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“We need more of this in LA.”
That was something we heard more than once at our first G.E.N. by PM event, and it captured exactly why we wanted to bring this community together.
On October 29, we welcomed professionals from across Southern California’s clean energy industry to our Santa Monica office for the launch of G.E.N. by PM (Green Energy Network by Piper Maddox).
Led by Charlotte Dungworth and our Piper Maddox LA team, G.E.N. by PM was created after recognising how many similar conversations were happening across the market, often between people working at completely different businesses. We wanted to give those conversations somewhere to continue, while creating more opportunities for the local community to meet, share experiences and learn from one another.
The evening brought together people working across different areas of clean energy for a panel discussion covering some of the biggest developments shaping the sector in 2026. There was plenty to talk about, and the conversations continued afterwards over networking and a whisky tasting with B Corp-certified Bruichladdich Distillery.
Following the event, we caught up with Charlotte to hear what she thought of the first G.E.N. by PM, the conversations that stood out to her and what she hopes to build with the community going forward.
It went really well. It was my first time moderating a panel, and what stuck with me was how many people said, “We need more of this in LA.” We had people from local renewables companies alongside people who work remotely for teams based elsewhere and came from across LA County. There’s a real appetite for more chances to meet people in the industry locally, and it was great to see those groups come together in one room.
The surge in power demand from data centers was a big one, alongside the growth of EV charging in California and what it takes to turn buyer interest in storage into signed offtake agreements. Jaya Velamakanni raised a point that resonated with me about bringing legal teams in earlier. When timelines are tight and transactions are more complex, getting legal involved while the deal is still taking shape can help surface issues before they slow things down.
Mabell Garcia brought a different perspective through her work with WRISE LA. She spoke about how much professional networks matter in this industry, especially for people trying to get in or take the next step in their careers. That landed particularly well in a room full of people who had come out to build those connections.
I came away more optimistic than I would have a year ago. After a challenging 2025, the surge in power demand from data centers has brought fresh momentum to the clean energy market. It’s also made one question more urgent. How do we bring enough power online quickly and reliably while continuing to decarbonize the grid?
That’s where I see a real opportunity for renewables, storage and flexible demand. Renewables can add generation, storage can make that power available when it’s needed most, and large customers can help manage peaks by shifting some of their demand. What felt different this year was how practical the conversation had become. People were asking what combinations can meet customers’ needs and what it will take to get those projects financed and built.
The panel largely reinforced what we’ve been hearing from clients and candidates. Jaya made an interesting point about what she sees now that she advises multiple businesses after working in-house. Whether you’re at a large IPP or running a smaller firm, many of the pressures are familiar. Timelines are tighter, deals are more complex, and teams are having to make decisions faster. From a hiring perspective, it reinforced the value of people who can work across functions and get involved early enough to help move a project forward.
I’ll be listening for how developers, investors and large power buyers plan to turn rising demand into projects that can get financed and built. On storage specifically, I’d love to pick up on a question we explored with Lewis Loomba. What takes a project from a buyer saying they’re interested to actually signing a long-term contract? I’ll report back after RE+ on where those conversations go.
We’ve already earmarked March 4 for the next G.E.N. by PM. We’ve heard from people who couldn’t make the first one and are keen to join us next time, as well as people who’d like to be on the panel. We’re shaping the next discussion around investment strategy in renewables, with the exact focus still to come. Longer term, I’d love for it to become a regular fixture for the LA clean energy community, where people can build relationships over time and keep the conversations going between events.
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