At its recent Net Zero Forum, Smart Energy Decisions recorded onsite interviews with energy customers at various stages of their decarbonization strategies. This episode features conversations with energy customers in higher education. This series of interviews aims to provide listeners with insights and inspiration to help them on their clean energy journeys. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... Michigan State’s energy transition plan [03:01] Energy challenges...

At its recent Net Zero Forum, Smart Energy Decisions recorded onsite interviews with energy customers at various stages of their decarbonization strategies. Today’s inaugural episode features conversations with multiple energy customers in the industrial energy space. This series of interviews aims to provide listeners with insights and inspiration to help them on their clean energy journeys. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... Sustainability challenges for Mohawk...

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, produced in partnership with Trane, host Debra Chanil welcomes Becky Wacker. Becky is the Director of Energy Services Sales for Trane Commercial Americas. They discuss the challenges and opportunities that commercial building operators face today in light of decarbonization.    Disclaimer: Trane does not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. This material is for informational purposes only and it should not be relied on for tax, legal, or accounting...

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host Debra Chanil talks with Alise Porto, SVP of Sustainability and Strategic Initiatives at Switch and two-time winner of SED’s WISE (Women in Smart Energy) Award. They discuss how Switch has driven sustainability through innovative water conservation and renewable energy initiatives. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... Alise’s journey to Switch [02:28] The Regional Water Improvement Pipeline [04:10] Switch’s ESG...

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host Debra Chanil is joined by Abby Johnson. Abby is President of both Abacus Property Solutions and the Virginia PACE Authority. She is a winner of the 2023 WISE (Women in Smart Energy) Award in the category of Industry Veteran. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... Founding the Virginia PACE Authority [02:17] How does PACE work? [06:04] Managing public/private partnerships [09:56] Early wins and barriers [11:26] Working...

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host Debra Chanil talks with Matthew Cherrin, Vice President of Lobo Energy Incorporated - a company owned by the University of New Mexico. Matthew explains this innovative business model and the university’s $140 million conservation story. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... Matt’s role at Lobo Energy [01:44] Seeing measurable results [05:34] Community buy-in [10:12] Telling the story of sustainability...

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host Debra Chanil is joined by Kulsoom Khan, Energy Efficiency Manager at Congebec. Kulsoom won a 2023 WISE (Women in Smart Energy) Award for the Energy Ambassador Program she created at her company. Kulsoom shares her experience cultivating energy culture buy-in. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... Kulsoom’s role at Congebec [02:02] Congebec’s Energy Ambassador Program [07:02] Employee and management buy-in...

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host Debra Chanil shares a talk from Peter Kelly-Detwiler, a long-time friend of Smart Energy Decisions and author of The Energy Switch. Peter discusses new technologies and their advantages, drawbacks, and relative state of maturation, as well as a useful framework for how to think about new technologies and how they might affect enterprises going forward. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... The current state of the world...

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host Debra Chanil shares a keynote from Smart Energy Decisions’ recent Net Zero Forum presented by Chandra Farley, Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of Atlanta. Chandra talks about the importance of public-private partnerships, the value of positive pressure, and viewing sustainability through the lens of environmental justice. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... Science-based and community-informed [03:20] The...

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, Debra Chanil hosts a panel discussion featuring some of Smart Energy Decisions’ Women in Smart Energy (WISE) Award winners. These women share their paths in energy and sustainability, achievements, and continuing growth as women in the energy industry.  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... The importance of collaboration [01:52] Going outside of your comfort zone [06:12] Creating allowable paths [10:38] Mentorship programs...

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host Debra Chanil shares a keynote from Smart Energy Decisions’ recent Net-Zero forum, featuring Chris Thurston, Director of Energy and Sustainability at Lineage Logistics. As a company with a real vision for what the sustainable warehouse of the future should be, Lineage Logistics focuses on best-in-class energy efficiency, a zero emission or reduced GHG fleet, and investments in infrastructure to distribute excess clean power. Chris explains the...

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host Debra Chanil shares a talk from Smart Energy Decisions’ recent Net-Zero forum featuring Joe Carrillo, Regional Vice President of SSA Marine. Joe brings his “boots on the ground” perspective as the person responsible for implementing the programs that help the company meet its goals. Joe shares SSA Marine’s plans, sustainability goals, projects, and partnerships in California. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... The...

This episode of Smart Energy Voices is an interview from Smart Energy Decisions’ recent Renewable Energy Forum featuring Quen Howard, Indirect Procurement Manager of VF Corporation, and Debra Chanil, Smart Energy Decisions’ Director of Editorial and Research. They discuss the challenges of implementing renewables across a portfolio of consumer brands. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... Quen’s position at VF [01:34] VF’s renewables and sustainability goals...

