Before You Build More Power, Fix the Leaks

Project Vanguard Podcast

0:00

-38:57

Before You Build More Power, Fix the Leaks

Why veterans may be the key to the most overlooked, fastest-deploying tool for grid resilience and energy security. Join us for this conversation with Alex Mouton of M3 Solutions.

Kevin Doffing

Jan 14, 2026

Most energy conversations start with one assumption: we need to build more.

More generation, more megawatts, more infrastructure. That matters, but it skips over a quieter truth hiding in plain sight. The fastest way to strengthen the grid isn’t always adding supply. It’s reducing waste.

On the Project Vanguard Podcast, Air Force veteran and energy entrepreneur Alex Mouton explains why energy efficiency is one of the most overlooked tools in American Energy Dominance, and one of the most practical paths for veterans looking to build something real in this industry.

From the Flight Line to the Grid

Alex didn’t leave the military thinking about HVAC systems or utility programs. He was an F-15 crew chief, trained to follow procedures, work checklists, and fix problems under pressure.

Like a lot of veterans, when he got out he wasn’t searching for a grand theory. He needed a job that paid the bills and rewarded execution.

That opportunity showed up through utility energy efficiency programs most people never notice. Utilities are required to fund this work, and ratepayers already contribute to it every month. The money is there. What’s often missing are contractors willing to do the work consistently and at scale.

As Alex put it, once he understood the structure, the business case was simple.

“They said if you do the work, we’ll pay you this amount. I asked what happens if I do it ten times. They said we’ll pay you ten times.”

That insight turned into a company, then into dozens of jobs, and now into work across multiple states.

Efficiency Comes First

One of the biggest misconceptions Alex pushed back on is the idea that sustainability starts with shiny new infrastructure.

In practice, efficiency comes first. You can add solar, batteries, or new generation, but if buildings are leaking energy and systems are neglected, those investments never reach their full value.

Running a system with waste baked in is like running a business with negative cash flow. You might look fine on the surface, but eventually the math catches up.

Efficiency tightens the system. It lowers demand. It buys time. Only then do supply-side investments start to work the way they’re supposed to.

Where the Real Impact Happens

This work isn’t about swapping lightbulbs in homes.

The real gains are in schools, hospitals, VA facilities, stadiums, and large commercial buildings where energy use is constant and massive. Alex’s team has worked on everything from local school districts to the Superdome, where systems are literally the size of a house.

At that scale, efficiency actually moves the needle. It also creates real careers. These are team-based roles, trades with upward mobility, and jobs that reward discipline and accountability.

As Alex put it plainly, the work is everywhere, and demand consistently outpaces supply.

A Wide-Open Lane for Veterans

That shortage is one of the clearest signals in the entire conversation.

At industry conferences, utilities and program administrators all say the same thing. They need more contractors. The funding exists. The programs exist. What’s missing are operators willing to step in and execute.

That’s where veterans fit naturally. If you can follow a process, manage a crew, and deliver results, energy efficiency is a direct on-ramp into the energy sector. It also ties straight into resilience. Every kilowatt taken off the grid makes it easier to withstand stress, brownouts, and disruptions.

The Quiet Work That Matters

Energy security doesn’t always start with building something new. Sometimes it starts by fixing what’s already there.

Energy efficiency isn’t flashy, but it deploys fast, creates jobs, and strengthens the grid immediately. For veterans looking for ownership, purpose, and impact in energy, it remains one of the clearest paths hiding in plain sight.