Podcasts about Duke Energy

Some people turn to YouTube to watch music videos, clips of their favorite television shows, or how-to videos. Brian Lusher turned to it for a different reason. Years ago, Brian started downloading academic lectures about the energy industry on YouTube so he'd have something tolisten to on long drives. At the time, he was a reliability engineer for an on-site power plant at a manufacturing facility. But his self-guided, deep dive into the industry helped land him a job at Duke Energy, where he's director of demand response today. This week on With Great Power, Brian describes some of the programs that Duke has deployed to help both residential and commercial customers manage their energy use. He also shares how demand response and virtual power plant programs fit into Duke Energy's larger strategy to manage load growth, including from data centers. Credits: Hosted by Brad Langley. Produced by Mary Catherine O'Connor. Edited by Anne Bailey. Original music and engineering by Sean Marquand. Stephen Lacey is executive editor. The GridX production team includes Jenni Barber, Samantha McCabe and Brad Langley.

Send us Fan MailMeet Cindy Ledbetter: a high school dropout who overcame extreme poverty and personal tragedy to become an Indiana State Representative and a psychiatric nurse practitioner. In this episode of The Days Grimm Podcast, we uncover the reality of local politics, the mental health crisis, and what it actually takes to create legislative change.Representative Cindy Ledbetter sits down with Brian, Thomas, and Corey to share her incredible journey from living with no running water in the Allegheny Mountains to serving in the Indiana State House. She pulls back the curtain on how lobbying money dictates healthcare laws, specifically how medical associations block bills that would increase mental health access. She also breaks down the ongoing debates surrounding data centers in Southern Indiana, explaining the nuances of closed-loop water systems and infrastructure costs. Furthermore, she addresses the frustrations surrounding CenterPoint Energy and Duke Energy, explaining why local rates are so high and detailing her fight to lower utility bills through consumer choice legislation like House Bill 1276. This episode is a masterclass for anyone frustrated with the political system and wanting to understand the real-world intersection of mental health, state legislation, and community action.If you have ever felt like public officials are disconnected from everyday struggles, Cindy's story is a refreshing reality check. She explains exactly why utility monopolies exist, how the medical lobby controls mental healthcare efficiency, and the undeniable power of citizen organization. By the end of this episode, you will understand exactly why your vote in local primaries is the most powerful tool you have to fight back, as only 14 percent of the public currently turns out to vote in Indiana primaries.If you found value in this conversation, hit the subscribe button for more raw and honest episodes of The Days Grimm Podcast. Leave a comment below with your thoughts on consumer choice for utilities, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear Cindy's story.TIMELINE : 00:00:00 - Introduction and welcoming Representative Cindy Ledbetter 00:04:28 - Growing up in extreme poverty in Pennsylvania and Mississippi 00:09:36 - Dropping out of high school and navigating teenage pregnancy 00:18:33 - The Ivy Tech encounter that changed Cindy's life trajectory 00:24:49 - Transitioning from cardiac nursing to psychiatric care 00:29:31 - Misdiagnoses: Bipolar Disorder vs. Borderline Personality Disorder 00:32:55 - Why Cindy felt called to run for public office 00:43:54 - How medical lobbyists block bills for nurse practitioners 00:49:44 - The truth about data centers coming to Southern Indiana 00:58:55 - CenterPoint Energy vs. Duke Energy: Why are utility bills so high? 01:06:31 - The problem with lobbyists and reclaiming power for the people 01:10:47 - Why 14 percent primary voter turnout is destroying local politics[The Days Grimm Podcast Links]- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheDaysGrimm- Our link tree: linktr.ee/Thedaysgrimm- GoFundMe account for The Days Grimm: https://gofund.me/02527e7c [The Days Grimm is brought to you by]Sadness & ADHD (non-medicated)

AI is forcing every customer experience leader to choose: chase efficiency at any cost, or scale service without losing the human heart. Jeannie Walters sits down with Vincent Davis, Chief Customer Officer and SVP of Customer Experience at PG&E, to unpack what it takes to build empathy, accountability, and trust in a world where automation is everywhere and customer patience is thin.We dig into Chewy's approach to empathy at scale, and why values beat hype in an AI strategy. Customers don't feel your intentions, they feel the experience, especially during outages, service interruptions, and billing issues. We look at crisis readiness through United Airlines' handling of irregular operations, then dig into PG&E's work across digital channels, contact centers, billing, and insights. Vincent explains how an IVR named Peggy boosts containment and satisfaction while freeing agents for higher-impact work. We also cover customer obsession, employee experience, process simplification, and why customers measure every brand against the best they've had, from Amazon to Uber.If you care about customer experience strategy, AI in the contact center, proactive communication, and building trust when things go wrong, subscribe, share this with a CX leader, and leave a review with your biggest question about empathy and automation.About Vincent DavisWith more than two decades of experience in the energy industry, Vincent Davis leads with the conviction that customer experience is not one department's job, but a standard for the entire company.As Chief Customer Officer at PG&E (https://www.pge.com/), one of the largest customer experience organizations in the utility industry, he leads a team of roughly 2,000 coworkers, overseeing more than $22 billion in annual revenue and a portfolio of programs and products spanning everything from smart meters and billing to digital channels and customer service.Davis is the driving force behind Customer at the Heart, PG&E's award-winning initiative that has changed how the company approaches customer experience, with the mantra that the company will build trust by delivering a 10 out of 10 experience in every interaction. He believes customer trust is earned by being present in the communities PG&E serves and ensuring customer voices are reflected in business decisions. Davis's path to this role has taken him through nearly every part of the customer function, from leading PG&E's Energy Efficiency Programs group to directing a $1 billion demand-side management portfolio and spearheading an $850 million Advanced Meter Replacement initiative.Earlier in his career at Duke Energy, he led the Envision Charlotte program, a public-private sustainability partnership recognized by the Clinton Global Initiative.He holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of South Carolina and an MBA from Queens University of Charlotte. He has executive management certifications from Stanford and UNC Chapel Hill. In 2022, he received the Leadership Excellence Award in Energy at the Energy Inclusion Conference.Follow Vincent on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincent-davis-6436a01Articles Mentioned:- Chewy's CEO Is Chasing ‘Empathy at Scale' (Inc) -- https://www.inc.com/stephanie-mehta/chewys-ceo-is-chasing-empathy-at-scale/91358987- Amazon Connect Customer Brings Live Sync and the Agentic CX Designer to CCW – Here Is Why That Matters (CX Today) -- https://www.cxtoday.com/ai-automation-in-cx/amazon-connect-customer-brings-live-sync-and-the-agentic-cx-designer-to-ccw-here-is-why-that-matters/- KeyBank modernizes its digital experience with customer relationships front and center (CX Dive) -- https://www.customerexperiencedive.com/news/keybank-modernizes-digital-experience-customer-relationships/823575/Resources Mentioned:Order your copy of Experience Is Everything -- http://experienceiseverythingbook.comExperience Investigators Website -- https://experienceinvestigators.comEnjoyed the show? Subscribe, share with your team, and leave a quick review to help others find us. Leave your review at ratethispodcast.com/xact.Want to ask a question? Visit askjeannie.vip to leave Jeannie a voicemail! (And don't forget to follow Jeannie Walters, CCXP, CSP on LinkedIn!)

