke through longer-term contracts. This provides the same secure deal structure but allows Duke to vary its supply chain considerably. At the same time, renewables present an opportunity to couple investments in new generation sources of energy with the company’s CO2 emission reduction goals. Duke’s current goal is to reduce its carbon emissions by 40% by the year 2030. Its efforts have been so encouraging there is consideration within the company of shooting for an even larger CO2 reduction. Duke’s leadership understands that they have a unique responsibility to embrace renewable sources of energy as a way to get to its environmental goals while still being able to provide reliable, affordable power to its customers.    The customer’s perspective matters to the team at Duke Modern customers want to be more responsible with their energy choices. They also want the opportunity to select the kind of energy they want to purchase for their homes and places of business. Duke has developed customized solutions using its resources and options from outside the regulated utility space. The way the company sees it, it’s about being more focused on the customer. No more building products then trying to sell those products into the market - the model is now flipped upside down with customer needs and desires coming first.  It’s an ever-evolving path that the Duke team is walking and it has required a cultural shift within the company. But it’s a decision that’s being taken seriously, manifested in part through the creation of the position of Chief Customer Officer, and tapping Barbara Higgins to lead the way in understanding the customer first when it comes to renewable energy and other issues. The uncertainty of the renewable energy puzzle is difficult for energy suppliers The move toward renewable energy for a large energy supplier like Duke is fraught with difficulties. One of the most frustrating issues comes from the uncertainty inherent in this stage in the development of renewable energy. Regulations regarding renewable energy are in a constant state of flux, so deals that are already under contract can change overnight and the Duke team has to adapt to stay within costs and meet their commitments in spite of the changes.  But the good news is that costs for renewable energy continue to come down, making the future of renewable energy projects a given for providers like Duke. As well, energy storage costs are becoming more affordable all the time, which can make the intermittency of renewable energy less of an issue for large suppliers. There’s also the likelihood that taxes or penalties for carbon emissions could soon be in place. That too would push the necessity and demand for renewable energy forward. If you take the time to listen to this conversation you'll see how large energy suppliers are making real changes toward a cleaner energy future. Resources & People Mentioned Duke CEO Lynn Good  REC Solar Duke Energy Renewables PIedmont Natural Gas (a Duke company) The FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) Connect with Doug Esamann and Chris Fallon Doug Esamann on LinkedIn Chris Fallon, Vice President of Duke Energy Renewables Connect With Beyond The Meter https://www.smartenergydecisions.com/podcasts/beyond-the-meter   Subscribe to Beyond The Meter onApple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Android, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, aCast, PlayerFM, iHeart Radio

How Energy Providers Like Duke Are Leading The Way, with Doug Esamann and Chris Fallon, Ep #5

