Energy Changemakers Podcast

Rooftop solar is far more affordable in other countries than it is in the United States, and the gap has little to do with technology. In this conversation, Elisa talks with Nick Josefowitz, Chief Executive of Permit Power, about why American families pay so much more for rooftop solar and how outdated permitting, utility requirements and fragmented local rules create unnecessary barriers.Nick explains what “soft costs” are, why they account for nearly 80 percent of the cost of residential solar in the US, and how automated permitting could dramatically lower costs, reduce delays, and help millions of households save on their utility bills. They discuss state-level solutions, the potential for nationwide standardization, and the real economic benefits of making solar installation easier, faster and more predictable.If your company works in distributed energy or home electrification, this episode offers a practical look at policy tools that can expand the solar market, reduce customer churn, and support installers who are struggling under inconsistent local rules.Nick Josefowitz is the Chief Executive of Permit Power, a nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to making home solar and batteries more affordable and accessible. Permit Power works to cut through the red tape that keeps installation costs high in the United States by advancing automated permitting, streamlined interconnection, and state-level policy reform. The organization conducts research, provides policy guidance, and partners with lawmakers, installers, and local governments to modernize outdated systems.Relevant Links• Permit Power: https://permitpower.org• Automated permitting resources via the SolarAPP+ initiative (DOE)• Brown University Climate Solutions Lab research on local government efficiency• Energy Changemakers community: https://energychangemakers.comCall to ActionIf you are an installer, developer, or policymaker working in distributed energy, Permit Power wants to hear from you. Your stories and real-world experience help shape policy solutions that make rooftop solar more accessible for every American family.Connect with Elisa and the Energy Changemakers community at energychangemakers.com and subscribe for updates, insights, and upcoming episodes.

In this special crossover episode, Energy Changemakers host Elisa Wood joins Jennifer Zajac on Clean Energy Shorts to talk about the most exciting innovations reshaping the electric grid. From mega-microgrids to driveway solar, Elisa reveals what’s really happening behind the headlines—and why the clean-energy story is about more than politics.They unpack the myths driving public perception, explore new business models making microgrids affordable, and discuss why flexibility—not nuclear—defines the future of energy. The conversation also highlights inspiring examples of resilience, from Ukraine’s grid recovery efforts to local U.S. communities taking ownership of energy.This is an optimistic, insight-packed conversation that celebrates innovation, collaboration, and a more distributed, consumer-controlled grid.Episode BreakdownIntroductionElisa introduces the crossover episode and sets the stage for her discussion with Clean Energy Shorts host, Jennifer Zajac.Misconceptions About Clean EnergyWhy the public conversation about energy often misses the real story—and what’s actually driving today’s grid transformation.Politics and PowerElisa and Jennifer discuss the political polarization around renewables and why the market ultimately dictates the future of energy.The Coolest Innovations on the GridFrom Eaton and Siemens’ large-scale modular microgrids to a family-run company developing driveway solar, Elisa shares her favorite new technologies.The Rise of the MicrogridHow Hurricane Sandy, resilience needs, and entrepreneurial innovation made “microgrid” a household word—and how businesses are adopting them faster than ever.Making Microgrids AffordableThe evolution of business models—like “microgrid as a service”—that make distributed energy accessible to communities and companies alike.Supply Chain RealitiesElisa explains how microgrids are sidestepping the bottlenecks that plague large power plants and the transmission grid.Investment TrendsWhy investors remain confident in microgrids and solar despite shifting tax policies and tariffs.Why Nuclear Won’t Lead the FutureA candid discussion on small modular reactors (SMRs) and why nuclear energy doesn’t fit a software-driven, flexible grid.Data Centers’ Growing PainsInside the data-center boom: power shortages, desperate solutions, and NIMBY resistance from communities nationwide.Lessons from UkraineWhat the ongoing war teaches about grid vulnerability, cascading failures, and the need for distributed, resilient systems.Footprint Project & Disaster RecoveryProfiles of organizations deploying mobile solar microgrids to restore power after disasters—and what utilities can learn from them.The Next Energy Frontier: Local ControlElisa shares her excitement for community-owned solar and microgrids, and how local energy control can lower costs and increase reliability.Real Stories of Community SolarWhy even the most innovative models sometimes require old-school door-knocking to make community energy projects work.Wrapping Up: Hope for the FutureElisa reflects on her new venture, Energy Changemakers, and the inspiring innovations shaping a decentralized, equitable energy landscape. Relevant LinksEnergy Changemakers: https://energychangemakers.comClean Energy Shorts Podcast: (Search wherever you get your podcasts)Footprint Project: https://www.footprintproject.orgMicrogrid Knowledge: https://microgridknowledge.com

