76. 'Preparing For The EV Shift' With Lauren Youngdahl Snyder, Consumers Energy

The shift to adopt electric vehicles (EVs) is not only the most comprehensive transportation system evolution to date, but it is also setting up the electric power industry for its most fundamental disruption in its history. The amount of sheer new energy demand that accompanies a complete shift towards EVs has not been seen since the advent of air conditioning, but the domino effect of impacts are also never ending: new opportunities for flexible demand, installation of necessary equipment and infrastructure, and a true rethinking of the relationship between utility and customer. Rather than see this shift as a hurdle to overcome, Consumers Energy in Michigan has taken it on as a challenge to be able to help its customers in new and creative ways. This major utility has pledged to power one million EVs by the end of the decade, and the pride felt in the role Michigan has always played as the heart of the U.S. auto industry has meant that this transition to EVs is personal. The passion and excitement for this shift, however, does not mean that the path from here to there is clear and straightforward, and some of the challenges that will come have likely not even yet been identified. But that doesn't stop Lauren Youngdahl Snyder, Vice President of Customer Experience at Consumers Energy, from taking a leading role in bringing the utility and its customers into the EV future. Lauren joins podcast host Jason Price and producer Matt Chester to provide lessons already learned along the way and an outlook for what the pathway is from here to 2030 to support one million EVs on the Michigan roads. Key Links: Energy Central Post with Full Transcript: https://energycentral.com/o/energy-central/episode-76-preparing-ev-shift-utility-perspective-lauren-youngdahl-snyder-vp Lauren Youngdahl Snyder's Energy Central Profile:  https://energycentral.com/member/profile/lauren-youngdahl Link to register as a member of the Energy Central Community: www.energycentral.com/user/register Did you know? The Energy Central Power Perspectives Podcast has been identified as one of the industry's 'Top 25 Energy Podcasts': blog.feedspot.com/energy_podcasts