The energy system most of us rely on?
It’s dirty.
It’s centralized.
It’s owned by corporations who profit while we pay —
financially and environmentally.

Fossil fuels fuel climate collapse.
Utility giants keep raising prices.
Blackouts and breakdowns hit the most vulnerable first.
⚡ And “green” energy?
Too often, it’s just the same system with solar panels slapped on top.

So what do we do?

We flip it.

We build local, community-owned, renewable energy systems that serve the people — not shareholders.

Here’s how we start:

1. Shift from centralized to distributed power.

Instead of one giant grid, imagine thousands of neighborhood-based microgrids — solar-powered, battery-backed, resilient in storms, and locally maintained.

⚡ 2. Make energy a commons, not a commodity.

Energy is a basic human right.
Communities should own and govern their own power — through energy co-ops, public utilities, or hybrid models designed for justice, not profit.

3. Invest in regenerative energy — not just renewable.

Solar and wind are good — but let’s think bigger:
Can your energy system regenerate ecosystems?
Can it be built with recycled materials?
Can it reduce inequality?
That’s the next level.

4. Decolonize and localize your grid.

Corporate energy giants often exploit Indigenous land and push poor communities to the margins.
Energy justice means shifting decision-making to the people who are most impacted.
Decentralize. Democratize. Reclaim control.

5. Shrink demand. Redesign systems.

This isn’t just about switching fuels.
It’s about reimagining how much energy we actually need.
Smart, efficient homes. Community transit. Shared infrastructure.
Less extraction, more intention.

Here’s your action step for today:

✅ Research whether your city or town has a local energy co-op or public utility.
✅ If not — organize.
Host a teach-in. Start a solar bulk-buy program.
Link up with groups already flipping the script in energy — because they’re everywhere.

You don’t have to be an engineer to be part of the solution.
You just have to believe this truth:

We already have the tools to power our world differently.
Now we need the will — and the community — to do it.

[soft swell in outro music — slow, powerful, grounded rhythm returns]

This is FLIP THE SCRIPT.
The future of energy is regenerative.
And the power?
It belongs to the people.

Highlights of this episode:

• Connects energy with justice, localization, and regeneration.
• Offers visionary and grounded examples.
• Empowers people to take first steps without needing tech expertise.

Enabling Community-owned Energy Systems/Grids: 

AJ Perkins, a clean energy innovator known for his work on intelligent energy systems, grid modernization, microgrids, and decentralized infrastructure, presents a unique opportunity to explore how the electric grid of the future can be more resilient, renewable, and democratized.

How can communities safeguard their energy grids? How can they take control over the new and improved energy systems without giving in to the dominating energy structures? And much, much more.

AJ Perkins, Hawaii Pacific Alliance for Worldwide Advancement (HI PAWA) and Fanni Melles, What’s the Future for Smart Cities

AJ Perkins, Hawaii Pacific Alliance for Worldwide Advancement (HI PAWA)

AJ Perkins is an award-winning author, speaker, and the CEO of HI PAWA (Hawaii Pacific Alliance for Worldwide Advancement), a Native Hawaiian-led effort to build the first community-owned utility and hydrogen-powered county in the United States, starting on the Big Island. A LinkedIn Top Voice in Renewable Energy, AJ has helped scale multiple clean tech startups, including Instant ON, where he secured over 3.8GW in microgrid projects and partnerships with companies like Schneider Electric, Bosch, and Honda. His earlier work with TechFlow helped secure a $2.1 billion federal contract and introduced electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure across US military bases. Today, AJ’s focus is on bringing energy ownership, resilience, and economic benefits directly to communities—especially Native, Indigenous, and underserved areas—through clean hydrogen, microgrids, and virtual power plants. He is the author of the forthcoming The Hydrogen Hub Toolkit and speaks regularly at leading energy and sustainability conferences nationwide.