Just Power

The affordability crisis isn't a fuel cost problem or an infrastructure problem — it's a power problem. Who's in the room when rates get set, who has decades of precedent on their side, and who's actually fighting for the customers that neither the utility nor the industrial intervenors are motivated to protect. John Wilson is one of those people. As Vice President at Grid Strategies, he has worked inside more than 70 utility proceedings across the US and Canada — representing consumer advocates, environmental organizations, and public interest groups. In this episode, he's direct about what he sees: where cost accountability is actually working, where the hyperscaler contracts are setting up tomorrow's stranded asset problem, and why the most credible response to affordability isn't a policy announcement — it's sustained, expert pressure inside a system that often defaults when no one's watching.HighlightsSmall businesses get the worst deal — and they have almost no power to change it. When settlements get struck between industrial and residential representatives, small businesses are consistently left on the floor.Settlement negotiations reward incumbency. Parties with long track records and deep resources shape outcomes. Newer intervenors fight for scraps."We'll pay full cost" has a gap in it. Eight-to-fifteen year hyperscaler contracts on infrastructure built to last 40 years creates a cost recovery mismatch that ratepayers will eventually absorb.Cost accountability is working — in some places. Nova Scotia's annual capital cost review is producing measurable results. It's not fast, but it's real.The North Dakota "miracle" is a warning, not a model. Today's falling rates are an echo of stranded costs from a previous industrial boom. The data center wave could replay that story.Enhanced geothermal may be the grid's closest thing to a silver bullet. Scalable, dispatchable, low-footprint — and the oil and gas industry already has most of the skills to build it.About our guest, John Wilson: John is a Vice President at Grid Strategies. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilsonjd/About our host, Carolyn Parrs: Carolyn is a Senior Strategic Communications Leader and the CEO of Mind Over Markets. mindovermarkets.com; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynparrs/Just Power Podcast 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 Episode of This Series! Subscribe Now.YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheJustPowerPodcast?sub_confirmation=1💖 Spread the LoveLike, comment, and share this episode with a friend, policymaker, or energy provider who needs to hear this.YouTubeFacebookInstagramNew Mexico State University MicrolearningMind Over MarketsLinkedIn

The energy affordability crisis is well understood. What's less clear is what's actually holding up as credible solutions from inside the system. Meena Beyers knows. As Vice President of Business and Community Development at NICOR Gas — serving 2.3 million customers across Northern Illinois — she's doing that work right now.In this conversation with host Carolyn Parrs, Meena takes us inside several of NICOR's on-the-ground initiatives — from a Smart Neighborhood built with Habitat for Humanity to a Community Connection Center linking customers to over 350 social service providers — and shares what it actually takes to scale what's working. She also makes the case for customer choice over mandate in a region where 95% of buildings heat with natural gas, and what she'd tell policymakers still asking the wrong questions.HighlightsThe Community Comfort Pilot in action: How NICOR flipped the traditional weatherization model — bringing contractors and bulk purchasing directly into a targeted neighborhood — and delivered a 20% reduction in winter energy bills for participating households.Why Illinois is different: With 95% of buildings heating with natural gas and one of the most robust storage systems in the country, Meena explains why energy diversity is Illinois's superpower — and why a planned transition looks very different here than anywhere else.From pilot to scale: What Meena is learning about why good pilots stall, what regulated utilities need from their regulators to move faster, and why building "change agility" is now a core utility competency.Customer choice, not mandate: Why policies that restrict gas access — through building codes or municipal ordinances — are landing differently in communities than policymakers intended, and what that market response is telling us.What policymakers need to ask: The questions that too rarely get asked — about real costs, real benefits, and who's actually at the table — and why Meena says it's okay to change course when the world has changed.Referenced in this podcastNicor Gas Smart Neighborhood: Nicor Gas Smart Neighborhood – Making sustainable living affordableVideo: Community Connection Center: https://youtu.be/4wVTqcPnpnw?si=WnXippVhz6nub6o4About our guest, Meena Beyers: Meena Beyers is the Vice President of Business and Community Development at NICOR Gas. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meenabeyers/About our host, Carolyn Parrs: Carolyn is a Senior Strategic Communications Leader and the CEO of Mind Over Markets. mindovermarkets.com; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynparrs/Just Power Podcast 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 Episode of This Series! Subscribe Now.YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheJustPowerPodcast?sub_confirmation=1💖 Spread the LoveLike, comment, and share this episode with a friend, policymaker, or energy provider who needs to hear this.YouTubeFacebookInstagramNew Mexico State University MicrolearningMind Over MarketsLinkedIn

What if the most radical thing a utility could do right now isn't build more infrastructure — it's decide that how it cares for customers is just as important as how it powers their homes?Utibe Bassey grew up in Lagos, Nigeria without reliable power. Today she is Vice President of Customer Experience at Dominion Energy, Virginia's largest utility. She brings to that role a personal philosophy she calls Love as a KPI — the idea that love, defined not as sentiment but as a genuine commitment to the greatest good of another person, can be taught, measured, and operationalized. In this conversation, Utibe speaks both as a utility leader navigating one of the most challenging affordability moments in recent memory, and as a thinker who believes the human dimension of this work is not separate from the business case — it is the business case.In this episode:Why there's no single message that works for every customer — and how to think about what actually resonates with the person in front of youHow Dominion embeds empathy across its entire organization, from call center training to website copy to leadership modelingWhat it actually took to put contact center agents live on the news — and why the team was already readyHow grace, one of the five indicators of Love as a KPI, shows up within the real constraints of rate structures and collection policiesWhy every Dominion employee is a de facto community ambassador, and how the company equips them for itWhat love-led leadership looks like in the age of AI — and why the human dimension will matter more, not lessThe one shift Utibe would ask of every utility leader navigating this affordability momentReferenced in this podcast: VIDEO: How do we express Love through business? About our guest, Utibe Bassey: Utibe is Vice President of Customer Experience at Dominion Energy, Virginia's largest utility. dominionenergy.com; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/utbassey/About our host, Carolyn Parrs: Carolyn is a Senior Strategic Communications Leader and the CEO of Mind Over Markets. mindovermarkets.com; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynparrs/Just Power Podcast 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 Episode of This Series! Subscribe Now.YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheJustPowerPodcast?sub_confirmation=1💖 Spread the LoveLike, comment, and share this episode with a friend, policymaker, or energy provider who needs to hear this.YouTubeFacebookInstagramNew Mexico State University MicrolearningMind Over MarketsLinkedIn

The utility industry says affordability is a priority. So why do half of struggling customers expect to lose power in the next 12 months — and 80% don't even know help exists?That number — nearly 50% — comes straight from a national E Source survey conducted in February 2025, and it stops you cold. In this episode of our "Leading Through Energy Affordability" series, Ben Nathan, Director of Affordability and Equity at E Source, returns to Just Power to lay out the full scope of the affordability crisis hitting utilities and their customers right now. From the $5.5 billion in outstanding customer debt accumulating on utility balance sheets, to the 80% of eligible customers who have no idea help even exists, Ben brings the data — and the honest assessment of what a credible industry response actually looks like. Highlights• The numbers are getting worse, fast. 62% of surveyed customers report higher bills year over year, a third are cutting food to pay their utility bills, and the window for a customer to recover from missed payments has dropped from three months to just one or two.• Awareness is the biggest barrier — and it's fixable. 80% of eligible customers don't know utility assistance programs exist. Ben breaks down why community-based messengers, mobile outreach, and faith-based partnerships are proving more effective than bill inserts alone.• What a real affordability strategy looks like. Most utilities still don't have one. Ben describes what a holistic, portfolio-based approach — with actual KPIs and stacked program offerings — looks like, and why new organizational structures (think: Chief Affordability Officer) may be necessary to make it stick.• Data centers and the communities hosting them. Utilities are beginning to negotiate community affordability agreements — direct contributions to energy assistance funds, efficiency program funding, and workforce development commitments. • Customer debt is now a business crisis, not just a social one. With $5.5B+ in arrearages hitting utility balance sheets, Ben explains why drawing down that debt through proactive outreach and program enrollment is becoming a financial imperative.• Demand-side investment as essential infrastructure. Weatherization and efficiency programs aren't charity — they reduce grid load, lower utility capital costs, and deliver real quality-of-life gains for customers. Ben makes the case for why these programs belong in every credible affordability strategy.About our guest, Ben Nathan: Ben is the Director of Affordability and Equity at E Source. https://www.esource.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-nathan-676a83b5/About our host, Carolyn Parrs: Carolyn is a Senior Strategic Communications Leader and the CEO of Mind Over Markets. mindovermarkets.com; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynparrs/Just Power Podcast 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 Episode of This Series! Subscribe Now.YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheJustPowerPodcast?sub_confirmation=1💖 Spread the LoveLike, comment, and sYouTubeFacebookInstagramNew Mexico State University MicrolearningMind Over MarketsLinkedIn

What happens in a room most people never think about — no cameras, no headlines, no viral moments — shapes every electricity bill in your state. In this episode of Just Power, Carolyn Parrs sits down with Eric Blank, Chair of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, for a candid conversation about what it actually takes to manage the most expensive grid transformation in American history without leaving people behind. Eric brings a rare combination of regulatory authority and real-world developer experience to one of the most complex moments in energy history — where billion-dollar decisions, climate uncertainty, and kitchen-table affordability all collide.HighlightsWhy Colorado could see electricity demand grow 10 to 25 times faster than the last 15 years — and what that means for your bill.How the Commission is thinking about new large loads like data centers in Colorado.The creative financing tools Colorado is pioneering so ratepayers don't absorb the full weight of grid transformation.What 400,000 income-qualified customers tells us about the scale of the affordability crisis already underway.Why public testimony — from security guards to kids — still shapes how Eric makes billion-dollar decisions.What Eric would tell the next person who sits in his chair.About our guest: Eric Blank is the Chair of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, appointed by Governor Polis in January 2021 and reappointed in January 2025. Before joining the PUC, he spent nearly 20 years co-founding and running a pioneering national renewable energy company. Colorado PUC: https://dora.colorado.gov/; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-blank-35549144/About our host, Carolyn Parrs: Carolyn is a Senior Strategic Communications Leader and the CEO of Mind Over Markets. mindovermarkets.com; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynparrs/Just Power Podcast 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 Episode of This Series! Subscribe Now.YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheJustPowerPodcast?sub_confirmation=1💖 Spread the LoveLike, comment, and share this episode with a friend, policymaker, or energy provider who needs to hear this.YouTubeFacebookInstagramNew Mexico State University MicrolearningMind Over MarketsLinkedIn

