Helping Stanford University Light The Path Toward Decarbonization – Lincoln Bleavens

Lincoln Bleveans, the executive director of sustainability and energy management at Stanford University, talks to Energy.Media about the experience of guiding one of the United States’ leading academic and research institutions toward phasing out fossil fuels. Lincoln explains how he came to care passionately about sustainability in the energy sector and discusses the need for a multi-pronged approach to decarbonization.

In this episode of Energy Superheroes, Lincoln talks about the example that Stanford University is setting with respect to the energy transition and also discusses decarbonization-related topics more broadly:

• Stanford University is analogous to a small city in terms of its size, population, and need for energy and utility services. Its experience in replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy – its challenges and its triumphs – can serve as a template for other communities around the world as the energy transition moves forward.
• Because of its location, Stanford has unique opportunities for synergy with Silicon Valley – not just in terms of access to emerging technologies and venture capital, but also in terms of a work culture that encourages team approaches to problem-solving.
• One of the developments generating momentum for the energy transition is the financialization of climate initiatives – for example, the Blackstone group’s decision to require its private equity portfolio companies to report regularly on their adherence to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards.