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  • Meeting the Energy Challenges of Data Centers

    Meeting the Energy Challenges of Data Centers
    2025/02/14
    In this episode of Plugged In, Constellation’s Managing Director Melissa Zimmerman speaks with Ed Socia, Director, North America at datacenterHawk, about the evolving energy demands and sustainability challenges of data centers. Ed discusses trends such as the growing influence of AI, increasing rack densities, and the adoption of liquid cooling to optimize energy use. He highlights the role of real-time monitoring tools like SCADA and DSIM in improving efficiency while addressing regional variations in energy strategies and the balance between carbon reduction goals and business viability. He also touches on the potential of emerging technologies like small modular reactors and green hydrogen, the importance of adaptive reuse of sites, and the need to enhance grid reliability as the industry continues to grow rapidly. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in… Trends in data centers and energy demand (02:00) Energy procurement today and on-site generation methods (03:59) Monitoring energy usage in data centers (12:04) Sustainability challenges and regional variations (14:38) Teams involved in siting, sourcing, and building data centers (16:38) Innovative energy solutions for data centers (19:59) The importance of grid reliability (22:42) For detailed show notes, click here. Connect with Ed Socia On LinkedIn Hailing from Syracuse, New York, Ed has a background in sustainability, focusing on renewable power generation and the growth of digital infrastructure. Before joining datacenterHawk as its Director for North America, Ed was the Director of Research for North America at CBRE. He currently resides in Denver, Colorado, with his fiancée Brittany and their pug, Sherman. Connect with Melissa Zimmerman On LinkedIn Melissa Zimmerman is a seasoned professional with over 17 years in the energy industry, currently serving as the Director of Commercial Strategy at Constellation. In this role, she supports the growth of Constellation's commercial business, which markets electricity, natural gas, and other energy-related products and services to various customer segments, including wholesale, commercial, industrial, and residential clients. Prior to her current position, Melissa held several key roles within the company, including Chief of Staff, Manager of the Mid-Atlantic Sales Support team, and Account Manager for commercial real estate customers in the DC and MD area. She began her career at Constellation as a pricing analyst, where she was responsible for pricing and validating energy contracts for retail customers. Melissa holds a bachelor's degree in Mathematics and Economics from Towson University and a Master of Science degree in Applied and Computational Mathematics from Johns Hopkins University. Connect with Constellation Follow Constellation on LinkedIn Follow Chuck Hanna on LinkedIn Learn more about Constellation sustainability solutions Connect with Smart Energy Decisions Smart Energy Decisions Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to Smart Energy Voices on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Android, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, aCast, PlayerFM, iHeart Radio If you're interested in participating in the next Smart Energy Decisions Event, visit smartenergydecisions.com or email our Community Development team at attend@smartenergydecisions.com
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    31 分
  • Driving Circularity in the U.S.

    Driving Circularity in the U.S.
    2025/01/24
    In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host Debra Chanil speaks with Mike Van Brunt from ReWorld and Sean Trambley from the Circular Economy Coalition about the integration of circular economy principles in the energy sector. Both guests emphasize the economic and environmental benefits of circularity, including waste reduction and energy efficiency, and offer advice for businesses starting to embrace circular economy practices. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in… Circularity and how it differs from other sustainability practices (02:57) Overview of U.S. Circular Economy Coalition (05:20) What a circular economy would look like in the U.S. (07:41) How the federal government defines a circular economy (09:40) How Reworld is incorporating circular economy policies (15:15) The federal government's role in building a more circular economy (18:55) Benefits of incorporating circular economy practices (25:27) Ways to approach circularity (28:27) For detailed show notes, click here. Resources: Federal Circularity Audit and Report Connect with Michael Van Brunt On LinkedIn Michael Van Brunt is currently VP Environmental and Sustainability at Reworld Waste, where he is responsible for corporate sustainability strategy and reporting and environmental compliance, permitting, and monitoring. He leads Reworld’s lifecycle analysis team and is a licensed professional engineer with over twenty years of experience in industry and consulting. He is currently the board chair of the Circular Economy Coalition. He earned a B.S. and Masters in Agricultural and Biological Engineering from Cornell University. Connect with Sean Trambley On LinkedIn With more than a decade of government relations and strategic communications experience. Sean Trambley began his career in Washington, D.C. as Sr. Policy Advisor to former Congressman Dennis Cardoza (D-CA). Since 2016, Sean has worked as a California-based consultant and strategist. In 2020, Sean joined the Breakthrough Institute as Communications Director, a global research center focused on energy, agriculture, and technological solutions to climate change. He earned a B.A. in American Studies and Legal Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Connect With Smart Energy Decisions Smart Energy Decisions Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to Smart Energy Voices on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Android, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, aCast, PlayerFM, iHeart Radio If you're interested in participating in the next Smart Energy Decision Event, visit smartenergydecisions.com or email our Community Development team at attend@smartenergydecisions.com
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    32 分
  • Dynamics of Data Reporting With Iron Mountain

