DER Task Force

After a brief haitus to focus on 2025 planning, we're back! Last week we sat down with Astrid Atkinson, CEO and co-founder of Camus Energy. We talked about all kinds of fun stuff: how this moment of grid expansion is like the expansion of cloud services, how it isn't, how we can connect large loads faster via flexibility, where Astrid sees the grid going, how Camus started, what cool new stuff Camus is working on today, the nuance between distributed systems versus decentralized systems, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

Last week we sat down with Dana Guernsey, co-founder and CEO of Voltus. There was A LOT to talk about in this one. As you'd expect we went deep on Dana's backstory, the history of DR, new DER participation models, and where we think the future is headed. But also, Voltus just went through a settlement with FERC and this was Dana's first podcast appearance since, so we did our best to understand what happened and what the Voltus position on it all is. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

We're back! And this time, we're starting a holy war. Duncan launched an amazing paper on solar (wow, total sleight of hand! Don't you mean GAS BACKUP?) microgrids for data centers with Stripe's climate team and other DERTF OGs like Kyle Baranko, and some big names on Twitter lost their s**t.Tune in to hear about the churches of Matt Yglesias, Mark Z Jacobson, and Alex Epstein, who our maud'dib is, how heat DERvos was, what ‘25 is all about, and so much more! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

DERVOS, 10/25/24, NYCDemand growth has returned to the US electricity sector for the first time in two decades and the cracks are showing in the system. Reindustrialization, electrification, and the AI juggernaut have catapulted us into a new era. New loads are suddenly having trouble getting grid connections, interconnection times for new generation keep growing with no end in sight, and transmission and distribution costs are escalating faster than ever. And yet, technology costs continue to plummet. Will the demand growth story of the 2020s look radically different than that of the 1950s?Speakers: Ari Matusiak (Rewiring America), Astrid Atkinson (Camus), Jesse Pelton (Type 1 & Abundance Institute), Andy Lubershane (EIP)Moderator: Duncan Campbell (DER Task Force & Scale Microgirds) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

DERVOS, 10/25/24, NYCNew energy technologies can thrive or die due to regulatory policy. This unbelievable policy panel will feature regulators who have actually supported new technologies and advocates who have successfully fought for paradigm-shifting policies. We know we have great technologies--this panel will explore how we get them to scale.Speakers: Allison Clements (FERC), Marissa Gillett (CT PURA), Arushi Sharma Frank (Luminary Strategies, former Tesla)Moderator: Allison Bates Wannop (DER Task Force) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

Where else can you witness a pot of water boil in just a few seconds, learn about a micro nuclear reactor that skips boiling water altogether, insane AI-powered electro-cartography, and SpaceX-caliber EV charging infrastructure?Tons of companies applied to showcase their products at DERVOS and DER Task Force selected these four because, well, they are badass.* 0:00 - Impulse Labs* 6:10 - Westinghouse eVinci* 15:50 - Paces AI* 27:20 - Electric EraIf you're listening to this as a podcast, we highly suggest going to www.dertaskforce.com to watch the video version!And don't forget about tomorrow's NYC meetup at 6:30 @ 200 Varick Street. See the meetup calendar here for always up to date info. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

DERVOS, 10/25/24, NYCDavid Roberts (Volts podcast) and Mary Powell (CEO of Sunrun and DER legend) will sit down in a “fireside chat” style session to review the past year and chart a course for the future of DERs as two giants in our space.Speakers: David Roberts (Volts) and Mary Powell (Sunrun) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

DERVOS, 10/25/24, NYCRenewables have been breaking many of the mechanisms in our power markets, irrespective of structure. Across energy only, IRP, and capacity markets, we have been seeing "weirdness" in price action and regulatory responses as solar and wind continue to dominate new installs. It'll be an acronym stew: from PCM and RUC buying in ERCOT, adjusting ELCCs in PJM leading to capacity prices 10x'ing, to NEM 3.0 in CAISO. We want to contend with what this means today and then try to map a path into where it all leads tomorrow. Will these existing structures adapt, or will something new emerge?Speakers: Jacob Mays (Cornell), Brian Bartholomew (REV Renewables), Eric Goff (Goff Policy), Andy Reger (PA Consulting)Moderator: James McGinniss (DER Task Force & David Energy) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

DERVOS, 10/25/24, NYCTim Hade is the co-founder of Scale Microgrids and the godfather of DER Task Force. He's been an inspiration to so many in our community, so we couldn't think of a better person to kick us off at DERVOS this year.After this keynote we heard someone say “I'm ready to run through a wall for Tim” and we can't claim to have felt any differently. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

A truly wild story is unfolding in Pakistan. Over the past few years the country has become the globe's third largest importer of Chinese solar panels, and yet none of the resulting projects are operated by, or even visible to, the national utility.Simultaneously, demand from the grid has dropped 9.1% over the past 12 months, which has many scared of a potential utility death spiral.Here's a recent story in the Financial Times on what's been going on that's good background.To unpack this, we sat down with Jenny Chase of Bloomberg New Energy Finance. She has been chasing down this story since 2021, when she was the first to report on it.Jenny is also the OG solar analyst and knows more about this space than pretty much anyone. We highly suggesting scrolling through her annual “Opinions About Solar” megathread on twitter.On an unrelated note, DERVOS tickets are selling fast. There's less than 15 left at the discounted price, so snag yours quickly. Final speakers, sessions, demo-day participants, and more to come out shortly. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