We have programs. We have data. We have red-ink notebooks full of public comments. So what do credible, leadership responses to energy affordability actually look like — and who is truly stepping up to deliver them? Dr. Diana Hernández has some answers — and some of them aren't comfortable. In Episode 3 of Just Power's Leading Through Energy Affordability series, Carolyn Parrs welcomes Diana back, the associate professor at Columbia University and author of Powerless: The People's Struggle for Energy. Building on the national data from Episode 1 and the community voices from Episode 2, Diana bridges research and reality — unpacking what genuine leadership actually requires, what's broken in our current systems, and where real hope lives right now.HighlightsWhat energy insecurity actually feels like — drain, the energy equivalent of hunger — compounding financial, physical, and psychological toll.Why LIHEAP is failing the moment — crisis-only, heating-focused, and mismatched with today's year-round affordability challenges.The enrollment gap no one talks about — millions are eligible for assistance but never access it, and closing that gap may be the highest-leverage move available right now.What separates leaders who act from those who just listen — red-ink notebooks aren't enough. Diana draws a sharp line between performative engagement and real follow-through.The role of utilities, regulators, and community trust — why state-level enabling environments are essential for building genuine, durable community partnerships.Diana's Four C's of leadership — Conviction, Courage, Creativity, and Commitment.Referenced in this podcast: 7 Traits of an Effective Energy Coach: https://mindovermarkets.com/energycoach/About our guest: Dr. Diana Hernández is an associate professor at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and author of Powerless: The People's Struggle for Energy — a groundbreaking exploration of energy insecurity and the human cost of our energy system. drdianahernandez.com; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-hern%C3%A1ndez-10668237/About our host, Carolyn Parrs: Carolyn is a Senior Strategic Communications Leader and the CEO of Mind Over Markets. mindovermarkets.com; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynparrs/Just Power Podcast 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 Episode of This Series! Subscribe Now.YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheJustPowerPodcast?sub_confirmation=1💖 Spread the LoveLike, comment, and share this episode with a friend, policymaker, or energy provider who needs to hear this.YouTubeFacebookInstagramNew Mexico State University MicrolearningMind Over MarketsLinkedIn

What does energy unaffordability actually feel like? Not the policy language, not the rate filings — but the lived experience of a family in Colorado's San Luis Valley watching a $900 bill arrive after two months?In Episode 2 of our Leading Through Energy Affordability series, host Carolyn Parrs welcomes back Jennifer Gremmert, CEO of Energy Outreach Colorado, to listen together — and reflect — on something rarely heard in energy policy conversations: the unfiltered voices of people who are right now navigating rising energy costs.Energy Outreach Colorado spoke directly with households across the state and asked four questions that we posed in Season 2 of Just Power. Their answers are the centerpiece of this episode.Highlights:Real voices, real choices — Coloradans from rural and urban communities describe the cascading impact of rising bills: food, medication, childcare, and jobs all on the line when energy becomes unaffordable.Why programs aren't keeping pace — Jennifer explains how Energy Outreach Colorado's $1,000 annual benefit, once covering 3-4 months of arrears, now barely covers two — and what that signals about systemic strain.The community solar solution (and its limits) — A promising model serving nearly 7,000 households is working, but faces siting challenges, supply chain slowdowns, and a massive gap between need and available capacity.What people want policymakers to actually understand — Be accessible, communicate in multiple languages, stop treating disconnection like a transaction, include affected communities in the decisions that shape their lives.3 urgent asks for Colorado leaders — A moratorium on new energy policy for 1-2 years to let organizations catch up; expanding LIHEAP to year-round rather than heating-only; and building a single-point-of-entry for energy and human services assistance.The five-year vision — What "credible responses" look like: a curated, decision-tree-based system where households in crisis can access the right combination of crisis assistance, efficiency upgrades, and renewable energy subscriptions in one place.Referenced in this podcast: Just Power episode: 5 Energy Equity Questions We Must Ask Communities Now -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnI4QD74xCc&t=3sAbout our guest: Jennifer Gremmert is the Executive Director of Energy Outreach Colorado serving 25,000 households annually through crisis intervention, energy efficiency, and community solar programs. energyoutreach.org.About our host, Carolyn Parrs: Carolyn is a Senior Strategic Communications Leader and the CEO of Mind Over Markets. mindovermarkets.com; LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynparrs/Just Power Podcast 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 Episode of This Series! Subscribe Now.YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheJustPowerPodcast?sub_confirmation=1💖 Spread the LoveLike, comment, and share this episode with a friend, policymaker, or energy provider who needs to hear this.YouTubeFacebookInstagramNew Mexico State University MicrolearningMind Over MarketsLinkedIn

Season 5 Launch: "Leading Through Energy Affordability" series.Energy affordability is one of the defining challenges of the energy transition — and for millions of households, it is already a breaking point. In this Just Power series, "Leading Through Energy Affordability", we set out to answer a critical question: what do credible responses to energy affordability look like in this moment of transition? In this first episode, Carolyn Parrs is joined by Charles Hua, CEO of Powerlines, to explore the national data behind this moment and what it means for households, leaders, and the future of the energy transition.Charles shares findings from Powerlines’ latest national report, including a striking reality: utilities requested nearly $31 billion in rate increases in a single year, affecting more than 80 million Americans. Together, Carolyn and Charles unpack what is driving these pressures, why this moment feels different, and what credible, people-centered leadership could look like now.This episode lays the groundwork for the series ahead — moving from national trends to lived experience, community voices, and leadership responses.In this episode:Why electricity is becoming “the new eggs”.What nearly $31 billion in rate hike requests means for households.The three major drivers behind rising energy costs.Why more Americans feel powerless over their utility bills.The role of regulators and why public engagement matters.Why even small monthly bill increases can push households closer to the edge.What’s ahead in the Leading Through Energy Affordability series.Referenced in this podcast:PowerLines National ReportAbout my guest, Charles HuaCharles is the Founder and Executive Directors of PowerLinesWebsite: https://powerlines.org/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-hua/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 explores the human side of the energy transition—from grid modernization to energy affordability to community engagement. We feature leaders across policy, technology, utilities, and communities who are navigating the real-world impacts of energy system 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

At a moment when energy conversations are more polarized than ever—and families are caught between rising bills and an uncertain grid—how do we actually move forward? In this final episode of Season 4, guest Julia DeTar of Adamantine Energy explores with Just Power host, Carolyn Parrs, why the biggest barrier to progress isn’t technology, but our inability to talk through our differences. Enter: the Sensible Energy Platform, a framework designed to get people who usually talk past each other into the same room, asking the same question: How do we decarbonize while keeping energy affordable and reliable? Together, they unpack what it really takes to do this while keeping energy affordable and reliable, why energy is fundamentally a justice issue, and how bridge building may be the key to navigating the energy transition now underway.⭐ HighlightsWhy polarization—not a lack of solutions—is stalling the clean energy transition.The case for keeping affordability, reliability, and decarbonization moving together.What “all-of-the-above” energy really means in practice—and why it matters.How energy burden is turning affordability into a justice issue across the U.S.How deep listening and bridge building can unlock real progress.⚡ Coming soon in Season 5: Leading Through Energy Affordability series. Just Power brings together national data, community voices, and leadership perspectives to explore what’s driving affordability pressures — and what credible, people-centered responses look like.Referenced in this podcast:Sensible Energy PlatformThe Colorado WayEnergy Thinks PodcastAdmantine EnergyAbout my guest, Julia DeTarJulia is an Analyst & Outreach Coordinator at Adamantine EnergyWebsite: https://energythinks.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliadetar/Email: [email protected] 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

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 energyYouTubeFacebookInstagramNew Mexico State University MicrolearningMind Over MarketsLinkedIn

Data centers aren’t just energy-hungry—they’re reshaping the power system faster than almost anything we’ve seen before. Some now consume as much electricity as entire cities, and the rush to meet that demand is often driving new fossil fuel generation, costly grid upgrades, and rising risks for communities. In this episode of Just Power, host Carolyn Parrs is joined with Uday Varadarajan, co-founder and CEO of Colectric, to explore a radically different approach. Uday introduces the idea of “Power Couples”—pairing clean energy and data centers at existing power plant sites—to meet AI-driven demand quickly without shifting costs to ratepayers or compromising climate goals. It’s a conversation about speed, scale, equity, and how rural communities could lead—not follow—the next phase of the energy transition.⭐ Highlights Why data centers are a tipping point for the grid—some rival small cities in energy use and demand 24/7 reliability.The “Power Couple” model explained: co-locating data centers with clean energy at existing power plants to avoid costly grid upgrades.How locational flexibility changes the game, allowing AI firms to site facilities where clean energy can be built fastest.Protecting affordability: meeting new load with purpose-built resources so costs aren’t shifted onto communities or ratepayers.Utilities as long-term partners and owners, reducing risk while creating new, responsible growth opportunities.A bigger vision for rural America: clean energy hubs that support farming, manufacturing, and local economic development—without leaving anyone behind.About my guest, Uday VaradarajanUday is the Co-founder and CEO of Colectric, an early-stage company that helps utilities and AI firms rapidly supply clean energy to data centers without risking grid reliability or increasing energy costs for communities.                                Website: https://colectric.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/uday-varadarajan-10aa701/ About Just Power host, Carolyn ParrsCarolyn is a Senior Strategic Communications Leader and the CEO of Mind Over Markets. Website: https://mindovermarkets.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justpower 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

Feeling like progress toward a clean, affordable energy future has stalled — or even slipped backwards? You’re not alone. In this episode, I explore the real-world setbacks many of us are experiencing right now — from renewable energy slowdowns to shrinking affordability programs — and reframe them as part of the deeper breakthrough process. Without getting political, I talk about resilience, mindset, and what seasons of delay are really asking of us. If you work in clean energy, climate, utilities, community advocacy, or you just care about making energy affordable for everyone, this episode is a grounded reset — with reflection questions you can use right away.⭐ Highlights Why setbacks in clean energy and climate progress don’t always mean failure.How breakthroughs in the energy transition often follow long periods of frustration or delay.Reframing stalled programs like renewables, LIHEAP, SNAP, bill-assistance, and affordability efforts without politics or polarization.Practical reflections to help leaders, utilities, advocates, and communities keep going when momentum slows.How “just power” means not only technology change — but inner strength, patience, and showing up again.Referenced in my podcast: Ryan Levesque's "Digital Contrarian" newsletter: https://ryanlevesque.net/join-the-digital-contrarian/About Just Power host, Carolyn ParrsCarolyn is a Senior Strategic Communications Leader and the CEO of Mind Over Markets. Website: https://mindovermarkets.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindovermarketsLinkedIn: 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=1Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-power/id1787062424Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6xkvhOZiw2hBg0kyxzVAs5💖 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

