Welcome to the All Things DER podcast! In this podcast, we’ll be digging in, defining, and discussing where the new energy economy is heading with electric industry leaders, and explore all the ways that distributed energy resources can modernize and improve our ever-evolving power grid.

In today’s episode, we’re talking with Tom Falcone, CEO of Long Island Power Authority (LIPA). We discuss LIPA’s efforts to meet New York’s climate goals, which are among the most aggressive in the United States. From transportation electrification to educating customers on the advantages of heat pumps, we dig into a variety of ways that LIPA is responding to ever-evolving grid challenges and expectations.

Here’s what you’ll discover:

  • How LIPA plans to achieve a carbon-free electric grid by 2040, and an 85% reduction in economy-wide carbon emissions by 2050.
  • Why population density makes it challenging for utilities to build infrastructure that supports generation and transmission.
  • Why wind and solar are equally important when it comes to achieving a more sustainable grid.
  • Why planning ahead can lead to cost savings on interconnection projects.
  • How LIPA plans to expand its electric vehicle infrastructure to support more than 180,000 EVs on Long Island by 2025.
  • How utilities can help customers transition from using oil to using heat pumps, leading to a reduction in carbon emissions.