Easily listen to The Tie-In

Artwork for podcast The Tie-In

How Coachella Cut Diesel by Going Battery-Solar: Ken Deans on Sustainable Power for Large-Scale Live Events & Festivals

Episode 27 • 7th July 2026 • The Tie-In • Zena Harris and Mark Rabin

What does it actually take to eliminate diesel generators from one of the world's largest music festivals — not as a statement, but as a business decision that saves money?

Ken Deans has been the power and production infrastructure mind behind Coachella, Stagecoach, and dozens of other large-scale events for over 30 years. In this episode he breaks down how a 2004 rider from Jack Johnson's management started a sustainability journey that led to eliminating diesel light towers, powering environmental monitoring stations on solar-battery, and running air-conditioned work trailers off a cargo van battery for a full month.

Ken walks through the proof-of-concept that changed how the industry thinks about portable power, how he built the economic case that got buy-in from AEG/Goldenvoice, and why he believes more battery-solar than diesel at major festivals is coming within 3 to 5 years.

A practical, numbers-driven conversation for anyone responsible for power, operations, or sustainability at live events, festivals, or large-scale productions.

Topics: festival sustainability, diesel generator alternative, battery power live events, solar power festivals, Coachella sustainability, event power infrastructure, portable electric, large-scale event production, clean energy entertainment, event operations, ESG live events, green events

⚡ WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

— How a Jack Johnson sustainability rider in 2004 launched a 20-year clean energy journey

— Why powering pollution monitors with diesel was the oxymoron that broke the dam

— How a battery and two solar panels replaced 28 gallons of diesel a day

— Why the crew tipping point was two chop saws running at once without blowing a fuse

— How to build the economic and sustainability case that gets leadership buy-in every time

— How one proof-of-concept at Coachella moved an entire equipment rental industry

This is an abridged excerpt of a previously released episode.

Listen/watch the full episode!

YouTube: https://youtu.be/MrMAhw0G2Bc

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1trjEAHNG8GmizzCdCcZMK?si=LfepvqCET4Kxo7vZYx12Jw

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s1-e3-the-coachella-awesome-ken-deans/id1753867919?i=1000660138257

Connect with Ken Deans:

🎙️ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendeans/

🌐 https://kdpservices.com/

🎙️ Connect with your hosts:

💼 Zena Harris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zenaharris/

💼 Mark Rabin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rabinmark/

👉 SUBSCRIBE for more sustainability and clean energy content from inside the entertainment industry.

More Episodes

27. How Coachella Cut Diesel by Going Battery-Solar: Ken Deans on Sustainable Power for Large-Scale Live Events & Festivals

00:14:38

26. He Predicted the Clean Energy Tipping Point for Film Production — Then Proved It: Autonomous Base Camp Power, Vehicle-to-Grid & the Future of Film Sets | Andre Champagne | Sustainable Production Forum | Best of The Tie In

00:16:14

25. How Battery Power Is Replacing Diesel on the World's Biggest Film Sets | David Sinfield, Green Voltage

00:11:33

24. Green Filmmaking Goals That Work | Lydia Dean Pilcher

00:09:25

23. How HBO's True Detective: Night Country Became One of TV's Greenest Productions | Mari Jo Winkler-Ioffreda

00:10:55

22. Why Sustainable Production Isn't More Expensive — You're Just Not Looking at the Whole Budget | Clara George, Producer

00:10:09

21. AI Energy Use, Data Center Carbon & the Emissions Nobody Is Counting | Kanika Sharma

00:37:54

20. The Hidden Carbon Cost of Streaming: Barbara Lange on Media Tech Sustainability

00:37:28

19. Hollywood Trucks Built a Fleet of Self-Powered Trailers — Now NBCUniversal Is Deploying Them | Andre Champagne

00:46:54

18. Hollywood Power Infrastructure & Sustainable Base Camp Solutions: Hybrid Generators, Battery Tech & Clean Energy Transition for Film & TV Production | Mark Walter

