Unlocking the Grid: How Distributed Energy Can Scale Faster Than You Think

In this episode of Green Disruptors: Scaling the Future, I sit down with Doug Golden, a 22-year veteran in the energy industry with experience spanning Reliant Energy, NRG, EVgo, and more. Doug dives into the unprecedented load growth utilities are facing due to EV adoption, manufacturing on-shoring, and the data demands of generative AI. We explore how integrating distributed energy resources (DERs) like solar, batteries, and EV chargers into the grid can alleviate the pressure—and why the technology to make it happen already exists.

Doug highlights the real challenge: It's no longer about inventing new solutions, but about overcoming barriers to adoption—financing, ownership, and policy. We also discuss how utilities can become wholesale buyers of DERs, driving cost efficiency while making the grid more resilient. If you're curious about the future of energy, this episode breaks down the opportunities and challenges of turning buildings into an extension of the grid.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• Utilities need to triple grid capacity to meet electrification and data center demands.

• DERs can accelerate grid capacity, but adoption is hindered by fragmented control and ownership.

• State-level programs and utility-led investments can reduce costs and improve grid resilience.

• The technology exists—now it's about scaling adoption and creating new ownership models.

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