The Dam Good Question

The Dam Good Question

In this episode of Electric Equity, guest host Dr. Kayla Garrett speaks with Shannon Ames, the Executive Director of the Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI). How does LIHI move the needle toward access to renewable energy sources, specifically hydropower, while minimizing or eliminating its environmental and cultural impacts? The conversation explores: What "low-impact hydropower" means and the eight environmental and community criteria used in LIHI certification. The historical tension between hydropower developers and river conservation groups. Fish passage technologies, including fish ladders, elevators, nature-like channels, and even the famous "salmon cannon." The differences between run-of-river and peaking hydropower facilities. Why hydropower remains valuable for energy access and grid stability, particularly in remote and developing regions. Whether environmental protection and expanded energy access must be viewed as competing goals. How thoughtful design, community engagement, and emerging technologies can reduce environmental impacts while still meeting urgent energy needs.

Food Justice as Energy Justice

In this episode of Electric Equity, Brian speaks with Dr. Jenny Howell of Baylor University and explores the deep connections between theology, ecology, and food justice. Dr. Howell directs a unique graduate program at Truett Seminary that challenges students to break out of traditional silos and think holistically about the world’s most pressing issues. Teaching on-site at the World Hunger Relief Farm, she helps future leaders connect theological ideas about creation with the lived realities of land, food systems, and community life. Together, they unpack how food and energy intersect—not just as resources, but as essential components of human dignity and flourishing. From the weaponization of food in conflict zones to the concept of “integral ecology,” Jenny offers a compelling vision in which the health of the earth and the well-being of people are inseparable. The conversation is both sobering and hopeful, encouraging listeners to resist despair and instead find one meaningful way to participate in healing the world around them.

Energy-as-a-Service: Rethinking Energy Equity

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.

Good Business

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.

The Indignity of Misery

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.