Are data center forecasts overblown? Will energy efficiency trim megawatts and even gigawatts off predictions? And if so, what must data centers do to significantly curb their energy use? In this episode, host Elisa Wood talks with Mike Slevin of Fluke about what it really takes to make data centers more efficient. They discuss how small, everyday improvements in equipment performance add up to big savings, the growing role of solar and microgrids, and how the shift to DC power could change the game for the industry.Why “micro gains” in maintenance can lead to major energy savingsThe difference between short-term fixes and long-term technology shiftsHow solar, microgrids, and DC systems are reshaping power strategiesRegional differences in sustainability and innovationWhat grid operators can do right now to prepare for rising data center demandMike Slevin is a Business Unit Manager at Fluke, a company known worldwide for its electronic test and measurement tools. Mike works with data centers and industrial clients to improve energy efficiency, safety, and reliability through better monitoring and maintenance practices.Fluke CorporationEnergyChangemakers.comCall to ActionIf you found this episode helpful, follow The Energy Changemakers Podcast and leave a review. Join the conversation about grid edge innovation at EnergyChangemakers.com.Key TopicsGuest BioResources

Two energy giants come together with a new strategyThe global data center boom is colliding head-on with one of the most pressing bottlenecks in the energy sector: access to reliable, timely power. In this episode, host Elisa Wood sits down with Jim Mozell, senior director of strategic partnerships at Siemens Energy, and Juan Colina, data center and IT segment leader at Eaton, to discuss how together they are trying to overcome interconnection delays and provide “speed to power” for microgrids.While many data center developers scramble for quick fixes—from reviving retired plants to chasing speculative nuclear projects—these two energy giants came together to propose a “power to chip” approach. The result, they say, is faster deployment timelines, optimized efficiency, and a more financially sustainable way to meet AI-driven compute demand.This conversation explores:● Why interconnection delays (often 7–9 years) are driving data centers to rethink power strategies● How Siemens and Eaton’s microgrid design enables modular, onsite generation—scalable from 250 MW to a gigawatt● The critical role of redundancy, efficiency, and combined-cycle technology in meeting massive compute demand● How data centers can shift from being heavy consumers to becoming good grid citizens● Global regulatory challenges and opportunities across the U.S. and Europe● Why slowing down the “frenzy buying” of energy deals could save operators money and optimize long-term sustainabilityAbout the GuestsJim MozellSenior Director of Strategic Partnerships, Siemens EnergyJim leads collaborations that address global energy challenges through scalable, efficient technology. At Siemens Energy, he works on integrating advanced power generation systems into industrial applications, including the fast-growing data center sector.Juan ColinaData Center & IT Segment Leader, EatonJuan is responsible for shaping Eaton’s global strategy for powering next-generation data centers. With expertise in modularization, resilience, and electrical distribution, he focuses on helping operators scale sustainably while ensuring reliability from “onsite generation to chip.”The market panic around securing power for data centersWhy Eaton and Siemens chose a modular microgrid approachTechnical components: Siemens’ SGT-800 turbines, batteries, and Eaton’s switchgear/UPS solutionsHow modular scaling helps manage CapEx and growth timelinesThe opportunity cost of waiting for grid connections vs. generating onsiteFinancial viability and efficiency as essential long-term considerationsRegulatory hurdles in Europe and North AmericaFuture vision: campuses and hub-and-spoke models supported by optimized onsite powerRelevant LinksEnergy Changemakers PodcastSiemens EnergyEaton Data Centers📩 Have questions or insights? Email Elisa at ElisaWood@energychangemakers.com to keep the conversation going.Call to ActionKey Topics CoveredIf you’re interested in how local energy innovations are reshaping the grid—and the future of data centers—subscribe to Energy Changemakers wherever you listen to podcasts. Leave us a review to help others discover the show, and join our newsletter community at energychangemakers.com to stay ahead of the curve.

In this episode of Energy Changemakers, host Elisa Wood sits down with renowned energy economist Skip Laitner to explore the surprising ways our “stuff” — from food waste to excess parking lots — is shaping our energy use, economy, and environment. Drawing from his decades of work at the EPA, ACEEE, and beyond, Skip reframes the energy conversation from simply producing more to using resources more productively.Using vivid, household-level examples, Skip reveals how the sheer mass of human-made materials now likely outweighs all living biomass on Earth — and why that matters for energy demand. He discusses:How household habits, from car ownership to shoe purchases, add hidden costs to our energy systemThe difference between energy efficiency and energy productivity — and why the latter could cut total energy use in halfThe role of distributed energy systems in making people more aware of their consumption and wasteHow smarter policies and greater investment could boost economic resilience while reducing environmental pressuresWhy repurposing and reuse — not “degrowth” — are key to a healthier economy and planetFrom the economics of waste to the scaling lessons we can learn from biology, Skip offers a big-picture view that connects our personal consumption patterns to global policy choices. If you care about making the grid cleaner, more local, and more equitable, this conversation will leave you thinking differently about where real change begins.🔗 Download Skip’s paper Living More by Waste Than Ingenuity https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330383360_Let's_Talk_Trash_Do_We_Live_More_by_Waste_than_IngenuityConnect + ResourcesLearn more about the Energy Changemakers community: energychangemakers.comFollow host Elisa Wood on LinkedIn