We're back! This time with Nic Freschi, Senior Associate at Gable Associates and all around PJM wizard. Nic is a friend and OG member of the DERTF. Almost a year ago, Nic's models began predicting the ~10x increase in PJM capacity prices we saw in the recent auction. How did he know?In this ep, we go deep on every acronym you could ever imagine: ELCC, ORDC, PCM, LSERO, UCAP, ICAP, and so much more. Tune in to learn how ELCCs work, how prices clear in the PJM auction, if renewables can ever proliferate in capacity markets, the future of PJM, whether private traders or public bureaucrats should have their hands on the “ELCC dials”, comparing and contrasting ERCOT to PJM, James getting PJM-pilled, and so much more! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

Last week we were lucky enough to sit down with Arushi Sharma Frank, the policy wizard who while at Tesla Energy helped turn Texas into one of the DER capitals of the world. She gives us the in depth history of of how ERCOT's VPP program was forged — a story our co-host James was also a part of. We also talk about the rest of her time at Tesla, case studies in Australia and the UK, how regulators still don't understand organic consumer adoption patterns, the Obamacare of power markets, where residential DERs are headed, and what Arushi is focusing on now with Luminary Strategies. Recording this episode was super fun, so we hope you enjoy it as well. Pretty sure Arushi re-DER-pilled the three of us during this one. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

We're back! This time with Charlotta Holmquist, President and Co-Founder of Blixt. Blixt is based in Sweden and just closed a fundraise led by Union Square Ventures. Their solid state circuit breaker and x-verter technology have the potential to fundamentally change how we approach building the grid.We've never left a conversation so excited about what the future could look like. We discuss everything from transformers for data centers, what the benefits of solid state power electronics are, the implications of them, the possibility of “flexible” interconnections, and so much more. Tune in for one of our favorite episodes in recent memory! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

We're back for our first solo pod in months! We talk about what everyone is talking about these days… VPPs and load growth from AI. Is all this hype and talk about our space a good thing? Tune in to hear the Task Force unpack and set the narrative straight. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

We're back, this time with Allison Bates Wannop, DERTF's policy lead! We cover an absolute ton of stuff in this one:* Allison's background and introduction, Mother's Day acknowledgments* Mary Powell's influence, DER advocacy, the significance of FERC v. EPSA in shaping energy policy* Favorite DER categories, Vermont initiatives, impact of extreme weather on policy, details about the Green Mountain Power programs* Differences between RTOs and ISOs, complexities in regulatory work, challenges with vertically integrated states* DER Task Force goals and approach, community-driven policy development, the impact of virtual meeting technology in policy advocacy* Role of trade associations and NGOs, gaps in current DER advocacy, examples of community collaboration innovative solutions* Load flexibility, redefining Virtual Power Plants (VPPs), DERs as non-wires alternatives, peaker plant replacements This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

Last week we sat down with Dave Riess, the CEO and co-founder of Wunder. They're working hard to scale mid-sized commercial solar projects, where they believe the real TAM is in this market. Dave is an awesome guy who's been grinding in the space for years now, so we naturally had a ton to talk about.* (00:02:55) Introduction and Guest Overview: Introduction of the hosts and the guest, David Reese, co-founder, and CEO of Wonder (formerly Wonder Capital).* (00:07:33) Network-Based Energy Infrastructure: Discussion on evolving energy infrastructure to a more network-based architecture.* (00:40:42) Commercial Solar Market Challenges: Analysis of why the commercial solar market isn't scaling more quickly.* (00:50:25) Pricing and Merchant Exposure: Examination of pricing strategies and the risks of merchant exposure in solar projects.* (00:57:49) Reducing Transaction Costs: Strategies to streamline the underwriting, structuring, and de-risking processes in solar projects.* (01:27:39) DERs and Market Dynamics: Insights on the role of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) and their impact on the energy market.* (01:34:42) Future of the Grid: Speculations on how the main grid might evolve or shrink in favor of the grid edge.* (01:45:03) Technology Development vs. Deployment: The imbalance between resources allocated to technology development and deployment.* (01:46:06) Solid-State Power Electronics: Potential impact of solid-state power electronics on grid infrastructure.* (01:47:24) Energy Market Evolution: The slow evolution of the energy market and the role of capitalism in driving change.* (01:48:38) Solving Energy Problems: Identifying and addressing the primary constraints in the energy market.* (01:50:15) Transformer and Power Electronics: Discussion on transformers, power electronics, and their role in future energy systems.* (01:50:59) DC Microgrids and EV Charging: Potential benefits of DC microgrids and advancements in EV charging technology.* (01:51:34) Capital and Risk Management: Matching capital with the risk profile of solar assets and the importance of certainty in asset performance.* (02:00:39) Revisiting Past Technologies: Reflection on past technological advancements and their relevance today.* (02:01:25) Deployment Focus: Emphasis on the importance of focusing on the deployment of existing technologies.* (02:12:35) CSP 2.0 for Data Centers: Exploration of CSP 2.0 technology for providing clean power to AI data centers.* (02:14:36) Opinions on Emerging Technologies: Mixed views on the potential success of emerging energy technologies like CSP 2.0.* (02:11:57) Solar and AI Data Centers: Discussion on the announcement of a new project for AI data centers using solar thermal energy. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

