Revolutionizing Grids: Ted Bloch-Rubin On Smart Wires' Tech And Future Alternative Power Plays podcast

26:33

On this episode of Alternative Power Plays, Buchanan’s Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis welcome Jon Gordon, Director at Advanced Energy United. Advanced Energy United (AEU) is an industry association and advocacy group that represents the full range of advanced energy technologiesand services, both grid-scale and distributed. In his role, Jon leads AEU’s work to increase wholesale electricity market access for advanced energy technologies, including related transmission expansion. The conversation centers around PJM, the regional transmission organization (RTO) that coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity in 13 states and Washington, D.C. In February, AEU published a report examining the results of PJM’s capacity auction for 2025-2026, which saw prices surge to $14.7 billion, an increase of $12.5 billion from the previous auction. The three discuss the results of that report and how it will impact customers, what’s driving high prices, what additional reforms and remediation are needed to improve interconnection, and more. On a previous episode of Alternative Power Plays, Seltzer and Povilaitis sat down with Gordon’s colleague, Ryan Gallentine, Managing Director of Advanced Energy United where they discussed what policies Gallentine is focused on to help move electric vehicle adoption forward. To hear that conversation, visit: https://share.transistor.fm/s/f8e6940d . To learn more about Advanced Energy United, visit: https://advancedenergyunited.org/ To learn more about Jon Gordon, visit: https://advancedenergyunited.org/about/team/jon-gordon To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠ https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis…

Alternative Power Plays

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Advancing Electric Vehicle Adoption 27:43

26 days ago27:43

27:43

What exactly is needed to prepare the electrical grid for load growth expected to come from electric vehicle adoption? What role does the clean energy industry play? On this episode of Alternative Power Plays, Buchanan’s Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis sat down with Ryan Gallentine, Managing Director of Advanced Energy United. Advanced Energy United is a national industry association representing businesses that provide the full range of advanced energy and transportation solutions. Gallentine leads the organization’s transportation portfolio, where he’s focused on designing political strategies and campaigns to promote electric vehicle adoption and infrastructure modernization. In this episode, Gallentine shares what policies he’s focused on at Advanced Energy United to help move electric vehicle adoption forward. He talks about which states in the U.S. are progressive when it comes to EV adoption and infrastructure, and which still have a ways to go. He talks about grid capacity, risks and future goals, and why an all-of-the-above approach makes sense. On a previous episode of the podcast, Britta Gross, Director of Transportation at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), discussed these same issues from the point of view of utilities. Gallentine’s perspective comes from that of public and private companies in the clean energy industry. To hear our conversation with Gross, listen here: https://share.transistor.fm/s/824932f7 . To learn more about Advanced Energy United, visit: https://advancedenergyunited.org/ To learn more about Ryan Gallentine, visit: https://advancedenergyunited.org/about/team/ryan-gallentine To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠ https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis…

Alternative Power Plays

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Renewable Hydrogen Energy with the First Public Hydrogen Authority 25:40

6 weeks ago25:40

25:40

Clean hydrogen may be the future of renewable energy to some, but substantial upfront costs are a hindrance to truly enabling the industry to flourish. The First Public Hydrogen Authority (FPH2) and CEO Jason Caudle are working to change that. On this episode of Alternative Power Plays, Buchanan’s John Povilaitis and Alan Seltzer talk with Caudle about FPH2 and the future of hydrogen energy. Prior to FPH2, Caudle spent the entirety of his career in local government, working for the city of Lancaster, California, for about 17 years including leading the city’s energy department. During the episode, Caudle discuses why Lancaster, PA, was the right place for a hydrogen energy program, his expected timing for bringing this type of renewable energy to life more broadly, what steps need to be taken to enable a more renewable future, and how to expand this energy beyond more green-energy-focused states like California. To learn more about First Public H2, visit: https://www.firstpublich2.com/ To learn more about Jason Caudle, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-caudle-b594742a To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer ⁠ To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠ https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis…

Alternative Power Plays

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Scalable and Affordable Green Hydrogen with Grimes Carbon Tech 22:13

