The grid is being asked to do the impossible: power AI and data centers, electrify homes and industry, integrate carbon-free energy, and still stay affordable and reliable. In this episode of Just Power, Carolyn Parrs sits down with Hanna Grene—Microsoft’s Global Go-to-Market & Operations Leader for Energy and a recognized thought leader on the digital grid transition—to cut through the hype and get specific about where AI is already changing day-to-day energy operations.

⭐ Highlights

• Five places AI is already delivering value in the energy industry: workforce productivity, health & safety, customer experience, business process modernization, and asset/grid optimization.
• Grid optimization is the new energy efficiency: using better visibility and analytics to operate a complex, real-time, multi-stakeholder system more effectively.
• Permitting as the “valley of delay”: how AI can streamline permitting workflows to reduce time and cost—helping get more (and cleaner) electrons onto the grid faster.
• Climate-informed planning gets real: moving beyond historical weather assumptions toward predictive modeling that accounts for future wildfire, flood, and heat risks over 20–30 year asset lifecycles.
• Cybersecurity and governance are non-negotiable: why zero trust, the right data access, and hybrid architectures matter as more data moves to the cloud for advanced AI use cases.

Referenced in this podcast

• SCE and ThinkLabs AI: ThinkLabs AI achieves results in AI-powered grid analytics | AP News
• MISO's cloud leadership: MISO to Drive Grid Innovation with Microsoft Azure & Microsoft Foundry
• Microsoft's Permitting AI Accelerator
• Microsoft's 5-point Plan to partner with local communities across the United States

About my guest, Hanna Grene
Hanna is Microsoft’s Global Go-to-Market & Operations Leader for Energy.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannagrene/

About Just Power host, Carolyn Parrs
Carolyn is a Senior Strategic Communications Leader and the CEO of Mind Over Markets.
Website: https://mindovermarkets.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynparrs/

About Just Power Podcast
Just Power is a clean energy transition podcast focused on grid modernization, affordability, community engagement, and energy justice — featuring leaders from utilities, policy, technology, and frontline communities.

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YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheJustPowerPodcast?sub_confirmation=1

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Data centers aren’t just energy-hungry—they’re reshaping the power system faster than almost anything we’ve seen before. Some now consume as much electricity as entire cities, and the rush to meet that demand is often driving new fossil fuel generation, costly grid upgrades, and rising risks for communities.

In this episode of Just Power, host Carolyn Parrs is joined with Uday Varadarajan, co-founder and CEO of Colectric, to explore a radically different approach. Uday introduces the idea of “Power Couples”—pairing clean energy and data centers at existing power plant sites—to meet AI-driven demand quickly without shifting costs to ratepayers or compromising climate goals. It’s a conversation about speed, scale, equity, and how rural communities could lead—not follow—the next phase of the energy transition.

⭐ Highlights

• Why data centers are a tipping point for the grid—some rival small cities in energy use and demand 24/7 reliability.
• The “Power Couple” model explained: co-locating data centers with clean energy at existing power plants to avoid costly grid upgrades.
• How locational flexibility changes the game, allowing AI firms to site facilities where clean energy can be built fastest.
• Protecting affordability: meeting new load with purpose-built resources so costs aren’t shifted onto communities or ratepayers.
• Utilities as long-term partners and owners, reducing risk while creating new, responsible growth opportunities.
• A bigger vision for rural America: clean energy hubs that support farming, manufacturing, and local economic development—without leaving anyone behind.

About my guest, Uday Varadarajan
Uday is the Co-founder and CEO of Colectric, an early-stage company that helps utilities and AI firms rapidly supply clean energy to data centers without risking grid reliability or increasing energy costs for communities. Website: https://colectric.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/uday-varadarajan-10aa701/

About Just Power host, Carolyn Parrs
Carolyn is a Senior Strategic Communications Leader and the CEO of Mind Over Markets.
Website: https://mindovermarkets.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justpower
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynparrs/

About Just Power Podcast
The Just Power Podcast is about making clean, affordable and reliable energy accessible to everyone. Created and hosted by Carolyn Parrs, it features energy experts, policymakers, tribal voices, and community champions who are working hard to make energy equity a reality in our energy transition.

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YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheJustPowerPodcast?sub_confirmation=1

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Like, comment, and share this episode with a friend, policy maker, or energy provider who needs to hear this.

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Feeling like progress toward a clean, affordable energy future has stalled — or even slipped backwards? You’re not alone. In this episode, I explore the real-world setbacks many of us are experiencing right now — from renewable energy slowdowns to shrinking affordability programs — and reframe them as part of the deeper breakthrough process. Without getting political, I talk about resilience, mindset, and what seasons of delay are really asking of us. If you work in clean energy, climate, utilities, community advocacy, or you just care about making energy affordable for everyone, this episode is a grounded reset — with reflection questions you can use right away.

⭐ Highlights

• Why setbacks in clean energy and climate progress don’t always mean failure.
• How breakthroughs in the energy transition often follow long periods of frustration or delay.
• Reframing stalled programs like renewables, LIHEAP, SNAP, bill-assistance, and affordability efforts without politics or polarization.
• Practical reflections to help leaders, utilities, advocates, and communities keep going when momentum slows.
• How “just power” means not only technology change — but inner strength, patience, and showing up again.

Referenced in my podcast: Ryan Levesque's "Digital Contrarian" newsletter: https://ryanlevesque.net/join-the-digital-contrarian/

About Just Power host, Carolyn Parrs
Carolyn is a Senior Strategic Communications Leader and the CEO of Mind Over Markets.
Website: https://mindovermarkets.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindovermarkets
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynparrs/

About Just Power Podcast
The Just Power Podcast is about making clean, affordable and reliable energy accessible to everyone. Created and hosted by Carolyn Parrs, it features energy experts, policymakers, tribal voices, and community champions who are working hard to make energy equity a reality in our energy transition

🔔 Never Miss an Update! Subscribe Now
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheJustPowerPodcast?sub_confirmation=1
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-power/id1787062424
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6xkvhOZiw2hBg0kyxzVAs5

💖 Spread the Love
Like, comment, and share this episode with a friend, policy maker, or energy provider who needs to hear this.

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New Mexico State University Microlearning

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