let me start with a question what’s the one thing in your daily life that you
one thing in your daily life that you
one thing in your daily life that you just can’t live without think about that
just can’t live without think about that
just can’t live without think about that one must have some people go straight to
one must have some people go straight to
one must have some people go straight to their creature comforts like their
their creature comforts like their
their creature comforts like their morning cup of coffee or their cellphone
morning cup of coffee or their cellphone
morning cup of coffee or their cellphone I can tell you what my daughter’s would
I can tell you what my daughter’s would
I can tell you what my daughter’s would say ice cream I’m curious by a show of
say ice cream I’m curious by a show of
say ice cream I’m curious by a show of hands how many of you thought oh I can’t
hands how many of you thought oh I can’t
hands how many of you thought oh I can’t live without my spouse one hand maybe
live without my spouse one hand maybe
live without my spouse one hand maybe and that’s okay unless your spouse is
and that’s okay unless your spouse is
and that’s okay unless your spouse is sitting next to you I’m pretty sure that
sitting next to you I’m pretty sure that
sitting next to you I’m pretty sure that very few of you if any at all thought oh
very few of you if any at all thought oh
very few of you if any at all thought oh the one thing I can’t live without is
the one thing I can’t live without is
the one thing I can’t live without is electricity electricity you know the
electricity electricity you know the
electricity electricity you know the thing that made your alarm clock go beep
thing that made your alarm clock go beep
thing that made your alarm clock go beep gives cold water heat makes your hair
gives cold water heat makes your hair
gives cold water heat makes your hair dry and neat the reason your bread is
dry and neat the reason your bread is
dry and neat the reason your bread is toasted coffee brewed eggs cooked in
toasted coffee brewed eggs cooked in
toasted coffee brewed eggs cooked in meats dude electricity keeps traffic
meats dude electricity keeps traffic
meats dude electricity keeps traffic going ATMs flowing the economy growing
going ATMs flowing the economy growing
going ATMs flowing the economy growing it’s one thing we can’t live without but
it’s one thing we can’t live without but
it’s one thing we can’t live without but don’t spend a second thinking about
don’t spend a second thinking about
don’t spend a second thinking about until the lights go out and then we pout
until the lights go out and then we pout
until the lights go out and then we pout as long as things work when we plug it
as long as things work when we plug it
as long as things work when we plug it in flip a switch or we’re happy
in flip a switch or we’re happy
in flip a switch or we’re happy like clean air and clean water we take
like clean air and clean water we take
like clean air and clean water we take electricity for granted for me that
electricity for granted for me that
electricity for granted for me that changed three years ago when I took a
changed three years ago when I took a
changed three years ago when I took a job at a company that operates the power
job at a company that operates the power
job at a company that operates the power grid now I have a whole new appreciation
grid now I have a whole new appreciation
grid now I have a whole new appreciation for what it takes to turn on a light
for what it takes to turn on a light
for what it takes to turn on a light here’s what I’m learning the electric
here’s what I’m learning the electric
here’s what I’m learning the electric industry is undergoing a game-changing
industry is undergoing a game-changing
industry is undergoing a game-changing transformation one that involves a clean
transformation one that involves a clean
transformation one that involves a clean energy future a smarter digital grid and
energy future a smarter digital grid and
energy future a smarter digital grid and active participation from you and me you
active participation from you and me you
active participation from you and me you see ever since Edison the business model
see ever since Edison the business model
see ever since Edison the business model has been the same utilities generate
has been the same utilities generate
has been the same utilities generate power and deliver it to the people it’s
power and deliver it to the people it’s
power and deliver it to the people it’s always been a one-way system power to
always been a one-way system power to
always been a one-way system power to the people but thanks to innovation
the people but thanks to innovation
the people but thanks to innovation emerging technology and scale that’s
emerging technology and scale that’s
emerging technology and scale that’s changing an electric industry revolution
changing an electric industry revolution
changing an electric industry revolution is underway a two-way system is
is underway a two-way system is
is underway a two-way system is developing where we continue to see
developing where we continue to see
developing where we continue to see power being delivered to the people but
power being delivered to the people but
power being delivered to the people but we’re starting to see power coming from
we’re starting to see power coming from
