Energizing Tennessee

In this episode, Host Cortney Piper interviews Lilly Tench, Director of the Spark Innovation Center at the University of Tennessee Research Park. The two discuss the Spark Cleantech Accelerator program and how applications are open for Cohort Three until May 15, 2024. TAEBC is a proud partner of the Spark Cleantech Accelerator. We provide operational support and mentorship through our Energy Network program, which operates with support from Launch Tennessee.Spark CTA information and application “Good Business: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Better World,” by Lilly TenchLearn more about TAEBC and the Spark Innovation Center. Support the showThank you to our podcast sponsor FirstBank. To keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

In this episode, Host Cortney Piper interviews Monica Walker, Manager of Renewables & Energy Strategy at General Motors.GM has a bold vision for the future. One with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion. Piper and Walker discuss GM’s renewable energy commitments, electric vehicle charging partnership with the Pilot Company and Spring Hill Manufacturing facility operations. They also cover how GM was an early adopter of the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Green Invest program.Learn more about TAEBC and GM.Support the showThank you to our podcast sponsor FirstBank. To keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Host Cortney Piper interviews Jennifer Safavian, President and Chief Executive Officer of Autos Drive America. Autos Drive America’s mission is to grow the U.S. automotive industry by advocating for and defending open trade and investment policies that expand employment opportunities for Americans and choice for all consumers. Cortney and Jennifer discuss the international automotive presence in Tennessee, how the IRA and other recent federal policies impact the sector, and Autos Drive America’s 2023 Economic Impact Report. Their report found international automakers built 413,746 vehicles in the Volunteer State, creating 109,352 local jobs in Tennessee and contributing $15.7 billion to the state GSP.Learn more about TAEBC and Autos Drive America.Support the showThank you to our podcast sponsor FirstBank. To keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

In what is likely Host Cortney Piper’s favorite interview to date, she interviews Liliana Ramirez, Global Director of Workforce Development at Ford. Ramirez is responsible for using cutting-edge strategies to build the manufacturing workforce required for BlueOval City and BlueOval SK Battery Park. In this episode, they discuss Ramirez’s 30+ year career at Ford, her passion for her work and how the company has changed since she joined in the early 1990s. The two also discuss Ford’s ambitious approach to workforce development, including BlueOval Learning and how it plans to fill 6,000 new jobs in West Tennessee!Learn more about TAEBC and Ford's BlueOval City.Support the showThank you to our podcast sponsor FirstBank. To keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

How can we advance mobility solutions for all Tennesseans? In this episode, Host Cortney Piper interviews Dr. Kevin Heaslip, Director of the Center for Transportation Research at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Heaslip also served as the Chief Executive Officer of TEAM TN, a partnership with the National Science Foundation and an alliance of 100 academics, industry, and technical societies led by UT Knoxville. TEAM TN’s goal is to position Tennessee on the leading edge of transportation electrification and digitization.Learn more about TAEBC, the Center for Transportation Research, and TEAM TN.Support the showThank you to our podcast sponsor FirstBank. To keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Host Cortney Piper interviews Gina Bonini, Vice President and General Manager of Advanced Thermal Systems at Modine. Modine is the only U.S.-based automotive thermal management provider for electric vehicles. They are headquartered in Racine, Wisconsin, but the EV component manufacturing occurs at their plant in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee.Modine has a rich history of automotive thermal management, dating back to the first radiator installed on the Ford Model T. Now, Modine is at the forefront of making zero-emissions mobility a reality for all vehicle classes and duty cycles. Listen to Piper and Bonini talk about thermal management and why it is so critical for electrification, how Modine is overcoming engineering challenges to keep heavy-duty EVs viable in dirty and severe environments and about Modine's presence in Tennessee.Learn more about TAEBC and Modine.Support the showThank you to our podcast sponsor FirstBank. To keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

In the first episode of Season 2, Host Cortney Piper interviews Julian Spector, senior reporter at Canary Media, an independent, nonprofit newsroom covering the transition to clean energy and solutions to the climate crisis. The pair spoke about Spector’s recent coverage of the Tennessee Valley Authority’s decarbonization efforts and the Southeast’s journey toward becoming a major electric vehicle and battery supply chain hub. The episode provides a bird’s eye view of the clean energy transition in Tennessee and beyond.Learn more about TAEBC and Spector. Read more of Spector’s work on Canary Media, including his recent coverage of the region:The South is building the most vibrant EV and battery hub in the USIs the biggest US public utility finally catching up on clean energy?Support the showThank you to our podcast sponsor FirstBank. To keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Today, we’re asking the question, “Why Tennessee?” Why are so many advanced energy companies moving to or expanding operations in our state? In 2021, Ford committed to a $5.6 billion investment in West Tennessee for electric vehicle production at its BlueOval City campus. Last year, WACKER, a German-based polysilicon manufacturer and long-time TAEBC member, announced a $200 million expansion at its facility in Charleston, Tennessee. We could go on and on. To discuss why so many advanced energy companies are choosing Tennessee, Host Cortney Piper will speak with Heath Jones, Managing Director of Hitachi Zosen Inova’s North American operations, about why the company recently relocated its headquarters and expanded its operations in East Tennessee. Learn more about TAEBC and HZI.Support the showThank you to our podcast sponsor FirstBank. To keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