One of the high profile corporate renewable energy initiatives in the news recently has been the unveiling of Home Depot’s sustainability goals. Home Depot is among the increasing number of corporations working to make renewables a significant part of their energy procurement strategy. But for Home Depot, this new direction is not fueled by a desire to become sustainable, it began because it makes financial sense.  On this episode of Beyond The Meter, join host John Failla and his co-host Craig Noxon, Vice President for Enterprise Sales at REC Solar, a Duke Energy Renewables Company as they speak with Craig D’Arcy, Director of Energy Management for Home Depot. You’ll learn how Home Depot started its journey toward the use of renewables, how early successes encouraged further efforts, and how both the financial and efficiency benefits of using renewable energy has motivated them to keep innovating. The Home Depot approach is a great example of how corporations can make use of renewables and increase the bottom line at the same time. Outline of This Episode [1:05] The background and role of each participant in regards to renewable energy [3:25] Home Depot’s energy management strategy: key elements [5:41] The primary drivers for the Home Depot strategy [8:13] Comparing Home Depot’s approach to the work other companies are taking [11:56] Technologies Home Depot has employed, renewable energy and otherwise [16:57] The role renewable energy plays for Home Depot [20:42] Which programs are most important to Home Depot (on-site or off-site)? [25:11] The challenge of getting stakeholders aligned toward renewable energy [27:50] Tips for those trying to get the attention of the C-suite for sustainability efforts [29:35] Advice about how to enlist the financial teams to help make the case [32:36] What’s next for Home Depot’s energy management strategy? [35:54] The challenges of energy providers in light of renewable energy innovation [40:36] Energy as a service concepts: Do they work for large companies? Home Depot’s energy policy goals made renewables a viable option There are typically three drivers behind a corporation’s consideration of renewables as an energy source. The first is cost, the second is the company's conscious sustainability goals, the third is increased resiliency. Craig D’Arcy says there is no doubt that all three play some role in Home Depot’s approach, but the first attempts to roll out renewable energy projects were entirely focused on the financial benefits. Renewables simply made financial sense for increasing efficiency and bottom-line profitability. As early successes with renewable projects were achieved, they were able to investigate other options and expand their efforts toward sustainability. It's led to their sustainability story becoming public, which has driven internal excitement and created momentum for the renewables side of their energy procurement strategies. Listen to hear how Home Depot continues to consider all sorts of energy solutions, including any renewable sources that make sense for their broader goals. 3 critical elements of the Home Depot sustainability approach When thinking of the renewable energy movement, it’s common to assume that those pushing for the use of renewables are only concerned about global issues of sustainability, but there’s incredible motivation to implement renewable energy alternatives from a variety of standpoints. In the case of Home Depot, three primary concerns guide their energy decisions... 1 - Foremost, Home Depot views everything they do through caring for their stores so that associates and customers are served well 2 - Every energy sourcing project must make sense financially 3 - Leadership has passed down a mandate to be as innovative as possible to accomplish those first two, which makes their decision-making technology and structure agnostic Listen to hear how this plays out for Home Depot as Craig D’Arcy explains the fit renewable energy has in that three-pronged approach. Sustainability efforts are significant for Home Depot's future No company can survive if it is not profitable. Home Depot is no different, so it is no surprise to find out that from a financial standpoint, renewable energy is being leveraged to lower the net rates paid for energy throughout the company. But the benefits of renewable energy go far beyond that... Home Depot has become known as a sustainability brand, recently releasing its own science-based targets for its energy policy, which includes renewable energy as a significant part. And finally, renewable energy provides natural, beneficial hedges against volatile energy pricing in the markets. Power Purchase Agreements with energy providers enables this hedge and has proven to be a huge benefit to the company. Advice for convincing the C-suite to consider sustainability projects The C-suite of any company must be on board if a move toward sources of renewable energy is going to take place. Both Craig D’Arcy and Craig Noxon offer their advice for how to secure the buy-in of company executives. First, map out the process. Have a clear projection of how and why renewable energy sources will be investigated, selected, and implemented.  Next, understand what the stakeholders care about and be sure your roadmap adequately addresses those concerns. In doing so, work hard to uncover potential landmines and head them off proactively.  Finally, be sure you know how are you going to sell the upside of procuring energy from renewable sources. Bottom-line benefits for the company will be a significant and compelling consideration for anyone in the C-suite. Home Depot’s sustainability efforts provide an excellent case study from which other corporations can take their cues - and this conversation provides keen insight into the why, how, and what of moving toward renewables as at least a portion of a profitable energy procurement strategy. Resources & People Mentioned Home Depot’s Corporate Responsibility Goals Connect with Craig D’Arcy and Craig Noxon Craig D’Arcy on LinkedIn Craig Noxon on LinkedIn Connect With Beyond The Meter https://www.smartenergydecisions.com/podcasts/beyond-the-meter   Subscribe to Beyond The Meter onApple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Android, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, aCast, PlayerFM, iHeart Radio