Behind every public hearing and polished plan is a simple question: who actually had a voice? My guest, Mary Palmer, founder of New Bayou and Director of Energy Equity & Inclusion at SEPA, and I explore how real community engagement looks: what utilities miss, what advocates need, and how relationships, not checklists, reshape the energy transition for the better. If you work inside a utility, city, regulatory space or community organization, this conversation may change how you engage — and who your process truly serves.⭐ Highlights Grasstops vs. grassroots engagement — what the difference really looks like on the ground and why so many “participation efforts” stay stuck at the top.Why traditional utility engagement fails — even when intentions are good.Restorative justice in the energy sector: repairing broken relationships between institutions and communities.The speed of trust: why meaningful engagement takes time — and why skipping that work costs more in lawsuits, delays, and public pushback later.The education gap nobody talks about: how residents are asked for input in forums they don’t understand, and what must change to make engagement real and effective.About my guest, Mary PalmerMary is the Founder of New Bayou and Director of Energy Equity & Inclusion at the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA).LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marycpalmer/About Just Power host, Carolyn ParrsCarolyn is a Senior Strategic Communications Leader and the CEO of Mind Over Markets. Website: https://mindovermarkets.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindovermarketsLinkedIn: 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

A once-every-20-years utility franchise renewal is unfolding in real time in Denver — and it’s turning into something much bigger than a routine contract extension.Denver’s franchise agreement with Xcel Energy is due to renew January 1, 2027. But the process has hit a wall over one core question:What should a community expect in return from a utility that gets guaranteed returns and protected access to public space—our streets, sidewalks, and rights-of-way—for the next 20 years?In this episode, I’m joined by Jeff Ackerman (former Chair of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission) and Thomas Weller (lead organizer at Together Colorado) to unpack what’s at stake—and why cities and utilities across the country should be paying attention.Everybody’s watching Denver right now. And the outcome could reshape what “good partnership” looks like between cities, communities, and investor-owned utilities.🔎 What’s happening in Denver right now:A proposed franchise agreement was moving forward with little to no meaningful community engagement.Community leaders and residents pushed their way into the process and helped defeat the agreement in August.Denver and Xcel are heading back to the table—with negotiations expanding into a community benefits / companion agreement.The next 4–5 months of 2026 are critical for shaping what comes next.⭐ Highlights A franchise agreement is leverage. If community benefits are “talked about later,” they often disappear.Engagement after the deal is drafted is not engagement—it’s notification.Why communities are demanding something more: dignity, accountability, and a real seat at the table.This is about democracy—why regular people should have agency in the agreement that governs their monopoly utility.The 21st-century relationship is the real story. The “standard” franchise terms are the easy part—what matters is what comes alongside it.If you live in Denver:Talk to your neighbors: How is your relationship with Xcel? What needs to change?Email your City Council member and the Mayor’s office: What should be in the next franchise + companion agreement?If you’re connected to a faith community or neighborhood group, connect with Together Colorado and get involved.If you live elsewhere:Ask your city: When is our next franchise renewal? Who’s planning for it now?Start building your priorities 2–3 years early, not two months before a vote.My guests:Jeff AckermannLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-ackermann-346571a/Thomas WellerWebsite: https://www.togethercolorado.org/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.Just Power Host and Creator, Carolyn ParrsWebsite: https://mindovermarkets.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynparrs/💖 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

If you’ve opened your bill lately and taken a deep breath before you dared look at the total, you’re not alone. Today, I break down—in simple, human language—why energy costs are rising, who’s paying the highest price, and what we can actually do about it. No PhD required. Just clarity, honesty, and a path forward in a clean energy transition that must work for everyone.Highlights:Why energy bills are rising—and what’s really behind the cost increases most people never hear aboutHow the energy transition is unfolding—and why affordability is now a make-or-break factorWho is most impacted by rising bills (you might be surprised).Six practical, proven solutions that lower costs now.Why every rate decision is a value decision—and the message it sends to customers and communities.What a “just transition” truly means and why affordability is the cornerstone of public trust, safety, and long-term climate success.About Carolyn ParrsCarolyn is the CEO of Mind Over Markets, a branding and messaging company that helps mission-driven businesses and energy organizations communicate with clarity and power. Website: https://mindovermarkets.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindovermarketsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynparrs/About Just Power PodcastJust Power is a clean energy transition podcast focused on grid modernization, affordability, community engagement, and energy justice — featuring leaders from utilities, policy, technology, and frontline communities.🔔 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

This is the story of a Belgian graduate student who asked a simple question—can a neighborhood truly own its own energy?—and uncovered a web of hidden barriers buried deep inside the system. In this episode of Just Power, Carolyn speaks with Hannah Liebrand, a climate and energy governance researcher from Belgium and recent magna cum laude graduate of Ghent University. Through her master’s thesis, Hannah investigated a proposed citizen-led energy cooperative in the historic Muide-Meulestede neighborhood of Ghent—before the project even launched—and revealed how network tariffs, fragmented homeownership, landlord–renter dynamics, and policy design can quietly block community energy before it ever gets off the ground. This conversation explores what energy democracy really looks like in practice—and what leaders, utilities, and communities across Europe and the U.S. can learn from this student-led research.HighlightsHow a master’s student in Belgium surfaced the real barriers to a citizen-led energy cooperative in Ghent—before the project ever began.How citizen-led energy cooperatives are meant to work, and why market rules like network tariffs and grid fees can make or break them.What Hannah’s case study reveals about energy democracy in practice, using distributive, procedural, and recognition justice framework.How landlord–renter dynamics and energy poverty complicate local clean energy projects, especially in older, fragmented housing.Why participation often defaults to the “usual suspects,” and what that means for representation, trust, and legitimacy in community energy projects.What policymakers, utilities, and community leaders can learn from this Belgian case study to better support citizen-led energy co-ops, energy affordability, and equitable local clean energy solutions.About Hannah LiebrandLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-liebrand-0b4397271/Belgian Science for Climate Action Conference:  https://www.scienceforclimateaction.be/Referenced in podcast: Muide-Meulestede is a residential area surrounded by docks and port industry, located on a peninsula in the north of the city of Ghent. Approximate population is 4716.About Carolyn ParrsCarolyn is the CEO of Mind Over Markets, a branding and messaging company that helps mission-driven businesses and energy organizations communicate with clarity and power. Website: https://mindovermarkets.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindovermarketsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynparrs/About Just Power PodcastJust Power is a clean energy transition podcast focused on grid modernization, affordability, community engagement, and energy justice — featuring leaders from utilities, policy, technology, and frontline communities.🔔 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

What happens when a state doesn’t just talk about an energy equity and justice plan —but actually builds one? In this episode of Just Power, host Carolyn Parrs sits down with Will Toor, Executive Director of the Colorado Energy Office, to unpack how Colorado has become a national model for climate action that puts equity, affordability, and real people at the center. From wildfire risk to coal community transitions to EV access, home electrification, and the surge in data centers and AI-driven load, Will shares what it looks like to design climate policy that is both science-based and justice-focused—and what other states can learn from Colorado’s bold, sometimes uncomfortable choices.HighlightsHow a childhood encounter with toxic water set Will on a path toward environmental, climate, and energy justice leadership.What Colorado’s first-in-the-nation Office of Just Transition is doing for coal-reliant communities—from property tax protection to repowering sites with clean energy and new industry.How Colorado’s three climate pillars—mitigation, adaptation, and equitable transition—translate into concrete policies on power plants, buildings, transportation, and industrial emissions.Why wildfires, housing, and insurance are now core climate equity issues—and how smarter land use and grid investments can reduce risk for the most vulnerable communities.How Colorado is tackling energy affordability with income-qualified EV programs, low- and moderate-income electrification rebates, and careful planning so data centers and AI don’t drive up bills for everyone else.About my guest, Will ToorWill is the Executive Director at Colorado Energy Office.                                              Website: https://climate.colorado.gov/cc-goals-equitable-transition                            LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-toor-a8b33120/Referenced in this podcast: Volts podcast with David Roberts: "Clean electrification is inevitable"-https://www.volts.wtf/p/clean-electrification-is-inevitable.About Carolyn ParrsCarolyn is the CEO of Mind Over Markets, a branding and messaging firm that helps mission-driven businesses and energy organizations communicate with clarity and power. Website: https://mindovermarkets.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindovermarketsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynparrs/About Just Power PodcastJust Power is a clean energy transition podcast focused on grid modernization, affordability, community engagement, and energy justice — featuring leaders from utilities, policy, technology, and frontline communities.🔔 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

In this Season 4 opener of Just Power, Dr. Tony Reames returns with host, Carolyn Parrs, to reflect on a year that’s seen major rollbacks in federal climate and equity policy — and yet surprising momentum at the state, local, and community level. Tony, who helped establish the first Office of Energy Justice Policy and Analysis at the U.S. Department of Energy and now leads the Detroit Sustainability Clinic, walks us through what’s been dismantled, what’s quietly taking root, and why he still believes the pendulum can swing toward justice if we’re willing to fight for it. This conversation moves from Justice40 and safety-net cuts to data centers, neighborhood solar, and the power of listening as a radical tool for change.HighlightsHow Tony’s definition of energy justice has evolved.Why federal equity frameworks like Justice40 were vulnerable, and why the next wave of energy justice may be state- and community-led.The deeper meaning of LIHEAP and SNAP cuts — what that “silence” from policymakers reveals about who counts in our system.A candid message to utility CEOs and regulators about treating energy as a vital service, not just a commodity.The overlooked impacts of massive data centers on local communities — and what a truly just “data center playbook” might look like.Inside Detroit’s Sustainability Clinic: neighborhood solar, community benefits, and why Tony’s students still give him hope that the arc can bend toward justice.About Dr. Tony ReamesWebsite: https://thegreenscholar.com/Tishman Professor of Environmental Justice, University of MichiganAssociate Professor, School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)Director, SEAS Detroit Sustainability ClinicDirector, Urban Energy Justice LabFounder & Advisor,  Energy Equity ProjectGoogle ScholarShow notesGeorgia / commissioners Democrats win big over GOP incumbents in 2 statewide Georgia utility regulator races (AP News, November 5, 2025) Tony's colleague, Myles Lennon, "Subjects of the Sun: Solar Energy in the Shadows of Racial Capitalism" Listen to Tony's first interview on Just Power (January 2025): https://youtu.be/shInMaONXYk?si=s67apcwPXfussxtNAbout Carolyn ParrsCarolyn is the CEO of Mind Over Markets, a branding and messaging firm that helps energy companies and mission-driven businesses clarify their message, cut through the clutter and grow sustainably.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.YouTubeFacebookInstagramNew Mexico State University MicrolearningMind Over MarketsLinkedIn

In this Just Power Season 3 finale, host Carolyn Parrs brings together industry leaders and equity advocates for an unflinching look at how utilities can meet the rising energy demand of data centers and electrification in our energy transition. From fairness and community engagement to job transitions and community solar, this conversation explores what a truly just energy transition demands of us — as utilities, regulators, and citizens.Featuring insights from: Ben Nathan (E Source) | Dana Clare Redden (Solar Stewards) | John Egan (Egan Energy Communications) | Amy Miller (AMM Consulting) | Walter Cuculic (Renewable Energy Origination & Deal Structuring)This episode challenges entrenched interests, honors displaced workers, and calls for a new model of partnership between utilities and the communities they serve.HighlightsMeeting the data center dilemmaSetting guardrails for fairnessListen first, build laterThe human cost of transitionCommunity solar for allCollaboration over competitionAbout Carolyn ParrsCarolyn is the CEO of Mind Over Markets, a branding and messaging firm that helps energy companies and mission-driven businesses clarify their message, cut through the clutter and grow sustainably.Website: https://mindovermarkets.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindovermarketsLinkedIn: 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