For this episode, Energizing Tennessee is changing its format – or rather, its host – a little bit. Steve Seifried, Tennessee Account Executive for Ameresco and President of the Board for the Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council, is your guest host for today’s conversation.In this episode, Seifried and his guests will explore how manufacturers in our state are meeting their sustainability goals with advanced energy and other innovative solutions. He’ll speak with: Gideon Sarpong Sr. Ph.D, PE., Environment, Health and Safety Manager, Nucor Steel MemphisDon Haynes​, Environmental/Sustainability Manager, Florim USAShawn Bryant, Senior Manager of Health and Environment, DENSO  He will also speak with a Tennessee Greenstar Partnership (TGSP) representative about the program and how it supports Tennessee manufacturers. That representative is Caleb Powell, Environmental Scientist 2 in the Office of Sustainable Practices, Division of Stakeholder Engagement at the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.Learn more about TAEBC, Nucor Steel Memphis, Florim USA, DENSO and TGSP. Support the showThank you to our podcast sponsor FirstBank. To keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

The Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council has four commitments to our members. In this episode, we’re focusing on one: Foster the growth of Tennessee's advanced energy startups. TAEBC doesn’t just want advanced energy startups to launch in the state, we want them to grow, thrive and stay here.Today, we’re speaking with Harvey Abouelata, Vice President of Commercial Solar at Solar Alliance, and Dr. Bianca Bailey, CEO of Agriwater. In the episode, host Cortney Piper talks with Abouelata and Dr. Bailey about the importance of mentorship, programs that support early-stage companies, and how solar power and wastewater treatment systems go together like peanut butter and jelly – more on that analogy in our episode. And listen all the way to the end of the episode to hear a special clip of Dr. Bailey playing the saxophone.Solar Alliance is a TAEBC member. Abouelata is an Entrepreneur-in-Residence in TAEBC’s Energy Mentor Network program, run in partnership with Launch Tennessee. Agriwater is in Cohort Six of the Innovation Crossroads program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a two-year program for fellows focusing on energy and advanced manufacturing technologies.Learn more about TAEBC, Solar Alliance and Agriwater. Support the showThank you to our podcast sponsor FirstBank. To keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Tennessee is rooted in nuclear energy innovation. And today, Oak Ridge is a thriving epicenter for next-generation nuclear technology. So, what are we doing today? And what does next-generation nuclear energy even look like?To dive into today’s topic, we’re first speaking with Tracy Boatner, President of the East Tennessee Economic Council (ETEC), an organization dedicated to supporting the federal government’s missions in Oak Ridge. We’ll discuss the power of partnerships and why our region is ripe for nuclear innovation. We’ll also talk with Mike Laufer, CEO of Kairos Power, about advanced nuclear innovation, why the company chose East Tennessee to build its demonstration reactor and what an advanced nuclear future looks like. Kairos Power is an engineering company focused on delivering a clean, affordable and safe energy solution through the integrated design, licensing and demonstration of advanced reactor technology.Learn more about TAEBC, ETEC and Kairos Power.Support the showThank you to our podcast sponsor FirstBank. To keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

We’ve all seen the headlines: Lithium is key to making electric vehicles, but do we have enough to supply rapid EV adoption? Today, we’re speaking with two representatives from Piedmont Lithium, a North Carolina-based company that recently announced a massive project breaking ground right here in Tennessee. The company anticipates the new development will serve as the largest lithium hydroxide processing facility constructed in the United States, enabling the transition to a net-zero world and the creation of a clean-energy economy.We’ll talk with Monique Parker, Vice President of Health, Safety and Environment, and Malissa Gordon, Manager of Community and Government Relations, about why a localized lithium supply chain is critical and what Piedmont is doing to help build out the EV supply chain in Tennessee and throughout the rest of the country.Learn more about TAEBC and Piedmont Lithium.Support the showThank you to our podcast sponsor FirstBank. To keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

We’re shining a light on the impact of solar in Tennessee. The International Energy Agency’s Renewables 2022 report predicts that in the next few years, the biggest source of electricity will be solar power. Meanwhile, the Inflation Reduction Act will usher in more high-paying solar jobs and tax credits for solar installations at homes, businesses and community solar projects. But what does this all mean for Tennesseans? Today, we’re speaking with Matt Kisber, Chairman of the Board at Silicon Ranch Corporation, about how this Nashville solar development company grew into a billion-dollar powerhouse. We’ll discuss innovative solar projects, how solar can transform rural communities and the outlook for the industry in our state.Learn more about TAEBC and Silicon Ranch Corporation.Support the showThank you to our podcast sponsor FirstBank. To keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