The Home Depot Sustainability Approach, with Craig D’Arcy and Craig Noxon, Ep #4

The use of renewable energy is becoming more and more common on campuses of higher education across the country - and it’s not surprising. Institutions of higher education are both massive consumers of energy and are in the business of learning and teaching. That combination makes them ideal laboratories for innovation and advancement in the field. This episode features two guests, Wolfgang Bauer and Scott Therian who are both uniquely positioned to speak on renewable energy sourcing and adoption as it relates to higher education. Wolfgang is Associate Vice President for Administration at Michigan State University. His expertise is in renewable power systems integration, micro-grid management, energy efficiency, and sustainability. Scott is Project Development Manager at REC Solar. He has spent the last 9 years in the solar industry after getting his education in electrical engineering with a focus on power systems, energy conversion, and renewable energy sources. Join these two renewable energy experts and host, John Failla of Smart Energy Decisions for this intriguing and insightful episode. Outline of This Episode [1:05] What are the drivers for renewable energy sourcing in higher education? [8:02] How renewable energy fits into the energy sourcing of many colleges [18:09] Why are universities moving slowly on renewable energy sourcing? [26:42] Will higher education institutions accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles? [29:52] What is happening in universities by way of innovation to drive renewable energy adoption? [39:27] Final comments about the topic from Wolfgang and Scott University campuses are huge energy consumers. Is it possible for them to use renewable energy? Most universities are strategizing around the use of renewable energy, both in terms of how to use more renewable energy for current needs, and how to increase the use of renewable energy through establishing their own sources of RE in the future. But there are many variables that either support or hinder the adoption of renewable energy in these institutions. One advantage is that universities are long-standing institutions, which provides stability and inertia that can be leveraged toward multi-year contracts with renewable energy companies. But other factors can make the adoption of renewable energy difficult. For example, many land grant institutions have the advantage of developing their own sources of renewable energy, while urban universities have less opportunity to do so. What are the drivers for adoption of renewable energy in higher education? For institutions of higher learning, as well as other large organizations, a choice no longer has to be made between environmental sustainability and fiscal sustainability. Both can be a reality. The levelized cost of large scale solar and wind power is now lower than that of fossil fuel generated power - even with the historically low cost of natural gas that has resulted from Fracking. For this reason, cost is a significant driving factor for the adoption of renewables at universities. But also, due to political pressure, more and more universities are making progressive pledges that put them at the forefront of the renewable energy stage. They want to be seen as leaders in this innovative and future-oriented field. As a result, many universities are entering into cooperative agreements with public sector organizations to bring the reality of renewable energy on campuses to life. Listen to hear more drivers for the adoption of renewable energy at these institutions. Renewable energy sourcing is not something universities are used to doing The adoption of renewable energy is challenging for universities because it’s not like any procurement the administration is used to doing. In the past, energy needs would simply be procured from the local utility company. But the marketplace has changed and now schools have many options for meeting their energy needs. And the transition from old energy models to renewable energy involves complex projects that require much foresight and planning, which often gets bogged down in committee.  But many universities are beginning to move in the right direction - restructuring their administration to take energy needs into account with the creation of administrative positions such as Director of Sustainability or Director of Energy and Utilities. As well, the use of third party consultants is becoming more commonplace since most universities don’t know exactly what they need when it comes to renewable energy. Consultants can help the institution get through the decision-making process in an informed way so they can more quickly lay out exactly what they need. This facilitates the bidding process to get adoption projects underway. The complex and multi-faceted needs of universities are driving innovation The fact that higher education is an intriguing market for developers and renewable energy contractors makes it a natural fit for universities to become laboratories for innovation in renewable energy - from a business model standpoint, from a financing standpoint, and from a technological standpoint. Partnerships between universities and renewable energy companies are becoming more and more common as a result. For example, REC Solar has developed a renewable energies lab at California Polytechnic University where students can learn, the educational offerings of the university are enhanced, and the team at REC is learning how to operate their own assets better. Over time, it’s almost certain that more and more evolutions of this kind will be created between private and public sector organizations to move the renewable energy movement forward.   There are so many topics discussed in this episode, you’ll want to hear the entire thing, so be sure you listen. Resources & People Mentioned Michigan State University REC Solar California Polytechnic University The Smart Energy Decisions Forums Connect with Wolfgang and Scott Wolfgang Bauer on LinkedIn Scott Therian on LinkedIn Connect With Beyond The Meter https://www.smartenergydecisions.com/podcasts/beyond-the-meter Subscribe to Beyond The Meter onApple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Android, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, aCast, PlayerFM, iHeart Radio

Renewable Energy Sourcing In Higher Education, with Wolfgang Bauer and Scott Therian, Ep #3