July 2026 Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks. Includes articles on the top sustainable pharmaceutical companies, clean energy ETFs, and more! By Ron Robins, MBA Transcript & Links, Episode 169, July 31, 2026 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast episode 169, published on July 31, 2026, titled "July 2026 Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks." Now, before I begin, I want to apologize if my voice at any time sounds a little rough! This podcast is presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your go-to site for vital global, ethical, and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript and links to content, including stock symbols and bonus material, on this episode's podcast page at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, and I don't receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal any investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. I have a terrific crop of 27 articles for you in this podcast! Note: Sometimes companies are covered more than once. Now with so many articles to potentially cover, I've chosen 4 to quote from. Titles and links to the other 23 can be found on the webpage for this podcast edition. ------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Top 10: Sustainable Pharmaceutical Companies from sustainabilitymag.com I'm beginning this podcast with an article that reviews an industry that is controversial for some ethical and sustainable investors. Nonetheless, the sponsor of this industry analysis needs to be considered. The title of the article is: Top 10: Sustainable Pharmaceutical Companies from sustainabilitymag.com. It's by David Weston. Here is some of his analysis. "Here we present the pharmaceutical companies leading in corporate responsibility, innovation and dedication to a healthier, increasingly sustainable future. 10. Boston Scientific (BSX) Founded: 1979 HQ: Marlborough, US Net Zero Target: 2050 In the short term, it aims to achieve a 46.2% absolute reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 – compared to a 2019 baseline. By 2050, it wants to achieve a 90% absolute reduction. 9. UnitedHealth Group (UNH) Founded: 1974 HQ: Eden Prairie, US Net Zero Target: 2050 UnitedHealth Group is working to source 100% of its energy from renewable sources and reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 60% by 2030. 8. Danaher (DHR) Founded:1969 HQ: Washington, DC, US Net Zero Target: 2050 Danaher's 2025 Scope 1 and 2 emissions were 30% lower than the 2021 baseline, with 70% of the electricity consumed in its operations drawn from renewable sources. 7. Elevance (ELV) Founded: 1944 HQ: Indianapolis, US Net Zero Target: 2030 Elevance Health… uses 100% renewable electricity, and encourages suppliers to adopt science-based targets… Its initiatives include energy and water efficiency, responsible waste management and low-carbon commuting. 6. Medtronic (MDT) Founded: 1949 HQ: Minneapolis, US Net Zero Target: 2045 Medtronic aims to have 75% of its suppliers backed by science-based targets by 2030… Medtronic also wants to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 52% by FY30 from a 2020 base year. Top 5... 5. McKesson (MCK) Founded: 1833 HQ: Irving, US Net Zero Target: Reduce direct GHG emissions by 50% by 2032. It aims to reduce direct GHG emissions by 50% by 2032 from a 2020 base year. 4. Bayer (BAYN) Founded: 1863 HQ: Leverkusen, Germany Net Zero Target: Before 2050 By the end of 2029, it targets a 42% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions from a 2019 baseline. Strategies include… transitioning to 100% renewable electricity. 3. CVS Health (CVS) Founded: 1963 HQ: Woonsocket, US Net Zero Target: 2050 In 2021, CVS Health emerged as a global leader by securing SBTi validation for its net zero targets… The company is targeting 50% renewable electricity by 2040. 2. Haleon (H6G.SG) Founded: 2022 HQ: Weybridge, UK Net Zero Target: 2040 Haleon uses 100% renewable electricity across its production facilities. 1. Thermo Fisher Scientific (TN8.F) Founded: 2006 HQ: Waltham, US Net Zero Target: 2050 Thermo Fisher Scientific… interim targets including a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2018 levels and 80% renewable energy use by 2030." End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Riding the Green Wave: Clean Energy ETFs Benefiting from etftrends.com Now the case for green energy is clearer than ever, and this article offers reasons for it and what investments to look at. It's titled Riding the Green Wave: Clean Energy ETFs Benefiting from etftrends.com. It's by Ryan Schloesser, and here are some quotes from his article. "Following a multi-year slump in clean energy ETF performance, geopolitical tensions sparking global energy security concerns and energy demand from AI data center projects have driven clean energy investment in 2026… (Starting with) Gains in (3) Global Clean Energy (ETFs) 1. iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN) tracks the performance of the S&P Global Clean Energy Index… (The) iShares Global Clean Energy ETF has climbed over 20%, and has received inflows of $507 million so far in 2026. 2. Fidelity Clean Energy ETF (FRNW) tracks the Fidelity Clean Energy Index, targeting global companies that derive at least 50% of their revenues from renewable energy. The fund has seen a return of 17.3% and inflows of $60 million this year.  3. Invesco Global Clean Energy ETF (PBD) follows the performance of the WilderHill New Energy Global Innovation Index… (The) Invesco Global Clean Energy ETF has climbed 19% and recorded inflows of $6.5 million in 2026.  Capturing the North American Energy Shift (are the following 4 funds) 1. Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF (PBW) tracks the WilderHill Clean Energy Index… The fund has climbed 20.6% this year with outflows of -$305.2 million as surging Treasury yields and potential interest rate hikes pressure smaller-cap holdings.  2. First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN) tracks the NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index targeting North American companies across the green value chain… The fund has grown 27.2% this year and received inflows of $110 million.  3. ALPS Clean Energy ETF (ACES) and 4. (the) ALPS Electrification Infrastructure ETF (ELFY) both provide North American exposure to the clean energy sector. (The) ALPS Clean Energy ETF tracks the CIBC Atlas Clean Energy Index… Focusing more on the electrification infrastructure component of the clean energy transition, (the) ALPS Electrification Infrastructure ETF tracks the Ladenburg Thalmann Electrification Infrastructure Index, providing exposure to the companies physically supplying electricity and grid infrastructure. This year, the funds have returned 5.4% and 22.7%, with inflows of $12.8 million and $58.6 million, respectively.  (And 2) Pure Play (Funds with) Exposure to Solar and Wind 1. Invesco Solar ETF (TAN) offers concentrated exposure to a portfolio of companies involved in the global solar value chain by tracking the MAC Global Solar Energy Index. 2. First Trust Global Wind Energy ETF (FAN) tracks the ISE Clean Edge Global Wind Energy Index. (The) Invesco Solar ETF has returned 14.7% with inflows of $536.1 million in 2026, while (the) First Trust Global Wind Energy ETF has risen 21.8% and recorded inflows of $62.8 million over the same period." End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 3) 3 AI Infrastructure Stocks That Could Double by 2027 from finance.yahoo.com Many ethical and sustainable investors are heavily invested in the AI sphere. So as an homage to them, I have this recent article titled 3 AI Infrastructure Stocks That Could Double by 2027 from finance.yahoo.com. It's by Will Healy at fool.com. Here's a bit of what he says in his article. "1. Nvidia (NVDA) trades at a P/E ratio of 31, which is actually less than the S&P 500 average of 32. This has occurred as Nvidia's revenue grew by 85% yearly in the first quarter of fiscal 2027 (ended April 26). When also considering the 211% profit increase for the same period, the earnings multiple would arguably appear low even if Nvidia's stock price were to double. 2. CoreWeave (CRWV) As one of the leading neocloud companies, CoreWeave has drawn increased attention. Amid the potential for massive stock gains, huge losses and rapidly rising debt levels have soured some investors on this company… CoreWeave has Nvidia as an investor and a partner. That gives the company capital and access to Nvidia's latest technology, giving CoreWeave a competitive advantage. 3. Meta Platforms (META) Facebook parent Meta Platforms is in the process of transitioning into more of an AI-oriented enterprise. The company pledged to spend between $125 billion and $145 billion in capital expenditures (capex), most of which will probably go to building more AI infrastructure… Indeed, the 26% forecasted revenue increase for 2026 is a slowdown from Q1. Nonetheless, that would put downward pressure on an already low P/E ratio if the stock price stayed the same. Moreover, if Meta's AI inspired more confidence, its current valuation indicates the stock price could double without making Meta an expensive stock." End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 4) Top Wind Energy Stocks to Add to Your Portfolio for Solid Long-Term Returns -- from Zacks.com Lastly, I have this article covering a sector that most of you are concerned with. It's titled Top Wind Energy Stocks to Add to Your Portfolio for Solid Long-Term Returns -- from Zacks.com. It's by Avisekh Bhattacharjee. Here are some quotes from his article. "(Note that this is) an updated edition of the May 28, 2026 article. 1. NextEra Energy (NEE - Free Report) is a public utility holding company engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electric energy. The Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company's competitive energy business, NextEra Energy Resources LLC ('NEER'), is a leading generator of wind energy globally. 2. Duke Energy (DUK - Free Report) is a premier utility service provider offering efficient power and energy services. The Zacks Rank #2 company is currently focused on expanding its scale of operations, implementing modern technologies at its facilities as well as enhancing its renewable generation portfolio by investing heavily in infrastructure and expansion projects. 3. American Electric Power (AEP - Free Report) is a public utility holding company, which, through directly and indirectly owned subsidiaries, generates and transmits electricity. Wind forms a part of the company's broader strategy to diversify its generation portfolio and lower carbon emissions… The Zacks Rank #2 company is expanding its regulated renewable asset base. 4. Vestas Wind Systems (VWDRY - Free Report) is a renowned designer, manufacturer, installer and service provider for wind turbines across the globe. To capitalize on rising demand for renewable power, the company emphasizes wind capacity expansion, technological advancement and sustainable energy development… In June 2026, the Zacks Rank #2 company secured five new orders to deliver wind turbines in Germany." End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- 23 more articles from around the world with Sustainable Investment Picks for July 2026. 1. Title: This Solar Power Stock Still Has a Bright Future from barrons.com. By Avi Salzman. 2. Title: Solar Beats Coal for the First Time: 3 Dividend Stocks to Buy Now from fool.com. By Reuben Gregg Brewer. 3. Title: 3 Consumer Staples Stocks Riding The Fairtrade Spending Trend from simplywall.st. Reviewed by Sasha Jovanovic. 4. Title: 1 Nvidia-Backed AI Infrastructure Stock to Buy Hand Over Fist Right Now from fool.com. By Dave Kovaleski. 5. Title: Top 10: Wind Power Companies from energydigital.com. By James Darley. 6. Title: This AI Infrastructure Company Has a $638 Billion Backlog and Is Trading Near an 18-Month Low from fool.com. By Matt Frankel, CFP®. 7. Title: 3 Green Investment Stocks Backed By Copper, Biofuels And Solar Demand from simplywall.st. Reviewed by Sasha Jovanovic. 8. Title: Forget Nvidia: This Infrastructure Upstart Is The Real Backdoor AI Winner from fool.com. By Leo Sun. 9. Title: 3 Stocks to Buy on the AI Infrastructure Sell-Off from fool.com. By Geoffrey Seiler. 10. Title: This ESG ETF Owns Google and Intel but Won't Touch Meta, and It's Up 22% in a Year from finance.yahoo.com. By Michael Williams at 24/7 Wall St. Continuing 12. Title: 3 Alternative Energy Stocks Investors Are Watching After The Oil Shock from simplywall.st/. By Sasha Jovanovic. 13. Title: ENVX Stock Soars at Yahoo: Is This the Next Big Environmental Investment?! From catalogo.cpal.edu.pe/. By CPAL. 14. Title: Buy 3 High-Flying Alternative Energy Stocks to Tap AI Data Center Boom from Zacks.com. By Nalak Das. 15. Title: 1 Growth Stock That's Pulled Back 39% and Looks Worth Buying Aggressively Right Now from theglobeandmail.com. By Sneha Nahata at fool.ca. 16. Title: 3 Green Energy Stocks to Buy in July from finance.yahoo.com. By Joel South. 17. Title: 2 AI Infrastructure Stocks That Could Outperform NVIDIA from zacks.com. By Tirthankar Chakraborty. 18. Title: ESG Investors: Why This Dividend ETF Is a Top Pick from ca.finance.yahoo.com. By Baystreet.ca. 19. Title: AI Infrastructure Will Mint More Millionaires Over the Next Decade: 3 Stocks to Buy Right Now from fool.com. By Leo Sun. 20. Title: AI Stocks Investment Strategy 2026: Top Picks & Market Analysis from intellectia.ai. By Jason Huang. 21. Title: 3 Climate Finance Stocks Linked To The World Bank Green Funding Push from simplywall.st. Reviewed by Sasha Jovanovic. 22. Title: BE vs. PLUG: Which Alternative Energy Stock Looks More Attractive? From zacks.com. By Tanuka De 23. Title: 4 High-Growth AI Infrastructure Stocks to Buy for Long-Term Gains from zacks.com. By Anirudha Bhagat. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment These are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips for this podcast, "July 2026 Sustainable Stock and ETF Picks." Please click the like and subscribe buttons wherever you download or listen to this podcast. That helps bring these podcasts to others like you. And do click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let's promote ethical and sustainable investing as a force for hope and prosperity in these tumultuous times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Again, I want to apologize for my voice sounding, at times, a little rough! My next podcast will be on August 28th. See you then. Bye for now. © 2025 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul

The CMS Board of Education says it expects to reveal the results of an investigation into Superintendent Crystal Hill before school starts. Darline Graham Nordone and Ralph Norman are among those vying for Lindsey Graham's seat in the U.S. Senate, and Duke Energy has reached a settlement on its rate of return.

Markets are mixed to end the week as investors assess the latest developments regarding the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Brian Sullivan and Contessa Brewer are joined by DWS Americas' David Bianco and Schawb Center for Financial Research's Collin Martin to evaluate the state of the markets ahead of next week's Federal Reserve meeting. Meanwhile, Duke Energy CEO, Harry Sideris, joins for an exclusive interview to discuss his company's role in the data center utility pledge with the White House. Later in the show, the anchors chat with Marsh's Marcus Baker to hear his take on the rising geopolitical risks for global insurers as the premiums for ships travelling through the Middle East continue to soar. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A.M. Edition for July 22. In a landmark agreement, President Trump okays a nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia. WSJ's Laurence Norman explains why the commercial deal has nuclear proliferation experts concerned and could shift the balance of power in the Middle East. Plus, utilities pledge to limit increases in electricity bills caused by the data-center buildout. And in a real-life cybersecurity nightmare, OpenAI admits that a pair of its models escaped the lab and hacked into another company. Luke Vargas hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Duke Energy wants to raise your electric bill. This despite your bill going up 66% in the last year. Tom Bullock from the Ohio Citizen's Utility Board joins Scott to tell you why this is happening, and who is really responsible for the recent hike in energy prices.

