Welcome to EPRI Current – bringing you the latest on new and evolving research and findings on the generation, delivery and use of electricity, and how this work benefits society as we shape the future of energy.
Your host, Samantha Gilman, talks to EPRI experts and industry guests who provide insight, context and science-based observations on what’s new – and what is yet to come – in the energy transition.
Latest Episodes
The Balancing Act: Legacy Assets, Renewables, and Reliability
Host: Samantha Gilman
Guests: Jake Courville, Entergy, and Mike Caravaggio, EPRI
With an evolving energy landscape, utilities are navigating the complex challenge of balancing legacy assets with the growing integration of renewables while ensuring reliability, affordability, and sustainability.
On this episode of The EPRI Current, host Samantha Gilman is joined by Jake Courville from Entergy and Mike Caravaggio from EPRI to discuss the evolving generation fleet, the role of legacy and renewable sources, and maintaining reliable and affordable energy delivery amid increasing climate risks. From workforce readiness to equipment reliability, they explore how EPRI is helping utilities scale wind and solar while balancing legacy fleets, and how utilities like Entergy are using every tool in the toolbox to deliver safe, reliable energy to customers and communities.
Powering Through: How Power Companies Can Weather the 2025 Hurricane Season
Host: Samantha Gilman
Guests: Andrea Staid, Technical Leader III, EPRI; Erik Smith, Technical Leader I, EPRI
As of June 1, the North Atlantic Basin officially entered the 2025 hurricane season. NOAA's 2025 forecasts project a 60% chance of an above-normal season, anticipating 13-19 named storms, 6-10 hurricanes, and up to 5 major hurricanes. As Peak season approaches, utilities face increasing pressure to prepare.
On the latest episode of the EPRI current, EPRI experts Andrea Staid and Erik Smith join host Samantha Gilman to explore how power companies can build resilience and maintain reliability amid intensifying storms. They tackle key questions: How accurate are hurricane forecasts? How should power companies plan around the unknown? How do regional differences shape preparedness strategies? The conversation highlights EPRI's Climate READi initiative, which provides science-based guidance to help utilities assess hazard risks, support operational decisions, and plan for long-term climate adaption.
Balancing AI Growth with Grid Flexibility: Inside EPRI’s DCFlex Initiative
Host: Samantha Gilman
Guests: David Porter, VP of Electrification and Sustainable Energy Strategy; Briana Kobor, Head of Energy Market Innovation at Google.
The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) is propelling us into a new era of innovation that has the potential to transform daily life and drive economic growth. In this episode of the EPRI Current, host Samantha Gilman is joined by David Porter, EPRI’s VP of Electrification and Sustainable Energy Strategy, and Briana Kobor, Head of Energy Market Innovation at Google. They discuss strategies to realize the benefits of AI while minimizing costs and ensuring grid reliability, featuring insights from DCFlex – a new EPRI initiative to make data centers more flexible and responsive to grid needs. From demand flexibility to utility collaboration and scalable solutions, the conversation highlights the role of cross-sector teamwork in ensuring grid reliability while advancing AI and energy goals.