We're back! This time with Casey Handmer, founder and CEO of Terraform Industries. Terraforming is building a system to turn cheap solar electricity into methane. To pull this off they'll need to commercialize the most performant and lowest-cost electrolysis, carbon capture, and Sabatier reactors ever seen. Casey had a ton of interesting thoughts about how to pull this off from engineering fundamentals in a manner that is tailored to the capacity factor of solar. We also get into the history of the energy industry, space, incumbency, electricity versus gas distribution networks, utility-scale DERs, and a ton more. This is one for the true energy nerds! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

We're back! This time we sat down with Quincy Lee, CEO and co-founder of Electric Era, an electric vehicle refueling company. Quincy has a super cool background - starting with designing skyscrapers, then moving on to space technology, and now he's der-pilled.We talk about all kinds of stuff in this one:* what SpaceX and Starlink were like* why EV charging, or whoops, we mean “car refill”* EV charging reliability* grid constraints limiting EV infrastructure* the role of social media in shaping public opinion on energy* the category isn't ClimateTech or even EnergyTech - its GridTech* and Deep GridTech is here!* solid state power electronics, quantum-level stuff* where the hell are all the transformers we need?* Quincy: Gundo is “okay”, but come to Seattle* innovation at the grid edge* the grid edge strangler figging the grid?This is a free episode for all subscribers, but if you want access to everything we do and would like to support our work broadly, be sure to visit www.dertaskforce.com and become a paid subscriber for just $5/month. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.dertaskforce.comWe're back! This time with a VIDEO POD. We recorded this live at DTECH a few weeks ago and haven't had time to upload it. But this is a fun one that you don't want to miss.Not only did we finally find out what a DERMS is, but we also became fully converted distribution utility maxis after walking the show floor. We're all quitting our jobs and starting hardware companies with the Gundo boys! Tune in to hear why!The is a paid episode for the real DERTF heads. If you appreciate our work and want to support it, all while getting access to exclusive paid content, consider subscribing at www.dertaskforce.com.

We're back, this time joined by Jesse Jenkins - professor at Princeton and lead of the Zero Lab. We cover a ton of ground in this one, including:* Jesse's DERs journey, including skepticism at times and optimism at others.* A ton of discussion on rate design.* Jesse's recent pod on rooftop solar.* How the hell is rooftop solar so expensive here versus Australia?* Where DERs are unfairly advantaged and disadvantaged.* How we're going to deal with load growth, transmission buildout, interconnection queues, etc.The is a free episode, but if you appreciate our work and want to support it, and get access to exclusive paid content, consider subscribing at www.dertaskforce.com. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

We're back! This time with Lynne Kiesling, Director of the Institute for Regulatory Law & Economics (IRLE) at Northwestern University.Lynne is an Economist who has been working on power systems issues since the early 2000s, with a focus on power markets, transactive energy, and “quarantining the monopoly” as she says.Lynne was a panelist at DERVOS, as paying subscribers know from our previously released episode. We felt her Hayekian perspective (distributed, emergent, local) rounded out those from Matt Huber (big, planned, federal) and Pier LaFarge (distributed, planned, local), and she graciously agreed to jump on the pod to dig in.This is a free episode for all subscribers, but if you want access to everything we do and would like to support our work broadly, be sure to visit www.dertaskforce.com and become a paid subscriber for just $5/month. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.dertaskforce.comBack in November we threw DERVOS, our annual distributed energy summit. It turned out awesome. We really couldn't be happier or more grateful for how it went. The panels and speakers were great, the crowd that turned up was amazing, and the vehicle to rave afterparty was super fun.Because the talks and panels went so well, we've decided to release the r…

We're back! This time we sat down with Pier LaFarge, co-founder and CEO of Sparkfund. Those who listened to the DERVOS recording released last week may remember Pier pitching a utility-led DER deployment model. It was a pretty interesting idea that we felt deserved its own deep dive on a pod, so we invited Pier on to make the case for what is likely a very counterintuitive DERs approach for many in the space. In the episode he envisions a world where utilities determine the best locations for DERs on the grid, design the systems, provide them via RFP, rate base them, and then use them to make tripling grid throughput cost effective. This of course brought up all sorts of discussion about natural monopolies, emergent outcomes, utility death spirals, price signals, socialization, cost of capital, and more. Hope you enjoy! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.dertaskforce.comBack in November we threw DERVOS, our annual distributed energy summit. It turned out awesome. We really couldn't be happier or more grateful for how it went. The panels and speakers were great, the crowd that turned up was amazing, and the vehicle to rave afterparty was super fun.Because the talks and panels went so well, we've decided to release the r…

Tune in for a chat on why ‘24 is TIME TO DER. Duncan and James reflect on the past 5 years before looking ahead at 2024 and beyond—and why the future is so exciting.We re-hash Dervos, retro our ‘23 new years resolutions, state our ‘24 resolutions, look back on the last 5 years in the space and where it is now, the current tech environment, building energy startups vs. thinking about energy, energy tech vs. climate tech, if CA grid failures are a canary in the coalmine for other regions, and so much more!PS Sorry for the hiatus… we'll be recording frequently in the new year. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dertaskforce.com/subscribe