Duke Energy wants to raise your electric bill. This despite your bill going up 66% in the last year. Tom Bullock from the Ohio Citizen's Utility Board joins Scott to tell you why this is happening, and who is really responsible for the recent hike in energy prices.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duke Energy wants to raise your electric bill. This despite your bill going up 66% in the last year. Tom Bullock from the Ohio Citizen's Utility Board joins Scott to tell you why this is happening, and who is really responsible for the recent hike in energy prices.

Duke Energy wants to raise your electric bill. This despite your bill going up 66% in the last year. Tom Bullock from the Ohio Citizen's Utility Board joins Scott to tell you why this is happening, and who is really responsible for the recent hike in energy prices.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the line trade, lineworkers strive to work safely and efficiently, and new tools and technologies help to improve productivity and ensure they get home safely to their families every night. During this episode of the Line Life Podcast, we are featuring guest Miles Bell, a journeyman lineworker with 11 years in the trade, who is now working as a tools and methods specialist. In this role, he supports crews in the field, makes job-site visits and analyzes tools and technologies for lineworkers.  He also shares an update on the Hurricane Helene restoration, his lessons learned for storm response and his experiences competing at the International Lineman's Rodeo.  If you want to be part of a future episode, swing by the T&D World booth at the 2026 International Lineman's Expo, where we will be giving out free T-shirts and temporary tattoos for line families. We look forward to seeing you there!

In the line trade, lineworkers strive to work safely and efficiently, and new tools and technologies help to improve productivity and ensure they get home safely to their families every night. During this episode of the Line Life Podcast, we are featuring guest Miles Bell, a journeyman lineworker with 11 years in the trade, who is now working as a tools and methods specialist. In this role, he supports crews in the field, makes job-site visits and analyzes tools and technologies for lineworkers.  He also shares an update on the Hurricane Helene restoration, his lessons learned for storm response and his experiences competing at the International Lineman's Rodeo.  If you want to be part of a future episode, swing by the T&D World booth at the 2026 International Lineman's Expo, where we will be giving out free T-shirts and temporary tattoos for line families. We look forward to seeing you there!

It's Tuesday, July 14. Here are today's top stories around Central Indiana. Want to go deeper on the stories you hear on WFYI News Now? Visit wfyi.org and follow us on social media to get local news every day. WFYI News Now is hosted by Barb Anguiano and produced by Zach Bundy. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Duke Energy settles with the state, energy bills still going up; Charlotte culinary scene in the national spotlight again

Morningstar's Markets Brief urges investors to watch second-quarter earnings because guidance and revisions can reset valuations. Large banks will set the tone on credit by reporting net interest income, deposit costs, and credit losses. Technology platforms including Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet will update cloud and AI demand, with Nvidia supply as a factor. Consumer and advertising signals will come from Walmart, Target, Costco, Starbucks, McDonald's, Meta, Alphabet, and Snap. Logistics and industrials such as UPS, FedEx, Union Pacific, CSX, C.H. Robinson, Caterpillar, and Honeywell will detail volumes, rates, and backlogs. Energy and utilities including Exxon Mobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, NextEra Energy, and Duke Energy will connect commodity and power trends to cost structures. Founders can use these disclosures to recalibrate budgets, vendor terms, hiring, and capital spending for the rest of the year.Learn more on this news by visiting us at: https://greyjournal.net/news/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leadership Change and the Future of Utility Vegetation ManagementShow NotesThis episode features an engaging discussion with Ron Adams and Shawn Standish. Stephen Cieslewicz and Nick Ferguson explore leadership, strategic planning, the evolution of Utility Vegetation Management, the lasting impact of the 2003 Northeast Blackout, the implementation of NERC FAC-003, organizational change, wildfire mitigation, and practical advice for both utilities and technology providers seeking to engage with utilities. The conversation combines decades of industry experience with practical lessons that can be applied by utility leaders, field personnel, consultants, regulators, and vendors.About the GuestsRon Adams spent his career with Duke Energy, one of the largest investor owned electric utilities in North America, serving millions of electric customers across six states with one of the nation's largest transmission and distribution systems. During his tenure he held numerous leadership positions, including responsibility for all Transmission and Distribution Utility Vegetation Management activities. Ron has been a respected leader in advancing utility reliability, strategic Utility Vegetation Management, organizational leadership, and operational excellence. Throughout the industry he is recognized for his thoughtful approach to leadership, change management, and building high performing organizations. While only partially retired, Ron is currently consulting with utilities and service providers.Shawn Standish built a similarly distinguished career with FirstEnergy, one of the nation's largest investor owned electric utilities, serving more than six million customers across the Midwest and Mid Atlantic regions. During his career he led major Utility Vegetation Management initiatives across a large and diverse electric system while helping improve system reliability, operational performance, and risk management. Today, as a consultant, Shawn continues to work with utilities across North America, combining practical field experience with strategic leadership to help organizations strengthen their vegetation management programs and adapt to an evolving industry.Together, Ron and Shawn represent more than seventy years of combined Utility Vegetation Management leadership, having managed programs serving millions of customers and overseeing vegetation management across tens of thousands of miles of transmission and distribution lines. Their perspectives come from decades of making real world decisions at two of the largest electric utilities in the United States.Topics DiscussedLeadership and mentorshipBuilding an effective Utility Vegetation Management strategyLessons learned from the 2003 Northeast BlackoutThe impact of NERC FAC 003Organizational change and leadershipWildfire mitigationWorking effectively with technology providersThe future of Utility Vegetation ManagementSponsorsThis episode of The UVM Podcast is made possible by our commercial sponsors:Celerity Utility SolutionsClear Path Utility Solutions LLCWe appreciate their continued support of industry education and conversation.

In this episode of the Line Life Podcast for our ICYMI series, we are featuring the second part of the Hurricane Helene series, which was published as the cover story of the February 2026 issue of T&D World magazine. The audio story describes how Duke Energy line crews and mutual assistance partners rebuilt infrastructure in Chimney Rock and Bat Cave, North Carolina, after catastrophic flooding. Listeners hear first-hand accounts of line crews working without cell service or roads, using helicopters, track machines, drones and old-school line work to restore power. The International Lineman's Rodeo journeyman team of Miles Bell, Heath Burrell, and Jordan Henderson from Duke Energy also shares five valuable lessons learned about logistics, safety, teamwork and community resilience. To learn more about the storm response, listen to Part 1 of the two-part series, "Hurricanes Helene and Milton: One Year Later." Stay tuned to Podbean or your favorite podcasting app to hear an interview-style episode with Bell with an update on the restoration in the wake of Hurricane Helene.  Also, if your line crew just finished restoring power following a storm and you want to share your story, please contact Amy Fischbach, host of the Line Life Podcast and Head of Content for T&D World. We look forward to hearing about your best practices and tools and technologies for storm response. 

