Smart Energy Voices

About Smart Energy Voices

Smart Energy Voices features conversations with leaders of the energy transition. In each episode, Smart Energy Decisions' Debra Chanil digs deep with industry movers and shakers to reveal insights you can learn from in their stories, personalities and visions for the future.

Publisher

Smart Energy Decisions

Category

news · science

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 Aug 2020

Latest episode

16 Jan 2026

Latest episodes

146 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   16 Jan 2026

   The Future of Nuclear Energy is Now

   In this episode of Plugged In, host Chuck Hanna welcomes Brian Smith, Director of Nuclear Reactor Development at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), for a wide-ranging conversation on the role of advanced nuclear in meeting growing energy demand. Drawing on Smith’s career across the U.S. Navy, Department of Energy and now INL, they explore why nuclear is both a current backbone of the U.S. grid and a critical solution for the future. They cover how small modular reactors (SMRs) and microreactors are expanding nuclear’s use cases, from grid-scale power to remote communities and data centers, along with INL’s role in de-risking, piloting and accelerating commercialization through partnerships with private industry. Smith also shares insights on grid resilience, cybersecurity, federal-industry collaboration and why “nuclear now” is an essential part of delivering reliable, low-carbon energy at scale. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in… Advanced nuclear technologies and their evolving role (03:13) Use cases for SMRs beyond the grid (04:33) How INL supports commercialization (06:24) How SMR use cases are shifting (09:28) Data centers, AI load growth, and the demand for reliable power (11:40) Bridging the “valley of death” between research and commercialization (14:30) INL’s role in energy and infrastructure security (19:11) Why nuclear is a “now” solution (22:43) For full episode show notes, click here. Connect with Brian Smith On LinkedIn Connect with Constellation Follow Constellation on LinkedIn Follow Chuck Hanna on LinkedIn Learn more about Constellation sustainability solutions. Connect with Smart Energy Decisions Smart Energy Decisions Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to Smart Energy Voices on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Android, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, aCast, PlayerFM, iHeart Radio. If you’re interested in participating in the next Smart Energy Decisions Event, visit smartenergydecisions.com or email our Community Development team at attend@smartenergydecisions.com.

2. 

   19 Dec 2025

   Three Perspectives on Clean Energy Progress in 2025

   In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host Debra Chanil brings together three industry leaders from SED’s Advisory Board to examine how shifting policies, rising demand, and rapid technological change have reshaped energy and sustainability strategies across sectors in 2025 and what 2026 may bring. Tom Kelly, Senior Energy Manager, SUNY Purchase College, offers a higher education perspective, outlining the challenges of volatile markets, evolving state mandates, and the growing role of students in driving sustainability priorities. Emily Schapira, President and CEO, Philadelphia Energy Authority, discusses how the Philadelphia Energy Authority is navigating the loss of federal funding while still advancing equitable clean energy initiatives, including the city’s landmark LED streetlighting project. Finally, Scott Bargerstock, Principal, Mindre Consulting, shares insights from his decades in manufacturing, highlighting geopolitical pressures, grid expansion, and innovation in storage and nuclear technologies. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in… Challenges of forecasting markets without consistent federal information (03:36) On complying with New York’s Executive Order 22 (05:29) SUNY Purchase College’s energy and sustainability priorities (07:17) SUNY Purchase College’s $50M geothermal project (10:56) Impacts of federal policy rollbacks and stalled clean energy programs (15:35) Philadelphia’s creative financing strategies amid uncertainty (19:36) Philadelphia’s $90M LED streetlighting overhaul (22:56) Biggest challenges energy procurement managers are facing (31:24) Innovation priorities like battery storage and safety concerns (33:31) The  restoration of the nuclear industry in the US (39:33) For full episode show notes, click here. Connect with Tom Kelly On LinkedIn Connect with Emily Schapira On LinkedIn Connect with Scott Bargerstock On LinkedIn Connect With Smart Energy Decisions Smart Energy Decisions Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to Smart Energy Voices on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Android, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, aCast, PlayerFM, iHeart Radio If you're interested in participating in the next Smart Energy Decision Event, visit smartenergydecisions.com or email our Community Development team at attend@smartenergydecisions.com.

3. 

   12 Dec 2025

   Scope 3 Strategy Meets Business Sense at Mars

   In this episode of Plugged In, host Chuck Hanna sits down with Kevin Rabinovitch, Global VP of Sustainability at Mars, to discuss the company’s journey toward maintaining their environmental goals, with a special focus on Scope 3 emissions. The conversation covers insights from Rabinovitch’s 31-year career at Mars, the evolution of their strategy, how it’s integrated into business operations, and the challenges and opportunities of driving change across a global supply chain. Whether it’s data systems, supplier engagement, renewable energy, or emerging technologies, this episode includes many insights for those looking to improve their Scope 3 strategy. Embedding sustainability into your business strategy (02:30) Discovering where sustainability objectives meet daily decisions (4:04) Why Mars prioritized Scope 3 emissions (09:36) Meeting challenges in aggregating data across the business and supply chain (12:26) Supplier engagement, estimation philosophy, and more (16:59) Driving efficiency, motivation, and business value (17:39) Tactics for adapting to different markets and risk appetites in renewable energy (23:42) Advice for those starting their own journey in the industry (44:12) For full episode show notes, click here. Connect with Kevin Rabinovitch On LinkedIn Kevin Rabinovitch is the Global VP Sustainability for Mars, Incorporated. In his role, he leads the Performance Acceleration and Shared Services team supporting the Mars Sustainable in A Generation Plan. Spanning the entirety of Mars' global sustainability impacts, Performance Acceleration focuses on creating new business capabilities and reengineering to accelerate and more efficiently deliver the SiG Plan. Shared Services leverages the global scale and power of Mars to support the segments of Petcare, Snacking and Food & Nutrition on subjects such as a global portfolio of renewable energy, sustainability data systems & tools, carbon removal projects and the Mars Sustainable Investment Fund. Externally, among other roles, Kevin sits on the Board of the Livelihoods Carbon Fund 3, teaches Business & Sustainability at Virginia Tech and Georgetown University and frequently speaks externally on behalf of Mars’ sustainability program. He has been with Mars for 31 years, 18 years in sustainability, having helped start Mars’ program and the first 13 years in R&D functions of multiple Mars business segments in the U.S. and Europe, specializing in technology development, scale-up, and intellectual property. Connect with Mars, Inc. Follow Mars on LinkedIn Follow Kevin Rabinovitch on LinkedIn Connect with Constellation Follow Constellation on LinkedIn Follow Chuck Hanna on LinkedIn Follow Abhinav Krishna on LinkedIn Learn more about Constellation sustainability solutions. Connect with Smart Energy Decisions Smart Energy Decisions Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to Smart Energy Voices on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Android, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, aCast, PlayerFM, iHeart Radio. If you're interested in participating in the next Smart Energy Decisions Event, visit smartenergydecisions.com or email our Community Development team at attend@smartenergydecisions.com.

Who has been a guest on Smart Energy Voices

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Brian Janous
• Joe Hayden
• Trevor Joelson
• Bill Squires
• Danielle Doza

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.6 / 5

10 ratings

Spotify

4.0 / 5

3 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 56 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

79

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

84

Contact Smart Energy Voices

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.