This inspiring episode of Just Power is all about how to start an energy equity program that truly centers people and communities. You'll hear six leading voices share what it means to take the first steps. From community engagement and pilot projects to measurement frameworks and interagency collaboration, they offer practical insights to move from intention to action. Whether you’re a policymaker, utility leader, or community advocate, this episode is your guidepost to starting where you are.Featured GuestsGregory Reed, Director, Los Angeles Department of Water and PowerMegan Day, Senior Energy Planner, National Renewable Energy LaboratoryTony Reames, PhD, Energy and Environmental Justice Scholar, Policy AdvisorDr. David Drabble, Senior Researcher, Travistock Institute of Human Relations, ScotlandCathy Newby, Director of Tribal Government, PNMBen Nathan, Director of Affordability and Equity, E-SourceHighlights:How utilities can identify and engage their most energy-burdened customers.Why co-creating solutions with communities leads to better outcomes.Real examples of pilot programs and early wins in energy equity.The importance of developing clear equity metrics and measurable goals.How Tribal Relations offices and local partnerships redefine “meaningful consultation.”Strategies to align utilities, governments, and communities around shared clean energy plans.About Carolyn ParrsCarolyn is the CEO of Mind Over Markets, a branding and messaging firm that helps energy companies and mission-driven businesses clarify their message, cut through the clutter and grow sustainably.Website: https://mindovermarkets.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindovermarketsLinkedIn: 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

In our Energy Transition, we talk a lot about technology, rates, and policy—but what about the people helping communities navigate it all? Meet the human guides powering trust and change: Energy Coaches.Download The Guide- 7 Traits of an Effective Energy Coach: https://mindovermarkets.com/energycoach/In this Just Power episode, host Carolyn Parrs reveals why Energy Coaches are essential infrastructure for an equitable clean energy future. From cutting through utility jargon and rate confusion to building trust with renters, elders, Tribal families, and underserved communities, Carolyn breaks down seven traits that make Energy Coaches effective so utilities, solar developers, regulators, and community organizations can reduce disconnections, improve program uptake, and strengthen resilience. If you care about energy affordability, equity, and real results—not just portals and pamphlets—this conversation is your roadmap.What an Energy Coach is (and isn’t).The seven must-have traits of an Energy Coach.How Energy Coaches lower energy burden: fewer shutoffs, higher participation in assistance, efficiency, and community/solar programs.Why this matters now: AI-era complexity, regulatory scrutiny, and the “trust recession” demand human connection and accountability.Action steps: train local navigators, partner with CBOs and Tribal leaders, and fund the human layer of the transition to scale equitable outcomes.About Carolyn ParrsCarolyn is the CEO of Mind Over Markets, a branding and messaging firm that helps energy companies and mission-driven businesses clarify their message, cut through the clutter and grow sustainably.Website: https://mindovermarkets.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindovermarketsLinkedIn: 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.Download The Guide- 7 Traits of an Effective Energy Coach: https://mindovermarkets.com/energycoach/YouTubeFacebookInstagramNew Mexico State University MicrolearningMind Over MarketsLinkedIn

Millions of families are living one late payment away from losing power. A scenario that can be both devastating and dangerous for many. But what if there was a way to flip the script—where customers stay in control, utilities cut costs, and communities conserve energy all at once?In this episode of Just Power, Carolyn unpacks prepaid power with David Conn—a bold reimagining of how we pay for electricity. As VP of Business Development and Policy at Exceleron, David reveals how prepaid power can protect vulnerable households against losing power and crushing debt, while driving real-time behavior changes in energy use. He shares how it works, why it challenges the status quo, and what it could mean for the future of utilities and the people they serve.Key insightsPrepaid power lets customers control costs by paying upfront and avoiding surprise bills.Real-time usage feedback sparks conservation and lasting behavior change.Utilities save money on collections while improving customer trust and satisfaction.Prepaid programs reduce disconnections and the trauma of losing essential service.Innovative billing models like prepaid may be critical to the future of energy equity and affordability.About our guest, David ConnDavid joined Exceleron as Vice President of Business Development and Policy in July 2024, after nearly 16 years as the Energy Assistance Program Manager at Baltimore Gas and Electric, where he oversaw the development and implementation of the limited income strategy for Maryland’s largest investor-owned utility. Websites: www.paygoutilities.com | www.exceleron.com                                       Email: [email protected] Carolyn ParrsCarolyn is the CEO of Mind Over Markets, a branding and messaging firm that helps energy companies and mission-driven businesses clarify their message, cut through the clutter and grow sustainably.Website: https://mindovermarkets.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindovermarketsLinkedIn: 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

What really happens behind the closed doors of America’s utility companies? In this episode of Just Power, Carolyn sits down with Amy Miller — a veteran energy industry executive and President of AMM Consulting and AMM Communications Coach  — for a candid conversation on the lessons, confessions and stories from her 25+ year career. From rural electric co-ops to investor-owned utilities, Amy shares what she’s learned about the industry’s most misunderstood challenges, the tension between shareholders and communities, and why trust is the real currency of the energy sector.Key InsightsThe utility industry is powerful, complex, and often misunderstoodBuilding trust with low-income customers is essential to equity and service.Effective communication is crucial in the energy sector.Utilities must listen to community needs before making decisions.Future energy leaders will need empathy, transparency, and courage to succeed.About my guest, Amy Miller Amy is the President of AMM Consulting and AMM Communications Coach. She provides her expertise to organizations on strategic planning, stakeholder engagement and communications and issues management. Websites: https://ammconsultingstrategies.com/; https://ammcommunicationscoach.com/                                                          LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-miller-abq/About Carolyn ParrsCarolyn is the CEO of Mind Over Markets, a branding and messaging firm that helps sustainable businesses and energy organizations communicate with clarity and power. Website: https://mindovermarkets.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindovermarketsLinkedIn: 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

What energy equity questions are regulators asking utilities today? I break down what these questions are, why they matter, and how you can prepare your answers before you’re in the hot seat. From affordability to community engagement, from data transparency to equity impacts, I share real-world examples and insights to help you get ready now. If you’re a utility leader, energy buyer, sustainability executive, or anyone working at the intersection of clean energy and community, this episode gives you a clear roadmap to anticipate regulators’ concerns, strengthen your strategy, and show up as a partner in building an equitable energy future.Resources: Just Power Podcast Episodes to Check Out:5 Energy Justice Questions We Must Ask Communities Now: https://youtu.be/wnI4QD74xCc?si=VGE3OL7DgW39QB2t8 Ways to Nurture Communities in Rough Times: https://youtu.be/fTq5pGNag80?si=B32dcWzvaVIYgMV9LA's Bold Path to 100% Renewable Energy: https://youtu.be/I3Lrr1Qf9tA?si=n3pQWK98Pca0AKgRRethinking Energy Assistance in the 21st Century with Jeff Ackermann: https://youtu.be/-yIoA4u43No?si=_pepYqq7BL9eEMwOBreaking the Energy Assistance Barrier with Shuba Harris: https://youtu.be/hql4MX_vUEM?si=p3CYGsEOrOIDOxvJAbout Carolyn ParrsCarolyn Parrs is the CEO of Mind Over Markets, a branding and messaging firm that helps sustainable businesses and energy organizations communicate with clarity and power. Website: https://mindovermarkets.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindovermarketsLinkedIn: 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

We unpack one of the most urgent challenges in today’s energy sector: skyrocketing electricity costs and the massive infrastructure investments required to meet surging demand—driven in large part by AI and data centers. Joining me is John Egan, founder and President of Egan Energy Communications. Together, we explore how these rising costs will impact everyday households, particularly low- to middle-income families, and what regulators and utilities must do to ensure fair pricing, equity, and resilience.John makes a bold case for a cultural shift in utilities—moving from top-down decision-making to genuine collaboration with customers and communities. From creating customer working groups to launching ambassador programs, he shows how utilities can build trust, strengthen their social license to operate, and even mitigate business risks like bond downgrades or municipalization threats. Key InsightsElectric bills are projected to rise significantly in the coming years.AI and data centers are fueling unprecedented infrastructure demands.Customer working groups and ambassador programs can strengthen relationships.Energy equity is both a moral obligation and a strategic business advantage.Ignoring customer voices risks regulatory backlash and loss of trust.Bond rating agencies and investors are beginning to factor in environmental and equity risks.Co-creating the energy transition with communities leads to stronger, more resilient outcomes.About John EganJohn is the founder and President of Egan Energy Communications. He has worked with utilities and utility groups around the country since 2009 helping them tell better stories to connect more deeply with their critical audiences.Email: [email protected]: 720-949-4906About Carolyn ParrsCarolyn Parrs is the CEO of Mind Over Markets, a branding and messaging firm that helps sustainable businesses and energy organizations communicate with clarity and power. Website: https://mindovermarkets.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindovermarketsLinkedIn: 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

We’re living through one of the most significant transitions in the energy sector in decades. The way utilities and energy providers communicate with communities has never mattered more. In this episode, host Carolyn Parrs explores how to move beyond traditional “customer service” and instead build authentic, two-way relationships rooted in storytelling, listening and empathy. Carolyn shares why communities want to be heard, not managed—and why storytelling is one of the most powerful tools utilities can use to connect. Your role is being a guide, not a hero, in helping customers solve problems, envision success, and take action. Whether you’re a utility leader, energy professional, or community advocate, Carolyn gives you a clear, actionable roadmap for communicating with purpose during these changing times.Key InsightsThe energy sector is undergoing a major transition that demands new communication approaches.Listening deeply to communities is more impactful than simply “serving customers.”Storytelling transforms communication by making customers the heroes of their own journeys.Empathy and authority are essential for guiding communities through change.Identify the real problems people face, then create clear, simple action plans.Paint vivid pictures of success that motivate and inspire.Communication works best when it’s two-way, not one-way.ResourceBuilding a StoryBrand 2.0 by Donald Miller: https://www.amazon.com/Building-StoryBrand-2-0-Clarify-Customers/dp/1400248876About Carolyn ParrsCarolyn Parrs is the CEO of Mind Over Markets, a branding and messaging firm that helps sustainable businesses and energy organizations communicate with clarity and power. Learn more at:Website: https://mindovermarkets.com/                                                              LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynparrs/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindovermarketsAbout 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 LovePlease subscribe to our YouTube channel (we want to get to 300 subscribers!) or wherever you listen to podcasts.YouTubeFacebookInstagramNew Mexico State University MicrolearningMind Over MarketsLinkedIn

