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In today’s Tactical Tuesday Nico and Matt Abele of the Squeaky Clean Energy Podcast sit down with three Department of Energy officials to get an exciting, behind-the-scenes look at how to build enduring, equitable institutions that forward the clean energy transition.
We speak with Chris Castro, Chief of Staff for the recently created Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP), Anna Siefken, Senior Advisor for the Office of Technology Transition (OTT), and Dr. Henry McKoy, Director of SCEP.
Here are three key takeaways from the episode.
Create institutions that transform communities for the long-term
Chris Castro of SPEC wants to create something that lasts. In our interview, he explains that “SPEC is about establishing a foundational office that will live for decades to come and support states, tribes, and communities to drive this clean energy forward.” From meeting the needs of LMI communities and transitioning public infrastructure to fomenting strategic partnerships, Chris digs into the nuts and bolts of delivering results that impact as many Americans as possible for as long as possible.
Anna Siefken is all about pushing boundaries in a way that “fills the gaps.” She tells me that the OTT identifies barriers to market adoption for new tech and pushes as many technologies into that window. Anna speaks of asking the kinds of questions that move forward as many things as possible: “How do you raise the floor? How do you bring the best products into the market and how do you actually accelerate those technologies?”
For his part, Henry identifies a key marker of success for SPEC when he looks back in five years: “we were successful in making sure that this funding went out to all these communities” in a way that made lasting change “without fraud and waste.” He and his department are driven by the desire to create long-term stability in the country’s neighborhoods and benefit the folks who have been historically disconnected from the clean energy movement.
Provide the assistance needed to actually capitalize on opportunities
Our guests talk about having a level of engagement that ensures communities are actually set up to adopt decarbonizing solutions.
Henry describes how SCEP has developed features that will make accessing its $16 billion in funding less intimidating. His department is introducing more prizes as well as publicly accessible blueprints and vouchers that lower the barrier to entry regarding funding applications.
Chris talks about the next level of engagement, one where SCEP goes above and beyond being a grant manager. He explains that they need to provide communities with technical assistance so they can use the money effectively, particularly for organizations that don’t have a sustainability director or energy manager. He says to help them answer the question, “Where am I along this journey of clean energy, and how do I tap in?”
Anna does something similar on a global scale. Recently, named as the US delegate to Clean Energy Ministerial and Mission Innovation, she is able “to engage with additional stakeholders on the international stage” to forge public-private partnerships and the bilaterals between governments that actually move things forward in key areas.
Keep an eye on equity
When I mention that Chris’s work serves as the connective tissue between players driving the clean energy revolution, he agrees. He adds that the overarching intention is to deploy the benefits back to the communities in an equitable manner, something “unconventional for government.” A key step, Chris says, is focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion so you have a department staffed in a way that “looks like America.”
Henry talks about SPEC’s drive to “lift communities up” and connect historically disadvantaged communities. They are working to structure their processes in a way that ensures that those who need help the most can get it, allowing for greater equity in the DOE’s push to decarbonize America.
Strategies we need today
Our three guests lift the curtain behind the DOE to reveal folks working hard - and very deliberately - to build accessible and equitable entities that can be pillars in the clean energy transition. Given the unpredictable nature of climate tech and clean energy deployment these days, I believe it’s vital that we use strategies like these to make the kind of change that lasts.
Check out the entire episode for more on this plus a host of insights about how the DOE is re-imagining itself in the wake of the recent game-changing legislation.
RESOURCES:
Connect with Chris Castro on LinkedIn
Connect with Anna Siefken on LinkedIn
Connect with Dr. Henry McKoy on LinkedIn
Follow DOE on LinkedIn and check out its website.
Check out the DOE, Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) website.
Check out the DOE, Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) website.
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Nico Johnson is the creator and host of SunCast, consistently rated a top solar podcast in the clean energy sector. The content of the show is geared towards listeners looking for insights on where the markets are headed, how to position themselves or their companies, and what today's market leaders do to stay ahead of the pack.
Nico is an Investor, Executive Coach, and 16-year veteran of the solar industry, having led development in the US and Latin America for global companies like Trina Solar and Conergy.
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