00:24:28

17. How Battery Power Is Quietly Replacing Diesel Generators on Film Sets: David Rovsek, King Kong Production Services

00:40:17

16. How a Musician Became a Climate Action Concierge: Vienna Teng on Fan Engagement, Hope-Based Storytelling & Using Music to Drive Real Climate Action | The Tie-In

00:31:33

15. Cardboard Sets, Zero Waste & the Circular Economy: How Nordwerk Design Is Replacing Plastic, Wood & Metal in Film and Event Production | Karmen Hansen

00:30:06

14. Building Community in the Age of AI: Jenny Stefanotti of Denizen on Regenerative Economics, Human Agency & the Future of Work

01:03:24

13. Holy Days Is Coming to Canada | Nat Boltt on Sustainable Filmmaking & Telling Better Stories | The Best of The Tie In

00:17:23

12. Film Set Safety, Crew Wellbeing & The Documentary Hollywood Doesn't Want You to See — Becky Morrison

00:41:35

11. Amanda Smith: Greening the Paint Department and Reclaiming LA's Wild Side

00:31:49

10. How Artists Are Using Concerts to Move Fans to Action | Pete Kronowitt

00:36:57

9. How the Green Rider Is Getting Actors & Production Working Together on Climate | Danusia Samal

00:30:45

8. How Outside Days Built a 36,000-Person Sustainable Outdoor Festival From Scratch | CJ Jerard & Jonah Geschwind

00:53:32

7. Grid Modernization & Clean Energy Technology: AI Infrastructure Software, Battery Storage Safety, Microgrid Solutions & Smart Electrical Panels for Sustainability | DistribuTECH 2025

