Home Podcasts GridPulse, a Grid Forward podcast
GridPulse, a Grid Forward podcast

GridPulse, a Grid Forward podcast

gridforward 94 Episodes Aug 5, 2026

Listen in as Bryce Yonker, executive director of Grid Forward, talks with regional and national leaders who are working to advance the electric grid. In about half an hour, GridPulse will give you candid insights, new observations and a feel for how our utilities, grid operators, government offices and technology providers think, feel and grapple with the fast evolving energy landscape.

Episodes

How Grid Innovation Leads to Lower Energy Costs at Saint John Energy
How Grid Innovation Leads to Lower Energy Costs at Saint John Energy Aug 5, 2026 1953 Saint John Energy exemplifies how modernizing the distribution grid can be a productive path for greater affordability and resiliency. In this episode, CEO Ryan Mitchell shares how Saint John Energy has using a range of hardware and software innovations -- such as renting high-effiiciency heating and deploying advanced demand management -- to meet growing customer demand with the lowest rates in t
How Enhanced Geothermal Can Deliver Clean, "Always On" Power for Rising Energy Demands
How Enhanced Geothermal Can Deliver Clean, "Always On" Power for Rising Energy Demands Jul 7, 2026 1626 As electricity demand continues to climb, geothermal energy is emerging as a key source of reliable, around-the-clock clean power. In this episode of GridPulse, Bryce Yonker sits down with Sarah Jewett, chief operating officer at Fervo Energy, to discuss how the company is scaling the next generation of geothermal power. Sarah explains how Fervo is applying technologies pioneered in the oil and ga
Energy Affordability and the Grid: What Recent Research Reveals About Causes and Potential Solutions
Energy Affordability and the Grid: What Recent Research Reveals About Causes and Potential Solutions Jun 18, 2026 2233 Energy affordability is a growing problem across the commercial, industrial, and residential sectors. In this episode, Christopher Knittel of MIT and Ryan Hledick of The Brattle Group turn to recent research to unpack the many factors pushing up electricity prices, including infrastructure replacement, climate change impact, fast-growing demand and evolving energy policies. They then lay out poten
Don't Rebuild! Reconductor for Twice the Grid Capacity on Existing Corridors
Don't Rebuild! Reconductor for Twice the Grid Capacity on Existing Corridors May 21, 2026 1864 The ability to double grid capacity is here today, ready to work in existing transmission corridors. Get grounded in advanced reconductoring options in this episode with Zach Zimmerman from the AMP Coalition and Theodore Paradise, Chief Policy and Grid Strategy Office at CTC Global. They explain how advanced conductors can move more energy using existing poles and corridors or boost capacity of ne
From Demand Response to Dispatchable Capacity: The Rise of Storage-Led Virtual Power Plants
From Demand Response to Dispatchable Capacity: The Rise of Storage-Led Virtual Power Plants May 5, 2026 2156 Virtual power plants (VPPs) are entering a new phase. Utilities and regulators are moving beyond pilot programs and enrollment metrics toward dispatchable distributed capacity that can reliably support the grid. At the same time, new policy frameworks, funding mechanisms, and technology capabilities are accelerating deployment. In this episode, leaders from Tesla (Kevin Joyce), Virtual Peaker (Jef
The Grid is Not a Lab: How Avista Drives Innovation Across the Utility
The Grid is Not a Lab: How Avista Drives Innovation Across the Utility Apr 21, 2026 1780 As the energy landscape grows more complex, utilities see new  technologies as critical to making electricity more clean, affordable and reliable. Yet how can they nurture innovation in a historically conservative industry? In this episode, Avista CEO Heather Rosentrater shares the ways her team is embedding innovation across the organization, not just within a single team, to navigating rising op
Why Tech Giants Must Build Trust as Well as Tools to Advance the Grid
Why Tech Giants Must Build Trust as Well as Tools to Advance the Grid Apr 15, 2026 2043 As energy demand surges, tech giants are stepping up as key partners to utilities navigating a rapidly changing grid. At CERAWeek 2026, Bryce Yonker explored this topic speaking with Hannah Green, Global Operations & GTM Leader for Energy & Resources at Microsoft, and Rayford Smith, Global Head of Power and Energy for Cloud at Google. They detailed how digital infrastructure, the cloud and
The Unexplored and Unknown: How ARPA-E Is Advancing Energy Innovation
The Unexplored and Unknown: How ARPA-E Is Advancing Energy Innovation Apr 3, 2026 1238 As energy demand surges, how is the U.S. Department of Energy supporting breakthrough technologies to strengthen grid resilience? ARPA-E Director Conor Prochaska shares how the agency is identifying and advancing high-impact solutions, including fusion (which he thinks is getting closer), advanced nuclear, next-generation geothermal, long duration storage and more to help meet growing demand. But
Electric Co-ops Meet the Moment as Technology Advances and Demand Surges
Electric Co-ops Meet the Moment as Technology Advances and Demand Surges Mar 24, 2026 1880 What does it take to power rural America in a time of fast-changing technologies and rising demand and costs? Jim Matheson of NRECA shares insights into how electric cooperatives are adapting to meet supply chain pressures, infrastructure needs, and the rapid growth fueled by data centers and other energy demands. He also discusses the importance of federal financing and the cooperative model to m
Balancing Growth and Affordability While Building the Grid We Need Today
Balancing Growth and Affordability While Building the Grid We Need Today Mar 11, 2026 1980 On the season opener of GridPulse, Virginia Commissioner Jehmal Hudson joins the podcast to discuss the national and local drivers behind rising energy demand and what they mean for grid planning and regulation. He explores the need for smarter transmission utilization, meeting the demand for accelerating data center facilities, thoughtful rate design for large loads, and updated regulatory proces
Season 6 Finale — The Benefits of AI Technologies on Grid Modernization
Season 6 Finale — The Benefits of AI Technologies on Grid Modernization Nov 11, 2025 2399 In this season 6 finale, Luis D’Acosta, CEO of Uplight, recaps this season’s driving issues with a rapid-fire discussion with Bryce. They cover a wide range of topics:  Applying AI-driven technologies to run the grid more effectively Mitigating wildfire risks by integrating digital and advanced monitoring solutions Ongoing effects of the federal agencies’ changing priorities on grid moderniz
AI Impacts for a Resilient Grid with Duke Energy, NextEra and PG&E
AI Impacts for a Resilient Grid with Duke Energy, NextEra and PG&E Nov 5, 2025 2864 On the first day of the GridFWD 2025 event, leadership from some of the nation’s largest and most AI-engaged utilities joined a panel to tell our audience about their acceleration of AI use cases. Jason Glickman (EVP Engineering, Planning and Strategy, PG&E), Bonnie Titone (Senior VP and Chief Administrative Officer, Duke Energy) and Petter Skantze (Senior VP of Infrastructure Development, Nex

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