Microsoft, AI, and the Grid We Need Next (S4:E9)

The grid is being asked to do the impossible: power AI and data centers, electrify homes and industry, integrate carbon-free energy, and still stay affordable and reliable. In this episode of Just Power, Carolyn Parrs sits down with Hanna Grene—Microsoft’s Global Go-to-Market & Operations Leader for Energy and a recognized thought leader on the digital grid transition—to cut through the hype and get specific about where AI is already changing day-to-day energy operations and what's next.⭐ Highlights Five places AI is already delivering value in the energy industry: workforce productivity, health & safety, customer experience, business process modernization, and asset/grid optimization.Grid optimization is the new energy efficiency: using better visibility and analytics to operate a complex, real-time, multi-stakeholder system more effectively.Permitting as the “valley of delay”: how AI can streamline permitting workflows to reduce time and cost—helping get more (and cleaner) electrons onto the grid faster.Climate-informed planning gets real: moving beyond historical weather assumptions toward predictive modeling that accounts for future wildfire, flood, and heat risks over 20–30 year asset lifecycles.Cybersecurity and governance are non-negotiable: why zero trust, the right data access, and hybrid architectures matter as more data moves to the cloud for advanced AI use cases.Referenced in this podcastSCE and ThinkLabs AI: ThinkLabs AI achieves results in AI-powered grid analytics | AP NewsMISO's cloud leadership: MISO to Drive Grid Innovation with Microsoft Azure & Microsoft FoundryMicrosoft's Permitting AI AcceleratorMicrosoft's 5-point Plan to partner with local communities across the United StatesAbout my guest, Hanna GreneHanna is Microsoft’s Global Go-to-Market & Operations Leader for Energy.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannagrene/About Just Power host, Carolyn ParrsCarolyn is a Senior Strategic Communications Leader and the CEO of Mind Over Markets. Website: https://mindovermarkets.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynparrs/About Just Power PodcastJust Power is about the human side of the clean energy transition. The podcast focuses on grid modernization, energy affordability, and community engagement — featuring leaders from utilities, policy, technology, and frontline communities navigating the real-world impacts of energy infrastructure change.🔔 Never Miss an Update! Subscribe NowYouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheJustPowerPodcast?sub_confirmation=1💖 Spread the LoveLike, comment, and share this episode with a friend, policy maker, or energy provider who needs to hear this.YouTubeFacebookInstagramNew Mexico State University MicrolearningMind Over MarketsLinkedIn