Energy bills keep climbing—and nearly half of U.S. households are struggling to keep the lights on. But what if the solution isn’t just technology, it’s financing? In this Just Power episode, I sit down with renewable energy finance expert Walter Cuculic to unpack how green banking, ESG investing, and green bonds can lower costs, expand clean energy access, and put equity at the center of the transition. Utility leaders and energy advocates alike will hear how innovative financing strategies can turn today’s affordability crisis into tomorrow’s growth opportunity.Key InsightsRising energy costs are a growing crisis—green banks offer low-cost capital to ease the burden.Public funding and federal policy can cut financing costs and scale clean energy faster.ESG investors and green bonds are reshaping renewable energy finance with an equity lens.Lessons from U.S. territories reveal how green banking can deliver affordability and resilience.Utility executives who leverage green financing can drive growth while making energy more equitable.About Walter CuculicWalter is a Senior commercial leader with nearly 20 years in renewable energy and over a decade leading origination, project finance, M&A, and structured capital transactions. Contact: Email: walter (dot) cuculic (at) gmail (dot) comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wcuculic/Key Resources MentionedSELF (Solar Energy Loan Fund) - S-E-L-F, a Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI)USDA Rural Energy for America Program - Loans up to $25 million for rural renewable energy projectsUSDA Business and Industry Program - Sister program for energy storage and battery projectsCDFIs (Community Development Finance Institutions)Green Banks - Over 40 now operating in the USREC/SREC Programs - Renewable Energy Credits/Solar Renewable Energy CreditsCommunity Solar Programs - Available in over 20-25 statesPACE/C-PACE - Property Assessment Clean Energy financingWalter's LinkedIn Group - Leading Sustainability ProfessionalsAbout Carolyn ParrsCarolyn Parrs is the CEO of Mind Over Markets, a branding and messaging firm that helps sustainable businesses and energy organizations communicate with clarity and power. Learn more at:Website: https://mindovermarkets.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindovermarketsLinkedIn: 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

Energy affordability isn’t just a headline—it’s a daily reality for millions of households. In this episode of Just Power Host Carolyn Parrs welcomes back Ben Nathan, Director of Affordability and Equity at E Source, to unpack the latest challenges utilities and communities are facing as federal funding shifts and energy bills climb. They dive into new research on the customer journey through energy assistance programs, where awareness gaps and access barriers are leaving too many behind. Together, they explore what utilities can do now to pivot toward equity, strengthen community trust, and design future-ready efficiency programs that actually meet people where they are.Key InsightsEnergy affordability is worsening, especially for low- to moderate-income households as federal funding declines.Utilities are grappling with rising rates, disconnections, and the pressure to balance affordability with clean energy goals.Many customers aren’t aware of assistance programs, and those who are face stigma, confusion, and barriers to access.Strong community engagement and two-way communication are critical to building trust and delivering equitable service.Future energy efficiency and assistance programs must be simpler, more inclusive, and easier for customers to navigate.About Ben NathanWebsite: https://www.esource.com/E Source Report: The Low-and Moderate-Income Customer Energy Assistance Journey: https://online.fliphtml5.com/exlwh/zwfn/#p=12About Carolyn ParrsCarolyn Parrs is the CEO of Mind Over Markets, a branding and messaging firm that helps sustainable businesses and energy organizations communicate with clarity and power. Learn more at:Website: https://mindovermarkets.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindovermarketsLinkedIn: 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

Host Carolyn Parrs explores how energy equity can drive profitable innovation with Dana Clare Redden, founder of Solar Stewards. As AI and data centers consume city-scale amounts of energy while nearly half of Americans struggle with energy bills, Carolyn and Dana reveal how Social RECs (renewable energy credits) and other energy solutions create win-wins that benefit both corporations and historically excluded communities. The conversation covers critical topics including data center community impact, energy justice, distributed solar ownership, and policy frameworks that make equity non-negotiable in the clean energy transition. Key Insights:• Social RECs and renewable energy credit marketplaces for community benefit. • Data center energy consumption impacts on local communities and utility rates. • Energy equity strategies and community ownership models in clean energy. • Policy mandates for localized renewable energy procurement. • Community benefit agreements for energy infrastructure development. • Economic inclusion through distributed solar generation.• Corporate ESG strategies that create measurable community impact.About Just Power PodcastThe Just Power Podcast is about making clean, affordable and reliable energy accessible to everyone. Created and hosted by Carolyn Parrs, it features energy experts, policymakers, tribal voices, and community champions who are working hard to make energy equity a reality in our energy transition.About Dana Clare Redden, Founder of Solar StewardsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danaredden/Solar Stewards:  https://solarstewards.net/About Carolyn Parrs, Host of Just Power PodcastCarolyn Parrs is the CEO of Mind Over Markets, a branding and messaging firm that helps sustainable businesses and energy organizations communicate with clarity and power. Learn more at:Website: https://mindovermarkets.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindovermarketsLinkedIn: 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

Welcome to Season 3 of Just Power! For years I’ve heard utility customers being referred to as ratepayers. Sounds so transactional. But here's the thing: when nearly half of American households struggled to pay their energy bills last year, we're clearly dealing with a human crisis, not just a business transaction. In this episode, I’m getting real about what it actually means to engage with our communities during these rough times. I share 8 powerful ways energy leaders can nurture (yes nurture, not just “serve”) their communities with practical ideas for building trust, offering support, and showing that people matter more than just their bill. This isn't about being nice – it's about building resilient communities. It’s about elevating the human side of energy.Here’s what we’ll dig into:Why trust starts with real, ongoing relationships, not just transactions.How to move from service to nurture - and why that shift builds long-term loyalty.The power of storytelling over spreadsheets when it comes to community connection.How to measure the human impact of your programs, not just the financials.Why energy equity rollbacks do more damage than you think, and how to hold the line.How celebrating your community’s wins (big or small) builds real goodwill. Got a nurturing story or approach? Share in the comments. We want to know!About Host, Carolyn ParrsCarolyn Parrs is the CEO of Mind Over Markets, a branding and messaging firm that helps sustainable businesses and energy organizations communicate with clarity and power. Learn more at:Website: https://mindovermarkets.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindovermarketsLinkedIn: 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

In this special season finale of Just Power, host Carolyn Parrs steps up to the mic solo to reflect on the powerful two seasons of conversations about energy equity and community in these changing times.With vulnerability and clarity, Carolyn shares what she’s learned from frontline leaders, energy experts, and advocates throughout the season—and why listening may be the most radical tool we have right now. She dives into the urgent realities facing underserved communities in our evolving energy landscape and reveals the essential questions energy providers and decision-makers must begin asking now.This episode is an invitation to slow down, build trust, and recognize the lived experiences of those who are often left out of the conversation. If you're committed to creating a clean energy future that doesn’t leave anyone behind, this solo reflection offers both inspiration and a roadmap for deeper community engagement.Here are the questions that Carolyn challenges energy providers to ask their customers now: What has changed for you or is changing for you or your community that’s affecting how you use or afford energy?What worries you most about that—and what gives you hope?What are you afraid we won't understand about your community, and what are you afraid we'll assume we understand but actually don't?What’s one small thing we could do now that would show you we’re serious about showing up differently?What would make you feel like we’re truly in this together?Whether you’re a utility leader, policymaker, advocate, or just someone who cares about justice in our energy systems, this finale is a must-listen.Let’s keep the conversation going—because a just transition needs all of us.Note: Just Power will be taking a short summer break. Stay tuned!Chapters00:00 Season Finale: Reflecting on Energy Equity02:56 Urgent Call to Action: Listening to Vulnerable Communities06:11 Building Trust: Essential Questions for Engagement09:08 The Human Connection: How to Approach Communities12:01 Closing Thoughts: A Call to Action for ChangeAbout Carolyn ParrsCarolyn Parrs is the CEO of Mind Over Markets, a branding and messaging firm that helps sustainable businesses and energy organizations communicate with clarity and power. Learn more at:Website: https://mindovermarkets.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindovermarketsLinkedIn: 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

Host Carolyn Parrs explores the concept of "small islands of coherence" in energy justice, featuring insights from six leading experts who are working to transform how we think about energy equity and accessibility. Drawing from Nobel Prize-winning chemist Ilya Prigogine's theory that small pockets of order (our guest speakers and their unwavering work) can shift entire chaotic systems to a higher level, this episode examines the critical challenges facing low-income communities and communities of color in accessing affordable, reliable energy. Featured GuestsTony Reames, PhD, Energy and Environmental Justice Scholar, Policy AdvisorJeff Ackermann, Senior Policy Advisor, The Center for the New Energy EconomyDiana Hernández, PhD, Associate Professor Columbia University, Author "Powerless" Jeff Allen, Executive Director, ForthPamela Fann, Founder and CEO, Integrated SolutionsJennifer Gremmert, CEO Energy Outreach ColoradoAbout Carolyn ParrsCarolyn Parrs is the CEO of Mind Over Markets, a branding and messaging firm that helps sustainable businesses and energy organizations communicate with clarity and power. Learn more at:Website: https://mindovermarkets.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindovermarketsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynparrsAbout 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

In these turbulent times, how can we frame energy equity and climate justice in ways that unite—not divide—communities across the political spectrum? Host Carolyn Parrs and nationally recognized sustainability leader, Sandy Nessing, explore how community-centered approaches can transcend political divisions and create lasting change in our energy transition. From lessons learned in legacy site remediation to the power of transparency and trust-building, Sandy shares hard-won insights from her decades in energy, revealing why transparency and demographic understanding are game-changers for energy companies navigating sustainability challenges.This episode offers actionable frameworks for energy professionals, community advocates, and policymakers who want to build bridges rather than walls in our clean energy future.Key InsightsEnergy equity must be framed as a shared, nonpartisan value—essential for community health and resilience.Authentic community and stakeholder engagement is foundational to just, effective energy transitions.Transparency builds trust—especially when navigating legacy issues or introducing new infrastructure.Data is vital to understand the full social and economic impacts of energy decisions.Redevelopment of legacy energy sites presents a powerful opportunity for economic renewal and environmental justice.The future of sustainability needs bold, compassionate leaders who believe in the work and its long-term impact.About Sandy NessingLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandynessing/Sandy Nessing Portfolio and Case Studies: https://shorturl.at/DEldwIslands of Coherence: 6 Leading Experts Speak Out On What’s Really Happening (S2:E11)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.YouTubeFacebookInstagramNew Mexico State University MicrolearningMind Over MarketsLinkedIn

