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The ZENERGY Podcast: Climate Leadership, Finance and Technology
The mission of the Maryland Public Service Commission is to ensure safe, reliable, and economic public utility and transportation service to the citizens of Maryland. Today's guests are Chair Frederick Hoover and Commissioner Kumar Barve. Frederick H. Hoover was appointed Chair of the Maryland Public Service Commission by Governor Wes Moore for a five-year term beginning on July 1, 2023. He most recently served as Assistant People's Counsel in the Maryland Office of People's Counsel, representing residential consumers of public utilities, retail energy suppliers and other entities before the Maryland Public Service Commission, courts and federal agencies. Chair Hoover served for more than seven years as director of the Maryland Energy Administration, responsible for coordinating energy policy for the state of Maryland. He subsequently held positions as director of both MEA's Division of Energy Programs and Division of Renewable Energy. He is a former senior director of the National Association of State Energy Officials, where he directed the electricity policy program including the fuel and grid aspects of both transmission and distribution networks including modernization, renewable energy, and energy efficiency. Kumar P. Barve was appointed to the Maryland Public Service Commission in May 2023 by Governor Wes Moore, to fill out a term ending in June 2024. He was later appointed to a new five-year term to begin July 1, 2024. Prior to his appointment, he had served in the Maryland House of Delegates since 1991, holding leadership roles including Chair of the Environment and Transportation Committee, Majority Leader, and Chair of the Montgomery County House delegation. While in the General Assembly he worked on issues including environmental regulation, energy generation and conservation, and greenhouse gas reduction. Notably, he was the first Indian-American in the country to be elected to a state legislature. Show Notes: [2:31] - The mandate of the Public Service Commission is to maintain reliable, safe, affordable, essential utility services to all customers and oversee the impact. [4:43] - Chair Hoover and Commissioner Barve describe how the Maryland Brighter Tomorrow Act aligns with the state's overall energy goals. [9:27] - The energy generation mix is a large complicated process. [12:40] - There's a greater use of digital products to control energy usage in the home. Homes have become more efficient. [13:55] - Eventually there will be a situation where houses, buildings, and cars will be building, storing, and using energy simultaneously. [14:40] - The United States is currently re-industrializing. [17:58] - It is part of their responsibility to ensure that the investments that are made by the utility company are made across their distribution system. [19:27] - Commissioner Barve describes the efforts made and the state's legislature to aid low and moderate income individuals in Maryland. [20:30] - Utility companies do not make money off of selling electricity. [22:38] - Chair Hoover shares the feedback they receive when engaging with utility companies as it pertains to renewable energy. [24:24] - This is an open and transparent process. [26:40] - How have prices evolved over the last decade and where are they trending? [29:55] - Both Chair and Commissioner share what excites them about the work they do. [32:14] - Both share advice to those who are entering the industry. Links and Resources: Maryland Public Service Commission Website
Show #593 Good morning, good afternoon and good evening wherever you are in the world, welcome to EV News Daily for Friday 27th September 2019. It’s Martyn Lee here and I go through every EV story to save you time. Thank you to MYEV.com for helping make this show, they’ve built the first marketplace specifically for Electric Vehicles. It’s a totally free marketplace that simplifies the buying and selling process, and help you learn about EVs along the way too. TESLA UPDATE LETS DRIVERS STREAM SPOTIFY, NETFLIX, AND YOUTUBE "On Thursday, the latest over-the-air software update, known as Version 10, started rolling out to Tesla owners. The update packs in a lot of fun features, mostly for when the car is parked or charging." reports the tech site Mashable: "Games like Cuphead are coming to the Tesla Arcade and a new "Tesla Theater" application houses all the streaming video options. Caraoke is like it sounds: a karaoke interface with lyrics on the screen so you can belt out your favorite tunes. A Summon update will let you "summon" your car from a parking spot if it's in your line of sight. This is only available for drivers who have the Full Self-Driving version or Enhanced Autopilot package. Other updates will streamline Sentry mode, and the new mysteriously