Green Giants: Titans of Renewable Energy Podcast

• Building The Bridge: How Emily Easley Connects Oil, Renewables, and the Future of Energy

  In this episode of Green Giants: Titans of Renewable Energy, host Wes Ashworth welcomes Emily Easley, Founder and CEO of NOVUS Energy Advisors, for a powerful look at how oil, gas, renewables, real estate, and AI are colliding to define the next era of energy.Emily’s career bridges both sides of the energy spectrum. A sixth-generation Texan who built her career in Washington, DC, she has spent more than 20 years translating the language of policy, power, and investment for companies across the energy landscape. At NOVUS Energy Advisors, she helps clients connect hydrocarbons, electrons, land, and capital into deals that can withstand market shifts and policy cycles.In this conversation, Wes and Emily explore how to move from rivalry to partnership in the energy transition. They discuss the gaps in understanding between oil and gas and renewables, the rapid rise of AI-driven power demand, and how real estate and data centers are now shaping the grid itself. Emily shares what she has learned from decades of navigating both boardrooms and backfields, and how she helps organizations find common ground in a polarized industry.Topics covered in this episode:How the oil and gas and renewable sectors can learn from each otherWhy the biggest barriers to collaboration are cultural, not technicalThe AI and data center boom and what it means for the power gridThe truth about permitting and interconnection bottlenecksHow utilities and developers can plan smarter in an era of exponential load growthWhat regulation really signals about maturity and commercializationWhy trades, field experience, and historical knowledge are irreplaceable in the new workforceHow to spot true operators versus opportunists in a fast-changing marketEmily also shares her outlook on carbon capture, direct air capture, and the policies shaping those technologies. She explains why regulation often follows commercialization and how that shift can signal progress rather than punishment. Throughout, she brings a rare blend of technical fluency, policy insight, and human perspective that makes complex topics understandable and actionable.For anyone trying to navigate the intersection of energy, technology, and capital, this episode offers a masterclass in how to think long-term and build relationships that last through every cycle.Links: Emily Easley on LinkedInNovus Energy Advisors WebsiteWes Ashworth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weslgs/ Email: [email protected] https://leegroupsearch.com/green-giants-podcast/ https://leegroupsearch.com/

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• The Swiss Army Knife of the Grid: Energy Storage’s Rise and Redefinition

  In this episode of Green Giants: Titans of Renewable Energy, Wes Ashworth sits down with Justin Rangooni, President and CEO of Energy Storage Canada. With a background in law, policy, and government relations, Justin has become a leading voice in one of the most dynamic and consequential sectors of the clean energy transition: energy storage.From the early days of pilot projects to today’s grid-scale deployments, energy storage has gone from peripheral to pivotal. Justin offers a rare insider’s view into how this once-overlooked technology is now seen as the Swiss Army knife of the grid: able to enhance reliability, enable renewables, and reshape how we think about generation, consumption, and resilience.This conversation cuts through the hype and misconceptions to uncover what’s really happening in the sector and where it’s headed.In this episode, we unpack:Why energy storage is no longer a science experiment and why it’s ready nowThe evolution of market design and the rise of “value stacking”How long-duration technologies are unlocking multi-day grid flexibilityWhat’s missing between critical mineral extraction and battery manufacturingWhy Indigenous equity is a must in clean energy developmentHow distributed storage could defer traditional grid investmentsWhat gives Justin hope about the grid’s futureIf you're curious about how storage intersects with climate policy, critical minerals, community engagement, and the broader transition to net-zero, this episode is for you.Links: Justin Rangooni on LinkedInEnergy Storage CanadaWes Ashworth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weslgs/ Email: [email protected] https://leegroupsearch.com/green-giants-podcast/ https://leegroupsearch.com/

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• Building Solar Responsibly: Inside PCL’s People-First Growth with Andrew Moles