Naturally, as any consumer technology becomes available to the public, the supporting infrastructure has to be developed right alongside. That’s the only way it can become widely accepted. But it’s not as easy as “just doing it.” There are many obstacles, financial hurdles, and unforeseen difficulties that have to be overcome. This conversation dives into what’s happening behind the scenes in the electric vehicle industry to deploy EV charging infrastructure across the nation. John’s guests are Rob Threlkeld and Craig Noxon. Rob is the Global Manager of Sustainable Energy, Supply, and Reliability at General Motors, one of the many automotive suppliers leading the way toward EV adoption. Craig is Vice President of Enterprise Sales at REC Solar, a Duke Energy company. Both men have a unique insider’s view of what’s happening to build out the infrastructure necessary for wider adoption of electric vehicles, so be sure you listen to hear what’s happening on the ground across the nation to promote the purchase and use of electric vehicles. Outline of This Episode [1:10] The increasing demand for EV infrastructure - what’s your experience? [7:06] Obstacles in meeting the demand for EV infrastructure [11:09] How retailers can benefit from investing in EV charging infrastructure [13:13] Can commercial fleet electrification over tax the electrical supply? [23:33] What could accelerate adoption of Electric Vehicle infrastructure? [37:00] The hot topics to watch over the next few years [41:00] Final thoughts: Corporations and individuals need to get involved Retailers can gain an advantage by investing in the EV charging infrastructure Many businesses across the country are noticing the advantages that can be had by providing EV charging stations at their retail locations. When customers who own and drive electric vehicles have a place to park and recharge their vehicles, it naturally follows they will frequent the establishment that provides it - and make purchases there. In retail, that's worth noticing. Anything that produces a competitive advantage is going to be seriously considered. Rob and Craig discuss how retailers, automakers, and local utilities are working together to roll out more EV charging stations at retail locations, on this episode of Beyond the Meter. 20 million EVs on the road in the next 10 years - what will that require from an energy perspective? As more and more electric vehicles hit the road, many things will be needed to both support and sustain the shift away from traditional fossil fuel vehicles. What sort of things need to happen? There will undoubtedly be Increases the amount of energy that utilities must provide for EV use This means that infrastructure decisions and innovations must be top of mind now so that when the demand arrives, we’ll be able to meet it. The demand for EV infrastructure will continue to grow It’s not only the electrical suppliers that need to think about the infrastructure - employers, corporations, and even leaders of municipalities need to be involved, taking steps to ensure that the technology and innovation needed to serve their communities is happening. Demand drives supply - always. Storage issues will need to be considered Imagine the energy demand required if a good majority of those 20 million EVs were charging at the same time. Would the electrical supply chain be able to handle it? It will if we think ahead about the storage needs required to pull it off. We need to ensure that energy produced during “non-peak” times can be stored effectively and economically so that it can be used during peak times - which means the storage technologies we have now need to be improved and increased across the board. EV as a service could be a very real possibility in the near future One of the most encouraging things happening around the move to electric vehicles is that partnerships between energy suppliers and automotive manufacturers are being formed to help consumers make the transition. Plans are being considered to provide “EV as a service” to interested consumers. These agreements - much like a traditional automotive lease - would potentially provide not only the vehicle, but also the energy, access to the charging infrastructure, and more. Imagine it - consumers would be able to receive a complete EV solution from one provider. The “sharing economy” might come into play as well. Conversations are happening around the idea of “stranded assets” such as fully charged electric vehicles that are sitting idle, being used to provide electricity back to their local utilities, for other users to “borrow,” and more. Listen to learn some of the great ideas being considered. What to expect 18 months from now The move to EVs is happening rapidly. That means many more changes could happen in just the next few years. As the conversation wrapped up, John asked his guests what they see coming in the next 18 to 24 months. Both agree that more electric vehicles will be on the road, more will be offered by a wider variety of auto manufacturers, and additional investments in battery technologies will be made, enabling batteries to be produced with decreased costs. At the same time, the challenges of scaling EV infrastructure will become evident. As demand increases, cracks will be discovered in the existing infrastructure that will have to be addressed. And, many strong players in the industry will emerge and begin to lead the way toward innovation and further changes.  Finally, John believes that a more solid and definitive business case for the electrification of commercial fleets will be made within the next few years. Data, showing the benefits of fleet electrification will begin to have an affect. That will lead to more definitive and strong plans by utilities to support fleet conversions. Resources & People Mentioned Duke Energy REC Solar Bechtel Engineering OnStar Shell Connect with Rob and Craig Rob on LinkedIn Craig on LinkedIn Connect With Beyond The Meter https://www.smartenergydecisions.com/podcasts/beyond-the-meter Subscribe to Beyond The Meter onApple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Android, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, aCast, PlayerFM, iHeart Radio

Corporate Deployment Of EV Charging Infrastructure with Rob Threlkeld and Craig Noxon, Ep #2

