E119: Reinventing the grid with PG&E

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 electrification
• Innovative strategies to manage load growth without building massive infrastructure
• How electric vehicles and smart charging can actually reduce electricity rates
• California's unique challenge of meeting net-zero goals while supporting economic growth
• Creative solutions like using data center backup generators as temporary grid support

In 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=innovation
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