we’re starting to see power coming from the people here’s my big idea we’re
the people here’s my big idea we’re
the people here’s my big idea we’re rapidly moving to a future where you and
rapidly moving to a future where you and
rapidly moving to a future where you and I power consumers will also be power
I power consumers will also be power
I power consumers will also be power providers it’s exciting it’s happening
providers it’s exciting it’s happening
providers it’s exciting it’s happening now and we all need to be aware of this
now and we all need to be aware of this
now and we all need to be aware of this massive transformation before we talk
massive transformation before we talk
massive transformation before we talk about that future let me describe the
about that future let me describe the
about that future let me describe the present the tricky thing about
present the tricky thing about
present the tricky thing about electricity is it has to be generated in
electricity is it has to be generated in
electricity is it has to be generated in real time the power needed to power my
real time the power needed to power my
real time the power needed to power my microphone light these lights amplify
microphone light these lights amplify
microphone light these lights amplify these speakers it was generated just
these speakers it was generated just
these speakers it was generated just moments ago someone has to make sure the
moments ago someone has to make sure the
moments ago someone has to make sure the right amount of electricity is generated
right amount of electricity is generated
right amount of electricity is generated minute by minute not 10 miles away from
minute by minute not 10 miles away from
minute by minute not 10 miles away from here is a control center that does just
here is a control center that does just
here is a control center that does just that it’s operated by a company called
that it’s operated by a company called
that it’s operated by a company called micelle the midcontinent
micelle the midcontinent
micelle the midcontinent Independent System Operator
Independent System Operator
Independent System Operator it’s where I work myself not me so two
it’s where I work myself not me so two
it’s where I work myself not me so two very different things
very different things
very different things at my so we ensure the right amount of
at my so we ensure the right amount of
at my so we ensure the right amount of electricity is generated and transmitted
electricity is generated and transmitted
electricity is generated and transmitted to the utilities who then distribute it
to the utilities who then distribute it
to the utilities who then distribute it to homes schools and businesses we keep
to homes schools and businesses we keep
to homes schools and businesses we keep the power flowing and the lights on
the power flowing and the lights on
the power flowing and the lights on every day for 42 million Americans our
every day for 42 million Americans our
every day for 42 million Americans our control rooms look like something you’d
control rooms look like something you’d
control rooms look like something you’d expect to see at NASA at our main center
expect to see at NASA at our main center
expect to see at NASA at our main center nine-foot tall glass panels stretch half
nine-foot tall glass panels stretch half
nine-foot tall glass panels stretch half a football field long 56 rare screen
a football field long 56 rare screen
a football field long 56 rare screen projectors display real-time grid
projectors display real-time grid
projectors display real-time grid information our operators are there 24/7
information our operators are there 24/7
information our operators are there 24/7 365 now my soul operates the power grid
365 now my soul operates the power grid
365 now my soul operates the power grid from coast to coast longitudinally
from coast to coast longitudinally
from coast to coast longitudinally speaking from the coast of the Great
speaking from the coast of the Great
speaking from the coast of the Great Lakes down to the Gulf Shore coast our
Lakes down to the Gulf Shore coast our
Lakes down to the Gulf Shore coast our region touches 15 States and includes
region touches 15 States and includes
region touches 15 States and includes the Canadian province of Manitoba within
the Canadian province of Manitoba within
the Canadian province of Manitoba within our region
our region
our region my so manages 66,000 miles of high
my so manages 66,000 miles of high
my so manages 66,000 miles of high voltage transmission line enough wire to
voltage transmission line enough wire to
voltage transmission line enough wire to wrap around the earth more than two and
wrap around the earth more than two and
wrap around the earth more than two and a half times the size of our region is
a half times the size of our region is
a half times the size of our region is so big that wind power generated in
so big that wind power generated in
so big that wind power generated in Minnesota can be used by homeowner in
Minnesota can be used by homeowner in
Minnesota can be used by homeowner in Mississippi now I mentioned that power
Mississippi now I mentioned that power
Mississippi now I mentioned that power has to be generated in real time to make
has to be generated in real time to make
has to be generated in real time to make sure that happens
sure that happens
sure that happens every five minutes one of our operators
every five minutes one of our operators
