Energizing Tennessee

Send us a textJoin host Cortney Piper for an insightful conversation with Dale Harrigle, Chief Engineer, Tire Development – Consumer Replacement, Bridgestone Americas. Dale discusses his decades-long career at Bridgestone and shares pivotal industry milestones, from the revolutionary introduction of silica in tire manufacturing to Bridgestone’s impressive global expansion.Hear about how the rise of electric vehicles is impacting tire technology and learn about Bridgestone’s cutting-edge innovations, including PeakLife and Enlighten technologies. Dale also highlights Bridgestone’s commitment to sustainability, such as harnessing guayule as a renewable rubber source and earning ISCC Plus certification.This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about automotive advancements and sustainable solutions.Learn more about TAEBC and Bridgestone Americas. Support the showTo keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

Send us a textThank you to the WastAway team for making this episode possible. Host Cortney Piper had the pleasure of interviewing Mark Brown, CEO of WastAway, a green tech company that takes something the world doesn’t want – municipal solid waste – and converts it into something the world needs. WastAway—Waste-Away with no E—is an advanced energy leader. Its multi-patented system transforms municipal solid waste into valuable biofuels, achieving an impressive 85% landfill diversion. Mark has been at the helm of this company for nearly two decades, leading design, construction, and project development efforts to revolutionize waste management. Please tune in to the episode to hear more about WastAway and its new waste energy facility in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.Learn more about TAEBC and WastAway.Support the showTo keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

Send us a textHost Cortney Piper interviews Mitchell Ishmael, Shift Thermal's co-founder and chief technology officer. In the episode, Mitch discusses the company's advanced thermal energy storage solution and the company milestones, including their participation in the Innovation Crossroads program. The two discuss the benefits of cleantech entrepreneurship in Tennessee, the need for partnerships to push the boundaries of sustainability and Shift Thermal's next steps, including partnerships for field demonstration projects.Learn more about TAEBC and Shift Thermal. Support the showTo keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

Send us a textHost Cortney Piper interviews Michael McCall, the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Vice President of Environment and Sustainability and Chief Sustainability Officer, about the agency’s 2023 Sustainability Report.They discuss how TVA prioritizes sustainability and has shifted its mindset from compliance to stewardship. This shift enabled the nation’s largest public power provider to make significant progress toward reducing emissions, increasing biodiversity, decreasing water use and improving energy efficiency—which can serve as a model for other federal agencies and utilities nationwide.Learn more about TAEBC. Download TVA’s Sustainability Report or email sustainability@tva.gov with your questions. Support the showTo keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

Send us a textHost Cortney Piper interviews Daniel Poneman, former president and chief executive officer of Centrus Energy Corporation, United States Deputy Secretary of Energy and chief operating officer of the Department of Energy. He has worked for three United States presidents on issues ranging from nuclear nonproliferation to clean energy. In the interview, Cortney and Daniel discuss his long career and mission to champion an all-of-the-above energy strategy. The episode includes stories and behind-the-scenes tidbits you won’t want to miss.Learn more about TAEBC and Daniel.Support the showTo keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

Send us a textHost Cortney Piper interviews Dr. Chris Burns, Chief Executive Officer of NOVONIX, a leading battery materials and technology company with operations in the United States and Canada.Recently, DOE awarded NOVONIX a $100 million grant and a $103 million tax credit under the Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Allocation Program, or the 48C program under the Inflation Reduction Act. This funding has enabled the company to expand domestic production of high-performance synthetic graphite anode materials at its Riverside facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee.In this episode, Cortney and Chris speak about these announcements and what NOVONIX is doing to enable the widespread adoption of electric vehicles.Learn more about TAEBC and NOVONIX.Support the showTo keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

Send us a textHost Cortney Piper interviews Dr. Charles Sims, Director of the Center for Energy, Transportation and Environmental Policy, Howard H. Baker Jr. School of Public Policy and Public Affairs, about the Valley Pathways Study. The Tennessee Valley Authority and the Baker School launched the Valley Pathways Study in February 2023 to evaluate the existing environmental landscape and explore opportunities to reduce carbon emissions and create a competitive, sustainable economy. In the episode, Cortney and Charles discuss key findings from the study and how to build a competitive, clean economy in the Tennessee Valley.Learn more about TAEBC and the Baker School. Download the report here.Support the showTo keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

Send us a textIn 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 showTo keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

Send us a textIn 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 showTo keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

Send us a textHost 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 showTo keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

Send us a textIn 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 showTo keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

Send us a textHow 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 showTo keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

Send us a textHost 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 showTo keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

Send us a textIn 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 showTo keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

Send us a textToday, 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 showTo keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

Send us a textFor 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 showTo keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

Send us a textThe 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 showTo keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

Send us a textTennessee 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 showTo keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

Send us a textWe’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 showTo keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

Send us a textWe’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 showTo keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.