When a utility company like Duke Energy plans for the future, it tries to predict how much electricity its customers will need a decade from now. Unfortunately, and not surprisingly, much of that process amounts to a guessing game in which utility company profits often play a much bigger role than keeping ratepayer bills low or protecting our natural environment. And right now, this appears to be very much the case at the state Utilities Commission as it reviews Duke's latest carbon plan for the years to come. As NC Newsline learned in a recent conversation with the Environmental Defense Fund's North Carolina Policy Director, Will Scott, while Duke's current proposal calls for building a fleet of new gas power plants by 2033, expert testimony indicates that North Carolinians should be deeply skeptical and supportive of alternative proposals that would emphasize improvements to the electric transmission grid and continued rapid development of less expensive and sustainable energy sources like wind and solar power. Click here to listen to the full interview with the Environmental Defense Fund's North Carolina Policy Director Will Scott.

When a utility company like Duke Energy plans for the future, it tries to predict how much electricity its customers will need a decade from now. Unfortunately, and not surprisingly, much of that process amounts to a guessing game in which utility company profits often play a much bigger role than keeping ratepayer bills low or protecting our natural environment. And right now, this appears to be very much the case at the state Utilities Commission as it reviews Duke's latest carbon plan for the years to come. As NC Newsline learned in a recent conversation with the Environmental Defense Fund's North Carolina Policy Director, Will Scott, while Duke's current proposal calls for building a fleet of new gas power plants by 2033, expert testimony indicates that North Carolinians should be deeply skeptical and supportive of alternative proposals that would emphasize improvements to the electric transmission grid and continued rapid development of less expensive and sustainable energy sources like wind and solar power. Click here to listen to the full interview with the Environmental Defense Fund's North Carolina Policy Director Will Scott.

In this ICYMI episode for the Line Life Podcast, Duke Energy lineworkers who responded to Hurricanes Helene and Milton share their stories about the long shifts, logistical challenges, and the teamwork that restored power and hope to devastated communities. The episode also shares practical hurricane-response best practices, rapid-restoration achievements, and how local communities and crews supported one another during recovery. To read the story, which appeared in the January 2026 issue of T&D World magazine right after the one-year anniversary of the hurricanes, visit the website.  Also, if your line crew has just finished a storm restoration and wants to share your story, please email Amy Fischbach, host of the Line Life Podcast and Head of Content for T&D World, with high-resolution photos of the damage and restoration. We look forward to hearing from you and sharing your best practices for storm restoration with our readers, subscribers and Line Life Podcast listeners. 

Jenn Donahue PhD is an entrepreneur, civil engineer, author, and retired US Navy Captain whose company JL Donahue Engineering works on large scale, high profile geotechnical projects for clients ranging from PG&E and Duke Energy to the Tennessee Valley Authority and Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART). Over her military career, Jenn has built a bridge across the Euphrates River in the midst of the Iraq war, commanded an 800-personnel Battalion in Afghanistan, and constructed combat outposts in the middle of deserts filled with insurgents. Jenn has designed the seismic plans for a bridge over the Panama Canal and built roads by drilling and blasting in Ketchikan. She's the author of The Warrior Framework and the founder of Dare to Rise.

Picture this: a factory that makes its own power, stores it, and has enough left over to sell back to the grid. It may sound like a thought experiment, but Siemens is running one right now in Wendell, North Carolina, at one of its industrial factories. Here's the gist. Solar panels on top of a carport feed a battery roughly the size of a small building, which lets the whole facility run on renewables, keep operations carbon-neutral, and yes, push excess power back into the grid for other people to use. The setup is a 1.25-megawatt microgrid paired with 3.9 megawatt-hours of battery storage, and it's one of the largest industrial solar plus storage systems on Duke Energy's distribution network in the Carolinas. When the grid goes down, the factory keeps humming. When the sun is shining and production is light, the surplus goes out the door and into the neighborhood. The carport doubles as covered parking with EV chargers tied into the same system, so EVs get charged on the factory's own solar. This is what an industrial microgrid actually looks like in practice, a real working example of solar plus storage, distributed energy resources, and smart building controls coming together to make a single site genuinely energy independent. It's also a preview of where a lot of manufacturing is heading as companies start seizing energy resilience as a competitive advantage. If you run a facility, work in energy, or you're just curious how the grid is quietly getting rebuilt from the edges in, give this one a listen. Show notes Press Release: Siemens Unveils State-of-the-Art Microgrid at Wendell Headquarters, Commemorates with Electrification Celebration: https://news.siemens.com/en-us/wendell-state-of-the-art-microgrid/

Natalie Hadad and Caroline Rouse from Brookfield's infrastructure team join Deal Debrief to discuss the firm's investment in Duke Energy Florida and what it signals about the future of power infrastructure. In this episode, they unpack the transaction and the broader forces reshaping the utility sector—from electrification and digitalization to the growing demand for reliable power and grid modernization. Read disclaimers (https://www.brookfield.com/brookfield-perspectives-podcast-disclaimer) for this episode.

Duke Energy operates 11 nuclear units across six sites in the Carolinas — a fleet that produces more than half of the region's electricity year in and year out. In 2025, that fleet posted its best capacity factor on record, north of 97%. In this episode of The POWER Podcast, Steven Capps, Duke Energy's senior vice president and chief nuclear officer, walks through what's behind that performance and what comes next. Capps frames Duke Energy's nuclear strategy as "today, tomorrow, and the future," and the conversation moves through all three. Topics covered: • How Duke Energy pushed its fleet capacity factor above 97% in 2025, and the role of risk management alongside maintenance and capital investment. • The subsequent license renewal program now extending Oconee and Robinson to 80-year operating lives, with Brunswick next in line and the rest of the fleet to follow. • Capacity uprates underway at McGuire and Catawba that, combined with measurement-uncertainty-recapture work at Oconee and Brunswick, will deliver roughly 300 MW of additional nuclear capacity — what Capps describes as "the equivalent of a small modular reactor." • The mechanical reality of an uprate: increased thermal megawatt ratings, more highly enriched fuel, and the secondary-side components — feedwater heaters, moisture separator reheaters, large pumps and motors — that have to be replaced to accommodate the change. • Duke Energy's decision-making framework for new nuclear, tentatively reflected in the integrated resource plan in 2037, and why economics, not technology choice, is the gating factor. • Career advice for engineers considering nuclear, from someone who has held more than 10 different roles across his own engineering career. Capps grew up about 10 miles from Oconee Nuclear Station, earned a mechanical engineering degree at Clemson, and joined Duke Energy after graduation. Twenty years at Oconee, a decade at McGuire, and most recently roles in Duke Energy's corporate organization have shaped his view of where the fleet — and the industry — go from here.

If you're a Duke Energy customer, or have to pay an electric bill to any company, you'll want to hear these tips on how to bring down your energy costs from 5 On Your Side's Keely Arthur. 

On the next Charlotte Talks local news roundup, the CMS board rejects Superintendent Crystal Hill's proposed budget, leaving her to question how to proceed with little direction. Gaston and Cabarrus County schools join others in canceling classes Friday as teachers protest in Raleigh for higher pay. A bill to protect immigrant students from immigration enforcement is filed in the state House, and Duke Energy proposes a June rate increase.

