what if I told you we could dramatically accelerate the shift away from fossil
accelerate the shift away from fossil
accelerate the shift away from fossil fuels towards clean energy and yeah and
fuels towards clean energy and yeah and
fuels towards clean energy and yeah and and while the same time cut our future
and while the same time cut our future
and while the same time cut our future electricity bills by literally hundreds
electricity bills by literally hundreds
electricity bills by literally hundreds of billions of dollars and I need a
of billions of dollars and I need a
of billions of dollars and I need a clicker we are going to literally cut
clicker we are going to literally cut
clicker we are going to literally cut our future electricity bills by hundreds
our future electricity bills by hundreds
our future electricity bills by hundreds of billions of dollars I have an idea
of billions of dollars I have an idea
of billions of dollars I have an idea I’d like to share with all of you today
I’d like to share with all of you today
I’d like to share with all of you today but before I jump into it let me give
but before I jump into it let me give
but before I jump into it let me give you a little background on the
you a little background on the
you a little background on the electricity industry now now most people
electricity industry now now most people
electricity industry now now most people take this for granted but electricity
take this for granted but electricity
take this for granted but electricity has slowly become the foundation or one
has slowly become the foundation or one
has slowly become the foundation or one of the foundations of our modern society
of the foundations of our modern society
of the foundations of our modern society it powers everything our lights and
it powers everything our lights and
it powers everything our lights and computers and refrigerators and air
computers and refrigerators and air
computers and refrigerators and air conditioners it powers our offices and
conditioners it powers our offices and
conditioners it powers our offices and factories in schools and hospitals and
factories in schools and hospitals and
factories in schools and hospitals and before we know it electricity will be
before we know it electricity will be
before we know it electricity will be powering our cars as well it’s so
powering our cars as well it’s so
powering our cars as well it’s so pervasive and so easy we don’t give it a
pervasive and so easy we don’t give it a
pervasive and so easy we don’t give it a second thought but beneath the surface
second thought but beneath the surface
second thought but beneath the surface it’s one of the most amazing and
it’s one of the most amazing and
it’s one of the most amazing and sophisticated systems ever created the
sophisticated systems ever created the
sophisticated systems ever created the electricity grid the National Society of
electricity grid the National Society of
electricity grid the National Society of Engineering calls electrification the
Engineering calls electrification the
Engineering calls electrification the single greatest engineering achievement
single greatest engineering achievement
single greatest engineering achievement of the century and a two trillion
of the century and a two trillion
of the century and a two trillion dollars a year in revenue
dollars a year in revenue
dollars a year in revenue electricity’s arguably the largest
electricity’s arguably the largest
electricity’s arguably the largest business on earth but despite its
business on earth but despite its
business on earth but despite its amazing impact on society this 100 year
amazing impact on society this 100 year
amazing impact on society this 100 year old industry is starting to face some
old industry is starting to face some
old industry is starting to face some challenges now you can you can you can
challenges now you can you can you can
challenges now you can you can you can think like you can think of the grid
think like you can think of the grid
think like you can think of the grid like this old mainframe that my dad
like this old mainframe that my dad
like this old mainframe that my dad worked on now when this thing was
worked on now when this thing was
worked on now when this thing was invented man it was revolutionary and it
invented man it was revolutionary and it
invented man it was revolutionary and it went on to change the world but the
went on to change the world but the
went on to change the world but the inevitable march of technology pushed
inevitable march of technology pushed
inevitable march of technology pushed forward and over time this mainframe
forward and over time this mainframe
forward and over time this mainframe became outdated and like that old
became outdated and like that old
became outdated and like that old mainframe the grid has become somewhat
mainframe the grid has become somewhat
mainframe the grid has become somewhat outdated as well
outdated as well
outdated as well and it’s overdue for an upgrade let me
and it’s overdue for an upgrade let me
and it’s overdue for an upgrade let me give you an example the US government
give you an example the US government
give you an example the US government data tells us today that just the clean
data tells us today that just the clean
data tells us today that just the clean energy powers only about 7% of the grid
energy powers only about 7% of the grid