We're back! This time with a perfect warmup for DERvos in a few days with DERTF OG Ben Carron. Ben has not only worked for FERC, Nat Grid, SunRun, E3, and now Enel X, but also was one of the earliest presenters at our original, pre-pandemic “DG Beers” happy hours.We wanted to have Ben on to get back to our energy market wonkery roots, so don't worry—you won't hear any stuff about twitter culture discourse on this ep. In it, we talk about the early “DG Beers” days, dunkelflaute, James' take that maybe market structure doesn't matter all that much for DERs, Ben's take how maybe geography is more important than market structure, a reminder that ultimately DERs need to stand on their own merits, different schemes of crediting T&D vs. energy/capacity benefits, if renewables can thrive in a capacity market, trusting the deal-making nature of all governance structures, and so much more about what the hell else who knows! We barely even understand ourselves. Tune in to bathe in the wonkery! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dertaskforcenews.substack.com/subscribe

We're back! And this time just Duncan and James to talk about weird twitter discourse again! Sorry… we promise we'll go back to talking about wonky energy stuff in the next episodes.In this ep, we talk about Duncan's Dad's epic utility pole story, James' other less successful business ventures, announcing the first ever V2R (Vehicle 2 Rave) application at DERvos, Marc Andreesen's manifesto and Sam Altman on Joe Rogan, their (and the e/acc movement's) views on energy and environmentalism, comparing that to MMA environmentalism, the religious quality to all of this, our belief in balance, our hopes for new envrionmentalism, the myopic focus of the discourse on carbon, chaos theory, complexity science, and so much more! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dertaskforcenews.substack.com/subscribe

We're back! Well, 2/3 of us are. In the first ever duo episode, Duncan and James wade deep into CDR, degrowth meme analysis, more thoughts on nuclear, and corporate environmentalism.They talk about climate week, CDR, the narrow focus of mainstream environmentalism on carbon and where the tree huggers at, comparing the popular memes of population decline and “we used to build things”, the opportunity cost of raising kids, the opportunity cost of building beautiful things, embedded growth obligations, right wing twitter, an extended meditation on these ideas and on how the hell they connect to power markets and nuclear, SMRs and data centers, and last but definitely not least…. the Apple ad!! And so much more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dertaskforcenews.substack.com/subscribe

We're back! And this time we peeled away from climate week events to record a late night ep with self-proclaimed Nuclear Bro, Mark Nelson. Grab a drink for this marathon of an episode and sink in as we wax poetic about one of our favorite religions, Nuclear Power. And we mean that in the best way.Tune in as we discuss Mark's journey into nuclear and James' journey away from it, early 10's nuclear reddit, how the nuclear movement has evolved over time, how shutting down nuclear plants is as tragic as chopping down great sequoia trees, frame how to think about the political economy of nuclear and why Lazard LCOEs are bogus, how US power markets are not really markets, why centrally planning nuclear is ok, Mark's questioning if electricity is even a commodity at all, why nuclear advocates should be dogmatic, how the nuclear dream is something worthy to aspire to, what nuclear's path back to prominence is in the US, and so much more! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dertaskforcenews.substack.com/subscribe

We're back! And this time with a solo ep, for free! Going forward, we're un-paywalling all eps and going NPR style: PLEASE think about donating $5 anyways. Here's why: We are launching a policy team! The policy team will be focusing on enforcing the DERTF Bill of Rights. In order to do that, we need to raise money to pay a part-time or full-time policy lead. We'll be doing this in two ways: through soliciting sponsorships to DERvos, our summit on Nov 9 (buy your ticket!). And hopefully, through your subscriptions, starting at $5 a month.In an ideal case, we could raise ALL our money through community subscriptions, which would ensure we never get captured by corporate interests, or this or that business model. In classic DERTF fashion, we want the ability to be a bit brash, state what we believe to be true and fair as clearly as possible regardless of what powers that be may not like it… It's a lot easier to remain truly committed to the cause by getting funding from you all instead of some external interest.It's worth noting that we've never taken a dollar out of this, and if anything we're significantly in the red. All funds brought into the task force get routed back into the community somehow, and we intend for that to always be true.Anyways, in this ep, we talk about arguing about climate change risk, the cold dimes square event we went to, Steven Donziger, how to think about climate risk as a climate optimist, Tesla being a blackberry at best, where we are in the tech cycle with DERs, why we don't feel bad reading bad climate headlines anymore or really think about climate, why we don't like doomery nature shows, a new environmentalism, eating organic before the MMA fight, an extended conversation on things we know little about: pesticides, food, seed oils, oat milk, etc, and so much more! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dertaskforcenews.substack.com/subscribe

We're back! This time with Nick Van Osdol of “Keep Cool”, who is… pretty damn cool himself. Nick has a refreshing perspective and lens on climate reporting: equal parts skeptical, optimistic, empathetic, and rational. If only more people could engage like he does.In this wide-ranging ep we talk nuclear fusion, how to think about climate risk, if we should mess around with geo-engineering, Maersk psyops, gene editing trees to be better at carbon sequestration, whether or not nature is spiritual, God, whether a carbon tax makes sense, and so much more! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dertaskforcenews.substack.com/subscribe