Earlier this year, Duke Energy launched the DeBary Hydrogen Production Storage System, the nation's first fully integrated project to produce, store, and use green hydrogen. On this episode, Duke Energy Senior Vice President of System Planning and Construction Regis Repko explains how the hydrogen system works and how it provides reliable energy during peak demand.

We are going to have a wild opening to the markets tomorrow. The Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed, and there is no reason that ExxonMobil, Chevron, and other companies should be trading the way they are. That being said, Secretary Chris Wright was on point again on CNN, and we covered his statements about how $10 trillion spent on Green Energy only increased energy use by 3%. 1. Renewable Energy Challenges & LimitationsThe podcast critically examines the effectiveness of renewable energy investments. Despite over $10 trillion invested globally in green energy over 20 years, renewables account for only 3% of global energy supply. Key issues include low capacity factors, transmission losses, storage requirements, and the need for grid overbuild—all of which increase true costs beyond what's typically reported.2. Geopolitical Tensions & Energy MarketsThe discussion covers disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz caused by Iran's actions, leading to volatility in global oil tanker traffic and prices. Additionally, there's analysis of China's strategic reduction of U.S. Treasury holdings, signaling a shift away from the U.S. dollar.3. Market Manipulation & Price MisrepresentationThe podcast includes detailed criticism from the Doomberg newsletter about divergence between paper/futures oil prices and actual physical oil costs. It characterizes current oil pricing as potentially manipulated and describes it as a "government-constructed lie" designed to maintain false market stability.4. Texas Energy Demand & Data Center GrowthERCOT's projections show peak electricity demand in Texas could reach 367 GW by 2032—more than 4 times current records—driven largely by data center expansion. The transcript highlights challenges including interconnection backlogs and transmission planning needs.5. Regulatory & Financial IssuesCoverage includes Duke Energy's bid to recover costs from winter weather events and analysis of major oil/gas companies' (Chevron, Exxon) earnings versus stock performance discrepancies.6. California Energy Policy CriticismStu critiques Governor Newsom's energy policies, particularly his response to rising oil prices, suggesting his policies have contributed to a looming energy crisis with refinery closures and limited fuel access.1.The World Has Spent $10 Trillion on Green Energy — and Only Reached 3% of Global Energy2.US Markets Look Like a Bull Run, but the Hormuz Dependent Countries are Looking Down3.China Sending a Clear Signal and Dumps U.S. Treasuries4.The US' Renewed Russian Oil Sanctions Waiver Will Help Their Shared Indian Partner5.Backwards Looking – Doomberg6.Buffett and China Are Making the Same Bet – The Merchant's News7.Over 367GW Grid Requirements in Texas ERCOT by 2032: Navigating the AI Data Center Boom for Investors and Consumers8.Duke Energy Cost Recovery Bid and 19,000 MW Plan Test Valuation9.Oil and Gaslighting Gavin Newsom Rides Again●You can also find all of the stories on https://energynewsbeat.com/Check out the Energy News Beat SubStack https://theenergynewsbeat.substack.com/A shout-out to Steve Reese and the Reese Energy Consulting group for sponsoring the Podcast https://reeseenergyconsulting.com/.. https://www.data2.ai/resources/the-decision-lag-reportAnd we have WellDatabase rolling in as a new sponsor.

In the second segment of Hour 3, Charlie James shifted the focus from the gas pump to the rising costs of home utilities, drawing a direct line between global energy policies and the "sticker shock" South Carolinians are seeing on their Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas bills. He explored how the same inflationary pressures driving up fuel prices are bleeding into monthly light and heating expenses, leaving families with less disposable income at the end of the month. James criticized the regulatory environment that allows for consistent rate hikes, arguing that utility monopolies are passing the cost of "green" transitions and infrastructure mismanagement directly onto the consumer.

Hour 3 focused on the rising costs of fuel and utilities, with Charlie James urging a "no" vote on the SC DOT bill while discussing how Duke Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas, and the power demands of data centers are driving up light bills.

The April 15, 2026, broadcast of The Charlie James Show centered heavily on the financial and logistical burdens facing citizens, beginning with a critique of the U.S. tax system and the disproportionate tax shares paid by top earners. As the show progressed, the focus shifted to the rising costs of living, specifically targeting surging fuel and utility prices and the legislative battles surrounding the SC DOT bills. Listeners were urged to contact representatives to oppose these measures, while deep dives into the energy sector highlighted the strain data centers are placing on providers like Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas. The final hours tied these domestic economic concerns to broader geopolitical threats from Iran and upcoming electoral stakes, emphasizing that voter turnout for the June 9th primary is the only way to secure "BBB" tax cuts and address the infrastructure challenges currently impacting the state.

State panel to decide Duke Energy rate hike; Hornets in play-in tournament at home on Tuesday.

Duke Energy says it needs to increase your power bill, and the fate of that request will soon be decided by a commission that recently changed to a Republican majority. The N.C. Utilities Commission has been holding a series of public hearings about Duke Energy's plan to increase residential rates by up to 18 percent over the next two years. Duke says the rate increase is needed to keep up with higher demand for electricity and the need for a more modern grid that can handle storms with fewer outages. To learn more about what's happening at the Utilities Commission and the energy policy landscape more broadly, WUNC's Colin Campbell spoke with state Sen. Jay Chaudhuri, D-Wake, and Dan Crawford, senior director of public affairs for the N.C. League of Conservation Voters.