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla shares a special keynote from Smart Energy Decisions’ recent Renewable Energy Forum. Rob Threlkeld, Global Manager of Sustainable Energy, Supply, and Reliability for General Motors, shares how General Motors reached its 100% renewable energy goal a whole generation ahead of schedule. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... GM’s goals for a zero-emission future [01:35] Renewable goals from leadership...

This episode of Smart Energy Voices is a keynote from Smart Energy Decisions’ recent Renewable Energy Forum featuring Jeff Blankman. Jeff is the Sustainable Manufacturing Manager for McCormick & Company and is also an Advisory Board member for Smart Energy Decisions. Jeff’s keynote addresses McCormick’s all-of-the-above sustainability strategy and embodies the essence of the unique corporate buyer presentations only found at SED events. For detailed show notes click here You will want...

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla shares a special keynote presentation from the inaugural Net Zero Forum featuring Andy Smith, Senior Manager of Global Energy Management and Sustainability at Cisco Systems. In his presentation, Andy provides a deep dive into the process Cisco recently went through to evaluate, establish and certify its net-zero goal through the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... ...

This episode of Smart Energy Voices is a panel conversation from Smart Energy Decisions' recent Net Zero forum, moderated by SED's Director of Education Programs, Peter Kelly-Detwiler. The panel covers real-time challenges that companies face on their road to net zero. This conversation is a compilation of comments and notes from peer-to-peer discussions at the event. Peter is joined by Ryan Spies, VP of Sustainability for Clayco, Marianella Franklin, Chief Sustainability Officer at The...

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla shares the opening keynote presentation from the inaugural Net Zero Forum, featuring Beth Wytiaz, Net Zero Strategy Executive for Bank of America. Beth is responsible for developing and delivering the financial institution’s environmental strategy to reach net zero before 2050. In this talk, she shares Bank of America’s approach to net-zero framework and how the organization is building a robust strategy and transition plan that covers...

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla is joined by Dr. Wolfgang Bauer, Distinguished Professor at Michigan State University, to discuss the renewable journey he has led at the university. Wolfgang is also an active Smart Energy Decisions Advisory Board member.  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... Dr. Wolfgang Bauer’s career journey [01:42] The history of power generation at MSU [05:32] MSU’s Energy Transition Plan [14:54] Solar arrays on the...

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla introduces Ryan Spies, Vice President of Sustainability at Clayco. As the closing keynote speaker from Smart Energy Decisions’ Renewable Energy Forum, Ryan spoke about addressing emissions reduction through design and the role renewables should play in decarbonization strategies. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... Ryan’s role at Clayco [01:52] Focusing on building [03:15] Embodied carbon [06:10] Concrete...

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla introduces Michael Forrester, former Director of Environment and Sustainability for the city of Cincinnati. At SED’s recent Renewable Energy Forum, Michael shared his insights on Cincinnati’s strategy of acting like a corporation that led to implementing its 100 MW PPA. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... The Green Cincinnati Plan [02:32] The city’s motivation [05:37] Energy initiatives [07:51] Municipal...

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla is joined by Dean Nelson, Founder and Chairman of Infrastructure Masons and CEO of Cato. They discuss the creation of the iMasons Climate Accord and the community efforts for diversity and inclusion, education, sustainability, and technology. iMasons Climate Accord will present a workshop on "Decarbonizing Data Center Power" at Smart Energy Decisions' Net Zero Forum, September 12-14 in Phoenix. Click here for more information.   You...

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla introduces the opening keynote speaker from Smart Energy Decisions’ recent Renewable Energy Forum, Amy Bond. Amy is the Sustainability Sourcing Manager at T-Mobile. In her talk, she presents actionable tips for navigating obstacles to success in implementing sustainability strategies, including her experience in executing Sprint’s first virtual power purchase agreement.  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... ...

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla introduces Alexandra Failla, Director of ESG and Administration at Smart Energy Decisions. Alexandra shares SED’s first Sustainability Report, which reflects SED’s commitment to align its actions and operations with The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. We hope you’ll enjoy it, and we welcome your feedback. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... Walking the walk [02:41] SED’s mission and values...

In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla introduces Creshona Armwood, Jordan Calverley, Monica Ferrer, and Kourtney Nelson from a panel at Smart Energy Decisions’ recent Innovation Summit conducted in concert with the inaugural Women in Smart Energy awards program. The panel was moderated by Smart Energy Decisions’ Director of Editorial and Research, Debra Chanil.  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... Women in Smart Energy award winners [03:04]...