Energizing Tennessee

Hosted by The Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council

Technology Science

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May 2026

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About the show

Energizing Tennessee, powered by the Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council, explores the latest news and insights about the advanced energy sector. Join us to hear from advanced energy leaders and experts as they share their thoughts on transportation electrification, workforce development and this growing sector of our state’s economy. We're your #1 podcast for news about Tennessee's advanced energy sector.

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37 recent

May 25, 2026Episode 3531 min

Episode 35: Behind the headlines of AI and Quantum in East Tennessee with Daniel Dassow

Send us Fan MailDaniel Dassow, is a journalist who’s covered business, technology, and energy in East Tennessee for years. You may be familiar with Daniel’s bylines in the Knoxville News Sentinel and the Chattanooga Times Free Press. In this behind-the-headlines conversation, we talk about:How Daniel got his start as a business and energy reporterChattanooga’s growing nuclear and quantum industriesOther developing stories Daniel's following in 2026Enjoy the episode!Follow Daniel's work: https://www.timesfreepress.com/staff/daniel-dassow/Support the showTo keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok. Thank you to everyone who makes this podcast possible, including the generosity of TAEBC members.

May 11, 2026Episode 3424 min

Episode 34: Making Solar Do More with Nick de Vries, CTO, Silicon Ranch

Send us Fan MailToday, we’re speaking with Nick de Vries, Chief Technology Officer at Silicon Ranch, about the instrumental connection between solar power, agriculture, and economic development. This Nashville solar development company grew into a billion-dollar powerhouse for a reason.In this episode, we talk about:Silicon Ranch being named #5 on TIME America's Top GreenTech Companies of 2026The company's 2026 SEAL Sustainable Innovation Award for its CattleTracker systemHow this technology is closing the gap between the industries of solar power and agricultureIf you like what you hear, subscribe to our podcast and don’t forget to leave a rating or review. It helps us reach a wider audience to champion Tennessee’s Advanced Energy Business Sector. Enjoy the episode!Support the showTo keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok. Thank you to everyone who makes this podcast possible, including the generosity of TAEBC members.

April 27, 2026Episode 3321 min

Episode 33: Launching new Tennessee businesses through the Spark Accelerator

Send us Fan MailListen up, entrepreneurs! This is the episode is for you. Bill Malkes, Executive Director of the Spark Innovation Center and Spark Accelerator program at the University of Tennessee Research Park, and Lance Adler, Founder of Witching Hour and an alum of the Spark Accelerator, joined the show to talk about:How the Spark Accelerator is bringing more entrepreneurs and their businesses to TennesseeLance's journey as an entrepreneur and why he chose East Tennessee to grow his businessHow Witching Hour's technology aims to stop forest fires before they startBut the best news? Applications are now OPEN for the next Spark Accelerator Cohort! Apply here: https://www.f6s.com/spark-accelerator-cohort-5/about.Interested entrepreneurs must apply for this year's cohort by May 27, 2026.For more information, visit https://www.tnresearchpark.org/spark/To learn more about Witching Hour, visit https://www.witchinghour.io/ or follow the company on LinkedIn. Support the showTo keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok. Thank you to everyone who makes this podcast possible, including the generosity of TAEBC members.

April 13, 2026Episode 321 hr 15 min

Episode 32: What’s Next in Energy: TAEBC’s Annual Meeting

Send us Fan MailWe’re kicking off our new season today with a star-studded lineup of guests from TAEBC’s Annual Meeting…because it is the annual meeting! If you missed this event, fear not, we recorded the whole thing and are going to play an abridged, listener-friendly version here so you can get caught up. Episode Highlights:TAEBC’s new Power Infrastructure Solutions Working Group A year-in-review of council activities and accomplishmentsA Q&A session with our new council board membersUpdates from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, TVA, and more!If you like what you hear, subscribe to our podcast and don’t forget to leave a rating or review. It helps us reach a wider audience to champion Tennessee’s Advanced Energy Business Sector. Support the showTo keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok. Thank you to everyone who makes this podcast possible, including the generosity of TAEBC members.

March 5, 2025Episode 3122 min

Episode 31: Ryan Egly and Daniel Gyampo of Schneider Electric

Send us Fan MailIf you have ever wanted to learn about the nitty gritty of microgrid work, this episode is for you.A few years ago, Middle Tennessee Electric partnered with Schneider Electric to build a microgrid at its Lebanon office. Today, host Cortney Piper dives into the details of the project with two Schneider Electric representatives: Ryan Egly, Senior Microgrid Solutions and Project Development Engineer and Daniel Gyampo, Microgrid Quality and Support Engineer. They discuss asset mix, site considerations, challenges, lessons learned and so much more. Learn more about TAEBC and Schneider Electric’s microgrid solutions. Support the showTo keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok. Thank you to everyone who makes this podcast possible, including the generosity of TAEBC members.