The Good GameActivist investor seeks to oust Americold Chair Mark Patterson over “problematic boardroom behavior”Activist investor Sieve Capital is pushing Americold Realty Trust to remove board chair Mark Patterson, citing his tenure on the board of scandal-ridden office landlord Paramount Group.OpenAI releases policy proposals aimed at addressing fallout from AI-driven job losses The proposals, which OpenAI admits are “ambitious” and “intentionally early and exploratory,” include everything from a new industrial policy agenda to modernizing the tax system to expanding access to healthcare coverage and retirement savings.They are meant to help answer questions about job disruptions and AI systems that evade human control, and to protect against governments deploying AI in ways that run counter to democratic values.Among the core policy suggestions is a public wealth fund, which would see lawmakers and AI companies work together to invest in long-term assets linked to the AI boom, with returns distributed directly to citizens. Another is that the government should encourage and incentivize employers to experiment with four-day workweeks with no loss in pay and offer "benefits bonuses" tied to productivity gains from new AI tools.EPA Wants to Prioritize Microplastics, Pharmaceuticals as Water ContaminantsEPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the move sends “a clear message: we will follow the science, we will pursue answers, and we will hold ourselves to the highest standards to protect the health of every American family.”Delta started sharing profits with its 100,000 employees two decades ago. CEO Ed Bastian says shareholders love itThe payout is sizeable: this year, Delta dispersed over $1 billion to its roughly 100,000 employees.Profit sharing distributes a slice of company earnings directly to workers as a cash bonus. At Delta, the formula is simple: 10% of the first $2.5 billion in adjusted profits, and 20% of everything above that.Proxy adviser ISS recommends vote against BP board over attempt to scrap some climate reportingISS recommended a vote against the BP board on revoking some previous climate reporting resolutions and allowing it to hold online-only shareholder meetings: "A particularly compelling argument would be required to justify such a legal revocation, which we believe is unprecedented in the UK context," ISS said about BP's resolution to retire two resolutions from 2015 and 2019 requiring company-specific climate reporting which passed with near 100% support at the time.Activist shareholder Follow This broadens climate campaign against BPA group of European investors led ‌by activist Follow This urged BP on Thursday to drop plans to scrap some company-specific climate-reporting commitments and called on shareholders to vote against the move at the oil company's annual meeting this month.Follow This also warned ‌of possible ⁠legal action after BP refused to put a separate shareholder resolution on the agenda of its April 23 annual general meeting.TVA CEO Don Moul announces retirement as Trump slashes his payThe CEO of the Tennessee Valley Authority, the largest public utility in the United States, will retire July 1.Don Moul, CEO since April, 9, 2025, notified the public utility's board of directors April 3, closing a turbulent chapter for the federal power provider.Had Moul decided to stay on at TVA, he would have faced a 90% pay cut as the Trump administration seeks to cap pay for all TVA employees at $500,000.Moul, the highest paid federal employee, made about $6 million as TVA CEO in 2025.Similarly sized utilities in the South, and TVA in the past, have paid their CEOs substantially more than Moul made. Jeff Lyash made over $10 million in his last year as TVA's chief executive. Lynn Good, a recent CEO of the private Duke Energy company, drew $21.6 million in 2024, and in the same year the CEO of Southern Company made $23.8 million.Starbucks staff will now get paid weekly — and some will get new bonuseswill allow baristas and shift supervisors at Starbucks' top stores to earn up to $300 each quarter — or up to $1,200 a year — for meeting sales goals and consistently delivering a positive customer experienceUnited Airlines and flight attendants reached a tentative deal with $740 million in bonusesUnited Airlines and the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA reached a tentative five-year labor agreement on March 26 that would provide the carrier's 30,000 flight attendants their first pay increases since 2020, including a $740 million signing bonus pool and top wages of $100 per hour by the contract's end.Beyond base pay, the contract also covers compensation during the boarding process, additional pay when lengthy gaps occur between flights, and limits on how overnight flying can be scheduled.United said the agreement would make its flight attendants the highest-paid in the industry.‍ ‍Chief human resource officer salaries have surged 30% at S&P 500 companiesThe number of CHROs designated as named executive officers in public filings from Russell 3000 companies rose from 148 in 2021 to 230 in 2025Median compensation for Russell 3000 CHROs grew by 14.7% between 2024 and 2025, compared to 8.1% for all NEOs. When looking at S&P 500 companies, CHRO pay grew by 30.4% in the same timeframeCHROs are “taking on larger mandates, moving beyond that traditional operational focus, to take on something more,” Jones said. The fact that CHROs are becoming more “strategically integrated” into their organizations reflects how “workforce and culture issues really are just top of mind,” he added.‍ ‍The Entire State of Maine Is Poised to Ban New Data CentersThe bill was passed by the Maine House of Representatives last month and is expected to pass in the Senate as well, which would make Maine the first state in the country to ban new data centers. The unprecedented move highlights growing bipartisan political fallout over the AI hype and consequent construction boom.SPEED ROUNDIran war could spur Europe to double down on renewables — againFrom $85K to $528K: Caitlin Clark's 521% Pay Rise After New WNBA Deal Climate change is impacting golf, from player health to courses AND French ski resorts face 'downward spiral' amid climate change and funding meltdownBurger King to hire 60K workers as part of turnaround‍ ‍Red Lobster is reportedly bringing back Endless Shrimp 2 years after the CEO vowed it would never returnTrump fires Attorney General Pam BondiHershey is moving back to the original recipe for Reese's Peanut Butter Cups after the chocolate's grandson blasted them last monthUnited Airlines is rolling out beds in economy class

Will hatchery fish save tripletail? Today we have all the insights on how CCA and Duke Energy have teamed up to help release redfish, seatrout and tripletail back into Florida's waters Let's discuss! Do you have a question about fishing in your area? Email rick@floridasportsman.com and we'll answer your questions on the air. A BIG thanks to each of our sponsors, without whom we would not be able to bring you these reports each week Yamaha Outboards • Shimano Fishing • Tournament Master Chum • D.O.A. Lures • Fishing Nosara / Nosara Paradise Rentals • Young Boats

If you're like most average consumers, you're acutely aware of how your monthly energy bill has been rising steadily in recent years. And a new report from the nonprofit Energy and Policy Institute shines a bright light on one big factor behind those hikes that turns out to be very much in the utility companies' control – profits. The report is entitled “Paying for Their Profits: How Ratepayers Foot the Bill for Soaring Utility Profits” and it finds that big investor-owned utilities like Duke Energy are making a mint even as huge numbers of average ratepayers struggle mightily to keep up with their bills. And recently NC Newsline sat down with one of the report's co-authors, Energy and Policy Institute Research and Communications Manager Sue Sturgis, to learn more. Click here to listen to the full interview with Energy and Policy Institute Research and Communications Manager Sue Sturgis. 

The long-term operation (LTO) of existing nuclear plants is emerging as a critical strategy for delivering reliable, carbon-free power as electricity demand accelerates across the economy. In this episode of EPRI Current, host Samantha Gilman is joined by Rounette Nader, VP of New Nuclear Generation and License Renewal at Duke Energy, and EPRI's Rob Austin, Senior Program Manager for Nuclear, to explore how LTO supports a resilient energy future.     The discussion unpacks what it really takes to extend plant lifetimes to 60 years, 80 years, and possibly beyond – and why continued investment, modernization, and rigorous regulatory oversight keep plants safe and increasingly reliable. The experts tackle common misconceptions about aging plants, explain how modernization and digital upgrades support round-the-clock power, and highlight LTO's role in meeting rapidly growing load while maintaining a skilled workforce. Together, they spotlight why long-term nuclear operation remains one of the fastest, most cost-effective ways to deliver dependable, carbon-free energy at scale.     To learn more about Nuclear Power Plant Long-Term Operations, visit: https://lto.epri.com/LTO   To learn more about Duke Energy's nuclear fleet, visit: https://news.duke-energy.com/releases/duke-energy-nuclear-fleet-sets-new-all-time-reliability-record-delivers-value-for-customers#:~:text=Record%20capacity%20factor%20of%2096.9,directly%20supporting%20growing%20energy%20needs.     For more information and episodes visit EPRI.com.     If you enjoy this podcast, please subscribe and share! And please consider leaving a review and rating on Apple Podcasts/iTunes.    Follow EPRI: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/epri/  Twitter https://twitter.com/EPRINews    EPRI Current examines key issues and new R&D impacting the energy transition. Each episode features insights from EPRI, the world's preeminent independent, non-profit energy research and development organization, and from other energy industry leaders. We also discuss how innovative technologies are shaping the global energy future. Learn more at www.epri.com 

Can a grid operator tell the difference between a virtual power plant and a traditional one? That's the idea behind the Huels Test, a framework developed by EnergyHub to answer a simple but consequential question: when does a distributed fleet of customer devices become reliable enough to function like a power plant? Passing the test means more than just aggregating thermostats or batteries. It means delivering predictable, repeatable performance that utility planners and operators trust enough to rely on during system peaks. And it's no longer theoretical. During a series of brutal winter cold snaps across the Southeast this year, Duke Energy leaned on tens of thousands of connected devices — smart thermostats, batteries, and water heaters — to help manage record-breaking winter peaks. Together, they formed a virtual power plant that the utility could dispatch when the grid was tight. In this Frontier Forum, Stephen Lacey talks with Stacy Phillips, Managing Director of Customer Load Management at Duke Energy, and Seth Frader-Thompson, president and co-founder of EnergyHub, about the spectrum of virtual power plants. They discuss how VPPs are evolving from traditional demand-response programs into operational grid resources, and what still needs to change before utilities treat them exactly like conventional power plants. This conversation was recorded live as part of Latitude Media's Frontier Forum with EnergyHub. Watch the full video here. EnergyHub works with more than 160 utilities across North America to build and scale virtual power plants using its Edge DERMS platform. Read EnergyHub's white paper outlining the VPP maturity model and discover what VPPs can do for your grid.

