Affordability is the gatekeeper of the energy transition

Matt Ross feels at home in the ocean, on his surfboard. Strong currents, choppy conditions, and the occasional thrashing are all part of the experience — and the joy of a good, long wave makes it all worth it.

So when a job pulled him too far from his favorite surf spots in San Francisco, he wasn’t happy. He knew he needed to find his next work challenge closer to home. He found that at GridX, where for the past seven years he’s brought his interest in data analytics and design to product roles, working toward his current role as vice president of delivery. 

This week on With Great Power, Matt dives into the economics behind rising rates – and why he thinks that without affordable energy, the clean energy transition will stall. He shares some of his recent projects, designing and implementing time-varying rates with utilities. And he describes the ways that data centers could actually turn load growth into an opportunity to drive rates down. 

Credits: Hosted by Brad Langley. Produced by Mary Catherine O’Connor. Edited by Anne Bailey. Original music and engineering by Sean Marquand. Stephen Lacey is executive editor. The GridX production team includes Jenni Barber, Samantha McCabe, and Brad Langley.