energy powers only about 7% of the grid but much more concerning is that they
but much more concerning is that they
but much more concerning is that they predict over the next 25 years
predict over the next 25 years
predict over the next 25 years clean energy will only power about 14%
clean energy will only power about 14%
clean energy will only power about 14% of the grid in my opinion this is
of the grid in my opinion this is
of the grid in my opinion this is unacceptably slow
unacceptably slow
unacceptably slow I believe that accelerating the shift to
I believe that accelerating the shift to
I believe that accelerating the shift to clean energy is one of the greatest
clean energy is one of the greatest
clean energy is one of the greatest challenges of our generation it’s so
challenges of our generation it’s so
challenges of our generation it’s so important in fact that I’ve decided to
important in fact that I’ve decided to
important in fact that I’ve decided to step away from my 30-year career as a
step away from my 30-year career as a
step away from my 30-year career as a software CEO to do my small part to help
software CEO to do my small part to help
software CEO to do my small part to help push this forward and after a year of
push this forward and after a year of
push this forward and after a year of intensive research and interviewing over
intensive research and interviewing over
intensive research and interviewing over 100 of the smartest people in the
100 of the smartest people in the
100 of the smartest people in the industry I have come to believe that
industry I have come to believe that
industry I have come to believe that there is a faster path a simple idea
there is a faster path a simple idea
there is a faster path a simple idea that can accelerate the shift to clean
that can accelerate the shift to clean
that can accelerate the shift to clean energy potentially decades sooner than
energy potentially decades sooner than
energy potentially decades sooner than the path were on now this idea it’s
the path were on now this idea it’s
the path were on now this idea it’s called local energy so if the grid is
called local energy so if the grid is
called local energy so if the grid is like that old mainframe then local
like that old mainframe then local
like that old mainframe then local energy is like a smartphone or a laptop
energy is like a smartphone or a laptop
energy is like a smartphone or a laptop it’s cheaper it’s smaller and it’s a lot
it’s cheaper it’s smaller and it’s a lot
it’s cheaper it’s smaller and it’s a lot smarter local energy is about generating
smarter local energy is about generating
smarter local energy is about generating electricity in the same place that it’s
electricity in the same place that it’s
electricity in the same place that it’s used you can think about local energy
used you can think about local energy
used you can think about local energy just like the farm-to-table movement
just like the farm-to-table movement
just like the farm-to-table movement where food is grown locally people have
where food is grown locally people have
where food is grown locally people have more choices the food is healthier and
more choices the food is healthier and
more choices the food is healthier and it creates local jobs local energy is
it creates local jobs local energy is
it creates local jobs local energy is just like farm-to-table except for
just like farm-to-table except for
just like farm-to-table except for electricity instead of food now the most
electricity instead of food now the most
electricity instead of food now the most exciting part for me is that local
exciting part for me is that local
exciting part for me is that local energy is starting to happen now you can
energy is starting to happen now you can
energy is starting to happen now you can see it for example one of the most
see it for example one of the most
see it for example one of the most common places we’ll see the early local
common places we’ll see the early local
common places we’ll see the early local energy is residential solar but not
energy is residential solar but not
energy is residential solar but not everybody has a rooftop so community
everybody has a rooftop so community
everybody has a rooftop so community shared solar is an increasingly viable
shared solar is an increasingly viable
shared solar is an increasingly viable alternative forward-thinking companies
alternative forward-thinking companies
alternative forward-thinking companies like IKEA are starting to generate their
like IKEA are starting to generate their
like IKEA are starting to generate their own electricity and during Hurricane
own electricity and during Hurricane
own electricity and during Hurricane Harvey Texas grocery store chain h-e-b
Harvey Texas grocery store chain h-e-b
Harvey Texas grocery store chain h-e-b was able to keep the refrigerators and
was able to keep the refrigerators and
was able to keep the refrigerators and lights operating 24/7 thanks to their
lights operating 24/7 thanks to their
lights operating 24/7 thanks to their own local energy solution and
own local energy solution and
own local energy solution and it worked so well that local responders
it worked so well that local responders
it worked so well that local responders used it as a base of operations and this
used it as a base of operations and this
used it as a base of operations and this idea continues to grow municipal
