How Coachella Cut Diesel by Going Battery-Solar: Ken Deans on Sustainable Power for Large-Scale Live Events & Festivals

How Coachella Cut Diesel by Going Battery-Solar: Ken Deans on Sustainable Power for Large-Scale Live Events & Festivals

From The Tie-In by Zena Harris and Mark Rabin

July 7, 2026 · 15 min · Season 3 · Episode 27

About this episode

Ken Deans discusses the transition from diesel generators to battery-solar power at large-scale live events like Coachella.

What does it actually take to eliminate diesel generators from one of the world's largest music festivals — not as a statement, but as a business decision that saves money? Ken Deans has been the power and production infrastructure mind behind Coachella, Stagecoach, and dozens of other large-scale events for over 30 years. In this episode he breaks down how a 2004 rider from Jack Johnson's management started a sustainability journey that led to eliminating diesel light towers, powering environmental monitoring stations on solar-battery, and running air-conditioned work trailers off a cargo van battery for a full month. Ken walks through the proof-of-concept that changed how the industry thinks about portable power, how he built the economic case that got buy-in from AEG/Goldenvoice, and why he believes more battery-solar than diesel at major festivals is coming within 3 to 5 years. A practical, numbers-driven conversation for anyone responsible for power, operations, or sustainability at live events, festivals, or large-scale productions. Topics: festival sustainability, diesel generator alternative, battery power live events, solar power festivals, Coachella sustainability…

People in this episode

Hosts: Zena Harris, Mark Rabin

Guest: Ken Deans

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Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Coachella, Stagecoach, AEG/Goldenvoice

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