Sustainability now: Preparing for the energy grid of tomorrow

Mar 3, 2026

Gayle Miller, a Brookfield strategist and former California clean‑energy policy leader, joins to tackle rising power needs. She breaks down why AI and electrification are reshaping demand. She explores all‑of‑the‑above supply choices, how hyperscalers and utilities partner, grid constraints and AI-enabled demand smoothing. She closes on investor risk, permitting and the role of clear sustainability reporting.

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ADVICE

Always Couple Renewables With Battery Storage

Do invest in battery storage alongside wind and solar because storage resolves intermittency and enables renewables to provide firm power.
Miller notes battery growth is what allows renewables to move from intermittent outputs to near-constant supply.

INSIGHT

Multiple Low Carbon Sources Will Scale Differently

Beyond solar and wind, Miller expects nuclear, geothermal, hydrogen, and hydro to scale with government support and public-private partnerships, though not all reach solar parity quickly.
Brookfield is involved in an $80 billion U.S. nuclear commitment and sees geothermal and hydrogen tax-credit-driven growth.

ADVICE

Localize Supply Chains To Avoid Build Delays

Do localize and diversify supply chains to avoid bottlenecks and tariff risks; Brookfield deploys local procurement teams to track components years ahead.
Miller warns centralized supply chains (learned from COVID) slow projects and recommends local sourcing for panels, turbines, and reactor parts.

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Energy demand is rising at a pace few anticipated, driven by AI, data centers, electrification, and industrial growth. In this episode, host Heather Horn speaks with Gayle Miller, Head of Strategic Investor Engagement for Brookfield’s Global Client Group and Senior Advisor to its Renewable Power & Transition business, about what an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy looks like in practice—and how investors are evaluating risk, value, and sustainability reporting in this new era of energy security.

In this episode, we discuss:

3:59 – The forces influencing energy demand to accelerate
6:28 – What an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy means in practice
12:04 – How utilities, hyperscalers, and investors are working together to secure power
16:49 – Grid constraints, demand smoothing, and AI-enabled optimization
22:40 – The evolving energy mix: renewables, storage, gas and nuclear
36:48 – Cap-and-trade, renewable standards, and emissions policy tools
42:20 – Corporate climate commitments and the role of sustainability reporting

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About our guest

Gayle Miller is Head of Strategic Investor Engagement for Brookfield’s Global Client Group and a Senior Advisor to the Renewable Power & Transition business. In this role, she oversees critical touchpoints and programs tailored for institutional clients and continues to advise on the energy transition.

Prior to joining Brookfield in 2024, Ms. Miller was chief deputy of policy to the California Department of Finance and senior counselor on infrastructure and clean energy finance to the Governor, where she championed the state's landmark clean energy agenda. She previously was vice chair of the investment committee for the California Teachers’ Retirement System and served as an advisor to the Governor for the California Public Employee Retirement System.

About our host

Heather Horn is the PwC National Office Sustainability and Thought Leader, responsible for developing our communications strategy and conveying firm positions on accounting, financial reporting, and sustainability matters. In addition, she is part of PwC’s global sustainability leadership team, developing interpretive guidance and consulting with companies as they transition from voluntary to mandatory sustainability reporting. She is also the engaging host of PwC’s accounting and reporting weekly podcast and quarterly webcast series.

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