idea continues to grow municipal
idea continues to grow municipal buildings like schools and hospitals and
buildings like schools and hospitals and
buildings like schools and hospitals and fire stations are turning to local
fire stations are turning to local
fire stations are turning to local energy so that they’re available all the
energy so that they’re available all the
energy so that they’re available all the time for their citizens particularly
time for their citizens particularly
time for their citizens particularly during disasters and emergencies local
during disasters and emergencies local
during disasters and emergencies local energy is the single best way to get
energy is the single best way to get
energy is the single best way to get electricity outside the reach of the
electricity outside the reach of the
electricity outside the reach of the grid the military uses it to power
grid the military uses it to power
grid the military uses it to power remote bases but believe it or not 1
remote bases but believe it or not 1
remote bases but believe it or not 1 billion people today have no electricity
billion people today have no electricity
billion people today have no electricity at all
at all
at all local energy is this best way to bring a
local energy is this best way to bring a
local energy is this best way to bring a look to bring electricity to these
look to bring electricity to these
look to bring electricity to these low-income rural communities in islands
low-income rural communities in islands
low-income rural communities in islands like this beautiful one in the American
like this beautiful one in the American
like this beautiful one in the American Samoa it’s entirely powered by solar
Samoa it’s entirely powered by solar
Samoa it’s entirely powered by solar panels and batteries from Tesla which
panels and batteries from Tesla which
panels and batteries from Tesla which replaced dirty expensive diesel now
replaced dirty expensive diesel now
replaced dirty expensive diesel now local energy is the best fastest path to
local energy is the best fastest path to
local energy is the best fastest path to clean energy but local energy is also
clean energy but local energy is also
clean energy but local energy is also solving a more important and immediate
solving a more important and immediate
solving a more important and immediate need as I said earlier the current grid
need as I said earlier the current grid
need as I said earlier the current grid is facing some serious challenges and it
is facing some serious challenges and it
is facing some serious challenges and it turns out that local energy is one of
turns out that local energy is one of
turns out that local energy is one of the best ways to address them and I’d
the best ways to address them and I’d
the best ways to address them and I’d like to tell you about three of them
like to tell you about three of them
like to tell you about three of them today the first one is that local energy
today the first one is that local energy
today the first one is that local energy is more secure the grid is frightening
is more secure the grid is frightening
is more secure the grid is frightening lis vulnerable outages are on the rise
lis vulnerable outages are on the rise
lis vulnerable outages are on the rise is extreme weather events increase and
is extreme weather events increase and
is extreme weather events increase and it’s equipment starts to age I’ll give
it’s equipment starts to age I’ll give
it’s equipment starts to age I’ll give you an example of the 2000 large
you an example of the 2000 large
you an example of the 2000 large substation transformers that make up the
substation transformers that make up the
substation transformers that make up the backbone of the US grid their average
backbone of the US grid their average
backbone of the US grid their average age where they’re designed I should say
age where they’re designed I should say
age where they’re designed I should say to last 20 years their average age today
to last 20 years their average age today
to last 20 years their average age today is 38 years old and it’s not just age
is 38 years old and it’s not just age
is 38 years old and it’s not just age hackers and foreign enemies are starting
hackers and foreign enemies are starting
hackers and foreign enemies are starting to look at the u.s. grid as a prime
to look at the u.s. grid as a prime
to look at the u.s. grid as a prime target for cyberattacks in this
target for cyberattacks in this
target for cyberattacks in this incredibly chilling memo that was leaked
incredibly chilling memo that was leaked
incredibly chilling memo that was leaked from the federal agency that oversees
from the federal agency that oversees
from the federal agency that oversees the u.s. grid destroy 9 interconnection
the u.s. grid destroy 9 interconnection
the u.s. grid destroy 9 interconnection substations and one transformer
substations and one transformer
substations and one transformer manufacturer in the entire United States
manufacturer in the entire United States
manufacturer in the entire United States grid would be down for 18 months
grid would be down for 18 months
grid would be down for 18 months probably longer you got to think about
probably longer you got to think about
probably longer you got to think about that I mean a one-hour outage is
that I mean a one-hour outage is
that I mean a one-hour outage is annoying a one-week outage makes
