Tribal Power Utilities
from Rise Up Hosted by the MREA
On this episode of the Rise Up podcast, we feature a double interview with 2022 Energy Fair keynote speakers, Bob Blake and John Farrell, hosted by MREA Executive Director Nick Hylla. Bob Blake is the founder and CEO of solar installer, Solar Bear, as well as the executive director of the non-profit, Native Sun Community Power Development. John Farrell is the co-director of the Institute for Local Self Reliance and the director of Energy Democracy Initiative. The final part of this episode features a conversation with Ellen Barlas, the MREA's Solar Workforce Manager. She discusses the clean energy career fair, solar workforce development, and the Midwest Solar Job Resource Center, solarenergy.jobs. Get your tickets to the 2022 Energy Fair being held between June 24, 2022 - June 26, 2022 in Custer, Wisconsin at https://www.theenergyfair.org/. ----------- Show notes: (2:44) - Bob Blake explains the origins of his idea for a tribal EV charging network (7:18) - Public charging and the role of solar (12:14) - How energy project decisions are made in tribal communities (20:45) - The future of autonomous tribal power utilities (31:48) - John Farrell's ideal utility design (39:47) - Bob Blake on overcoming the challenges of creating your own utility (48:08) - Ellen Barlas on what jobs are needed by solar installers (49:20) - Why solar programs are facing enrollment shortages (54:24) - Why MREA launched solarenergy.jobs ----------- Links: The Energy Fair MREA's website Volunteer Opportunities at MREA Midwest Solar Job Resource Center
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