We're back! And this time we hosted OG DERTF Heads James McWalter (the better James) and Kyle Baranko from Paces at the David Energy HQ. They are working on one of the gnarliest problems in the entire clean energy space: permitting and interconnection. We go deeeep on the problem, so you don't want to miss this. We are massive fans of them and what they're building, and had so much fun recording this!Tune in if you want to hear us go down memory lane on early DERTF days, Kyle and James' favorite DERs and how they got DER-pilled, private wires, homesteading, solar grazing, why the permitting and interconnection problem even exists, hosting capacity maps, how Paces can help, the journey to founding climate cos, what it's like being in YC and if more climate founders should do it, the Fractal Grid, creating the clearing price for virtual wires, Sheldon Kimber, utility scale DERs, and so much more! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dertaskforcenews.substack.com/subscribe

We're back! And this time with THEE GOD Julian Spector. It's our longest episode ever because we just couldn't help ourselves going in with a member of the OG GTM Mafia. It's worth it. Julian just had some super rad reporting on how the South is building a vibrant clean energy manufacturing hub, and we sat down to discuss. We nerd out on this one for the real DERTF heads!So settle in on the Fourth of July and hear all about how AMERICA might be becoming a clean energy industrial powerhouse, Julian's trip through the south eastern US chronicling the new hub of American clean energy manufacturing, us getting nostalgic about the GTM days, how Canary differs (and is also rad), discuss the difference between munis and public power, Duncan's crazy idea for the future of distribution infrastructure, defining clean energy abundance, the evolution of da discourse, empathetic DJs, and so much more! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dertaskforcenews.substack.com/subscribe

We're back! And this time with Alfred Johnson, Founder and CEO of Crux. Crux just raised a seed round led by Lowercarbon Capital and is building a marketplace to help climate companies unlock billions in IRA tax credits. If you want to understand the IRA, look no further!We nerd out on everything from the ins and outs of transferability, what the democratization of tax credits means, who stands to benefit, step ups, and how the IRA actually works to more macro musings on the intersection of gov't, tech, and finance, what the IRA really accomplishes, what the downsides could be, what keeps us up at night, and so much more! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dertaskforcenews.substack.com/subscribe

We're back! And this time with Matt Huber, an absolute legend and advocate for centralized public power. This was a different ep, but one of our favorite in awhile.In it, we talk about Marxist geography, how bizarre peak oil discourse was, the coming shift to electricity from oil, becoming un-DER-pilled, the possibilities of a centrally-planned decentralized grid, comparing (never before built) neolib renewable supergrids to (ole, proven and trusty) socialist nuclear heavy grids, the inability of tech-y “libertarians” to make cogent arguments around nuclear, SMRs vs big old school nukes, bodega batteries, putting the hard sell on Matt to re-derpill him, all before a huge shift in gears to discuss the future of the global petro-industrial complex, labor and industrialization in the US, utilities vs public power, and so much more! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dertaskforcenews.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit dertaskforcenews.substack.comWe're back with a solo ep! And yeah, this one is paid. The NYT wrote an article on decarb bros and we have some thoughts. Tune in to listen to us talk about our first ever eco rave in LA right after we serve up a taxonomy of bros and their varying ethics: the decarb bro, the nuke bro, the bernie bro, the tech bro, the renewable bro, the frat bro, the br…

We're back! This time on a FULLY SOLAR POWERED POD with absolute legends Corey and Xtina of the Solar Punks Club. We threw the first proper Eco Rave—a solar + storage powered party—at their HQ in LA. Tune in to hear us chat about it the night before the event, and check out more from the day of here.We talked about how they got DER-pilled as non-energy people (big shouts to Saul Griffith!), putting together the largest fully solar powered camp at burning man, using culture as the tip of the spear to DER pill more youths and drive electrification, decarbonizing the entertainment sector, how many millions are spent on diesel to run festivals, how festivals and entertainment have become more about excess than abundance, what abundance mindset really means, the neuroticism of extraction based cultures, solar punk vs cyber punk, creating art with purpose, what punk is in 2023, being optimistic about optimism, and so much more! It's ultimately just a long discussion on why we think eco raves are so important. Xtina and Corey are GOATed beyond belief, and we plan to do a lot more of these. Enjoy! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dertaskforcenews.substack.com/subscribe

We're back! This time with John Berger, the CEO and Founder of Sunnova. Sunnova is not only one of the largest solar and storage installers in the country, they are also one of the most innovative in their offerings to customers. From VPPS in Texas to free batteries and micro utilities in CA, Sunnova is setting the tone for a distributed future. Tune in to hear how John views consumer choice and deregulation, incentives, the continued progression of the space, VPPs, the value of resilience, private wires, the evolution of the utility model, what customers want from DERs, and so much more!This is a fun one that we've wanted to do for some time, and not even a power outage in the middle of a conversation about utilities' obligation to serve could stop us. Were we angering the utility gods, or was it some sort of divine intervention to illuminate the importance of DERs? Spooky stuff, but we must remain undeterred in our quest to DER-pill more youths. Tune in and decide for yourselves! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dertaskforcenews.substack.com/subscribe