every five minutes one of our operators hits a button that sends a signal out to
hits a button that sends a signal out to
hits a button that sends a signal out to the generators to let them know whether
the generators to let them know whether
the generators to let them know whether they should increase power decrease
they should increase power decrease
they should increase power decrease power or stay the same
power or stay the same
power or stay the same every five minutes how’d you like that
every five minutes how’d you like that
every five minutes how’d you like that job that’s what’s happening now let’s
job that’s what’s happening now let’s
job that’s what’s happening now let’s talk about the future this revolution
talk about the future this revolution
talk about the future this revolution that’s happening for you and me it
that’s happening for you and me it
that’s happening for you and me it starts with awareness which leads to
starts with awareness which leads to
starts with awareness which leads to participation which results in change
participation which results in change
participation which results in change awareness is a powerful thing and
awareness is a powerful thing and
awareness is a powerful thing and technology is making us aware of the
technology is making us aware of the
technology is making us aware of the most mundane things the funny thing is
most mundane things the funny thing is
most mundane things the funny thing is we love it
we love it
we love it how many people know how many steps
how many people know how many steps
how many people know how many steps they’ve taken today right technology’s
they’ve taken today right technology’s
they’ve taken today right technology’s made a step crazy I once got into a one
made a step crazy I once got into a one
made a step crazy I once got into a one day step challenge with a close friend
day step challenge with a close friend
day step challenge with a close friend at least we started the day off as
at least we started the day off as
at least we started the day off as friends we both really wanted to beat
friends we both really wanted to beat
friends we both really wanted to beat each other and we came up with two very
each other and we came up with two very
each other and we came up with two very different strategies I spent the day
different strategies I spent the day
different strategies I spent the day hiking around outside and at night I
hiking around outside and at night I
hiking around outside and at night I paced around my house until midnight
paced around my house until midnight
paced around my house until midnight racking up steps she attached her Fitbit
racking up steps she attached her Fitbit
racking up steps she attached her Fitbit to her dog’s collar and let her dog run
to her dog’s collar and let her dog run
to her dog’s collar and let her dog run around all day I logged 45,000 steps
around all day I logged 45,000 steps
around all day I logged 45,000 steps that day and barely be blue the dog
personal tracking devices by making us
personal tracking devices by making us aware of our steps they kind of motivate
aware of our steps they kind of motivate
aware of our steps they kind of motivate us to participate in more exercise and
us to participate in more exercise and
us to participate in more exercise and they get us thinking about changing the
they get us thinking about changing the
they get us thinking about changing the way we think about living a healthy
way we think about living a healthy
way we think about living a healthy active lifestyle awareness participation
active lifestyle awareness participation
active lifestyle awareness participation change technology in the automobile
change technology in the automobile
change technology in the automobile industry is doing the same thing making
industry is doing the same thing making
industry is doing the same thing making us change our driving habits through
us change our driving habits through
us change our driving habits through awareness and participation in my car a
awareness and participation in my car a
awareness and participation in my car a green light comes on around the
green light comes on around the
green light comes on around the speedometer letting me know when I’m
speedometer letting me know when I’m
speedometer letting me know when I’m driving efficiently by paying attention
driving efficiently by paying attention
driving efficiently by paying attention over time I’ve changed my driving habits
over time I’ve changed my driving habits
over time I’ve changed my driving habits and as a result I get better gas mileage
and as a result I get better gas mileage
and as a result I get better gas mileage awareness participation change now you
awareness participation change now you
awareness participation change now you may not know this but there’s an
may not know this but there’s an
may not know this but there’s an awareness campaign going on right now in
awareness campaign going on right now in
awareness campaign going on right now in the electric industry utilities and
the electric industry utilities and
the electric industry utilities and private companies want you to know how
private companies want you to know how
private companies want you to know how much electricity you’re using it’s part
much electricity you’re using it’s part
much electricity you’re using it’s part of this electric industry revolution and
of this electric industry revolution and
