Pilot projects from Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Commonwealth Edison (ComED) and other utilities are demonstrating the value of flexible interconnection, programs in which utilities allow customers to interconnect to the grid much more quickly than they would under traditional interconnection programs. In exchange, the customers agree to scale back or eliminate consumption when the utility needs power. Jessie Bauer, ComEd's manager of DER engineering and capacity planning, and Alex Collins, PG&E's manager of DERMS execution and operations, describe their pilot programs. Two hardware and software providers explain what's needed on the customer side, and a customer deploying fast chargers points to the benefits of such programs.

Background reading:

The Latest Version of the Big Beautiful Bill in One Chart Energy Changemakers

With New Microgrid Funding, Texas Seeks to Avoid the Devastation of Storms Like Winter Storm Uri Microgrid Knowledge

Recent Climate Setbacks Will Not Derail the Green Transition World Resources Institute

Visit CleanEnergyWriters.com to learn about host Lisa Cohn. Email her at Lisa@CleanEnergyWriters.com with clean energy news and trends.

This Clean Energy Today preview describes some of the topics that will be covered in this podcast, including distributed energy, microgrids, bidirectional charging, equity, research and consumer choices.

Background reading:

Do You and I Mean the Same Thing When We Say Local Energy?

Microgrids Aren't What They Used to Be

Deploying Bidirectional Vehicles to Support the Grid Takes a Leap Forward

Low-Income Communities are the First to Lose Power. How RMI is Helping Deploy Solar & Storage Resilience Hubs

Research Project Uses 2020 Nashville Tornado Simulation to Study (Solar and Storage) Microgrid Support for Essential Services

How Renewables Can Start a Consumer Energy Revolution

Email Lisa@CleanEnergyWriters.com with feedback and episode ideas.

Oregon solar companies describe how the Trump administration's policies are hurting them and say how they're coping. They also provide some good news. Interviews were conducted at the Oregon Solar and Storage Industries Association's conference May 15, 2025.

Visit CleanEnergyWriters.com. to learn more about host Lisa Cohn

News stories mentioned during the episode:

Oregon Bills Would Advance Microgrids by Creating Resiliency Corridors and Boosting Community Powers

What Do All Big Power Outages Have in Common? A Big Grid

Don't Mention Climate. Now Clean Energy is All About the Money

Email Lisa@CleanEnergyWriters.com with ideas for episodes.