Host, Carolyn Parrs sits down with Jordan Gerow, Director of Policy and Research at Climate XChange, to unpack the pivotal role states play in driving climate action—especially as federal protections are rolled back. From managing methane emissions to tackling the energy demands of booming data centers, they explore how bold state policies can keep decarbonization on track while centering equity and energy justice.Learn how states can lead the charge against climate threats, implement smart energy policies, and ensure underserved communities aren’t left behind. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone committed to climate advocacy, policy innovation, and a just energy future.Key InsightsState-level leadership is essential to drive climate action and fill gaps left by federal deregulationClimate XChange monitors policy trends and opportunities across all 50 statesStates can lead on methane regulation and building decarbonization to meet emissions goalsEquity must remain central to all climate and energy policy decisionsData center growth presents both a challenge and an opportunity for smart energy planningStrong collaboration and advocacy are key to advancing impactful local climate solutionsChapters00:00 Introduction to State-Level Climate Action02:02 The Role of Climate Exchange in Policy07:13 Federal Deregulation and Its Impacts10:19 Addressing Methane Emissions13:02 Concrete Actions for Decarbonization15:41 State-Level Progress and Setbacks19:07 Equity in Climate Policy21:06 Navigating Data Center Growth24:42 Innovations in Energy Policy28:22 Call to Action for Policymakers32:56 Sustaining Momentum in Climate AdvocacyAbout Climate XChange State Climate Policy Dashboard: https://www.climatepolicydashboard.org/State Climate Policy Network: https://climate-xchange.org/network/Website: http://climate-xchange.orgArticle: “How States Can Fill the Gaps Left by the EPA's Climate Deregulation" by Jordan Gerow:  https://climate-xchange.org/2025/03/how-states-can-fill-the-gaps-left-by-the-epas-climate-deregulation/About Just Power PodcastJust Power is a clean energy transition podcast focused on grid modernization, affordability, community engagement, and energy justice — featuring leaders from utilities, policy, technology, and frontline communities.About Carolyn ParrsCarolyn Parrs is the CEO of Mind Over Markets, a branding and messaging firm that helps sustainable businesses and energy organizations communicate with clarity and power. Learn more at:Website: https://mindovermarkets.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindovermarketsLinkedIn: 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.YouTubeFacebookInstagramNew Mexico State University MicrolearningMind Over MarketsLinkedIn

What if energy assistance wasn’t a complicated maze—but a clear, just, and dignified path for all? In this episode of Just Power, host Carolyn Parrs sits down with Jeff Ackermann, one of Colorado’s most respected energy advocates. He's the Senior Policy Advisor of The Center for the New Energy Economy and former Chair of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission.With over four decades of experience, Jeff brings a systems-level view to the intersection of energy access, affordability, and structural equity. Not just by diagnosing the problems, but by offering concrete solutions, from simplifying energy assistance to reimagining how utilities operate in the public interest. This conversation provides both the wake-up call and the roadmap we need for an energy future that works for everyone.Key insightsHow decades of energy advocacy shaped Jeff Ackermann’s approach to equity and access.Why public participation is vital to energy decision-making and utility accountability.What structural changes are needed in energy assistance programs for seniors and low-income households.Why utilities must rethink their profit models to serve the public interest.Creative solutions—from community solar to innovative payment models—that can alleviate energy burdens.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Energy Advocacy01:14 Jeff Ackermann's Journey in Energy03:18 Perspectives on Energy Systems05:44 Understanding Equity and Justice in Energy07:45 Improving Regulatory Processes for Equity11:38 Impact of Public Participation in Energy Decisions14:49 Energy Assistance Programs: What's Working?17:29 Rethinking Energy Assistance in the 21st Century24:54 Simplifying Qualification for Senior Citizens27:06 Addressing Financial Struggles Across Income Levels30:23 Rethinking Utility Profit Models33:10 Exploring Legislative Changes for Utility Regulation37:08 The Urgency of Energy Assistance Programs39:29 A Vision for Affordable Energy in the Future41:45 Personal Motivation in the Face of ChallengesAbout Jeff AckermannLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-ackermann-346571a/Website: https://cnee.colostate.edu/"Rethinking Colorado Energy Assistance in the Twenty-first Century by Jeff Ackermann": https://cnee.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/CNEE_Energy_Assistance_In_CO_2023.pdfAbout 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.About Carolyn ParrsCarolyn Parrs is the CEO of Mind Over Markets, a branding and messaging firm that helps sustainable businesses and energy organizations communicate with clarity and power. Learn more at:Website: https://mindovermarkets.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindovermarketsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynparrs/🔔 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 mYouTubeFacebookInstagramNew Mexico State University MicrolearningMind Over MarketsLinkedIn

What happens when entire communities built around coal plants suddenly face closure? Host Carolyn Parrs speaks with Heidi Binko, co-founder and CEO of the Just Transition Fund, to explore how communities can navigate the complex shift from fossil fuels to clean energy without leaving anyone behind.With over 25 years in climate philanthropy, Heidi brings incredible wisdom about what it really takes to support communities through economic transition. We dive deep into the human side of energy transformation - the families losing generational jobs, the towns watching their tax base disappear, and the Indigenous communities facing unique challenges in this new landscape.Key Topics • How coal plant closures impact entire communities and what successful economic diversification looks like beyond just clean energy projects.• The unique challenges facing tribal communities in energy transition and why community-led solutions outperform top-down approaches.• Why early engagement with communities leads to better outcomes and how utilities can become partners rather than obstacles in the transition process.• The changing political landscape of climate funding and the essential role of private sector engagement in creating sustainable economic alternatives.Chapters00:00Introduction to Climate Philanthropy and Heidi Binko02:55The Impact of Coal Plant Closures on Communities05:54Just Transition Fund's Role in Community Planning09:04Engaging Utilities in Transition Processes12:10Addressing Personal Loss in Coal Communities14:55Successful Examples of Economic Transition17:55Diversifying Economies Beyond Clean Energy20:50The Importance of Community-Led Solutions21:49Finding Common Ground in Diverse Communities23:15Measuring Success: Economic Resilience and Sustainability26:57Rural vs Urban: Bridging the Divide28:14Working with Tribal Communities: Unique Challenges30:55Learning from Failures: The Role of Philanthropy32:29Navigating Changing Political Landscapes36:12Private Sector Engagement in Energy Transition38:27The Challenge of Clean Energy Production42:20Personal Motivation: The People Behind the WorkAbout The Just Transition FundWebsite: http://www.justtransitionfund.orgLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/just-transition-fund/About Carolyn ParrsCarolyn Parrs is the CEO of Mind Over Markets, a branding and messaging firm that helps sustainable businesses and energy organizations communicate with clarity and power. Learn more at:Website: https://mindovermarkets.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindovermarketsLinkedIn: 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/@TheJustPowerPoYouTubeFacebookInstagramNew Mexico State University MicrolearningMind Over MarketsLinkedIn

What if the biggest threat to your energy project isn't equipment failure or budget overruns, but ignoring customer feedback or realities? In this episode of Just Power, host Carolyn Parrs reveals why "meaningful engagement" isn't just feel-good corporate speak—it's the difference between projects that thrive and investments that become stranded assets. You'll hear from community advocates, an energy tribal director, and a utility leader who've learned that the underground water source, the neighbor's concerns, or the community's existing plans can make or break a multi-million dollar development. As one expert puts it: "Nothing saves me money like avoiding problems."Discover the simple but powerful shift from doing energy projects to communities versus doing them with communities. Through real stories, you'll learn why the smartest energy developers are building relationships long before they need permits, how communities become your best source of critical project intelligence, and why centering equity isn't just morally right—it's financially smart. Whether you're a developer, policymaker, or community leader, this episode will change how you think about energy equity and why the future of clean energy depends on getting this right.Featured Guest ExpertsTamara Toles O’Laughlin, CEO Climate Critical; Website: https://www.climatecritical.earth/Cathy Newby, Director of Tribal Government, PNM; Website: https://www.pnm.com/Shilo Costello, Manager of Sustainable Communities and DEIB, SMUD; Website: https://www.smud.org/Corporate/Landing/Sustainable-Communities Pamela Fann: Founder and CEO, Integrated Solutions; Website: https://www.integratedsolutionsllc.net/About Just Power PodcastJust Power is a clean energy transition podcast focused on grid modernization, affordability, community engagement, and energy justice — featuring leaders from utilities, policy, technology, and frontline communities.About Carolyn ParrsCarolyn Parrs is the CEO of Mind Over Markets, a branding and messaging firm that helps sustainable businesses and energy organizations communicate with clarity and power. Learn more at:Website: https://mindovermarkets.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindovermarketsLinkedIn: 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 message.Together, we can create an energy future that leaves no one behind.📜 Important Information Disclaimer: All content is for educational purposes only. We are not responsible for any loss or damage. Please do your own due diligence.©️ Copyright: All materials are owned by Just Power Podcast. Sharing and embedding is allowed with attribution to our YouTube channel.YouTubeFacebookInstagramNew Mexico State University MicrolearningMind Over MarketsLinkedIn

Millions of Americans live one missed bill away from losing power. In this powerful episode of the Just Power Podcast, host Carolyn Parrs sits down with Dr. Diana Hernández—Associate Professor at Columbia University and co-author of Powerless: The People’s Struggle for Energy—to reveal the urgent and often invisible crisis of energy insecurity, and what to do about it.Dr. Hernández shares compelling research, personal insights, and a game-changing policy framework—SPARKED—that lays out a human-centered path to building equitable, affordable, and just energy systems.Key Topics CoveredWhy millions must choose between heating, eating, or survivingThe hidden health crisis caused by unaffordable energyEnergy insecurity’s toll on households with young childrenWhy current utility disconnection policies punish povertyIncome-based utility rates as a fair alternativeThe SPARKED Framework: A holistic, justice-first approach to energy policyChapters00:00 Introduction to Energy Insecurity02:53 Understanding Energy Insecurity and Its Impacts05:58 The Interplay of Energy Burden and Insecurity08:54 Personal Journey into Energy Justice12:00 Energy Insecurity as a Justice Issue15:05 Health Implications of Energy Insecurity18:02 Households with Children and Energy Needs21:04 The Current Energy Landscape and Future Hope22:49 The Reality of Energy Disconnection25:36 The Energy Safety Net and Its Challenges28:42 Rethinking Utility Roles and Energy Systems32:23 Policy Makers and Energy Equity35:57 The SPARKED Framework for Energy Justice📘 Order the Book – Powerless: The People’s Struggle for EnergyBook link: https://www.russellsage.org/publication/powerlessDiscount code: POWERLESS🌐 Learn More About Dr. Diana Hernández Personal Website: https://drdianahernandez.com/Columbia University Profile: https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu Energy Opportunity Lab: https://www.energypolicy.columbia.eduAbout Carolyn ParrsCarolyn Parrs is the CEO of Mind Over Markets, a branding and messaging firm that helps sustainable businesses and energy organizations communicate with clarity and power. Learn more at:Website: https://mindovermarkets.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindovermarketsLinkedIn: 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 message.Together, we can create an energy future that leaves no one behind.📜 Important Information Disclaimer: All content is for educational purposes only. We are not responsible for any loss or damage. Please do your own due diligence.©️ Copyright: All materials are owned by Just Power Podcast. Sharing and embedding is allowed with attributionYouTubeFacebookInstagramNew Mexico State University MicrolearningMind Over MarketsLinkedIn

