Five senior utility execs, at five of the nation's largest utilities, all of them African Americans, discuss in this four-part series the challenges of COVID-19, decarbonization and racism. Calvin Butler, Exelon Utilities' CEO, Rod West, Entergy Utility Operations' Group President, Melody Birmingham-Byrd, Duke Energy's Chief Procurement Officer, Chris Womack, Southern Company's President - External Affairs, and Carla Peterman, Southern California Edison's SVP - Strategy and Regulatory Affairs have a frank discussion moderated by the CEO of the American Association of Blacks in Energy, Paula Glover, and Public Utilities Fortnightly's Steve Mitnick.
African American Leaders Discuss Today’s Challenges: Introduction
In this first part of the series, Introduction, Steve Mitnick introduces the five senior utility execs in the roundtable discussion. He manages to tell us some interesting factoids about each of the distinguished panelists.
African American Leaders Discuss Today’s Challenges: COVID-19
In this second part of the series, COVID-19, the panel addressed this question: How are you, your team and your utility evolving now that we've all been dealing with COVID-19 for a few months?
African American Leaders Discuss Today’s Challenges: Decarbonization
In this third part of the series, Decarbonization, the panel addressed this question: How is your utility's transformation to a lower-carbon future going given the impact of COVID-19? And, how has the pandemic impacted operations including projects? What will the "new normal" of the business look like when we're — thankfully — past this pandemic?
African American Leaders Discuss Today’s Challenges: Racism
In this fourth part of the series, Racism, the panel addressed this question: Aside from COVID-19, another national challenge that's come to the fore is systemic racism. What's the role of you, your team and your utility in helping to make positive change within the industry and in the larger community?