8 weeks ago22:13

22:13

For some time, marketing hydrogen in an affordable way has been a challenge to say the least. One company, Grimes Carbon Tech, says that assertion is untrue and they have the technology to prove it. On this episode of Alternative Power Plays, Buchanan’s Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis welcome Joseph Maceda, founder of Grimes Carbontech, and Haydn Palliser, Principal at green energy transition advisory firm Pivotal 180 and Grimes Carbontech advisor, to talk about their company and its hopeful technology. Grimes Carbontech was founded in 2022 and offers scalable technology that uses low-temperature waste heat to produce hydrogen in a liquid solution. The company says their technology is 80% cheaper than the electrolysis method and doesn’t come with the need for pipelines or electrical grid infrastructure, enabling the firm to market hydrogen at the site of its use and convert carbon to sustainable fuel while also capturing and recycling carbon profitably. Grimes Carbontech calls it “Caustic Aqueous-Phase Electrochemical Reforming" or "CAPER.” During the episode, Joseph and Haydn talk about the ins and outs of their technology, how it works, why it’s so valuable and what the future for this technology looks like. While the company is in its early stages, the future looks quite promising and our guests are thrilled about what its true potential could look like. To learn more about Grimes Carbon Tech visit: https://grimescarbontech.com/ To learn more about Joseph Maceda and Haydn Palliser, visit: https://grimescarbontech.com/about-us To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer⁠ To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠ https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis…

Alternative Power Plays

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The Story Behind the U.S.’s Largest Underground Electrical Substation 31:28

10 weeks ago31:28

31:28

What goes into building the largest underground electrical substation in the U.S., and why is the project so important? To answer this question, Buchanan’s Alan Seltzer and Brattle’s Metin Celebi sat down with Maija Benjamins, Director of Strategic Project Development at Eversource. Eversource is New England’s largest energy delivery company, serving 4.4 million electric and natural gas customers across Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. At Eversource, Maija plays a key role in shaping the future of energy, leading the planning, engineering, and execution of major strategic projects, including the Kendall Square Substation project. During the conversation, Maija talks about why the collaboration between Eversource and the City of Cambridge was so critical to its successful approval, how Eversource will adapt to the increase in electrical demand for vehicles, and the role Eversource plays in supporting Massachusetts’ clean energy goals. Our hosts also get into Maija’s experience as a woman in STEM as she shares her advice for fellow women in the energy field. To learn more about Eversource visit: https://www.eversource.com/content/residential To learn more about Maija Benjamins, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maija-benjamins-64352693 To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer⁠ To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠ https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis…

Alternative Power Plays

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Solving the Power Demand Challenge with Dynamic Line Rating Technology 32:58

12 weeks ago32:58

32:58

How can digital infrastructure unlock electric grid capacity? Dynamic line ratings, or DLR, is a technology used by utilities to optimize the electrical carrying capacity of power lines. DLR helps them account for real-time issues like weather and dynamically adjust the maximum capacity for a line. Today, LineVision is the only DLR provider using tower-mounted optical sensors today. Their patented non-contact LIDAR platform is mounted to transmission structures rather than to live lines, which increases the safety, operational efficiency, and accuracy of data collected without interfering with the conductors. On this episode of Alternative Power Plays, Buchanan’s Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis speak with Steve Hambric, Chief Revenue Officer at LineVision. They talk about how LineVision’s tower-mounted sensors compare to the other segments in the market, the depth of information their technology is capable of gathering and what the future of this technology might look like. According to Hambric, LineVision’s non-contact sensors collect critical information to unlock additional capacity on existing lines, provide insight into conductor health, and detect anomalies and risks. To learn more about LineVision, visit: https://www.linevisioninc.com/ To learn more about Steve Hambric, visit: https://www.linevisioninc.com/our-team/steve-hambric To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer⁠ To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠ https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis…

Alternative Power Plays

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How Topology Optimization Improves the Grid 29:25

14 weeks ago29:25

29:25

The challenges that transmission operators and utilities face are growing by the day. Integrating renewables, extreme weather, and grid reliability are just a few. On this episode of Alternative Power Plays, Buchanan's John Povilaitis and Brattle's Metin Celebi welcome Dr. Pablo Ruiz, co-founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Technology Officer at NewGrid, Inc. Ruiz is an electrical engineer with over 15 years of experience in electric power systems analysis, research and software development. He specializes in power system operations and planning, renewable power integration and the modeling, analysis and design of wholesale electricity markets. During the conversation, Ruiz talks about how topology optimization leverages the redundancy in grid networks to find new operational breakthroughs and avoid potential electric crises. He shares insights on NewGrid's work with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and how it's led to both congestion reductions and cost savings. Later, Ruiz discusses the exciting potential of introducing more renewable energies into the grid and how it can be done safely and effectively -- with the help of NewGrid's offerings. To learn more NewGrid, visit: https://newgridinc.com/ To learn more about Pablo Ruiz, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pablo-ruiz-161a965/ To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠ https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis To learn more about Metin Celebi, visit: https://www.brattle.com/experts/metin-celebi/…

Alternative Power Plays

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The Future of Construction with Low-carbon Cement 22:44

16 weeks ago22:44

22:44

Cement is the critical ingredient required to make concrete – the literal foundation of countless construction projects here in the U.S. and abroad. However, the environmental impact of producing traditional cement has been one of the biggest downsides of this all-important building material. That is, until Fortera and its proprietary cement-making process takes off. On this episode of Alternative Power Plays, Buchanan’s Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis speak with Keith Krugh, Chief Manufacturing Officer at Fortera, a materials technology company that is developing low-carbon cement using a proprietary process inspired by nature. While traditional cement production is energy-intensive and contributes about 8% of global CO₂ emissions. Fortera has a new method of making the cement necessary for concrete that has a 70% lower carbon footprint. During the discussion, Keith shares more about how Fortera’s technology works, what its applications are, and how recent regulations are affecting the company. To learn more Fortera, visit: https://forteraglobal.com/ To learn more about Keith Krugh Hoffman, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithkrugh/ To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer⁠ To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠ https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis…

Alternative Power Plays

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U.S. Energy Outlook Under Trump 2.0 25:33

17 weeks ago25:33

25:33

What is the outlook for the U.S. Energy Sector under President Donald Trump's second term in office? We welcome back Ed Hild, principal in Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney's government relations practice to give us a download on what to expect. Ed is a former Chief of Staff for Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and has deep connections with powerful voices in Washington, D.C. During this episode of Alternative Power Plays, hosts Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis speak to Ed as he shares his insights on the President's cabinet selections, the future of renewable energy under a Republican-controlled federal government, potential permitting reform, and more. To learn more about Ed Hild, visit: https://www.bipc.com/edward-hild To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer⁠ To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠ https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis…

Alternative Power Plays

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The Future of Long-duration Energy Storage with Hydrostor 30:56

19 weeks ago30:56

30:56

As the world increasingly moves toward cleaner energy solutions, the demand for long-duration energy storage is at an all-time high. Hydrostor, a global leader in compressed air energy storage, is addressing this challenge by providing scalable, efficient, and sustainable alternatives to traditional battery technology. In this episode of Alternative Power Plays, hosts Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis speak with Scott Bolton, Executive Vice President of Global Policy and Regulatory Affairs at Hydrostor. They discuss how the company’s innovative storage technology is helping to stabilize power grids around the world. Scott explains the mechanics of compressed air energy storage and compares it to lithium-ion batteries and pumped hydro, illustrating why this technology is positioned to play a crucial role in the transition to clean energy. The conversation also highlights Hydrostor’s flagship projects—the Silver City Energy Center in Australia and the Willow Rock project in California—showing how these large-scale storage solutions meet various energy market needs. Additionally, Scott addresses the regulatory challenges that Hydrostor faces, discusses how they collaborate with policymakers to facilitate energy storage deployment, and shares insights on the future of energy infrastructure development. To learn more about Hydrostor, visit: https://hydrostor.ca/ To learn more about Scott Bolton, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-bolton-72489/ To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer⁠ To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠ https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis…

Alternative Power Plays

1
Turning Trash into Treasure: Revolutionizing Landfill Gas with LoCI Controls 34:31

20 weeks ago34:31

34:31

In this episode of Alternative Power Plays, hosts Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis explore a transformative technology that is reshaping landfill energy with Melinda Sims, Co-Founder and Director of Product Development at LoCI Controls. The conversation will get into how LoCI's technology platform utilizes automation, advanced algorithms, and real-time data to optimize methane capture and reduce emissions. During the episode, Melinda discusses the delicate balance between maximizing gas collection and ensuring safety. She shares real-world success stories, such as reversing production declines at a landfill in Washington, and explains how AI and policy changes are influencing the future of waste-to-energy innovation. Join us for an enlightening conversation about sustainability, engineering ingenuity, and the untapped potential of landfills. To learn more about LoCI: https://locicontrols.com/ To learn more about Melinda Sims: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindasims/ To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer⁠ To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠ https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis…

Alternative Power Plays

1
The U.S. Power Grid is Struggling – What Needs to Change Now 38:49

22 weeks ago38:49

38:49

The U.S. electric grid is experiencing unprecedented demand growth driven by data centers, manufacturing, and increased electrification. On this episode of Alternative Power Plays, hosts Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis are joined by Rob Gramlich, President of Grid Strategies. Rob breaks down the numbers behind this surge in demand and discusses its implications for grid reliability, power markets, and electricity prices. He highlights which regions are facing the highest load growth, identifies bottlenecks in interconnection and transmission, and outlines what policymakers and utilities must do now to ensure the grid can accommodate this demand without causing skyrocketing costs or reliability issues. To learn more about Grid Strategies: https://gridstrategiesllc.com/ To learn more about Rob Gramlich: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-gramlich-2a4b594/ To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer⁠ To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠ https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis…

Alternative Power Plays

1
Unlocking Rooftop Solar: Allume Energy’s Solution for Apartment Renters 24:45

23 weeks ago24:45

24:45

In this episode of Alternative Power Plays, hosts Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis engage in a conversation with Aliya Bagewadi, the U.S. Director of Strategy Partnerships at Allume Energy. She discusses how Allume Energy is transforming solar access for apartment renters. Aliya shares more about the company’s origins in Australia and its mission to promote energy equity as it expands to markets in the U.S. and Europe. Throughout the episode, she highlights the benefits of Allume Energy for renters, who can see energy bill reductions of 40-60% with the company’s technology. Meanwhile, building owners benefit from lower operating costs, new revenue streams, and increased property value. Aliya provides insights into Allume’s market focus, targeting Illinois and D.C. due to favorable incentives, as well as the company's plans to integrate energy storage for enhanced grid resilience. The episode concludes with Aliya emphasizing the importance of education and collaboration with utilities, cities, and community partners to drive adoption and scale their mission of providing clean energy access for renters. To learn more about Allume Energy, visit: https://allumeenergy.com/us/ To learn more about Aliya Bagewadi, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliyabagewadi To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer⁠ To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis…

Alternative Power Plays

1
Climate Leadership in Pennsylvania: A Conversation with PA Rep. Greg Vitali 39:55

25 weeks ago39:55

39:55

In this episode of Alternative Power Plays, hosts Alan Seltzer and Elizabeth Rosentel, a senior advisor in Buchanan's state government relations group, interview Pennsylvania State House Representative Greg Vitali, who has dedicated decades to environmental and energy issues. As the first legislator in Pennsylvania to introduce climate change legislation and propose a severance tax on natural gas, Representative Vitali shares his journey from community environmental activism to chairing the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. This episode covers the challenges and opportunities in advancing renewable energy policies, as well as the political dynamics of Pennsylvania’s energy landscape. The trio explore community solar, net metering, electric vehicle infrastructure, and the changing demand for electricity. Representative Vitali emphasizes the obstacles posed by bipartisan governance, the influence of industry and labor unions, and the urgent need for climate action in light of evolving federal and state dynamics. To learn more about Pennsylvania State House Representative Greg Vitali: https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/house_bio.cfm?id=210 To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer⁠ To learn more about Elizabeth Rosentel: https://www.bipc.com/elizabeth-a.-rosentel…

Alternative Power Plays

1
Electrifying the Future: How WeaveGrid is Shaping EV Infrastructure 26:21

36 weeks ago26:21