Colleen, Jimbo, and Duncan are back, this time joined by Noah Smith of Noahpinion. While fellow energy nerds might know Noah for his posts Don't be a doomer, Why I'm so excited about solar and batteries, or Battery-powered appliances!, his reach goes well beyond our small corner of the world. Noah's an economist and techno-optimist who engages in a wide variety of topics, from globalization, to NIMBYism, and wokeness. We had a great time with Noah and discussed all sorts of fun stuff. The conversation also delivered gems such as “the demand for culture war is highly inelastic”, “doomerism is a function of the clout-matrix”, and “ESG was a zero-interest rate phenomenon”.We hope you enjoy the episode!Timestamps:* (4:20) Discussing the merits of domesticated rabbits and the morality of eating them.* (9:59) What type of sci-fi Noah would write, and why it would be solarpunk, and another mention of our eco-rave obsession.* (12:52) Noah's hottest energy take, why are so many libertarians nuclear-stans, is distributed solar inherently expensive? * (22:14) Renewable energy narratives and counternarratives* (28:13) Is there a path to nuclear at scale?* (33:24) Noah's take on who blew up Nord Stream.* (37:20) Energy costs' role in the great stagnation starting in 1973, how that drove energy efficiency, industrial off-shoring and focus on low-energy economic activities, expensive energy → going nimby and inequality.* (52:56) Noah's interest in battery-integrated devices, Sam D'Amico = Kaylee from Firefly, Noah gets DER-pilled.* (68:00) Gas stove debates, “the demand for culture war is highly inelastic”, when are bans appropriate, DM Colleen with gas stoves studies, Gell-Mann Amnesia* (80:23) “Doomerism is a function of the clout-matrix.”* (91:32) Noah's the Energy Czar of America for 1 day.* (93:55) Dope or Nope, “ESG is a zero-interest rate phenomenon”, Noah's coming to our eco-rave.* (98:25) Bunny mischief, big shouts, qualified shouts, medium shouts, housing is for rabbits. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dertaskforcenews.substack.com/subscribe

We're back! And this time we sit down with Troy Cross, a twitter chameleon of sorts. He's an environmentalist, philosopher at Reed College, and avid bitcoiner. And depending on who you talk to, you'll get a different answer as to what he's all about. We just know him as an intelligent, interesting, super good dude who we love talking to! This is a different episode than what you all may be used to, but we had a blast recording.In it, we talk about why nuclear isn't really happening, how if it's ultimately statist, why so called anti-centralization/anti-statist bitcoiners are for it, if bitcoiners just want to be the landed aristocracy, bitcoin citadels, a long riff on the pros and cons of both bitcoin and our current monetary system, how to square narratives around ESG, bitcoin, and climate, how Shell is both at Davos and the Bitcoin Miami conference, how to navigate the culture war when it comes to climate, who these narratives ultimately serve, how DERs and bitcoin share similar philosophical underpinnings, how bitcoin and DERs are a check against our struggling institutions, and so much more!!!Strap in, this is a fun one. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dertaskforcenews.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit dertaskforcenews.substack.comWe're still figuring out this whole substack thing. We released this paid ep last week for paid subscribers, but didn't send out an email or a preview to our unpaid subscribers. So, we're resending to give the unpaids a snippet of this tasty ep. If you're an unpaid subscriber, you should change that! Original post:“We're back with a solo pod! We'll be d…

The crew is back with another episode, this time sitting down with Arcady Sosinov, Founder and CEO of FreeWire. In this episode we talk about doing things that really, really don't scale, gearheads in an EV world, utility vs O&G company cold war + the breakdown of 7 Powers in an abundant energy future, FreeWire's core product innovation and the value of juicing utilization, finally a charging solution for non-suburbs, trojan horsing batteries into your local Wendy's, the rise of permission-less DER deployment and how utilities will react, the equity questions around rate-basing + EV charger deployment, collecting tax credits like Pokemon, avoiding space-time continuum rips at all costs, and some…questionable… big shouts. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dertaskforcenews.substack.com/subscribe

We're back! This time we sit down with Sam D'Amico, CEO and co-founder of Impulse Labs, an induction stove start-up based out of San Francisco. Listen on for nearly 2 hours of physics, macro, cooking, and much more: * (1:30-22:45 ) Getting DER-pilled (thermal events anyone?), nerding out about college extra-curriculars, Sam's favorite DER and James' public retraction, breaking out the old charcoal grill with the boys* (22:45-30:29) When are we finally getting fusion?* (30:30-45:45) How and why Sam took the induction plunge from VR, Impulse Labs elevator pitch in energy and in English, getting people into the vibes of induction by just being better* (45:50-51:05) Duncan asks questions about knobs* (51:05-1:02:00) The Impulse Labs master plan and induction as a NWA* (1:02:00-1:16:20) A microbattery future? The exclusionary story of suburban electrification + driving down soft costs* (1:16:20-1:32:10) Macro chatter: Raising a Series A in a non-optimal capital environment, growing a non-pure-SaaS business in whacky macro conditions, what happens when China rebounds from zero Covid * (1:32:10-1:39:40) Energy czar of America and our energy abundant future* (1:39:40- ) Dope or nope, BIIIG shoutsFriendly reminder that you can always find us on Spotify, iTunes, or your favorite podcast player. Thanks for listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dertaskforcenews.substack.com/subscribe

