A Framework
Alexina Jackson is a creative problem solver who thrives in collaboration, tackling big questions and setting transformational vision. As the founder of Seven Green Strategy and Senior Advisor at Clarum Advisors, Alexina leverages her experience in consulting, law, and technological and commercial innovation. Until 2025, Alexina was a VP in AES’ innovation business and established the company’s vision for a digital-first grid that uses efficient, modern technologies and processes.
As a Director with Clarum Advisors, Molly Podolefsky leverages her experience in economics, decarbonization, corporate sustainability, corporate finance, and the power and utilities sector to help innovative, clean tech companies. Prior to Clarum, Molly spent a decade at Guidehouse working with utility clients managing EE and DSM EM&V portfolios, supporting regulatory compliance and conducting research focused on IoT, smart and connected devices, load flexibility and demand response.
Today’s energy system is built on a platform of natural monopolies intended to deliver economies of scale and generally affordable commodity goods to fuel society. This structure provides reliable, low-risk rates of return, but was not designed for periods of rapid change. As a result, the platform does not effectively anticipate and absorb risk or respond to future uncertainty.
And yet, this is precisely where we find ourselves today in the U.S. energy landscape — a system grappling with internal and external uncertainty, and a lack of commitment to proactively adopting new technologies, regulatory updates, and financial structures.
Utilities and system operators face numerous unknowns as they work hard to anticipate future demand for power, explore integrating evolving technologies, and consider how regulatory structures must evolve to meet the needs of the future grid. The economic context is changing rapidly as well, with tax credits, tariffs, and inflation forming a trio of incentives at the center of domestic economic uncertainty.
Geopolitical events further complicate this scenario, impacting the decisions of all participants in the energy ecosystem. Rapidly shifting regional and national alliances and conflicts heighten the risk in energy investments through price volatility, uncertainty in upstream and downstream markets, and unpredictable trade dynamics.