annoying a one-week outage makes
annoying a one-week outage makes national news a multi-month outage has
national news a multi-month outage has
national news a multi-month outage has no precedent in modern history and risks
no precedent in modern history and risks
no precedent in modern history and risks drag in the united states back into the
drag in the united states back into the
drag in the united states back into the 1800s
1800s
1800s now local energy can help it can help
now local energy can help it can help
now local energy can help it can help make the current grid more secure and
make the current grid more secure and
make the current grid more secure and reliable how would this work well
reliable how would this work well
reliable how would this work well imagine a wall with several large
imagine a wall with several large
imagine a wall with several large balloons metaphorically this is what the
balloons metaphorically this is what the
balloons metaphorically this is what the grid looks like to a hacker or to a
grid looks like to a hacker or to a
grid looks like to a hacker or to a powerful storm you take out just one of
powerful storm you take out just one of
powerful storm you take out just one of these balloons and a big chunk of the
these balloons and a big chunk of the
these balloons and a big chunk of the grid goes with it and tragically this is
grid goes with it and tragically this is
grid goes with it and tragically this is exactly what we’re seeing play out in
exactly what we’re seeing play out in
exactly what we’re seeing play out in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands is
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands is
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands is there hurricanes have ripped through
there hurricanes have ripped through
there hurricanes have ripped through there and taken out their grids but we
there and taken out their grids but we
there and taken out their grids but we can envision a better more advanced
can envision a better more advanced
can envision a better more advanced energy future imagine that same wall
energy future imagine that same wall
energy future imagine that same wall with dozens of little balloons even if
with dozens of little balloons even if
with dozens of little balloons even if you take out several of these the
you take out several of these the
you take out several of these the interconnected local energy grid
interconnected local energy grid
interconnected local energy grid continues to operate and this idea isn’t
continues to operate and this idea isn’t
continues to operate and this idea isn’t new this redundant distributed design is
new this redundant distributed design is
new this redundant distributed design is actually been proving itself for decades
actually been proving itself for decades
actually been proving itself for decades go all the way back to 1969 in the
go all the way back to 1969 in the
go all the way back to 1969 in the middle of the Cold War and the US
middle of the Cold War and the US
middle of the Cold War and the US government needed a way to make their
government needed a way to make their
government needed a way to make their data networks more resilient against
data networks more resilient against
data networks more resilient against nuclear attacks the idea that they came
nuclear attacks the idea that they came
nuclear attacks the idea that they came up with was so successful it went on to
up with was so successful it went on to
up with was so successful it went on to change the world that idea today is
change the world that idea today is
change the world that idea today is called the Internet the second way that
called the Internet the second way that
called the Internet the second way that local energy is better is it is actually
local energy is better is it is actually
local energy is better is it is actually cleaner now I could do an entire talk
cleaner now I could do an entire talk
cleaner now I could do an entire talk about how the grid is poisoning the
about how the grid is poisoning the
about how the grid is poisoning the planet but for today I want to focus on
planet but for today I want to focus on
planet but for today I want to focus on the one area of my research that shocked
the one area of my research that shocked
the one area of my research that shocked me more than anything else I’m gonna
me more than anything else I’m gonna
me more than anything else I’m gonna show you a video of a small town in
show you a video of a small town in
show you a video of a small town in Tennessee that’s being overrun by coal
Tennessee that’s being overrun by coal
Tennessee that’s being overrun by coal slurry now when I started my research I
slurry now when I started my research I
slurry now when I started my research I had never heard of coal slurry but I’ve
had never heard of coal slurry but I’ve
had never heard of coal slurry but I’ve learned that coal plants generate over
learned that coal plants generate over
learned that coal plants generate over 770 million tons of toxic ash a year
770 million tons of toxic ash a year
770 million tons of toxic ash a year this stuff is full of mercury arsenic
this stuff is full of mercury arsenic
this stuff is full of mercury arsenic and lead and to keep this nasty stuff
and lead and to keep this nasty stuff
and lead and to keep this nasty stuff out of the atmosphere coal companies mix