00:36:29

6. S3 E6: Founder’s Journey: Is Entrepreneurship Worth the Next 5–10 Years of Your Life?

00:23:21

5. S3 E5: From Frustration to Action: The Ripple Effect of Food Rescue with Every Day Action

00:42:51

4. S3 E4: Disrupting the Fashion Industry: Maria Intscher-Owrang on Sustainable Manufacturing

00:47:45

3. S3 E3: The Tie-In at SPF25 with Yasmin Glanville: Defining Leadership

00:36:58

2. S3 E2: Jackson Wild 2025 Media Award Finalist, Burrowing Owls; A Love Story

00:43:45

1. S3 E1: From The Field: Burning Man’s Renewable Energy Innovators Are Kicking Gass

01:14:54

52. S2 E52: Mark and Zena’s Journey Through the Sustainable Entertainment Landscape: Season Two Recap

00:30:40

51. S2 E51: CJ Jerard and Jonah Geschwind: Outside Days, How To Produce A Large-scale Sustainable Event

00:55:49

50. S2 E50: Larry Engel: The Unintended Consequences Of Your Film

00:57:59

49. S2 E49: Tony Linan: Build The Electric Story / Isaiah Smith: Theater Kids Are Gonna Figure It Out

01:12:09

48. S2 E48: Melina Laboucan-Massimo: Creating Self-Sufficient Communities With SacredEarth Solar

01:01:31

47. S2, E47: Samuel Rubin: Culture Eats Strategy For Breakfast

00:54:55

46. S2, E46:Adam Rowe and Joe Madziak: If You’re Not Re-Using It Your Losing It

00:47:52

45. S2, E45: Aaron Laslo: Stop Buying Carbon Credits

01:01:11

44. S2, E44: Brett Walter & Tim Guinee from Climate Action Now: Action Is The Antidote To Despair

01:06:38

43. S2, E43:Valerie Weiss: Using Curiosity to Find Sustainable Filmmaking Solutions

00:59:13

42. S2, E42: Jackson Wild Award Winner - Shared Planet

00:58:57

41. S2, E41: Jackson Wild Award Finalist - Tony Lee - P22: the Legacy Lives On

00:39:40

40. S2, E40: Leena Manro: Purpose Driven Business; What Are We Going To Do With The Gift Of Life?

00:53:32

39. S2, E39: Jack Cooper Stimpson: Telling Climate Stories with Humor and the Magic of The Green Rider

00:51:14

38. S2, E38: Nat Boltt: We Are Great Apes; Will We Bring on the Apocalypse Or Prevent It?

00:59:54

37. S2, E37: The Evolution of Digital Media with Founder and President of FanTrust Catherine Warren

01:02:25

36. S2, E36: Communicating with Nature about Nature to People with Zoologist Andy Johnston

00:36:43

35. S2, E35: Getting “Trade Curious” with Electrician and Tradeswoman Carly Steiman

00:50:58

34. S2, E34: Trying on Sustainable Costume Design with the Founder & CEO of Roboro, Jillian Clark

00:58:51

33. S2, E33: Rethinking Waste Diversion with the Founder of Rethink Resource, Shane Harker

00:55:02

32. S2, E32: Finding Grassroots, Cinematic Community with the Founder of The Great Film Club, Sabrina Torres

00:52:07

31. S2, E31: Wishing our fans a great summer! We’ll be back on Tuesday with a full episode!

00:12:10

30. S2, E30: Digitizing Opportunity with CEO and Founder of Skyrocket Digital, Mo Dhaliwal

00:49:34

29. S2, E29: Special “Grid Survey” Panel Episode

01:09:14

28. S2, E28: Getting connected to sustainable island energy with Writer, Entrepreneur and CEO, James Ellsmoor

00:39:19

27. S2, E27: Crafting Climate Action with Production Designer, Adam Rowe

01:00:23

26. S2, E26: Vibing with Tanner Watt, Director of Partnerships at REVERB

01:07:26

25. S2, E25: Embracing the Social Impact of Film with Benjamin Ryan Nathan from ALL OF US FILMS

00:48:20

24. S2, E24: Batting 3000 with Writer and Producer, Bill Mikita

00:50:49

23. S2, E23: Wild and deep new business! You won’t believe how green burial can be with Dax Patton, Executive Director of Spirit Oceano

00:54:51

22. S2, E22: SPECIAL EPISODE! Behind-the-Scenes at the Luck Reunion Tour!

00:41:31

21. S2, E21: SXSW Behind-the-Scenes with Chief Operating Officer, Kishla Askins

01:08:43

20. S2, E20: SXSW Behind-the-Scenes with the Author of “Threat Multiplier: Climate, Military Leadership, and the Fight for Global Security,” Sherri Goodman

00:57:45

19. S2, E19: SXSW Behind-the-Scenes with the Creator of “El Peso Hero” and Founder of Texas Latino Comics, Hector Rodriguez

00:24:23

18. S2, E18: SXSW Behind-the-Scenes with the Co-Founder of Global Choices, Sally Ann Ranney

00:44:17

17. S2, E17: SXSW Behind-the-Scenes with Producer Janice Overbeck

00:50:59

16. S2, E16: In-The-Field, Exploring the Wacky Wonderful World of Coachella Innovation with Creative Genius, Andrea Gini - CEO of “Genie Consulting”

00:38:46

15. S2, E15: Discovering that ideas are deep in the heart of Texas Production with the Co-Founding Partner of “The Shine Co,” Heather Page

00:48:46

14. S2, E14: SXSW: Behind-the-Scenes with the Founder of “Clever Carbon,” Michelle Li

00:41:28

13. S2, E13: SXSW: Behind-the-Scenes with Kevin Bar, Chief Operating Officer of Hill Country Studios

00:33:12

12. S2, E12: SXSW: Behind-the-Scenes with Creative Director Nathalie van Sasse van Ysselt

00:41:39

11. S2, E11: SXSW: Behind-the-Scenes with Author and Demographic Futurist, Bradley Schurman

00:43:19

10. S2, E10: Fashion and Business and Music and Tech! Oh, yeah, with Sustainability Expert Lilian Liu

00:57:17

9. S2, E9: In The Field with Zena and Green Spark Group, Australia Edition!

00:48:18

8. S2, E8: Sustaining the Cultural Climate of LA and Beyond with “Overdrive Energy Solutions” Founder & President, Neel Vasavada

00:44:46

7. S2, E7: Wild and Exploring “Burning Man” through Virtual Reality with Athena Demos, Co-Founder and CEO of Big Rock Creative