of this electric industry revolution and it’s happening at our homes last year I
it’s happening at our homes last year I
it’s happening at our homes last year I went out and I bought a nest thermostat
went out and I bought a nest thermostat
went out and I bought a nest thermostat because I thought it was cool and it is
because I thought it was cool and it is
because I thought it was cool and it is nest knows when I’m home and when I’m
nest knows when I’m home and when I’m
nest knows when I’m home and when I’m away and it adjusts the temperature
away and it adjusts the temperature
away and it adjusts the temperature accordingly at the end of each month I
accordingly at the end of each month I
accordingly at the end of each month I get an email letting me know how much
get an email letting me know how much
get an email letting me know how much electricity I used and
electricity I used and
electricity I used and how much electricity I used compared to
how much electricity I used compared to
how much electricity I used compared to other nest owners it makes me think
other nest owners it makes me think
other nest owners it makes me think about makes me aware of my energy
about makes me aware of my energy
about makes me aware of my energy consumption and I think about ways to
consumption and I think about ways to
consumption and I think about ways to save utilities are doing something
save utilities are doing something
save utilities are doing something similar by installing digital smart
similar by installing digital smart
similar by installing digital smart meters at your homes and your businesses
meters at your homes and your businesses
meters at your homes and your businesses this technology makes you aware of your
this technology makes you aware of your
this technology makes you aware of your consumption by sending you data in real
consumption by sending you data in real
consumption by sending you data in real time it helps you manage your
time it helps you manage your
time it helps you manage your electricity use on time and this
electricity use on time and this
electricity use on time and this technology allows you to participate in
technology allows you to participate in
technology allows you to participate in energy management programs so you can
energy management programs so you can
energy management programs so you can actually help reduce stress on the grid
actually help reduce stress on the grid
actually help reduce stress on the grid lower overall energy costs and as a
lower overall energy costs and as a
lower overall energy costs and as a result save you money its participation
result save you money its participation
result save you money its participation now let’s talk about change and that
now let’s talk about change and that
now let’s talk about change and that involves renewable energy sources and
involves renewable energy sources and
involves renewable energy sources and scale let’s take the electric vehicle as
scale let’s take the electric vehicle as
scale let’s take the electric vehicle as an example a friend once let me drive
an example a friend once let me drive
an example a friend once let me drive her brand new Tesla SUV it is an amazing
her brand new Tesla SUV it is an amazing
her brand new Tesla SUV it is an amazing electric vehicle it was so new in fact
electric vehicle it was so new in fact
electric vehicle it was so new in fact that her husband had not even driven it
that her husband had not even driven it
that her husband had not even driven it yet but she owed me a few months prior I
yet but she owed me a few months prior I
yet but she owed me a few months prior I had beaten her and her dog in a one day
had beaten her and her dog in a one day
had beaten her and her dog in a one day step challenge if you own an electric
step challenge if you own an electric
step challenge if you own an electric car good for you but when tens of
car good for you but when tens of
car good for you but when tens of thousands hundreds of thousands millions
thousands hundreds of thousands millions
thousands hundreds of thousands millions of people own an electric vehicle we’re
of people own an electric vehicle we’re
of people own an electric vehicle we’re not talking about cars and trucks
not talking about cars and trucks
not talking about cars and trucks anymore we’re talking about a giant
anymore we’re talking about a giant
anymore we’re talking about a giant energy storage system a giant battery
energy storage system a giant battery
energy storage system a giant battery that utilities will be able to tap into
that utilities will be able to tap into
that utilities will be able to tap into with permission from the car owner and
with permission from the car owner and
with permission from the car owner and draw electricity back into the grid when
draw electricity back into the grid when
draw electricity back into the grid when it’s needed researchers are now
it’s needed researchers are now
it’s needed researchers are now developing what they call vehicle grid
developing what they call vehicle grid
developing what they call vehicle grid integration where the cars can pull
integration where the cars can pull
integration where the cars can pull electricity from the grid and push
electricity from the grid and push
electricity from the grid and push electricity back into the grid it’s
electricity back into the grid it’s
electricity back into the grid it’s happening its power coming from the