We're back with a solo ep to talk about Doomers and why you shouldn't be one! Tune in to ring in your new year with a heavy dose of optimism and why 2023 is going to be insane heat.This time we talk Duncan getting saved by a Christian Scientist, the average person thinking casually that we're screwed, why having kids is good, Jordan Peterson's and Alex Epstein's cringe intelktualism, categorizing doomers and degrowthers, Colleen and James' climate journeys, how doomers and knee-jerk contrarians in their opposition just both re-enforce the status quo, talking about eco raves with LCD Soundsytem bandmates, what Clean Energy Abundance means to us, doing more with less, why art, changing cultural narratives, and DER-pilling our peers matters so much, listening to the Ion Pack, whether we should go to Mars or just be homesteaders, if Elon is a doomer, and so much more! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dertaskforcenews.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome back to another episode of the pod! This week, we sat down with Neha Palmer, CEO and Co-founder of Terawatt Infrastructure. Check out the show notes below: * (0:00-13:00) Getting DER-pilled at PG&E, favorite DER, extra-curricular activities and protecting powDER, Neha's ideal last job, and hottest energy takes* (13:00- 22:30) The Terrawatt Infrastructure pitch, EV charging for fleets and what's special about Terrawatt's model * (22:30- 32:00) Location, location, location and optimization, optimization, optimization, rise of the electrocartographer* (32:00-42:10) Overcoming the interconnection challenge, balancing growth and reliability in the process* (42:10-52:10) What electrification means for how companies run their EV fleets and where hydrogen fits in, plans beyond EVs * (52:10-56:01) Energy czar of America, and dope or nope* (56:01-59:30) Big Shouts to Keyframe, Vision Ridge, and the youths. Plus interconnection analysts, Twitter and Terrawatt Friendly reminder that you can always find us on Spotify, iTunes, or your favorite podcast player. Thanks for listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dertaskforcenews.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome back to another episode of the pod! This episode is a special one — it features many of you! During the DERTFestivities, the crew busted out the recording equipment and captured some live takes from the community. Listen on to hear some major heat from the Task Force….* The crew gives up on explaining franchise rights in minute 1* Russell “Rusty” Wilcox (Thee God) on bigger and better onesies and hard dope, plus big Tim energy* Sophia Cowles (The Low-Talker) on the new boomers, getting DER-pilled, and meeting randoms from the internet* Ben Carron (The Options Guy) on NEM and being שעפּן נחת (shepn nakhes) about DER Task Force* Katie Tweed (The Birdwatcher) tells us about herself + Canary Media (a real bird, unlike Twitter), dreaming of heat pumps and camping outside Sears, and CONFIRMS induction stoves are DERs (sorry Kiran!), expanding Canary coverage for the future * The crew gets told off by the bartender for DERTF being animals* Elta Kolo (Dr. Demand Response) gives candid feedback about DERTF, knee-deep in the IRA with Huck Capital is strong dope with big scope* Eric Goff (James's Twitter BFF) on working with BEEEEP, the nopest ERCOT proposals + unmasking bad actors, fascist energy policy and California fuckery, infra of last resort model, trade org ASAP* Nick Scherer (Turnstile's neighbor) on penning + reviewing the DER Task Force Bill of Rights* Billy REDACTED (Hire this man) just took his first DER Pill, entering the Age of the Electron, sitting in the podcast hotseat, interviewing live from Nightmoves, a message for the future recently-DER-pilled who may listen* Task Force OUTFriendly reminder that you can always find us on Spotify, iTunes, or your favorite podcast player. Thanks for listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dertaskforcenews.substack.com/subscribe

Hello there DER Task Force — we are back after a post-DERTFest break with another episode of the pod. This time, the gang interviewed Emily McAteer, founder and CEO of Odyssey Energy Solutions. In this episode we cover…* (0:00) Getting to know Emily: DER-pills in ‘09, the dopest and nopest grids, Emily's favorite DER, SunEdison in its heyday, hottest energy takes* (17:40) The “uneconomics” of minigrids, and what's going on in emerging energy markets today * (26:38) The false binary of energy access - a big grid or the bare minimum * (30:45) The Odyssey Energy story (and a new acronym), the core pillars of the business and competitive advantages, being the platform or owning the vertical* (43:00) The job to be done by Odyssey and why build the business, Emily's personal connection to climate * (51:58) Has V2G made it to emerging markets? Capacity factor math for the new grid + bilateral minigrid agreements, and how to build minigrids for volatile demand* (1:02:10) WORLD energy czar for a day, dope or nope, BIG SHOUTS Friendly reminder that you can always find us on Spotify, iTunes, or your favorite podcast player. We hope you enjoy! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dertaskforcenews.substack.com/subscribe

