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Electric Equity

Electric Equity

Auteur(s): Brian Thomas
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À propos de cet audio

 Electric Equity looks at energy poverty around the globe, explores how it limits people’s ability to flourish as human beings, and brings to light efforts to increase energy access. Your host is engineering Professor Brian Thomas, Executive Director of the nonprofit organization JustEnergy, which works to combat energy poverty in the poorest and least electrified country in the Western Hemisphere: Haiti. Fighting Energy Poverty is full of challenges: some are technical, some are cultural, some are financial, some are ethical. Our show will demystify energy and electricity and unpack the central role of energy access for international development and human flourishing. We’ll introduce you to people and organizations that are doing something about it and explore philosophical and ethical questions along the way.© 2026 Electric Equity Brian Thomas Développement commercial et entrepreneuriat Entrepreneurship Gestion et leadership Économie
Épisodes
  • Energy-as-a-Service: Rethinking Energy Equity

    Energy-as-a-Service: Rethinking Energy Equity
    Mar 20 2026
    In this episode of Electric Equity, Brian sits down with Nick Stolberg to explore the intersection of energy access, rural livelihoods, and sustainable agriculture. From the surprising role of a “chicken farmer” to deeper questions about energy poverty, resilience, and community development, this conversation connects everyday work with global challenges. Together, they reflect on how local food systems, small-scale farming, and decentralized energy solutions can strengthen communities both in the United States and in places like Haiti. This episode will resonate with listeners interested in renewable energy, off-grid systems, regenerative agriculture, humanitarian engineering, and a different business model for renewable energy businesses in energy poor countries. Brian and Nick discuss practical and philosophical dimensions of building a more equitable energy future—one that values human dignity, local knowledge, and appropriate technology. Whether you're a farmer, engineer, nonprofit leader, or simply curious about sustainable living and energy justice, this conversation offers thoughtful insights grounded in real-world experience. Power to the Chicken People.
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    41 min
  • Good Business

    Good Business
    Mar 8 2026
    In this episode of Electric Equity, Brian Thomas speaks with Bryan McInnis, Director of Business Development for the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region at EG4 Electronics. Bryan recently relocated to Kampala, Uganda, placing him at the center of one of the fastest-growing regions in the world for off-grid solar and energy access. In their conversation, Bryan explains how EG4 partners with nonprofit organizations to deploy solar energy systems and support electrification efforts in communities where reliable grid power is limited or unavailable. Bryan also describes how EG4 has invested heavily in training and workforce development, including NABCEP certification and other professional training programs for solar installers and inspectors. The discussion explores how partnerships between technology companies and nonprofit organizations can help build local capacity, create marketable skills, and expand access to electricity. As the conversation unfolds, listeners gain insight into how solar technology, education, and local partnerships can work together to address energy poverty and strengthen communities both in the United States and across East Africa.
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    44 min
  • The Indignity of Misery

    The Indignity of Misery
    Feb 25 2026
    In this episode of Electric Equity, Brian talks with Nathan Nickerson, former executive director of Konbit Sante, a nonprofit that has partnered with Haitian healthcare institutions since 2001. Nate explains what “Konbit Sante” means—an idea of shared effort and collaboration—and describes the organization’s long-term approach to strengthening healthcare in northern Haiti. Rather than focusing on one-off interventions, Konbit Sante works alongside local partners on the full set of “building blocks” a functional health system needs: trained staff, management, supply chains, and core infrastructure like water and, of course, electricity. The conversation also highlights why electricity access is inseparable from medical care in Haiti, where public power is extremely limited and most facilities must rely on diesel generators and—more and more—solar-plus-battery systems. Brian and Nate discuss how energy constraints shape everything from nighttime maternity care to neonatal support equipment, and why sustainable impact depends as much on maintenance, local ownership, and planning as it does on technology. Along the way, they reflect on the difference between relief and development, the dignity implications of “misery,” and what it takes to stay hopeful—and effective—in long-term humanitarian work.
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    51 min
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