When considering both the future of the planet and the future of both industry and human thriving worldwide, the renewable energy outlook is of paramount importance. Renewable energy is of vital concern simply because cultures worldwide consume energy as part of everyday life. Renewable sources of energy are of such great importance for two main reasons: Renewable energy sources, by definition, never deplete Renewable energy options provide a way for humanity to step away from environmentally damaging fossil fuels This conversation is an exploration into the renewable energy outlook for the near future, led by Smart Energy Decisions founder, John Failla. John speaks with Chris Fallon, Vice President of Duke Energy Renewables and Kyle Harrison of Bloomberg NEE about the future of renewable energy through the lens of varied approaches and ideas. You’ll receive a broad overview of the current state of the renewable energy industry, hear the challenges being addressed currently, and gain an optimistic perspective relating to what can be done to make renewable energy more available and useful in the future. And keep reading below to see some of the specific topics addressed in this conversation. Outline of This Episode [2:20] Why a tangible commitment to sustainability goals is the first step for companies [5:15] What’s happening with companies regarding ESG investing and Green bonds? [9:18] The economics of renewable energy: a double-edged sword [13:18] Community Solar: the opportunities and challenges [16:38] The future of large scale virtual Power Purchase Agreements [22:22] Utility green tariff programs: what’s the future? [27:33] Retail supply products in the renewable energy outlook [30:56] Are there opportunities to integrate RE procurement with other initiatives? [33:00] What might accelerate or slow the growth of renewable energy? The renewable energy outlook relies heavily on companies Companies, both large and small, are by far some of the largest consumers of energy worldwide. That means if companies make a commitment to renewable energy use rather than traditional fossil fuel use, the renewable energy industry will take a giant step forward. As of 2018, 42% of companies have stated both renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction goals. Today, just over 190 companies have set target dates by which they intend to offset 100% of their energy consumption with renewable energy. Those are promising facts, which will require aggressive emissions reduction steps - and buying clean energy is one of the best ways to do so. Listen to hear the stories of companies that are striving toward their renewable energy goals and to understand the challenges they face in doing so.  The economics of renewable energy: a double-edged sword Two of the most obvious and in-demand sources of renewable energy are wind and solar. Costs have come down in both of those branches of the industry, which has made clean energy more attractive for corporate buyers. But though the low cost makes renewable energy very attractive, there are difficulties to be overcome. Kyle Harrison refers to this conundrum as a double-edged sword. Both wind and solar operate at zero marginal cost - which means that in some markets there is an over-saturation of renewable energy produced by solar or wind generation. When this happens, prices are depressed, which in turn decreases the profitability of the installations generating that power. When that’s the case, it makes signing energy procurement deals in those particular markets that work financially for both provider and consumer, difficult at best.  In this conversation, you’ll also learn how some corporate customers are looking at renewable energy as a risk mitigation play - taking advantage of the tax incentives offered by the government for using renewables by trying to lock in the benefits of low rates for a longer period of time. The opportunity of community solar When we talk about “Community Solar” projects, we’re referring to local solar facilities that are shared by multiple community subscribers (companies in most cases.). Those subscribers receive credit on their electricity bills for their agreed-upon share of the power produced. It’s a model of solar production and usage that is being adopted nationwide. Companies that participate receive the flexibility of an on-site project under purchase or lease agreements. Not only does a subscriber company benefit by transferring some of their energy supply to renewable energy they also receive the benefit of having a good PR story to tell to the media and customers and shareholders. Unfortunately, Community Solar is not an effective way to meet the overall energy demands of most companies. Listen to hear why Community Solar is one of the fastest-growing segments within the solar market, why there is a great deal of interest in community solar, and how companies can participate in Community Solar projects in spite of the limitations of their own facilities. Retail supply products are promising, but present challenges of their own Both Kyle and Chris believe there is a great opportunity for an aggregator or integrator to look at the total energy supply and find ways to meet customer desires to become more green through providing renewable energy products on a retail basis. So far, these programs have not scaled up very rapidly because of the questions surrounding “additionality.” This simply means that companies are eager to contribute to renewable energy development that is truly new to the power grid, thus additional.  In this conversation, you’ll learn more about how retail supply products could serve specific customers well, what the challenges are for companies who use this model, and how they are overcoming them. Resources & People Mentioned Ball Corporation NV Energy Dominion Energy The Green Source Advantage Duke Energy Carolinas Duke Energy Progress Constellation NRG Calpine Energy S K Hynix Connect with Kyle or Chris Kyle Harrison from Bloomberg NEF Chris Fallon, Vice President of Duke Energy Renewables Connect With Beyond The Meter https://www.smartenergydecisions.com/podcasts/beyond-the-meter Subscribe to Beyond The Meter onApple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Android, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, aCast, PlayerFM, iHeart Radio