Host Carolyn Parrs sits down with John Lonergan, CEO of PCC, to explore the Bluria project—poised to become America's first carbon-neutral fertilizer facility and a potential game-changer for the Southwest's agricultural landscape.This innovative development is addressing multiple challenges simultaneously: economic revitalization for the Navajo Nation, sustainable agricultural practices, and responsible natural resource management in drought-prone regions. John reveals the ambitious vision that will create over 2,000 construction jobs while establishing a new model for how industrial development can align with environmental stewardship and indigenous community priorities.What makes this conversation particularly compelling is the detailed exploration of how the Bluria project is reimagining industrial water usage in the arid Southwest. Learn about their pioneering approach to water conservation through gray water recycling systems that dramatically reduce strain on local water resources while maintaining production efficiency.Key InsightsHow the Bluria project's carbon-neutral fertilizer production will transform agricultural sustainability across New Mexico and the Southwest region.The comprehensive economic impact plan that prioritizes Navajo Nation employment and community benefits through meaningful stakeholder engagement.Water management strategies that address the Southwest's drought challenges while maintaining industrial productivity.Why local ownership structures are critical to ensuring energy and agricultural projects deliver lasting community benefits.How this project could become the blueprint for responsible resource development that balances economic growth with climate action goals.Referenced in this podcastBluria Project: https://ppc-nm.com/John Lonergan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-lonergan-72aa67/Meet Carolyn Parrs:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynparrs/Mind Over Markets: Reframe your messaging for changing times. https://mindovermarkets.com/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.YouTubeFacebookInstagramNew Mexico State University MicrolearningMind Over MarketsLinkedIn

How do nonprofits work effectively (and dare we say harmoniously) with utilities on behalf of their most vulnerable customers? This episode is a testament to that – even in uncertain times like these. In this enlightening episode, Just Power Host, Carolyn Parrs sits down with Jennifer Gremmert, the visionary CEO of Energy Outreach Colorado, who reveals why local and statewide approaches to energy assistance are critical for truly addressing the needs of vulnerable communities – especially when federal programs face instability or funding cuts.As national energy policies shift, Jennifer explains how Energy Outreach Colorado's hyperlocal focus allows them to create tailored solutions that reflect Colorado's unique energy landscape and community needs.By building deep relationships with utilities and understanding their regulatory constraints, Energy Outreach Colorado has developed a remarkable model for collaboration that ensures no household falls through the cracks – demonstrating why localized energy assistance efforts often succeed where broader national programs struggle.Key insightsDiscover why statewide energy assistance programs can respond more nimbly to community needs than federal programs, creating resilient safety nets that withstand political and economic uncertainty.Learn how Energy Outreach Colorado has positioned itself as a trusted intermediary between vulnerable households and utilities, creating implementation pathways that benefit both sectors.Understand the surprising financial impacts of unaddressed energy poverty on local communities, and how targeted interventions prevent these cascading costs.See how Energy Outreach Colorado's deep knowledge of Colorado's unique regional challenges enables them to develop precisely targeted programs that federal one-size-fits-all approaches miss.Explore how meaningful utility partnerships allow for innovative program design that reaches households traditional assistance might overlook.Gain insights from real-world examples where local energy assistance created measurable improvements in community stability while helping utilities meet their regulatory obligations.This episode offers essential wisdom for energy professionals, advocates, and policymakers seeking to create more resilient local support systems during times of national uncertainty. Jennifer's practical approach shows how focusing on community-specific solutions and strategic utility partnerships creates lasting energy justice even when broader systems shift.Referenced in this podcast:Energy Outreach Colorado website   Energy Outreach Colorado Case StudiesMeet Carolyn ParrsAbout 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.YouTubeFacebookInstagramNew Mexico State University MicrolearningMind Over MarketsLinkedIn

In this episode of the Just Power Podcast, Host Carolyn Parrs explores the critical intersection of transportation electrification and social equity with Jeff Allen, Executive Director of Forth. Drawing from over a decade of experience championing inclusive approaches to EV adoption, Jeff shares valuable insights into how electric transportation can serve all communities—especially those who stand to benefit most.The conversation moves beyond common misconceptions about who electric vehicles are "for" and instead examines innovative models like community-based car sharing programs and electric bike initiatives that are breaking down barriers to clean transportation. Jeff challenges conventional thinking about mobility solutions with real-world examples of how centering the needs of underserved communities leads to better outcomes for everyone.Key InsightsTransportation as economic opportunity: Commute time is the single biggest predictor of whether a family can escape poverty, making affordable, reliable transportation critical to economic mobility."Curb cut" approach to equity: Designing transportation solutions for those facing the most barriers (like low-income renters without dedicated parking) creates better systems that work for everyone.Beyond misconceptions: Electric vehicles aren't just luxury items for the wealthy—they can significantly reduce transportation burdens for working families who often spend $1,000+ monthly on unreliable vehicles.Innovative accessibility models: Community-based car sharing programs and electric bike initiatives provide affordable access to clean transportation while breaking down both practical and psychological barriers.Community-centered design: Effective transportation solutions start with understanding people's actual needs rather than imposing technology, requiring authentic partnerships with trusted community organizations.Resilient progress: Despite political shifts affecting funding and policies, the fundamental transition to electric transportation continues, with the most committed organizations adapting their approach to reach broader audiences.LinksForth websiteForth Report: Centering Equity in Charging Investments to Accelerate ElectrificationMore Forth Reports and StudiesForth Conference in Detroit, Michigan USA October 14-16, 2025Forth Scholarship applications for community based environmental justice organizations.SMUD's Building Sustainable Communities programAbout 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.YouTubeFacebookInstagramNew Mexico State University MicrolearningMind Over MarketsLinkedIn

In this data-packed episode of Just Power, host Carolyn Parrs and Accenture’s Energy Retail Global Lead, Eva Buren examine the complex intersection of energy affordability and the transition to net zero. As global energy costs rise, households across the economic spectrum face increasing financial pressure, with one in three households worldwide and nearly half of American families struggling to manage their energy expenses. Carolyn and Eva explore findings from Accenture's comprehensive global report "The Energy Provider's Guide to Net Zero" on consumer expectations regarding affordability, accessibility, and sustainability in our energy future.The conversation moves beyond simplistic narratives to address the nuanced reality: achieving net zero by 2050 requires approximately $115 trillion in investment, potentially increasing energy bills by 50% without strategic intervention. Carolyn and Eva analyze how energy providers can balance cost reduction with necessary growth, while considering that most consumers are willing to support the energy transition but with reasonable financial limits. The discussion culminates in examining the importance of collaborative ecosystem orchestration—bringing together utilities, technology providers, policymakers, and consumers—to create pragmatic pathways toward an energy future that is both sustainable and economically viable for all communities.Key InsightsResearch shows 69% of US households prioritize energy affordability and reliability in their expectations from providers.Consumer data indicates willingness to pay a premium of up to 15% to support sustainable energy transitions.72% of consumers recognize their personal role in the energy transition but expect provider support in navigating options.Successful energy transition requires orchestrating complex ecosystems of stakeholders, from technology providers to community organizations.Energy affordability presents both social justice and practical implementation challenges that must be addressed simultaneously.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Energy Affordability Crisis02:43 Understanding the Impact of Net Zero Investments06:23 Consumer Insights on Energy Affordability09:59 The Role of Energy Providers in the Transition17:48 Strategies for Meeting Consumer Needs25:00 Orchestrating the Energy Ecosystem30:52 Next Steps for Utilities and Energy ProvidersLinksGlobal Report: The Energy Provider’s Guide to Net Zero | AccentureGuest, Eva Buren, Accenture: [email protected] Carolyn ParrsMind Over Markets: Reframe your messaging for changing times. 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 impacYouTubeFacebookInstagramNew Mexico State University MicrolearningMind Over MarketsLinkedIn

For the Season 1 Finale of Just Power, host Carolyn Parrs invites Pamela Fann, Founder and CEO of Integrative Solutions, back on the show to explore how empathy—a quality often overlooked or lost in technical fields—may be the missing ingredient in creating profitable and equitable energy systems. Carolyn and Pam make a compelling case that empathetic design isn't just morally right—it creates more effective, profitable, and widely-adopted energy solutions.Through rich examples and practical insights, they challenge the industry's conventional approaches by asking: What if we designed energy systems by first understanding the lived experiences of those who will use them? What if we prioritized the needs of the most vulnerable rather than the most vocal? Pamela shares powerful strategies for cultivating organizational empathy, overcoming systemic barriers to human-centered design, and leveraging cultural competence to bridge divides between utilities and underserved communities.This thought-provoking finale synthesizes the core message of the entire season: That just power systems must be designed with, not just for, the communities they serve. For energy professionals, policymakers, and concerned citizens alike, this episode offers both inspiration and practical pathways toward more empathetic and effective energy systems that benefit everyone involved in the transition to clean energy.Key IdeasDiscover how reverse engineering from community needs—rather than just from technical capabilities—creates energy programs that actually work for real people.Understand the systemic barriers that prevent empathetic design and concrete strategies to overcome themLearn practical methods for training professionals in empathetic thinking that enhance decision-making and program outcomes.Explore how understanding personal stories and lived experiences transforms abstract policy into meaningful action.LinksPamela Fann: discoverintegratedsolutions@gmail.comwww.integratedsolutionsllc.net Meet Carolyn ParrsLearn about New Mexico State University’s MicrolearningMind Over Markets: Reframe your messaging for changing times. 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.YouTubeFacebookInstagramNew Mexico State University MicrolearningMind Over MarketsLinkedIn

Just Power host, Carolyn Parrs, speaks with Shubha Harris, an equitable energy policy consultant revolutionizing how we approach energy equity in America.As energy costs continue to soar, Shubha unveils the nation's first Automatic Bill Credit pilot—a $5.4 million initiative rolled out by Xcel Energy that eliminates the hurdles that have traditionally prevented vulnerable households from accessing critical support. This pioneering program flips the script by automatically delivering assistance rather than requiring complex applications, reaching 100% of eligible households instead of the typical fraction.Key IdeasReimagining Access: Discover how reversing the burden of assistance—making it automatic rather than application-based—could transform energy equity nationwide.Beyond Fraud Concerns: Learn why reaching more struggling families outweighs traditional anxieties about program abuse, and how data-driven approaches create more equitable outcomesStrategic Utility Benefits: Understand how addressing affordability proactively serves both vulnerable communities and utility bottom lines through reduced administrative costs.Building Authentic Trust: Explore practical strategies for meaningful community engagement that moves beyond tokenism to create lasting partnerships.Scalable Solutions: See how this revolutionary model could reshape not just energy assistance but other essential services like food security and healthcare access.This conversation is a Master Class in translating equity principles into tangible policy that works. Whether you're a utility executive, policy professional, or community advocate, Shubha provides the blueprint for creating energy systems that truly serve everyone. Listen now to understand how we can collectively build a more just energy future.LinksMeet Shubha Harris:   https://fresh-energy.org/staff/shubha-m-harrisMeet Carolyn Parrs: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynparrs/Learn about New Mexico State University’s Microlearning: https://global.nmsu.edu/microlearning/Mind Over Markets: Reframe your message for changing times.  https://mindovermarkets.com/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.YouTubeFacebookInstagramNew Mexico State University MicrolearningMind Over MarketsLinkedIn