February 11, 2025Episode 3021 min

Episode 30: Jilleah Welch of the Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs

Send us Fan MailToday’s episode is all about the 2024 Tennessee Advanced Energy Economic Impact Report. Every three years, TAEBC releases an Advanced Energy Economic Impact Report to provide context for public officials and private sector leaders to make lasting contributions to Tennessee’s economic base for the next decade and beyond. The report was produced by the Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs with support from the Tennessee Valley Authority and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.On the episode, host Cortney Piper and Jilleah Welch, senior research associate and lecturer at the Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs, discuss the report’s findings and potential impact, including the advanced energy industry’s $55.9 billion contribution to state GDP.Learn more about TAEBC, the Baker School and download the 2024 Tennessee Advanced Energy Economic Impact Report!Support the showTo keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok. Thank you to everyone who makes this podcast possible, including the generosity of TAEBC members.

January 14, 2025Episode 2922 min

Episode 29: The Company Lab and Moduly

Send us Fan MailThis episode covers a topic that’s at the heart of innovation: Fostering the growth of advanced energy technologies and startups right here in Tennessee. It will cover both sides of a startup journey — the entrepreneurs who are making waves and the organizations empowering them to reach the next level.First, host Cortney Piper will sit down with the CEO of The Company Lab, or CO.LAB, a Chattanooga-based organization that’s driving innovation through programs like the Sustainable Mobility Accelerator. Then, Piper will speak to two representatives from Moduly, a Canadian startup that found a new home in Tennessee thanks to CO.LAB’s accelerator program.Listen to hear Piper and our guests unpack the challenges of launching an energy or hardtech business, explore Moduly’s innovative approach to energy resiliency and get a sneak peek at what’s next for both CO.LAB and Moduly.Learn more about TAEBC, CO.LAB and Moduly. Support the showTo keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok. Thank you to everyone who makes this podcast possible, including the generosity of TAEBC members.

December 17, 2024Episode 2826 min

Episode 28: AESSEAL and Solar Alliance

Send us Fan MailThis episode was made possible thanks to the support of Solar Alliance. In the episode, host Cortney Piper interviewed three representatives from two organizations about an incredible solar and storage project in Tennessee. Thank you to Chris Staackmann, Head of Operations of AESSEAL North America, and Solar Alliance’s President & CEO Brian Timmons and General Manager U.S. Jon Hamilton, for coming on the show. They spoke about completing AESSEAL's solar and storage project, the first of its kind in Tennessee, and highlighted the company’s leadership as a multinational company and Solar Alliance's unique, continued progress in the commercial market segment. AESSEAL's project serves as inspiration for other foreign and domestic-owned manufacturers looking to advance their corporate mandates focused on renewable energy and sustainability. TAEBC recently awarded AESSEAL with the 2024 Thomas B. Ballard Advanced Energy Leadership Award.Learn more about TAEBC, AESSEAL North America, and Solar Alliance.Support the showTo keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok. Thank you to everyone who makes this podcast possible, including the generosity of TAEBC members.

December 3, 2024Episode 2724 min

Episode 27: Anca Timofte of Holocene

Send us Fan MailHost Cortney Piper speaks with Anca Timofte, CEO and co-founder of Holocene, a company focused on direct air capture technology and carbon removal. Anca shares her journey from Romania to becoming an entrepreneur in the climate tech space, highlighting her experiences in chemical engineering and business school. The discussion covers the importance of direct air capture in addressing climate change, the significance of partnerships with companies like Google, and the role of government and utilities in supporting carbon removal efforts. Anca also discusses Holocene's future plans, including developing a demonstration facility.Learn more about TAEBC and Holocene. To learn more about how carbon removal is a game-changer for utilities on the path to net zero, read this Carbon Business Development Council report.Support the showTo keep up-to-date with the latest episodes, follow TAEBC on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok. Thank you to everyone who makes this podcast possible, including the generosity of TAEBC members.

November 12, 2024Episode 2619 min

Episode 26: Dale Harrigle of Bridgestone Americas

Send us Fan MailJoin 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. Thank you to everyone who makes this podcast possible, including the generosity of TAEBC members.