To close out the first half of our first season, we’re asking the big question: What’s the deal with hydrogen? Is it the silver bullet to solve all our decarbonization needs? From the utility sector to transportation—  we’ll speak with two industry experts to help answer these inquiries. First, we’ll talk with Jon Rodriguez, Energy Business Director - Engine Power Plants at Wärtsilä North America, about using hydrogen for power generation as a means to decarbonize the utility sector. Wärtsilä is a global leader in innovative technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. Then, we’ll speak with Philip Stuckey, CEO of FC Renew, about his startup’s novel fuel cell renewal process that will help usher in a hydrogen future.Learn more about TAEBC, Wärtsilä, and FC Renew.Support the showThank you to our podcast sponsor FirstBank. To keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

The age of the electric vehicle is here. Automakers are all in and the federal government is offering incentives to encourage the public to go electric and to create the infrastructure needed to enable wide-spread adoption. We need public EV charging stations to be just as available across the country as gas stations are now. To make this possible, Knoxville-based Pilot Company is teaming up with General Motors to build out the nation’s charging infrastructure, particularly along American highways. The plan is to create 2,000 EV charging stalls at up to 500 Pilot Flying J travel centers to help make convenient, cross-country EV travel a reality. Today, we’re speaking to Tim Langenkamp, VP of Business Development - Sustainability at Pilot, about this partnership and building out Tennessee’s EV infrastructure one gas station at a time.Learn more about TAEBC and Pilot.Support the showThank you to our podcast sponsor FirstBank. To keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Consumers have questions about EVs and we have the answers! In this bonus episode released during the Tennessee Sustainable Transportation Forum & Expo and the Drive Electric Tennessee Momentum Summit, we're speaking with Ryan Stanton, Sr. Project Manager - EV Evolution at the Tennessee Valley Authority, and Alexa Voytek, Deputy Director, Office of Energy Programs at the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, to dispel common EV myths and talk about their work to educate the public on the benefits of going electric. Some of these myths include: The electric grid can’t support EVs; EVs aren’t environmentally friendly; EV batteries don’t last long and can’t be recycled; and EV chargers are hard to find.Support the showThank you to our podcast sponsor FirstBank. To keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

For the next few episodes, we’re continuing to explore the question: “How can we electrify Tennessee?” Today, we’re discussing how how Tennessee is quickly becoming #1 in the Southeast for the electric vehicle supply chain. Our guest for the show is Kel Kearns, Plant Manager at BlueOval City Electric Vehicle Center, who will speak about Ford’s $5.6 billion investment in West Tennessee.Learn more about BlueOval City and TAEBC.Support the showThank you to our podcast sponsor FirstBank. To keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Electrification is the future of the mobility industry. It’s no longer a dream or far-away possibility. Yet, we must come together as an ecosystem quickly to make it a reality. We need more investment in forward-thinking mobility technology. We need aggressive action from policymakers. We need an all-hands-on-deck approach to building an all-electric future.In the second episode of our mini series about how to electrify Tennessee, we're speaking with Tricia Martínez, Managing Director of the Techstars Industries of the Future Accelerator, about how startups can't build the electric future all on their own and how we need everyone in the ecosystem to get involved.Learn more about TAEBC and Techstars.Support the showThank you to our podcast sponsor FirstBank. To keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

For the next few episodes, we will explore the question: “How can we electrify Tennessee?” In the first episode in this mini series, we will discuss how Tennessee plans to build out its EV infrastructure to facilitate adoption of EVs. In 2021, the Tennessee Valley Authority and TN Department of Environment and Conservation announced their partnership to develop a statewide EV fast-charging network to power the growth of EVs across the state and reduce barriers to transportation electrification. Today, we'll speak with TVA’s Joe Hoagland, Vice President, Innovation and Research, about this partnership and TVA’s goal to put 200,000 EVs on Valley roads by 2028.Learn more about TAEBC and TVA.Support the showThank you to our podcast sponsor FirstBank. To keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

The Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council champions advanced energy as a job creation and economic development strategy. We educate public officials and business leaders about Tennessee’s advanced energy assets, establish strategic partnerships to connect assets with opportunities, and inform policy that expands and strengthens the industry. In the introductory episode of Energizing Tennessee, powered by TAEBC and FirstBank, we will cover who we are, what we do and how advanced energy offers significant economic opportunity for our state’s economy. Our guest is Steve Seifried, President of the TAEBC Board of Directors and Tennessee Account Executive at Ameresco.Learn more about TAEBC, Ameresco and FirstBank.Support the showThank you to our podcast sponsor FirstBank. To keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.