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Everybody in the PoolA climate solutions podcast by Molly Wood Author: Molly Wood
Enough with the "problem porn." We all know the climate crisis is a big deal. This podcast is entirely about solutions and the people who are building them. Entrepreneurs are inventing miracles; the business world is shifting; individuals are overhauling their lives; an entirely new economy is being born. Don't be the last one in. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Language: en Genres: Business, Entrepreneurship, Technology Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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E119: Reinventing the grid with PG&E
Episode 119
Thursday, 22 January, 2026
What if the solution to our energy challenges isn't building more—but applying new thinking to the grid we’ve already got? This week, Molly talks to Quinn Nakayama, the senior director at PG&E’s Grid Research Innovation and Development, also known as GRID, division. (Clever, right?)After years of controversy over wildfires that led to the utility’s eventual bankruptcy, PG&E is moving forward with dedicated R&D, pitch competitions, and monetary investment to figure out how to use new technologies to meet growing demand without compromising California’s clean energy goals.We cover:The massive energy demands from data centers and electrificationInnovative strategies to manage load growth without building massive infrastructureHow electric vehicles and smart charging can actually reduce electricity ratesCalifornia's unique challenge of meeting net-zero goals while supporting economic growthCreative solutions like using data center backup generators as temporary grid supportIn upcoming episodes, we’ll talk with some of the startups PG&E has identified as particularly promising reinvention partners!Links:PG&E’s GRID initiative: https://www.pge.com/en/about/pge-systems/research-and-development.html?vnt=innovationAll episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Subscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/Become a member for the ad-free version of the show:https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/Visit our sponsor, Climatize, and get $50 in investment credits when you create a profile! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