out of the atmosphere coal companies mix
out of the atmosphere coal companies mix it with water and dump it in nearby
it with water and dump it in nearby
it with water and dump it in nearby ponds there are over 14
ponds there are over 14
ponds there are over 14 hundred of these largely unregulated
hundred of these largely unregulated
hundred of these largely unregulated toxic coal slurry ash ponds scattered
toxic coal slurry ash ponds scattered
toxic coal slurry ash ponds scattered across the United States ladies and
across the United States ladies and
across the United States ladies and gentlemen we need to do so much better
gentlemen we need to do so much better
gentlemen we need to do so much better than this and the great news is we have
than this and the great news is we have
than this and the great news is we have options win panel wins wind turbines and
options win panel wins wind turbines and
options win panel wins wind turbines and solar panels generate no waste they
solar panels generate no waste they
solar panels generate no waste they produced no greenhouse gases or
produced no greenhouse gases or
produced no greenhouse gases or dangerous radiation once installed they
dangerous radiation once installed they
dangerous radiation once installed they just sit there for decades cranking out
just sit there for decades cranking out
just sit there for decades cranking out electricity costing virtually nothing
the problem is that the existing
the problem is that the existing infrastructure the existing coal and
infrastructure the existing coal and
infrastructure the existing coal and nuclear plants all have mortgages and
nuclear plants all have mortgages and
nuclear plants all have mortgages and some of those mortgages extend into the
some of those mortgages extend into the
some of those mortgages extend into the future for decades and until those
future for decades and until those
future for decades and until those plants and mortgages are paid down and
plants and mortgages are paid down and
plants and mortgages are paid down and those plants are decommissioned the
those plants are decommissioned the
those plants are decommissioned the companies that own them have very
companies that own them have very
companies that own them have very limited incentives to install any new
limited incentives to install any new
limited incentives to install any new kind of energy let alone clean energy
kind of energy let alone clean energy
kind of energy let alone clean energy but this is where local energy can help
but this is where local energy can help
but this is where local energy can help break the logjam individuals communities
break the logjam individuals communities
break the logjam individuals communities and businesses can install their own
and businesses can install their own
and businesses can install their own clean energy systems not only can they
clean energy systems not only can they
clean energy systems not only can they help the environment but you can
help the environment but you can
help the environment but you can actually start saving money because the
actually start saving money because the
actually start saving money because the third benefit of local energy is that
third benefit of local energy is that
third benefit of local energy is that it’s cheaper believe it or not it’s
it’s cheaper believe it or not it’s
it’s cheaper believe it or not it’s actually getting more expensive to
actually getting more expensive to
actually getting more expensive to operate the grid not less let me show
operate the grid not less let me show
operate the grid not less let me show you how crazy this is let me bring up my
you how crazy this is let me bring up my
you how crazy this is let me bring up my dad’s old mainframe again in the 50
dad’s old mainframe again in the 50
dad’s old mainframe again in the 50 years since that mainframe was created
years since that mainframe was created
years since that mainframe was created the cost of computing has dropped over
the cost of computing has dropped over
the cost of computing has dropped over 100 million times in the last 50 years
100 million times in the last 50 years
100 million times in the last 50 years tremendous number of things have dropped
tremendous number of things have dropped
tremendous number of things have dropped in price cars Airlines and appliances
in price cars Airlines and appliances
in price cars Airlines and appliances just to name one of hundreds of products
just to name one of hundreds of products
just to name one of hundreds of products that have dropped in price but somehow
that have dropped in price but somehow
that have dropped in price but somehow electricity has remained stuck it hasn’t
electricity has remained stuck it hasn’t
electricity has remained stuck it hasn’t gone anywhere its prices remain largely
gone anywhere its prices remain largely
gone anywhere its prices remain largely the same what’s going on here let me
the same what’s going on here let me
the same what’s going on here let me show you about three-fifths of your
show you about three-fifths of your
show you about three-fifths of your electricity bill goes to pay for power
electricity bill goes to pay for power
electricity bill goes to pay for power plants most of those power plants today
plants most of those power plants today
plants most of those power plants today are : nuclear and according to US
are : nuclear and according to US
are : nuclear and according to US government data
government data
government data the cost of operating these coal nuclear
the cost of operating these coal nuclear
the cost of operating these coal nuclear plants continues to rise year after year
plants continues to rise year after year
plants continues to rise year after year leave in natural gas which has recently
leave in natural gas which has recently
leave in natural gas which has recently become very inexpensive will eventually
become very inexpensive will eventually
become very inexpensive will eventually rise again just like any finite natural
rise again just like any finite natural
rise again just like any finite natural resource but now let’s look at your
resource but now let’s look at your
resource but now let’s look at your electricity your look your electricity
electricity your look your electricity
electricity your look your electricity bill as if it was coming from local
bill as if it was coming from local
bill as if it was coming from local energy first the sources of local energy
energy first the sources of local energy
energy first the sources of local energy solar wind and batteries the prices of
solar wind and batteries the prices of
solar wind and batteries the prices of these sources has been dropping dropping
these sources has been dropping dropping
these sources has been dropping dropping for decades and they’ll continue to drop
for decades and they’ll continue to drop
for decades and they’ll continue to drop for years to come and second local
for years to come and second local
for years to come and second local energy doesn’t need miles of power lines
energy doesn’t need miles of power lines
energy doesn’t need miles of power lines so this second the other two fifths of
so this second the other two fifths of
so this second the other two fifths of your electricity bill will drop
your electricity bill will drop
your electricity bill will drop dramatically as well but how is it that
dramatically as well but how is it that
dramatically as well but how is it that some kinds of power are getting more
some kinds of power are getting more
some kinds of power are getting more expensive while others is getting less
expensive while others is getting less
expensive while others is getting less well I’ll tell you a secret solar wind
well I’ll tell you a secret solar wind
well I’ll tell you a secret solar wind and batteries are technologies not fuels
and batteries are technologies not fuels
and batteries are technologies not fuels this is really important so I’m gonna
this is really important so I’m gonna
this is really important so I’m gonna say at another time solar wind and
say at another time solar wind and
say at another time solar wind and batteries are technologies not fuels
batteries are technologies not fuels
batteries are technologies not fuels coal natural gas and nuclear are fuels
coal natural gas and nuclear are fuels
coal natural gas and nuclear are fuels their costs are governed by things like
their costs are governed by things like
their costs are governed by things like digging and drilling refining and
digging and drilling refining and
digging and drilling refining and transporting there’s only a finite only
transporting there’s only a finite only
transporting there’s only a finite only a finite amount of these fuels so as we
a finite amount of these fuels so as we
a finite amount of these fuels so as we dig them up their prices are gonna
dig them up their prices are gonna
dig them up their prices are gonna continue to rise but the thing that
continue to rise but the thing that
continue to rise but the thing that concerns me the most is that when you
concerns me the most is that when you
concerns me the most is that when you take a chunk of that fuel and you burn
take a chunk of that fuel and you burn
take a chunk of that fuel and you burn it to create electricity it’s done
it to create electricity it’s done
it to create electricity it’s done forever all that you have left is waste
forever all that you have left is waste
forever all that you have left is waste if you actually want more electricity
if you actually want more electricity
if you actually want more electricity you have to get rid of that waste and go
you have to get rid of that waste and go
you have to get rid of that waste and go dig up more fuel now compare that to
dig up more fuel now compare that to
dig up more fuel now compare that to technologies like solar wind and
technologies like solar wind and
technologies like solar wind and batteries these technologies have a lot
batteries these technologies have a lot
batteries these technologies have a lot in common with other technologies like
in common with other technologies like
in common with other technologies like computers and microchips years and years
computers and microchips years and years
computers and microchips years and years of innovations have allowed these
of innovations have allowed these
of innovations have allowed these technologies to continue to drop in
technologies to continue to drop in
technologies to continue to drop in price the best part if you install a
price the best part if you install a
price the best part if you install a solar or wind farm it just sits there
solar or wind farm it just sits there
solar or wind farm it just sits there the only fuel that it needs is sunshine
the only fuel that it needs is sunshine
the only fuel that it needs is sunshine and wind it’ll operate for decades
and wind it’ll operate for decades
and wind it’ll operate for decades practically for free now if you’re still
practically for free now if you’re still
practically for free now if you’re still skeptical the local energy can actually
skeptical the local energy can actually
skeptical the local energy can actually be cheaper take a look at Minster
be cheaper take a look at Minster
be cheaper take a look at Minster ohayo in 2015 this community decided
ohayo in 2015 this community decided
ohayo in 2015 this community decided they wanted to power part of their
they wanted to power part of their
they wanted to power part of their electricity needs with clean energy so
electricity needs with clean energy so
electricity needs with clean energy so they built their own local energy plant
they built their own local energy plant
they built their own local energy plant nearby with solar and batteries and
nearby with solar and batteries and
nearby with solar and batteries and thanks to some very creative
thanks to some very creative
thanks to some very creative applications of their batteries they’re
applications of their batteries they’re
applications of their batteries they’re actually spending less money for the
actually spending less money for the
actually spending less money for the electricity from their own local energy
electricity from their own local energy
electricity from their own local energy than they do when they buy it over the
than they do when they buy it over the
than they do when they buy it over the grid it’s amazing and it’s the kind of
grid it’s amazing and it’s the kind of
grid it’s amazing and it’s the kind of thing that can be replicated and copied
thing that can be replicated and copied
thing that can be replicated and copied across the world so I hope I’ve gotten
across the world so I hope I’ve gotten
across the world so I hope I’ve gotten you a little bit excited about local
you a little bit excited about local
you a little bit excited about local energy question is how do we get it
energy question is how do we get it
energy question is how do we get it moving well there’s two things that we
moving well there’s two things that we
moving well there’s two things that we can do the first is local electricity
can do the first is local electricity
can do the first is local electricity markets we need to create local
markets we need to create local
markets we need to create local electricity markets going back to
electricity markets going back to
electricity markets going back to mainframes one more time imagine back
mainframes one more time imagine back
mainframes one more time imagine back when they were first invented and they
when they were first invented and they
when they were first invented and they imagine if the government granted an
imagine if the government granted an
imagine if the government granted an exclusive monopoly to mainframe
exclusive monopoly to mainframe
exclusive monopoly to mainframe manufacturers such that it was illegal
manufacturers such that it was illegal
manufacturers such that it was illegal for any other company to make a computer
for any other company to make a computer
for any other company to make a computer of any kind without any competition do
of any kind without any competition do
of any kind without any competition do you think those mainframe manufacturers
you think those mainframe manufacturers
you think those mainframe manufacturers would have invented the internet or
would have invented the internet or
would have invented the internet or smart phones or laptops I seriously
smart phones or laptops I seriously
smart phones or laptops I seriously doubt it but that is exactly how the
doubt it but that is exactly how the
doubt it but that is exactly how the utility industry works today
utility industry works today
utility industry works today governments grant exclusive monopolies
governments grant exclusive monopolies
governments grant exclusive monopolies to utilities now they do this for a very
to utilities now they do this for a very
to utilities now they do this for a very good reason because utilities make a
good reason because utilities make a
good reason because utilities make a very important promise to governments
very important promise to governments
very important promise to governments they promise to provide affordable
they promise to provide affordable
they promise to provide affordable electricity reliable electricity to
electricity reliable electricity to
electricity reliable electricity to every single person and for the most
every single person and for the most
every single person and for the most part this important bargain works but it
part this important bargain works but it
part this important bargain works but it has come at a very large cost the lack
has come at a very large cost the lack
has come at a very large cost the lack of competition has slowed Grid
of competition has slowed Grid
of competition has slowed Grid innovation to a snail’s pace
innovation to a snail’s pace
innovation to a snail’s pace now regulators understand this but they
now regulators understand this but they
now regulators understand this but they really struggle to find a way to balance
really struggle to find a way to balance
really struggle to find a way to balance control with competition but when
control with competition but when
control with competition but when superstorm sandy came barreling through
superstorm sandy came barreling through
