Lance is an electrical engineer with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida, earned in 2020. Before starting Witching Hour in 2024, he worked as an engineering contractor for PG&E. While at PG&E, he worked on implementing current solutions to the wildfire problem. Lance started his first business in 2014 and has operated four companies since. He is based in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Represented Organization
Witching Hour
Key Innovation
Witching Hour uses a robotic system to install an advanced protective material over existing power lines, reducing wildfire ignition risk. This approach eliminates the need for costly undergrounding or construction processes, enabling deployment up to 100 times faster and up to 95% cheaper than traditional methods. The technology can be installed while power lines remain live, is terrain-independent, and provides rapid grid hardening to protect communities from wildfires. By addressing top ignition risks efficiently, the system helps utilities reduce faults and prevent catastrophic fires.
Target Market
Witching Hour serves electric utilities and power companies seeking cost-effective solutions to reduce wildfire risk. Current mitigation methods, such as undergrounding or installing covered conductors, can cost millions per mile and take decades to implement. Witching Hour’s robotic system offers a faster, more affordable alternative, enabling utilities to accelerate grid hardening, maintain reliable service, and protect customers and infrastructure from wildfires.
ORNL Principal Investigator
- Elizabeth Piersall - Data Sciences Network Architecture Design, Grid Communications and Security, Energy Science and Technology Directorate