Hey there Task Force! This week, the crew sat down and with Henrik Langeland, CEO and co-founder of Enode and talked all things interoperability, walled gardens, and Henrik even breaks some exciting news on the podcast! Check out the show notes here:* (0:00) Welcome to the ThunDERdome, getting DER-pilled, learning more about Henrik, why interoperability is so important* (9:40) Enode — the origin story, the secret behind the name, the core business, James slips in an early Big Shout * (20:40) What's an integration? An analogy to Plaid, the challenges of device management APIs, hot takes on OEMs that don't want to be interoperable (hint: DERTF Bill of Rights makes an appearance), why walled gardens fail* (31:08) Digging deeper into walled gardens — is there an argument for the OEMs? Why OEMs can't grasp the shared resources across all a customer's devices and widgets vs commodities* (37:30) New consumer habits in the future (or Norway), developing instincts for an electric frame of reference * (44:10) Breaking news — Enode raised a $15M Series A! The fundraising process and the experience, how they're using the money, the European startup scene * (50:40) If energy were hyperabundant and it ceased to become a meaningful economic driver, then what? * (56:15) Does Enode exist outside of DERs?* (57:41) Henrik is energy czar of Europe, dope or nope, BIG SHOUTS Friendly reminder that you can always find us on Spotify, iTunes, or your favorite podcast player. We hope you enjoy! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dertaskforcenews.substack.com/subscribe

Hey Task Force! Back this week with episode 23 of the DER Task Force podcast. This time, the crew was joined by Michael Huerta, CEO and co-founder of PearlX. This is another long one and we cover a LOT of ground: * (0:00) Welcome to the ThunDERdome, getting to know Michael * (7:11) Michael gets DER-pilled by his wife, being thankful for the Lehman bankruptcy, favorite DER (plus we owe Kiran an apology), and F**K the widget* (24:50) What's PearlX? Bringing solar + storage to multi-family rental spaces, how vacancy-based underwriting works, widening access to DERs for LMI communities, multi-family owned vs multi-family rental buildings * (51:18) Texas vs California, long-gamma retailers and exposure to the fat tails, getting to the bottom of being financially long and physically short * (1:15:48) TexFlex (the program not the vibe), hitting the 4th derivative, short squeezes in Texas, serving LMI communities* (1:36:40) Cultural impacts of flexible energy systems, James is a hippie, envisioning the electropolis, what flexible systems mean for the resuscitation of community * (1:52:41) Dope or nope (plus Jigar is the first mayor of the electropolis)* (2:01:47) Biiiig shoutSSS Friendly reminder that you can always find us on Spotify, iTunes, or your favorite podcast player. We hope you enjoy! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dertaskforcenews.substack.com/subscribe

We are back with another episode of the DER Task Force podcast! This week, the crew sit down with the COO of Scale Microgrid Solutions and patron of the DER Task Force, the one and only Tim Hade. In this epic, 2+ hour episode episode, we talk about:(1:15) Opening quote, DERTF's #1 rule, Grandaddy Tim shares some love(4:32) Tim's DER-pilling and fave DER, some cute non-Scale hobbies, the value of compounding execution, HOTTEST energy take (21:05) Lessons from 6 years in the Air Force and getting into business with his childhood best friend, pioneering solar + battery + natural gas microgrids for resiliency, not sustainability or economics(39:15) How do we truly value resiliency? What happens when politicians run the grid? The delicate tightrope investor-owned utilities walk and asking for regulatory forgiveness, not permission(1:02:49) Project development is crazy, a playbook is emerging, sending nursing homes pizza boxes (1:18:00) Big talent joining energy tech, spaces for people to learn, Tim's the Energy Czar but gives his job away (1:23:30) Are DERs inevitable? Getting lost in the sauce, contradictions, the grouse makes it to Congress, serenity prayer(1:55:16) Dope or nope (plus a brief intermission to explore conspiracy theories) (2:14:22) Biiiig shouts to BoxPower, Jigar Shah, and the grandaddy of DERs himself - Tim Hade Friendly reminder that you can always find us on Spotify, iTunes, or your favorite podcast player. We hope you enjoy! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dertaskforcenews.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit dertaskforcenews.substack.comWe are back with another episode of the DER Task Force podcast! This is our first paid episode, so if you’re listening in your favorite podcast player that’s not Substack, follow these instructions to add your private RSS feed. No guests this week, just Colleen, Duncan and James diving into the latest spicy topic: ESG, what it means, how cultural and political movements have co-opted it, and much more. Buckle up, this is a wild one. In the episode, we talk about:(1:41) Opening quote + context, disclaimers and what we’re ACTUALLY talking about (4:50) The group’s hottest takes on ESG — are people pro + anti-ESG actually the same? Has the narrative layer taken over completely?(11:25) Defining the original meaning of ESG, tracing its history, and breaking down why it’s so controversial all of a sudden (25:30) Breaking down the anti-ESG perspective (warning: Peter Thiel and the petro-industrial complex rear their heads) (38:02) Honing in on the hypocrisy of the hard pro + anti ESG movements(44:45) So is clean energy a revolution or not? Are incumbents capable of participating in the revolution?(51:20) Turns out, it’s our f*****g revolution. If you want in, get in the back(1:01:15) Landing the plane on ESG — why does this all matter?(1:13:11) Preparing ourselves for the Davos transhumanists + other conspiracy theories (1:18:25) Guessing Marx’s hot take on ESG. And, what’s the true source of ESG?(1:28:03) Big shouts — VDERLove, Inflation Reduction Act, National Grid, and the USA And friendly reminder that you can always find us on Spotify, iTunes, or your favorite podcast player. We hope you enjoy!