named "Joe mode" lets you lower the volume for parking chimes and other alerts if you have a sleeping baby in the car. The mobile Tesla app that lets you control the climate, unlock the car, and other options was also updated and now you'll be able to remote-control windows on the Model 3 and Model X from the app. " ZDNet reports: "Along with Netflix, Tesla drivers will be able to view content from YouTube, and Hulu or Hulu + Live TV from the dash console. Tesla's self-driving capabilities aren't yet advanced enough for drivers to switch off and watch movies, and thankfully the company notes that you can "watch your favorite shows, movies and content right from your car while parked". The company says customers have praised summon it for its convenience after shopping, but notes that "those using Smart Summon must remain responsible for the car and monitor it and its surroundings at all times". The feature is available to drivers when the car is within their line of sight. Owners of the Model 3 Standard Range Plus and Standard Range vehicles will now able to stream Spotify, TuneIn, and Slacker when connected to Wi-Fi." And The Verge reports: "video recordings captured when Teslas are in their self-protect Sentry Mode are now stored in a separate folder from other camera content. A new “Joe Mode” is meant to avoid waking up sleeping passengers by reducing the volume of certain car chimes and alerts. And the Tesla mobile app can do a few more things and control even more aspects of the car remotely (like the windows)." SlashGear on China: "Tesla customers in China will soon get iQiyi and Tencent Video access in the car with more services promised in the future." Tesla says: "“We’re expanding our music and audio platform to enable Spotify Premium account access in all supported markets – one of the most requested features from Tesla owners. This will be in addition to Slacker Radio and TuneIn, which are also available in Tesla vehicles.”" If you pause the video which Tesla put online today, there's Car Wash Mode. But what is that? And on turorials: "Additionally, all customers will have access to Tesla tutorial videos to learn more about their vehicle." In fact if you play that YouTube video frame by frame it says this: Voice Commands Driving Visualization Maps Improvements Sentry Mode Improvements Software Update Improvements Application Launcher Updates YouTube Car Wash Mode Caraoke Spotify Cuphead Feeling Lucky Tesla Theater TESLA JUMPS ON REPORT MUSK AIMS TO DELIVER RECORD 100,000 CARS THIS QUARTER "Shares of Tesla jumped more than 5% after Electrek, an electric vehicle news website, reported that CEO Elon Musk said the company “has a shot” at delivering 100,000 cars this quarter, which would be a new record." says CNBC.com: "Musk wrote in the email: “We have a shot at achieving our first 100,000 vehicle delivery quarter, which is an incredibly exciting milestone for our company!” The CEO also reportedly added, “The challenge is making sure that we have the right car variants in the right locations and rallying as much as our company resources as possible to help with the end of the quarter deliveries.” The automaker is expected to report its quarterly vehicle deliveries in the next few days." https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/26/tesla-jumps-on-report-musk-aims-to-deliver-100000-cars-this-quarter.html NORWEGIAN GAS STATION BECOMES FIRST IN WORLD TO REPLACE ALL PUMPS WITH ELECTRIC CHARGERS "Gas station" may no longer be an accurate description for a Circle K refueling outlet in Oslo, Norway, after it became the first in the world to replace all gas pumps with electric car chargers earlier this week." writes Newsweek: "The Oslo Circle K is one of the company's 16,000 gas stations around the world, but this location is the only one from any company to completely convert to electric fueling. The conversion to electric fuel "fast chargers" came at the same time as the United Nations Climate Action Summit was taking place this week in New York. Christina Bu, secretary general of the Norwegian Electric Car Association, said in a press release that it "was extra fun to highlight this" at the same time world leaders were discussing climate change." https://www.newsweek.com/norwegian-gas-station-becomes-first-world-replace-all-pumps-electric-chargers-1461714 FIRST GAS STATION IN AMERICA TO DITCH OIL FOR 100% ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING "The first gas station in the U.S. that has been completely transitioned from a petroleum station to exclusively charging EVs opened Thursday in Takoma Park, Maryland." says CNBC.com: "RS Automotives, the local gas station, has been around since 1958. Depeswar Doley, owner of the station since 1997, said he was already unhappy with the way oil and gasoline companies structure contracts — such as limiting the use of multiple suppliers, including clauses that extend contracts when a certain volume of sales is not met and limiting maintenance support. These business factors already were pushing him to consider other options. A nudge from his daughter was the final step in convincing Doley to make the switch to EV charging. There are more than 20,700 registered EVs in Maryland, and the area also has an electric taxi service in need of more chargers for their business. The gas station conversion was jointly funded by the Electric Vehicle Institute and the Maryland Energy Administration, which provided a grant of $786,000." https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/26/first-gas-station-to-ditch-oil-for-electric-vehicle-charging-now-open.html THE HYUNDAI VELOSTER N ETCR HAS HIT THE TRACK AND IT SOUNDS JUST LIKE A STAR WARS SHIP "Hyundai Motorsport hit the Hungaroring with its all-electric Veloster N to get the machine primed and ready for next year’s ETCR racing series. And man does it sound freakin’ cool." says Jalopnik: The Veloster N has a much higher pitch to its powertrain than fellow EV series Formula E. Both have that whistle-y quality that’s common to an electric car as opposed to the grumble of a combustion engine" https://jalopnik.com/the-hyundai-veloster-n-etcr-has-hit-the-track-and-it-so-1838488781 MASERATI'S BIG ELECTRIC PUSH: ALL FUTURE MODELS WILL BE EV OR HYBRID "Maserati today confirmed that it was electrifying its whole range - from sports cars to saloons and crossovers. The company is turning its Italian HQ into an electric car centre of excellence, it says, confirming that all future Masers will be made in Italy." writes Tim Pollard for Car Magazine: "Maserati revealed that every new model in the pipeline will be either hybrid or full battery electric, and vowed that the switch from oil to volts wouldn't dent its commitment to 'innovation and the high performance embedded in the brand’s DNA.' It also committed to 'extended range and ultra-fast charging capabilities,' perhaps made easier by the brand's relatively late arrival into the electric car space." Follow Tim at @TimPollardCars https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/electric/maserati/ YOU CAN NOW BUY A PLUG-IN HYBRID BENTLEY BENTAYGA "Bentley's new Bentayga plug-in hybrid is now on sale in the UK with prices starting from a little over £133,000." reports Motor1.com: "The luxury 4x4 is described by its manufacturer as “the world’s first true electrified luxury car”, and offers an all-electric range of around 24 miles on the new and more stringent WLTP efficiency test. That’s provided by a 126 bhp electric motor, which is also used to eliminate turbo lag, while the power comes from a high-voltage battery that can be recharged in two-and-a-half hours." https://uk.motor1.com/news/373273/bentley-bentayga-phev-pricing-uk/ AUSTRALIA IS GETTING MORE ULTRA-RAPID CHARGING "Chargefox, which claims to be Australia’s largest electric vehicle (EV) charging network, is increasing the number of ultra-rapid EV chargers it has in the country." as per Business insider Autralia: "The company revealed the target locations for all 22 sites in the first phase of its ultra-rapid EV charging network. It is part of Chargefox’s broader goal to have more than 100 ultra-rapid charging sites in the country. Chargefox already has 5 ultra-rapid stations open in, with 17 more in the works. All 22 will connect Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, with additional sites in Western Australia and Tasmania." WATCH THE 258MPH RIMAC C_TWO CRASH FIVE TIMES "WARNING: the following video contains footage that some viewers may find distressing. And by some viewers, likely it’ll be all of you. That’s because this video contains footage of the £1.5m+ Rimac C_Two hypercar crashing. A lot. Five times, in fact. It’s all a part of the C_Two’s homologation process to ensure it’ll be safe and road-legal across the globe. Still, five times." says Top Gear: "No lie, it’s never easy watching a super-rare, very desirable 1,887bhp self-driving electric hypercar being squished against some very solid things. Rimac reckons on 0-62mph in a frankly terrifying 1.97s, 0-100mph in 4.3s, a quarter mile time of 9.1s and 0-186mph in 11.8s." https://www.topgear.com/car-news/crash/watch-258mph-rimac-ctwo-crash-five-times QUESTION OF THE WEEK The MYEV.com Question Of The Week… What do you want to hear on this podcast? Only pure EVs? PHEV’s and Hybrids? Other vehicles like bikes, scooters, planes and boats? I want to say a heartfelt thank you to the 254 patrons of this podcast whose generosity means I get to keep making this show, which aims to entertain and inform thousands of listeners every day about a brighter future. 