We asked our energy equity and justice rockstars from Season 1 of the Just Power Podcast, "How can energy companies and communities work together?" This show is a medley of their words of wisdom from LA's unprecedented community steering committee to Sacramento's tailored neighborhood solutions to Navajo Nation's must do's. Learn practical strategies for meaningful community engagement that can transform how we approach the clean energy transition.Want to help to bring all voices to the energy table? Send this episode to your energy company, legislators, policymakers, community leaders, environmental advocates and more. Yes, even your mom! Featured Voices- Gregory Read, Director, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power- Megan Day, Senior Energy Planner, National Renewable Energy Lab- Shiloh Costello, Manager of Sustainable Communities and DEIB, SMUD- Cathy Newby, Director of Tribal Affairs, PNM- Dr. Tony Reames, Energy and Environmental Justice Scholar, Policy AdvisorKey IdeasBreaking Tradition: Energy systems weren't historically designed with community input, making this new inclusive approach "phenomenal, unprecedented, and unique"—and essential for meeting climate goals while ensuring energy justice.Compensated Participation: LA Department of Water and Power compensated community members for sharing their expertise in listening sessions, recognizing the value of their time and insights.Diversity Equals Success: Where there's diversity, there's profitability—the data is "crystal clear" that tapping into different backgrounds and experiences leads to smarter, more profitable business decisions.Cultural Competence Matters: PNM's response to a 32-hour outage in a Pueblo community demonstrated how understanding cultural contexts (like an upcoming celebration) shapes effective crisis response.Tailored Approaches: Sacramento's position as one of the nation's most diverse cities has taught them that "this is not a one-size-fits-all approach"—successful programs address each community's specific needs.Beyond Energy Solutions: Effective utility programs look beyond the meter, connecting customers to food access, affordable housing, and other support services when energy assessments reveal deeper needs.Strategic Partnerships: Working with 200+ community-based organizations as "frontline ambassadors" helps Sacramento reach customers who might otherwise fall through the cracks.Accelerated Transitions: Strategic partnerships between utilities and research institutions (like LA DWP and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory) are identifying paths to achieve 100% clean energy goals on accelerated timelines.Protecting Vulnerable Customers: Forward-thinking utilities are proactively identifying how clean energy transitions might impact their most vulnerable customers and developing strategies to ensure they're not harmed.Two-Way Communication: Understanding diverse communication pathways—like how tribal customers often look to their governors rather than call centers—creates more effective community relationships.LinksMeet Carolyn ParrsLearn about New Mexico State University’s MicrolearningAbout Just Power PodcastJust Power is about the human side of the cleaYouTubeFacebookInstagramNew Mexico State University MicrolearningMind Over MarketsLinkedIn

In this eye-opening episode with Jeanette Pablo of the Climate Equity Foundation (CEF), we uncover the untold human cost of America's energy revolution.While policymakers debate carbon targets and renewable portfolios, real communities are fighting for their very existence. From the industrial pollution of Cancer Alley to the contaminated lands of the Navajo Nation, this conversation reveals what happens when energy systems transform without justice at their core.Jeanette and Just Power host Carolyn Parrs discuss CEF’s national survey “Perspectives from Environmental Justice Communities”, the selection of specific communities for their research, how to effectively work with environmental justice communities, and the unique challenges they face. Key IdeasThe reality in "sacrifice zones" where generations have endured industrial pollution while powering America's growth.Why community priorities often surprise outsiders—with affordable housing and mental health services sometimes ranking above job creation.The mistakes energy companies and policymakers make when they design plans without authentic community engagement.How a community benefits plan ensures that vulnerable populations are centered in the clean energy transition.How the language we use and the respect we show can make or break community relationships in environmental justice work.This isn’t just an episode on energy equity, it’s a case study about reimagining who has a voice in our energy future and which communities will thrive or disappear in our rapidly changing energy landscape.LinksJeanette Pablo, CEO Climate Equity FoundationPerspectives from Environmental Justice Communities: A National SurveyMeet Host and CEO, Carolyn ParrsLearn about New Mexico State University’s MicrolearningAbout 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.YouTubeFacebookInstagramNew Mexico State University MicrolearningMind Over MarketsLinkedIn

Want to future-proof your company while boosting your bottom line? Host Carolyn Parrs sits down with Ben Nathan, Director of Affordability and Equity at E-Source, who shares insights about how energy providers and utilities are turning equity initiatives into competitive advantages. Through real-world case studies, Ben demonstrates how companies implementing innovative equity programs are seeing measurable improvements in customer satisfaction, reduced payment defaults, and stronger community relationships - all while preparing for the clean energy transition.Ben shares strategies backed-up by case studies that are transforming utility operations such as:Self-attestation programs that cut costs while expanding reach.Weatherization initiatives generating unexpected financial returns.Community partnerships that strengthen market position.Innovative assistance programs creating new revenue streams.Learn how equity-focused companies are positioning themselves to thrive in the clean energy transition, attract ESG investment, and build more resilient business models. This isn't just about doing good – it's about smart business in the clean energy era.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Energy Equity and the Podcast05:41 The Importance of Energy Equity in the Transition10:57 Ben Nathan's Journey in Energy Equity17:34 Current Challenges and Backsliding in Energy Justice24:36 Financial Benefits of Energy Equity Initiatives32:30 Energy Equity and Affordability Challenges39:02 Innovative Strategies for Utility Assistance Programs44:08 The Role of Utilities in Community Support52:59 Future Trends in Energy Equity and Utility ModelsLinksGuest: Ben Nathan, Director of Affordability and Equity at E-Source. https://www.esource.com/Articles from E-source:The energy equity framework that benefits customers, utilities, and underserved communities4 fixes utilities can make to boost energy equity | Utility DiveStrategic perspectives on managing the affordability challengeUtility executives share their perspectives on energy equity5 questions utilities should consider at the intersection of energy affordability and equityMeet Carolyn ParrsLearn about New Mexico State University’s MicrolearningAbout 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.YouTubeFacebookInstagramNew Mexico State University MicrolearningMind Over MarketsLinkedIn

What if the blueprint for a just energy future already exists? While the U.S. debates not just how, but "whether to make clean energy equitable" now, Scotland is already doing it—and their lessons could transform how we think about energy justice.In this eye-opening episode of Just Power, host Carolyn Parrs sits down with lead researcher, Dr. David Drabble, who's helping architect Scotland's groundbreaking just transition framework. He reveals how this small but mighty nation is tackling one of our biggest challenges: making sure clean energy benefits everyone in Scotland, with metrics to back it up. No wonder it was hailed as a "world class and world-leading framework" by the Scottish government, You'll discover:Why Scotland's approach is gaining traction globally.How they're measuring what really matters in energy justice.The surprising insights that could save U.S. utilities years of trial and error.What happens when you put justice at the center of energy planning.But this isn't just about Scotland—it's about the future of energy transition everywhere. Dr. Drabble shares candid insights about:The unexpected challenges they've faced.What's working (and what isn't) in community engagement.How to build political support for energy justice.Real metrics that show if you're making progress.Whether you're a utility leader or corporation looking for proven strategies, a policy maker seeking successful models, or an advocate working for energy justice, this conversation will change how you think about what's possible.Don't miss this rare chance to learn from one of the world's most ambitious experiments in just transition. LINKSMeasuring and Evaluating Success in the Scottish Just TransitionMeet Carolyn ParrsLearn about New Mexico State University’s MicrolearningAbout 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.YouTubeFacebookInstagramNew Mexico State University MicrolearningMind Over MarketsLinkedIn

Think energy justice and equity is just about doing good? Think again. In this eye-opening episode of Just Power, diversity strategist and energy expert Pamela Fann and Host, Carolyn Parrs, discuss why energy providers who aren't investing in equity aren't just missing out on social impact—they're missing out on profit.As the Founder and CEO of Integrated Solutions, Pam has helped energy providers transform equity from a compliance checkbox into a powerful business driver. She breaks down why some utilities are winning big with regulators while others struggle, and shares the surprising connection between cultural competency and bottom-line results.Key ideasWhy diversity isn't just about HR—it's about business strategy.How to build leadership buy-in by speaking the language of ROI.What successful utilities are doing differently in community engagement.How to measure equity impacts in ways that matter to investors.Whether you're a utility leader wondering if equity is worth the investment, or a sustainability professional trying to make the business case to leadership, this conversation will give you the insights and evidence you need.About guest, Pamela FannPamela Fann: discoverintegratedsolutions@gmail.comwww.integratedsolutionsllc.net About Carolyn ParrsMeet Carolyn ParrsLearn about New Mexico State University’s MicrolearningAbout 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.YouTubeFacebookInstagramNew Mexico State University MicrolearningMind Over MarketsLinkedIn

What if the secret to transforming our energy system isn't in boardrooms or labs, but in our own neighborhoods? In this powerful episode of the Just Power Podcast, environmental advocacy powerhouse Tamara Toles-O'Laughlin challenges everything we think we know about how energy decisions get made.She reveals why the traditional top-down approach to energy planning is failing communities and offers a paradigm shift: What if communities weren't just consumers of energy, but true co-creators of our energy future?Through stories from the frontlines of energy justice work, Tamara and host Carolyn Parrs explore how this shift is already happening in surprising places. Key IdeasWhy some climate solutions are actually deepening inequality (and what to do about it).How energy providers and communities can move from conflict to collaboration.What's really at stake if we don't transform our approach now.This isn't just another conversation about energy policy - it's a blueprint for reimagining how we power our communities. Whether you're an energy professional, climate advocate, or community member, this episode will change how you think about our energy transition. Don't miss Tamara's powerful insights on supporting the advocates and organizations doing this critical work. We're all in this together, and that might be our greatest strength.Community voices are vital in discussions about energy transitions.Every generation must renegotiate energy needs.Energy decisions impact future generations.Technology in energy hasn't changed much in 30 years.Energy justice involves everyone affected by energy policies.Policymakers play a crucial role in shaping equitable energy systems.Support for climate advocates is essential to prevent burnout.Creating a supportive work environment for climate advocates enhances effectiveness.LinksTamara Toles O'Laughlin, CEO Climate CriticalMeet Carolyn ParrsLearn about New Mexico State University’s MicrolearningAbout 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.YouTubeFacebookInstagramNew Mexico State University MicrolearningMind Over MarketsLinkedIn