While Gerard is fixing his knee, Laurent invites Chris Seiple, Vice Chairman of WoodMac Power & Renewables group, to try to make sense of the scale of the coming power demand surge and the strain it is placing on today's US market structures.AI-driven datacenter growth is pushing the US power system into uncharted territory. Roughly 180 GW of U.S. electricity commitments tied to datacenters represent about 30% incremental demand. Hyperscaler CAPEX is exploding. Demand is accelerating far faster than new supply can come online, setting up a near-term imbalance. In response, the U.S. utility sector is preparing for a potential $1.4 trillion investment supercycle over the next five years.In regulated markets, utilities are under pressure to modernize cost-of-service models and deliver massive capital programs while keeping electricity affordable. Companies such as Duke Energy, Southern Company, Entergy, and CenterPoint Energy are planning investments that run into the hundreds of billions.In deregulated markets, players like Constellation Energy, Vistra Corp., and NRG Energy face a structural mismatch: datacenters can be built faster than power plants, while price signals may not rise quickly enough to incentivize new generation. Some customers are exploring off-grid solutions, but these bring technical and economic challenges.The conclusion is clear: load growth is staggering. Parts of the system may move toward re-regulation, but that alone will not be enough. Rapid innovation—decentralized solutions, grid-enhancing technologies, faster interconnections, and deeper digitization—will be essential as utilities relearn how to build at scale and speed.  Check an excellent WoodMac report on the Datacentershttps://www.woodmac.com/horizons/us-data-centre-power-demand-challenges-electricity-market-model/  

As you've no doubt noticed, the first several weeks of 2026 have featured a large complement of wintry and bitterly cold weather and that's something that's sure to drive up the electric bills that will soon hit thousands of residential ratepayers. And while there's nothing that can be done to control the weather, there are steps energy providers and elected officials can take to help minimize electricity rates – most notably, working to shift as quickly as possible to sustainable sources of energy with predictable costs like solar and wind. Unfortunately, while North Carolina had been moving in that direction, recent political lobbying by Duke Energy has sidetracked those efforts and, as Newsline learned in a recent chat with Will Scott, the North Carolina Policy Director for the Environmental Defense Fund, the result will be more reliance on volatilely priced fossil fuels and a shift in the burden for funding Duke's profits from industrial and commercial customers to residential consumers. Click here to listen to the full interview with Will Scott, the North Carolina Policy Director for the Environmental Defense Fund.

As you've no doubt noticed, the first several weeks of 2026 have featured a large complement of wintry and bitterly cold weather and that's something that's sure to drive up the electric bills that will soon hit thousands of residential ratepayers. And while there's nothing that can be done to control the weather, there are steps energy providers and elected officials can take to help minimize electricity rates – most notably, working to shift as quickly as possible to sustainable sources of energy with predictable costs like solar and wind. Unfortunately, while North Carolina had been moving in that direction, recent political lobbying by Duke Energy has sidetracked those efforts and, as Newsline learned in a recent chat with Will Scott, the North Carolina Policy Director for the Environmental Defense Fund, the result will be more reliance on volatilely priced fossil fuels and a shift in the burden for funding Duke's profits from industrial and commercial customers to residential consumers. Click here to listen to the full interview with Will Scott, the North Carolina Policy Director for the Environmental Defense Fund.

We talk with Duke Energy about your February heating bill and get tips if you're having trouble paying what's due.

If there's a most egregious disconnect right now between state and national policy and what reams of scientific evidence and countless common-sense observations tell us about the world around us, it's clearly in the realm of environmental protection and, in particular, climate change. As has been repeatedly and thoroughly documented, our planet currently faces an existential crisis that demands an urgent, all-hands-on-deck response from government at all levels, the private and nonprofit sectors, scientists, and average citizens. Unfortunately, as Newsline learned recently in an extended conversation with North Carolina League of Conservation Voters' clean energy campaigns director, Meech Carter, the perverse reality right now is that many corporate actors, along with the Trump administration, are moving in the opposite direction by loosening or eliminating anti-pollution rules and conservation efforts, expanding the use of expensive fossil fuels and sticking average ratepayers with the bill. In Part One of our recent extended conversation Carter, we explored the troubling fact that new actions by North Carolina-based electricity giant Duke Energy, are poised to both raise prices on average consumers and further inhibit critically important efforts to reduce carbon emissions from fossil fuels that contribute to climate change. In Part Two of our chat we dug deeper into these issues by examining the troubling growth of so-called data centers, recent actions by the Trump administration to end federal regulation of pollutants that cause climate change, the critical need to rebuild western North Carolina better and stronger 18 months after Hurricane Helene, and why its critical that caring and thinking people vote in this year's elections if our state and nation are to return to the pursuit of sane environmental policies. Click here to listen to the full interview with North Carolina League of Conservation Voters' clean energy campaigns director Meech Carter.

Charlotte Republicans push Mecklenburg Sheriff Garry McFadden to step down after testimony in Raleigh. Early in-person voting in the primary begins. Duke Energy made nearly $5 billion in profit last year. That, as they ask for rate increases. Plus, four players are suspended after a brawl during the Hornets-Pistons game, but Charlotte still enters the All-Star break red hot.

& we're back. This week, Will takes in-depth Sexual Harassment Training, Duke Energy told customers to cut back on energy usuage in the Tampa Bay area during a record setting cold snap. Later, Anna sees a legendary altercation at a Whole Foods and tell us about how #MeToo has reached the jiu-jitsu world involving Andre Galvao and Atos. Hear that on the Substack.We will be back live next week on Wednesday at 6:00PM over at WillsYouTube.comWe do an extra half hour on our Substack that is uncut and uncensored, hope to see you there, it's free to join.Get in touch with the show and leave a voice or text message at: (813) 693-2124 or shoot me an email at thehomemadebroadcast@gmail.comLINKS: https://linktr.ee/hmbradioThe #HMB airs Sunday's on Sunshine FM 96.7 in downtown St. Petersburg & anywhere in the world at Radio St. Pete @ 6:10PM & Monday's at 10:15PM or on demand via your favorite podcast app, just search “HMBradio Tampa Bay”.

A calm winter morning turns into a political firestorm

Tara is back after the storm — and she's got stories. From getting stranded on sheets of ice

It's a jam-packed episode as Tara returns after the storm to unpack what really happened on the roads, why forecasts missed so badly, and what colder winters mean going forward