Smooth Media, a company founded by former Morning Brew executives, announced its acquisition of Energy Central, a community platform and media publication serving power industry professionals. 

Energy Central, established in 1995, boasts a membership of over 200,000 electric power professionals. 

The platform facilitates knowledge sharing and industry expertise exchange within the energy sector.

“Combining with Smooth Media’s expertise and leadership opens exciting new opportunities to serve electric power industry professionals with content powered by a thriving community, high-octane partnerships with leading brands, and a space for electric power leaders to come together,” Energy Central founder Steve Drazga said in a press release. 

Smooth Media describes the electric power industry as “enormous,” comprising seven of the world’s ten largest companies by revenue in energy and commodities. 

The sector faces significant challenges and changes, including:

1. A shift towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources, necessitating large-scale workforce reskilling.
2. Technological advancements, particularly in AI, impacting energy production and consumption.
3. Frequent policy changes and substantial federal funding, with 2024 investment across all energy sources projected to reach nearly $3 trillion.

Smooth Media, led by Josh Kaplan, Jenny Rothenberg, and Kinsey Grant, aims to advance Energy Central’s content and community offerings. 

The company plans to merge sales teams to strengthen Energy Central’s position in the electric power professional market.

Kinsey Grant, Smooth Media’s Head of Content, will lead the content and community teams and work with Energy Central’s existing staff. 

Grant emphasizes the electric power industry’s significance, citing its geopolitical, environmental, regulatory, and economic implications.

The acquisition marks Smooth Media’s first major move since its founding in 2021.