The Renewable Energy Outlook For 2019 And Beyond, Ep #1

Renewable energy is a big topic these days - and it will undoubtedly become a bigger topic as we move further into the 21st century. It’s not just that we want to develop more efficient and environmentally friendly energy solutions, it’s that we must. Our future and the future of our planet depend on it. I’m John Failla, Founder and Editorial Director at Smart Energy Decisions, the first web-based information resource dedicated exclusively to addressing the information needs of commercial and industrial electric power customers. Our goal is to serve as a catalyst for change in support of the dramatic energy transformation taking place in the electric power market. To that end, we want to elevate the conversation around the topic of renewable energy, and this podcast, produced in partnership with Duke Energy is one way we are doing that. Join us for “Beyond The Meter” - a series of conversations highlighting what’s happening in the field of renewable energy. In this series, we’ll discuss how companies and municipalities are beginning to transition, how innovation and technology are making it possible, and what YOU can do to join the movement. You can subscribe to these conversations in a number of ways, which you can find at the bottom of these notes. Thank you! Outline of This Episode [0:32] Who is Craig Noxon? [1:16] The three “C”s behind the use of renewable energy in corporates [6:22] The increase in use of distributed energy sources [12:35] The utility companies are a significant part of the renewable energy transition How and why corporations need to transition toward renewable energy Corporations are under increasing pressure due to the global competition they face. The rise of the internet alongside other digital technologies enables competition from around the world to reach out to their markets. For this reason, the leadership at corporations across the world are discovering that they need ways to do more with less. When it comes to doing more with less, energy has been a bit stubborn. It’s been hard to reduce costs in that area and still provide needed resources, but all that is changing, for a few very encouraging reasons… 1 - Policy changes have occurred that allow for more choice. Corporations are realizing that the loggerheads they once experienced when choosing utilities and energy solutions are no longer the same. 2 - Innovation in both financial and technological ways are allowing for options that didn’t exist before. Wind and solar are now able to compete with the traditional energy grid to drive down the cost per kilowatt hour. Corporations are finding this very appealing. Imagine the difference it could make to a manufacturing company to reduce its energy costs company-wide! Control and Costs are huge considerations when it comes to renewable energy The rise of renewable energy has had a wonderful impact on the ability of corporations to exercise greater control in how they go about using energy. They can now manage risk more effectively and plan for the future due to the options available - EVs, solar, microgrid storage, and more. These allow businesses to have a greater degree of resiliency and increased capacity. The increased usefulness of storage technologies is the glue that helps the distributed generation technologies work together. It’s encouraging to realize that there is not a single technology that makes distributed energy solutions work. The technologies that exist are able to work together in ways unheard of previously. Utility companies play a huge role in making the transition to renewable energy It’s to be expected that a transition of the magnitude needed in the energy industry is going to take time and require many people and entities to participate. One of the beautiful things is that we now have solutions beyond what a typical regulated utility company can provide. For example, Duke Energy is the owner of REC Solar. Why? It gives Duke access outside its typical markets and the potential to own and operate energy assets long term. More and more partnerships like this are happening and it’s serving the public good by utilizing the strengths of the long-standing energy companies alongside the innovations found in renewable energy technologies like wind and solar. Subscribe to this podcast to hear more about what’s happening in the industry, what you can expect to see in terms of innovation and adoption as time rolls on, and how you can be part of the renewable energy revolution. Resources & People Mentioned REC Solar Wal-Mart’s Project Gigaton SED’s Distributed Energy Forum The Megawatts Comic series from REC Smart Energy Decisions Connect with Craig Noxon On LinkedIn Connect With Beyond The Meter https://www.smartenergydecisions.com/podcasts/beyond-the-meter

Introducing Beyond The Meter, A Podcast Highlighting The Transition To Renewable Energy

Beyond the Meter addresses timely topics of interest to executives responsible for renewable energy procurement and distributed energy resources at Fortune 1000 companies, higher education and cities. Each episode delivers insights and information that listeners can use to make smarter energy decisions beyond the meter.

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Beyond The Meter

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