Ep. 179: Brian Janous, General Manager of Energy and Renewables at Microsoft

Today's guest is Brian Janous, General Manager of Energy and Renewables at Microsoft. Brian is responsible for leading the development and execution of Microsoft's global data center energy strategy, including oversight of all energy supply agreements, renewable energy purchasing, distributed generation, and strategic partnerships to ensure a power supply that is reliable and sustainable. Brian joined Microsoft in 2011 after 12 years in the energy industry, where he worked as a Sr. Consultant at Brubaker & Associates, assisting Fortune 500 companies with energy procurement, policy, and sustainability matters. Brian holds an MBA from Webster University, a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Missouri, and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Missouri. I was very excited for this episode because Brian is at the forefront of corporate sustainability and the energy transition. Brian walks me through his role at Microsoft, how the tech giant began making climate commitments, and advice he has for those looking to advocate for climate action within their companies. We also dive into the role of policy, the problem with intermittency regarding renewable energy, and the Microsoft carbon tax. This is a fantastic episode, and Brian is a knowledgeable and engaging guest. Enjoy the show! You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests. Episode recorded September 30th, 2021