    Dynamics of Data Reporting With Iron Mountain
    2025/01/10
    In this episode of Plugged In, host Chuck Hanna talks with Chris Pennington, Director of Energy and Sustainability for Iron Mountain Data Centers, about the company's ambitious decarbonization efforts and commitment to 24/7 carbon-free energy. They dive into the challenges and solutions of tracking and achieving hourly energy matching, the changing landscape of clean energy products, and the importance of granular data in setting sustainability goals. Chris also shares insights on the growing intersection of environmental and business performance, offering valuable lessons for organizations at all stages of their sustainability journey. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in… Changes in global reporting requirements (01:34) Data centers and “digital footprints” (04:52) Tracking carbon at a granular level (08:42) Shifting to hourly energy matching goals (11:30) Data tracking and reporting tools (15:12) Insights for companies starting their sustainability journey (18:06) Click here for detailed show notes Connect with Chris Pennington On LinkedIn Chris Pennington is the Director of Energy and Sustainability for Iron Mountain Data Centers. In this role, Chris oversees global energy procurement and aligns this with wider Sustainability objectives. In 2021 Chris received the Leader of the Year award from the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) for work in developing innovative retail supply contracts and developing onsite solar at Iron Mountain Data Centers. Today Chris leads Iron Mountain's work on grid interactive data centers, developing demonstrator projects at two sites that he hopes will catalyze further deployment of on-site storage to convert data centers into flexible grid resources. Connect with Constellation Follow Constellation on LinkedIn Follow Chuck Hanna on LinkedIn Learn more about Constellation sustainability solutions Connect with Smart Energy Decisions Smart Energy Decisions Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to Smart Energy Voices on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Android, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, aCast, PlayerFM, iHeart Radio If you're interested in participating in the next Smart Energy Decisions Event, visit smartenergydecisions.com or email our Community Development team at attend@smartenergydecisions.com
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    28 分
  • Heard at Net Zero Forum: The Current State of Clean Energy

    Heard at Net Zero Forum: The Current State of Clean Energy
    2024/12/20
    In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, Peter Kelly-Detwiler delves into the latest advancements and challenges in decarbonization and clean energy across the U.S. He highlights progress in geothermal energy, nuclear energy, and long-duration storage solutions while addressing efficiency hurdles. Kelly-Detwiler explores the rising energy demands of AI-driven data centers and their implications for power grids, alongside updates on electric vehicles, hydrogen projects, and virtual power plants as utilities shift toward decentralized capacity. He also examines the volatility of voluntary carbon markets due to credibility issues and stresses the need for collective effort and innovative strategies to tackle the complexities of decarbonizing our global economies. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... The evolving gen mix (02:57) Geothermal energy updates (15:25) The rapid growth of AI-driven data centers (20:16) Insights on EVs (25:20) The credibility of carbon markets today (28:11) For full episode show notes, click here. Connect with Peter Kelly-Detwiler On LinkedIn Peter Kelly-Detwiler has 30 years of experience in the electric energy industry, with much of his career in competitive power markets. He’s currently a leading consultant in the electric industry, providing strategic advice to clients and investors, helping them to navigate the rapid evolution of the electric power grid. Mr. Kelly-Detwiler offers numerous keynotes and workshops on a wide range of topics. He has also written widely on energy issues for Forbes.com and GE, with over 300 articles to his credit. His book on the transformation of electric power markets – “The Energy Switch” – was published by Prometheus Books in June of 2021. Connect with Smart Energy Decisions Smart Energy Decisions Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to Smart Energy Voices on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Android, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, aCast, PlayerFM, iHeart Radio If you're interested in participating in the next Smart Energy Decisions Event, visit smartenergydecisions.com or email our Community Development team at attend@smartenergydecisions.com
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    33 分
  • On the Frontier of Carbon-Free Resources with Microsoft

    On the Frontier of Carbon-Free Resources with Microsoft
    2024/12/06
    In this episode of Plugged In, Host Chuck Hanna from Constellation talks with Adrian Anderson, General Manager of Carbon-Free Electricity, Renewable Energy & Carbon Dioxide Removal at Microsoft, about advancing carbon-free energy and data-driven sustainability. Adrian shares Microsoft’s sustainability goals, including their 100% renewable energy targets and the crucial role of data granularity for accurate carbon reporting. He highlights Microsoft’s investments in carbon reduction and innovation, such as the company’s Carbon Innovation Fund and its work in long-term power offtake agreements. They also cover the challenges and strategies around Scope 3 emissions, building carbon-free infrastructure, and fostering collaboration with utilities to support a sustainable future. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... Importance of data in energy management (03:47) Microsoft’s initiatives to achieve targets (08:53) Microsoft’s Carbon Innovation Fund (13:46) Scope 3 emissions and building infrastructure challenges (15:38) Collaboration with utilities to address constraints (16:25) Click here for detailed show notes Connect with Adrian Anderson On LinkedIn Adrian Anderson is General Manager of Carbon-Free Electricity, Renewable Energy & Carbon Dioxide Removal at Microsoft. He has worked for a decade at the intersection of hyperscale and clean energy for Apple, Amazon, Google, and now Microsoft. Prior to leading teams in this capacity, he worked in renewable energy for a decade. In his current role, Adrian leads the organization within Microsoft responsible for all wholesale carbon-free electricity purchases and carbon dioxide removal programs. Connect with Constellation Follow Constellation on LinkedIn Follow Chuck Hanna on LinkedIn Learn more about Constellation sustainability solutions Connect with Smart Energy Decisions Smart Energy Decisions Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to Smart Energy Voices on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Android, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, aCast, PlayerFM, iHeart Radio If you're interested in participating in the next Smart Energy Decisions Event, visit smartenergydecisions.com or email our Community Development team at attend@smartenergydecisions.com
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    21 分
  • Reaching Net Zero: Kingspan’s Planet Passionate Program

    Reaching Net Zero: Kingspan’s Planet Passionate Program
    2024/11/22
    In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, Brent Trenga, Director of Sustainability at Kingspan North America, shares the company’s ambitious Planet Passionate program and its progress over the first four years of this 10-year initiative. Brent dives into the challenges they faced and the innovative solutions they have implemented to overcome them. He also highlights the value of benchmarking, setting aggressive sustainability targets, and internal buy-in from company leadership and employees to drive impactful change in sustainability efforts for this global building products manufacturer. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... Overview of Kingspan’s Planet Passionate program (03:08) Earning company-wide engagement in sustainability (05:23) Kingspan’s approach to whole life carbon (13:42) Challenges in implementing the Planet Passionate program (16:42) Advice for companies starting sustainability programs (21:23) Click here for detailed show notes Resources: Kingspan Certifications Planet Passionate Program Connect with Brent Trenga On LinkedIn Brent Trenga has truly run the construction industry gamut serving in various roles including architect, developer, and even project owner, allowing him to fully understand the sustainability ecosystem. As Sustainability Director for Kingspan North America, Brent is committed to reducing the environmental impact of business operations, products, and services through continuous improvement and environmental transparency. Since 2015, Brent has led Kingspan North America’s material health and transparency program while driving a culture of healthier building, healthier planet, healthier people across Kingspan’s global footprint. Brent also leads Kingspan’s global Planet Passionate 2030 program looking after the Americas, supports strategic planning for the business development group, and provides insight on current and future sustainability initiatives keeping Kingspan at the forefront of our industry. Connect with Smart Energy Decisions Smart Energy Decisions Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to Smart Energy Voices on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Android, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, aCast, PlayerFM, iHeart Radio If you're interested in participating in the next Smart Energy Decisions Event, visit smartenergydecisions.com or email our Community Development team at attend@smartenergydecisions.com
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    29 分
  • The Evolving Landscape of Nuclear Technologies

    The Evolving Landscape of Nuclear Technologies
    2024/11/08
    Welcome to the first episode of Plugged In: Exploring Energy. In this podcast miniseries, host Chuck Hanna from Constellation sits down with Benton Arnett from the Nuclear Energy Institute to discuss how nuclear power is transforming to meet today’s energy needs. They also explore emerging tech like small modular reactors (SMRs) and the growing demand for clean energy in sectors like AI and data centers. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... Changes in the nuclear energy sector over the past decade (01:23) Role of SMRs in meeting future energy needs (06:28) Tech giants and the shift to clean nuclear power (11:00) Evolving role of microreactors in various industries (14:58) Policy and regulatory actions for nuclear advancement (18:26) Click here for detailed how notes Connect with Benton Arnett On LinkedIn Benton Arnett, Senior Director of Markets and Policy at the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), leads the development and execution of policy advocacy strategies to advance the interests of the nuclear energy industry. With over a decade of experience in government affairs, issues management, and strategic partnerships, he has a proven track record of influencing policy outcomes, building coalitions, and effectively communicating with diverse stakeholders. Arnett holds a Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) from Texas A&M University, where he specialized in energy, transportation, and technology policy. He is passionate about promoting energy policy that supports national security, economic growth, and environmental sustainability. Connect with Constellation Follow Constellation on LinkedIn Follow Chuck Hanna on LinkedIn Learn more about Constellation sustainability solutions Connect with Smart Energy Decisions Smart Energy Decisions Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to Smart Energy Voices on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Android, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, aCast, PlayerFM, iHeart Radio If you're interested in participating in the next Smart Energy Decisions Event, visit smartenergydecisions.com or email our Community Development team at attend@smartenergydecisions.com
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    25 分
  • Heard at REF: Renewable Thermal — The Next Frontier in Decarbonization

    Heard at REF: Renewable Thermal — The Next Frontier in Decarbonization
    2024/10/25
    In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, Zephyr Taylor, Global Commercial Head and Category Director for Renewable Energy at Mars, Inc., takes a close look at the topic of Scope 1 emissions and industrial heat decarbonization. While many companies are comfortable sourcing renewable electricity for their Scope 2 targets, Scope 1 — specifically the challenge of decarbonizing industrial heat — is a different story. This episode tackles the technology, economics, and internal company dynamics required to make progress in this area. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in… Understanding Scope 1 decarbonization (02:37) Technological solutions for renewable thermal (05:01) Challenges and market dynamics of renewable thermal (09:11) Mars' renewables projects (13:30) Click here for detailed show notes Connect with Zephyr Taylor On LinkedIn As the Global Commercial head for Renewable Energy & Carbon Credits at Mars Inc., Zephyr Taylor oversees Mars’ renewable energy sourcing throughout the world – including market assessment, supplier engagement, deal structuring and negotiation, and key internal stakeholder partnering, alongside team oversight and organizational alignment. Zephyr has led the development and execution of strategic sustainability initiatives in the public and private sector globally. His expertise spans policymaking, commercial negotiation, project development and transaction structuring, and thought leadership on organizational reform and stakeholder mobilization. Zephyr holds an MBA and Master of Environmental Management degrees from Yale University. He received his undergraduate degree with Highest Honors in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Connect with Smart Energy Decisions Smart Energy Decisions Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to Smart Energy Voices on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Android, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, aCast, PlayerFM, iHeart Radio If you're interested in participating in the next Smart Energy Decisions Event, visit smartenergydecisions.com or email our Community Development team at attend@smartenergydecisions.com
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    24 分