VW on Electric Vehicles – Anna Schneider, SVP of Industry & Government Relations

Americans love their SUV’s and the number of electric vehicles on the road is still only a small percentage of all vehicles. Transportation is one of the top energy users on the planet and car manufacturers respond to what we buy – not what we say. Anna Schneider, Vice President of Industry-Government Relations at Volkswagen… Continue reading VW on Electric Vehicles – Anna Schneider, SVP of Industry & Government Relations

Luxury and Sustainability? MGM Resorts’ SVP & Sustainability Chief on the Win-Win

There is no tradeoff between luxury and sustainability, says Cindy Ortega, SVP and Chief Sustainability Officer of MGM Resorts, who ensures their 23 luxury resorts worldwide use the most viable sustainable options – with surprises. Part change agent, part CFO, and part sustainability evangelist, Cindy shares practical tips for selling sustainability (or any change) internally, motivating employees – and… Continue reading Luxury and Sustainability? MGM Resorts’ SVP & Sustainability Chief on the Win-Win

The “Gifts” of the Gulf Oil Spill? – Six Years Later

Six years ago, on April 20th 2010, the U.S. (and the world) got a huge wake-up call when BP and Transocean’s Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded, killing 11 people and spewing ~5 million gallons of oil over 600 square miles of the Gulf of Mexico. Watching images of the gushing oil non-stop for 87 days… Continue reading The “Gifts” of the Gulf Oil Spill? – Six Years Later

Circumventing Uncertainty – ARPA-E 2016 Energy Innovators

Everybody knows how hard it is to make intelligent decisions based on fluctuating circumstances and priorities, as well as indecision on the part of those who can affect us.

“The Force Awakens” in the C-Suite: As 2015 Becomes 2016, “Nice to Haves” Become “Must Haves”

As 2015 becomes 2016, it is striking how many issues that were once dismissed as “just a public relations issue” or “nice to haves,” underfunded and relegated to departments deemed less influential, are now high priorities in the C-suite. (Photo credit: Doug Mills) What’s going on? Has the Star Wars “Force” awakened the C-suite?

Carol Kordich, Director of Sustainable Materials at Ford

You may be sitting on plastic bottles in your car! Carol Kordich, head of Global Sustainable Fabric Strategies and Development at Ford Motor Company explains to Joan how significant parts of several Ford cars and trucks are made from sustainable materials, including seat fabric made in part from the REPREVE material that turns plastic water… Continue reading Carol Kordich, Director of Sustainable Materials at Ford

Adoption and Adaptation in the Energy Terrain

Betsy McCorkle directs the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association’s (NCSEA) governmental affairs work. As a registered lobbyist, she works with legislators, state and local government officials, state agencies, the clean energy industry and allied organizations to educate them on clean energy issues and ensure passage of the NCSEA legislative agenda. Listen to Joan’s conversation with… Continue reading Adoption and Adaptation in the Energy Terrain

Transforming Wind Turbines – Interview with Jennifer Baird

From the ARPA-E Innovation Summit, listen to Joan talk with Jennifer Baird of Accio Energy about their new wind energy technology that is turning the wind power industry on its ear.  A brilliant combination of engineering and physics, this blade-free aerovoltaic wind power is scalable, easily manufactured, and less cost prohibitive to implement. Who came… Continue reading Transforming Wind Turbines – Interview with Jennifer Baird

Go Electric’s Blinkless Technology – Interview with Lisa Laughner

Innovation in the utilities sector is huge right now with lots of moving parts, both literally and figuratively.  How can we prevent another Super Storm Sandy type of power grid overload? Listen to Joan live from the ARPA-E 2014 Innovation Summit, as she talks with Lisa Laughner the CEO, President and Founder of Go Electric… Continue reading Go Electric’s Blinkless Technology – Interview with Lisa Laughner

‘Shark Tank’ winner, Andrea Sreshta

Listen to this exciting interview with recent ‘Shark Tank’ winner, Andrea Sreshta. She and her business partner were awarded $200K from Mark Cuban (and his support) for their product, LuminAID, a solar powered inflatable light. In response to the massive earthquake in Haiti, LuminAID was born out of the need the two saw for one… Continue reading ‘Shark Tank’ winner, Andrea Sreshta