happening its power coming from the
happening its power coming from the people that relationship between the
people that relationship between the
people that relationship between the utility and the customer the consumer
utility and the customer the consumer
utility and the customer the consumer it’s critical and we’re already seeing
it’s critical and we’re already seeing
it’s critical and we’re already seeing it when it comes to the solar industry
it when it comes to the solar industry
it when it comes to the solar industry technology’s putting solar panels on
technology’s putting solar panels on
technology’s putting solar panels on rooftops hilltops businesses and bridges
rooftops hilltops businesses and bridges
rooftops hilltops businesses and bridges one house with solar panels great
one house with solar panels great
one house with solar panels great scale-up add solar panels to hundreds of
scale-up add solar panels to hundreds of
scale-up add solar panels to hundreds of thousands of homes millions of homes now
thousands of homes millions of homes now
thousands of homes millions of homes now what we’ve created is a giant power pool
what we’ve created is a giant power pool
what we’ve created is a giant power pool one that will be generating excess
one that will be generating excess
one that will be generating excess electricity that utilities are already
electricity that utilities are already
electricity that utilities are already tapping into and using that electricity
tapping into and using that electricity
tapping into and using that electricity when there’s a need the homeowners and
when there’s a need the homeowners and
when there’s a need the homeowners and the business owners receive a credit for
the business owners receive a credit for
the business owners receive a credit for that power again its power coming from
that power again its power coming from
that power again its power coming from the people we can take this one step
the people we can take this one step
the people we can take this one step further and this is a real game-changer
further and this is a real game-changer
further and this is a real game-changer according to industry experts battery
according to industry experts battery
according to industry experts battery storage up until recently the technology
storage up until recently the technology
storage up until recently the technology wasn’t there for homeowners business
wasn’t there for homeowners business
wasn’t there for homeowners business owners or utilities to store large
owners or utilities to store large
owners or utilities to store large amounts of electricity cheaply reliably
amounts of electricity cheaply reliably
amounts of electricity cheaply reliably and safely that’s changed batteries mean
and safely that’s changed batteries mean
and safely that’s changed batteries mean that the extra electricity we’re
that the extra electricity we’re
that the extra electricity we’re generating at our homes and businesses
generating at our homes and businesses
generating at our homes and businesses can be stored for our use at a later
can be stored for our use at a later
can be stored for our use at a later time or pumped back into the grid for
time or pumped back into the grid for
time or pumped back into the grid for the utilities to use a
the utilities to use a
the utilities to use a and will receive a credit for that it
and will receive a credit for that it
and will receive a credit for that it truly is power coming from the people
truly is power coming from the people
truly is power coming from the people all of this talk about battery storage
all of this talk about battery storage
all of this talk about battery storage electric car solar power it’s not
electric car solar power it’s not
electric car solar power it’s not fantasy make-believe stuff it’s real
fantasy make-believe stuff it’s real
fantasy make-believe stuff it’s real it’s happening so let me leave you with
it’s happening so let me leave you with
it’s happening so let me leave you with this thanks to technology innovation
this thanks to technology innovation
this thanks to technology innovation scale homeowners and business owners
scale homeowners and business owners
scale homeowners and business owners even towns and cities can generate their
even towns and cities can generate their
even towns and cities can generate their own electricity can share electricity
own electricity can share electricity
own electricity can share electricity and will soon be able to store
and will soon be able to store
and will soon be able to store electricity this is an electric industry
electricity this is an electric industry
electricity this is an electric industry revolution and guess what you and I are
revolution and guess what you and I are
revolution and guess what you and I are driving this change so I encourage you
driving this change so I encourage you
driving this change so I encourage you be aware participate in energy
be aware participate in energy
be aware participate in energy management programs and embrace this
management programs and embrace this
management programs and embrace this future where you’re not just a power
future where you’re not just a power
future where you’re not just a power consumer you can be and will be a power
consumer you can be and will be a power
consumer you can be and will be a power provider thank you
”
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