  What does responsible growth really look like in one of the world’s most competitive industries?In this episode of Green Giants: Titans of Renewable Energy, host Wes Ashworth sits down with Andrew Moles, Vice President and General Manager of PCL Solar, the powerhouse EPC that’s helped deliver over 12 gigawatts of solar capacity across North America and Australia.Andrew shares a refreshingly candid look at how PCL Solar has managed to scale across three continents without sacrificing the one thing that matters most, its people.You’ll hear how Andrew and his team built a data-driven, culture-led solar business that resists the temptation to chase growth at any cost. From turning down 80% of incoming bids to protect project quality, to creating a culture where mistakes become the most valuable learning opportunities, this conversation is packed with lessons for leaders navigating fast growth and high stakes.In this episode, Wes and Andrew explore:Why PCL Solar declined the majority of projects one year and how that decision protected its long-term successThe balance between ambition and burnout: what it means to “stretch people without breaking them”How PCL Solar turned its culture into a competitive advantage across 260+ staff in multiple countriesWhat Australia’s Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) could teach the rest of the world about grid planningEmerging trends like grid-forming inverters and DC-coupled storage systems that could redefine the next decade of utility-scale solarWhy Andrew believes the best leaders are “masters of change management”At its core, this episode is about leadership, the kind that blends growth with discipline, innovation with humility, and data with deep respect for people.If you’re leading teams, building projects, or scaling renewable energy operations, you’ll walk away with real-world lessons from one of the most thoughtful operators in the business.Links: Andrew Moles on LinkedInPCL SolarWes Ashworth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weslgs/ Email: [email protected] https://leegroupsearch.com/green-giants-podcast/ https://leegroupsearch.com/

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• Building the Hydrogen Economy: Brian DeBruine on Breaking the Clean Energy Logjam

  Why is hydrogen still missing from most clean energy conversations and what will finally unleash its full potential?In this episode of Green Giants: Titans of Renewable Energy, we sit down with Brian DeBruine, founder of the Colorado Hydrogen Network and host of the Hydrogen NowCast podcast. After a 36-year career at Honeywell Aerospace, Brian stepped out of retirement to help solve one of the energy transition’s most overlooked bottlenecks: the absence of a hydrogen market.From building out infrastructure and educating fleets, to winning major federal grants and advocating for naturally occurring hydrogen, Brian is on a mission to accelerate what he calls the "molecular economy," a necessary complement to the electrify-everything narrative.We cover a wide range of essential insights, including:Why hydrogen is uniquely suited for heavy-duty transport, industry, and chemical processesThe surprising promise of natural hydrogen as a low-cost, renewable energy sourceWhat most clean energy advocates get wrong about adoption, infrastructure, and performance parityWhy hydrogen is a business problem more than a technical one and how to break the stalemateHow Brian’s nonprofit is aligning fleets, fuel stations, and producers to jumpstart the marketLessons from aerospace that now drive his work in clean energy systems and policyThe pushback hydrogen often gets and why it’s time to move past all-or-nothing thinkingThis episode is a masterclass in systems-level problem solving, delivered by someone turning ideas into real infrastructure. Whether you're deep in the energy sector or just curious about what comes next, this conversation will reframe how you think about the future of fuels.🎧 Listen now to learn how we can build a hydrogen economy: faster, smarter, and together.Links: Brian DeBruine on LinkedInColorado Hydrogen NetworkHydrogenNowCastResourcesJoin Colorodo Hydrogen Network/NewsletterBrian's email:  [email protected] Wes Ashworth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weslgs/ Email: [email protected] https://leegroupsearch.com/green-giants-podcast/ https://leegroupsearch.com/

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• From Grid Stress to Resilience: Jae Choi on Redefining Energy Infrastructure

  The energy transition is colliding with unprecedented demand from AI data centers, fleet electrification, and fast-moving policy shifts. But are developers and operators truly prepared to make projects both technically sound and financially viable?In this episode of Green Giants: Titans of Renewable Energy, Wes Ashworth sits down with Jae Choi, VP and Head of Global Operations at ArkN, a subsidiary of SK Group. With nearly 20 years of experience spanning energy storage, fleet charging, and microgrid development, Jae brings a rare vantage point on how to build projects that last.Together, they unpack the disconnect between soaring electricity demand and struggling project economics and why grid value, not subsidies, must drive design in this new era.Listeners will gain insights on:Revenue stacking done right: How to capture multiple value streams without cannibalizing performance.HR1 as a market reset: Why the “big beautiful bill” forces discipline and strengthens long-term viability.AI-powered storage: How artificial intelligence transforms batteries from blunt tools into precision assets.Financing strategies: Why anchoring projects to grid services can cut capital costs and secure debt.Leadership under volatility: Jae’s playbook for keeping teams adaptable, decisive, and resilient.ArkN’s vertically integrated strategy, spanning development, financing, and operations, offers a case study in building future-proof infrastructure. From overcoming interconnection bottlenecks to tailoring systems around hyperscale loads, Jae illustrates what it takes to succeed in today’s turbulent market.For project developers, financiers, and renewable energy leaders, this conversation is a masterclass in balancing technology, economics, and human leadership.Links:Jae Choi on LinkedInArkNWes Ashworth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weslgs/ Email: [email protected] https://leegroupsearch.com/green-giants-podcast/ https://leegroupsearch.com/

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