Elisa Wood interviews Mark Feasel — a former leader at Schneider Electric and FuelCell Energy, and now an independent energy consultant — about the growing tension between energy demand and access in the age of AI. As data centers proliferate and energy demand rises, utilities and innovators face a new challenge: Where will the power come from?Mark shares his perspective on how distributed energy resources (DERs), grid constraints, and new power generation models may reshape our energy infrastructure. They discuss the blank-slate reality of many AI-driven projects, the rise of fully onsite generation, regulatory hurdles, and what the future may hold if some of the most powerful companies in the world begin generating their own electricity.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why access to grid capacity is becoming the new barrier for data centersHow AI’s energy needs are reshaping assumptions about utility-scale powerThe evolving relationship between DERs and utilities—from competition to collaborationWhy “oceanfront property” is the new metaphor for grid interconnectionThe surprising role coal and methane may play in next-gen energy systemsHow modular, scalable solutions are driving innovation in onsite powerWhat Mark is seeing in the classroom as he teaches the next generation of energy leadersGuest Bio:Mark Feasel, a long-time leader and innovator in the distributed energy space, is the founder and principal of VisRete, a consultancy that services related to energy management, digitalization, microgrids, power grids and distributed generation. He previously served in senior roles at Schneider Electric and FuelCell Energy. Mark also teaches at Northwestern University’s graduate program in Energy and Sustainability, where he mentors the next generation of changemakers. His experience bridges policy, business strategy, and engineering, offering a rare depth of insight into the evolving energy landscape.Energy Changemakers NewsletterSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifyLearn more about Northwestern’s Energy & Sustainability ProgramConnect with Elisa Wood:LinkedIn: Elisa WoodCall to Action:Want to help shape the future of the grid? Join the Energy Changemakers community by subscribing to our newsletter and following us on your favorite podcast platform. Share this episode with someone curious about how AI, regulation, and private capital are influencing the power grid of tomorrow.

Scaling microgrids has long been a sticking point in the clean energy conversation—custom-built and complex, they’ve traditionally defied mass deployment. But what if microgrids could be treated as products rather than projects?In this episode of the Energy Changemakers Podcast, host Elisa Wood sits down with Alok Singhania, Senior Partner at Gridscape, to explore how standardizing microgrids can reshape the energy landscape. Alok unpacks Gridscape’s innovative approach to making microgrids modular, scalable, and manufacturable, like any other piece of equipment. Together, they examine regulatory roadblocks, federal policy uncertainty, and the educational gaps holding back market adoption.From tribal installations to community colleges, Alok shares real-world examples of Gridscape’s work, outlining a clear path to making microgrids central to a decentralized, resilient, and equitable grid of the future.Why most microgrids are stuck in a “custom project” loopGridscape’s approach to productizing microgrids for scaleHow permitting delays and lack of public understanding slow adoptionWhy a decentralized grid is critical for resilience and cost savingsThe impact of utility policy and the “over-the-fence rule”How community microgrids could become the future of energy infrastructureReal-world examples from fire stations, tribal lands, and college campusesInsights on federal tax incentives, tariffs, and future-proofing the industryAlok Singhania is a senior partner at Gridscape, a microgrid technology and project development company based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With a background in both technology and entrepreneurship, Alok has been instrumental in transforming microgrid systems from custom installations into scalable, modular energy solutions. His work supports communities, critical infrastructure, and institutions in their journey toward energy independence and grid resilience.Gridscape SolutionsU.S. Investment Tax Credit (ITC) overview: energy.govSan Pasqual Band of Mission Indians Microgrid Case StudyShabo College Microgrid ProjectFremont Fire Station CEC Microgrid Project🔗 Website: https://energychangemakers.com/📩 Newsletter: Subscribe for weekly insights on the decentralized grid📣 Spread the word: Rate & review the podcast to help grow the clean energy conversation!The Energy Changemakers Podcast is your source for expert insights into building a decentralized, local, and equitable energy future. Subscribe and join the movement.