00:53:14

6. S2, E6: The Modern Medieval Catapult Master, Set Construction Coordinator Joe Madziak

00:59:47

5. S2, E5: Getting to the Bottom of what Sustainability Means in Media with Film Creative, Robert Diaz LeRoy

01:28:12

4. S2, E4: Rethinking LA as a Livable Community with Showrunner, Lindsay Sturman

01:13:33

3. S2, E3: Focusing All Film Departments on Waste Reduction with Camera Operators, Alex Coyle and Allison Elvove from “Local 600”

00:53:26

2. S2, E2: Supporting Sustainable Stakeholders in Live Music with Industry Trailblazer, Amy Morrison

00:59:10

1. S2, E1: Innovating a Shift in Sustainable Language with “Ecodeo” CEO, Liz Rubin

00:50:33

30. S1, E28: Our Bow “Tie-In” Holiday Special - The Season One wrap out with Zena & Mark

00:42:45

29. S1, E27: From the Field - Amsterdam

01:02:03

28. S1, E26: Talking Sustainable Production with Zsofia Szemeredy from “Leverage Point Entertainment”

00:59:27

27. S1, E25: Taking Climate to a more Sustainable Future with authors Steve Willis and Genevieve Hilton (Jan Lee)

00:46:54

26. S1, E24: Shining a Light on Sustainability in Advertising with “Ad Green” Global Director, Jo Fenn

00:47:14

25. S1, E23: Revolutionizing Sustainability in Music with Showpower CEO, Paul Schurink

00:58:15

24. S1, E22: Solving Problems in a Collective Way with Production Manager, Hans Dayal

00:53:34

23. S1, E21: Mark goes Behind the Scenes at Climate Week with “Showpower” - PART TWO - featuring Technical Director, Tim Benson

00:31:21

22. S1, E20: Mark goes Behind the Scenes at Climate Week with “Showpower” CEO, Paul Schurink

00:32:33

21. S1, E19: Grooving with “Green Disco” CEO, Jonah Geschwind

00:51:32

20. S1, E18: *LIVE* at SPF with Andre Champagne, CEO of “Hollywood Trucks”

00:54:56

19. S1, E17: Changing the Paradigm with Sustainable Power Entrepreneur, David Hardy

01:03:29

18. S1, E16: Mark in the Field: “Burning Man” Recap

00:57:44

17. S1, E15: “The Tie-In” Podcast with Zena Harris and Mark Rabin: A Sustainable Origin Story

01:04:43

16. S1, E14: Enabling Sustainable Stories with Designer and Entrepreneur, Simran Monga

00:48:47

15. S1, E13: Supporting the Sound Wave of the Future, CEO and Flagship Artist AY Young

00:57:56

14. S1, E12: Finding Joy as an Act of Resistance with Climate Influencer, Andrea Learned

01:03:42

13. S1, E11: Finding Collective Continuance with Producer and Director, Lydia Dean Pilcher

00:56:03

12. S1, E10: Real World Q Gadgets with Gaffer, David Sinfield

00:44:33

11. S1, E9: Rediscovering Virtual Production with the head of Final Pixel Academy, Dr. Jodi Nelson-Tabor

00:46:21

10. S1, E8: Normalizing Sustainability with Production Designer, Marian Wihak

00:45:17

9. S1, E7: Taking Sustainability to New Heights with “Dragon Wings” Innovator, Dr. Ryan Wartena

00:55:59

8. S1, E6: Switching to Sustainability Overdrive with Founder & President Neel Vasavada

00:57:12

7. S1, E5: Championing Sustainability, producer Clara George

00:54:53

6. S1, E4: Wasting less and Creating more with Costume Designer Georgina Curtis

01:02:45

5. “The Tie-In” Prologue: Dance steps in the right direction with Robert Diaz LeRoy

01:20:43

4. S1, E1: The Guiding Lights of Gaffer Todd Lapp

00:40:01

3. S1, E2: Catching up with producer Kerri Coombs

00:49:04

2. NABShow special release: In conversation with Mari Jo Winkler-Ioffreda

00:31:49

1. S1, E3: The Coachella awesome Ken Deans!

00:56:39