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Solar energy has enjoyed extraordinary growth in recent years, thanks largely to declining costs and commercial investments, but public policy has played a big role, too. So, what lies in store for solar in 2019, amid increasingly ominous reports about climate change and ongoing debates over the role of federal and state policies? In this edition of the Columbia Energy Exchange, host Bill Loveless talks to Abigail Ross Hopper, the president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the U.S. trade group for solar energy. Abby joined SEIA in 2017 after having run the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management at U.S. Department of the Interior during the Obama administration. Before that, she served as director of the Maryland Energy Administration, energy adviser to then Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley and deputy general counsel with the Maryland Public Service Commission. As such she’s learned firsthand how policy is made at the state and federal levels, and now represents the US solar industry. Bill and Abby sat down at her office in Washington to discuss the condition of solar energy in the U-S today, the prospects for federal and state policies governing this sector, and the opportunities and challenges for leaders in this field like Abby.
On the pod this week, Jon sits down with Kelly Speakes-Backman, the CEO of the Energy Storage Association, the national trade association dedicated to energy storage, working toward a more resilient, efficient, sustainable and affordable electricity grid. The organization represents a diverse group of companies, including independent power producers, electric utilities, energy service companies, financiers, manufacturers, and more involved in deploying energy storage systems. Kelly joined ESA with more than 20 years working in energy and energy efficiency, sustainability, renewables, and environmental business strategies. Her direct technology experience includes power generation from solar, wind, biogas and biomass, distributed generation, natural gas, smart grid and fuel cells. She joined the public sector in 2010 as the Clean Energy Director at the Maryland Energy Administration, where she led a team to implement programs aimed at meeting the Administration’s goal of increasing Maryland’s renewable energy portfolio to 20 percent by 2022. With her rich experience across sectors, and throughout the energy industry, we are excited to hear Kelly’s insight on the growth of storage and the transformative potential of this emerging technology. We hope you enjoy the conversation today as much as we did. Experts Only is made possible by CleanCapital. Learn more: http://www.cleancapital.com Follow on Twitter: @CleanCapital_ Learn more about the Energy Storage Association: http://energystorage.org/ 2025 Report for Energy Storage: http://energystorage.org/vision2025 McKinsey on the declining costs of storage: https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/electric-power-and-natural-gas/our-insights/the-new-rules-of-competition-in-energy-storage
Eighteen years ago, the state of Maryland deregulated its electricity market with the idea that a free market would give consumers cheaper rates. This has since led to the proliferation of retail electricity suppliers competing for the attention and affection of consumers. With renewable energy production currently on the rise, these suppliers have also been touting what they call “green electricity” plans. Have consumers made the switch toward these alternative energy plans? Has deregulation delivered on the promise of lowering prices? Kent Mottice will be here to help answer those questions. He is the Energy Policy Manager at the Maryland Energy Administration , the state agency whose mission is ----to promote affordable, reliable and cleaner energy for the benefit of all Marylanders.---- Tim Brennan is a professor at the University of Maryland Baltimore County where he teaches Economics and Public Policy. He’s also a senior fellow at Resources for the Future , an organization committed to
What does it mean for your organization?Learn about the stimulus/recovery act that has been signed into law and about the many different funding flows that are related to it. This session will give you a basic understanding of how your organization can utilize the funding coming from the stimulus package in order to best serve your customers.Neil Bergsman from the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations speaks about the state's budget and how nonprofits will be affected. Representatives from Maryland Governor's Grants Office, Volunteer Maryland, Department of Labor Licensing and Regulation, Department of Housing and Community Development, Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention, and the Maryland Energy Administration were also present to speak about funding through their agencies.Download the Presentation Slides.Recorded On: Wednesday, May 20, 2009