superstorm sandy came barreling through the Northeast in 2013 and half a million
the Northeast in 2013 and half a million
the Northeast in 2013 and half a million people were without electricity for over
people were without electricity for over
people were without electricity for over a week New York got really creative the
a week New York got really creative the
a week New York got really creative the state of New York has since brought
state of New York has since brought
state of New York has since brought forward some of the most ambitious and
forward some of the most ambitious and
forward some of the most ambitious and innovation folks RIT focused regulation
innovation folks RIT focused regulation
innovation folks RIT focused regulation in the industry one of my favorite
in the industry one of my favorite
in the industry one of my favorite examples from that is the Brooklyn micro
examples from that is the Brooklyn micro
examples from that is the Brooklyn micro grid
grid
grid dozens of homeowners and small
dozens of homeowners and small
dozens of homeowners and small businesses have formed a local energy
businesses have formed a local energy
businesses have formed a local energy community they’re buying and selling
community they’re buying and selling
community they’re buying and selling electricity from each other all day long
electricity from each other all day long
electricity from each other all day long it’s like a farmers market but for
it’s like a farmers market but for
it’s like a farmers market but for electricity now if you’re outside the
electricity now if you’re outside the
electricity now if you’re outside the industry you’re thinking yeah sure
industry you’re thinking yeah sure
industry you’re thinking yeah sure what’s so big what’s a big deal about
what’s so big what’s a big deal about
what’s so big what’s a big deal about that but I’m telling you from the power
that but I’m telling you from the power
that but I’m telling you from the power interest perspective where the world has
interest perspective where the world has
interest perspective where the world has been designed for a hundred years for
been designed for a hundred years for
been designed for a hundred years for central generation distribution this is
central generation distribution this is
central generation distribution this is a radical idea and for me I think this
a radical idea and for me I think this
a radical idea and for me I think this is just a great example of what the
is just a great example of what the
is just a great example of what the future of energy will look like for all
future of energy will look like for all
future of energy will look like for all of us
of us
of us the second way we can get local energy
the second way we can get local energy
the second way we can get local energy moving is you you see solar and
moving is you you see solar and
moving is you you see solar and batteries are governed by something
batteries are governed by something
batteries are governed by something called Swanson’s law which tells us that
called Swanson’s law which tells us that
called Swanson’s law which tells us that the more you manufacture of something
the more you manufacture of something
the more you manufacture of something the cheaper it gets so if we want to
the cheaper it gets so if we want to
the cheaper it gets so if we want to unleash an economic juggernaut to drive
unleash an economic juggernaut to drive
unleash an economic juggernaut to drive clean energy forward all we need to do
clean energy forward all we need to do
clean energy forward all we need to do is make more and more and more solar
is make more and more and more solar
is make more and more and more solar panels and batteries and this is where
panels and batteries and this is where
panels and batteries and this is where you come in because for the first time
you come in because for the first time
you come in because for the first time in energy history each of us can play a
in energy history each of us can play a
in energy history each of us can play a role in creating the future install
role in creating the future install
role in creating the future install solar panels or buy an electric vehicle
solar panels or buy an electric vehicle
solar panels or buy an electric vehicle join a community solar program or do
join a community solar program or do
join a community solar program or do business with companies that are powered
business with companies that are powered
business with companies that are powered by clean local energy every little bit
by clean local energy every little bit
by clean local energy every little bit you do adds up prices volumes increase
you do adds up prices volumes increase
you do adds up prices volumes increase and prices come down and as prices go
and prices come down and as prices go
and prices come down and as prices go down the shift towards clean energy just
down the shift towards clean energy just
down the shift towards clean energy just accelerates faster I urge all of you to
accelerates faster I urge all of you to
accelerates faster I urge all of you to join me on this journey because together
join me on this journey because together
join me on this journey because together we can start the local energy movement
we can start the local energy movement
we can start the local energy movement thank you
[Music]
[Music] thank you
”
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