Energy Solutions: A Podcast From EPSA (Electric Power Supply Association)

As former chair of the Texas Public Utility Commission and eventually the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Pat Wood helped found Texas' competitive power market and introduce competition for electric generation across the United States. In this episode, he shares what it took to break up energy monopolies, the hurdles - including the Enron scandal - faced along the way, and how competitive power markets have delivered savings, choice, and technological transformation over nearly three decades.

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For more than two decades, competitive electricity markets and independent power generators have unlocked savings for consumers, enhanced reliability, improved our environment and unleashed energy innovation. But key questions must be addressed to ensure that these benefits continue to advance the energy transition. 

Next week, EPSA will host a day-long summit at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. to discuss critical issues facing competitive power today – and what it means for America’s energy future. In this episode, EPSA staff discuss what attendees can expect and dig into the issues a bit. There's still time to register at www.epsa.org.

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April is Earth Month. How do we address climate change while keeping power flowing at an affordable cost? We talk to Suedeen Kelly, who served three terms at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, about today's big energy policy questions and how competitive power markets can meet new demand from global conflict between Russia and Ukraine, rising costs and inflation, and the push for cleaner electricity. 

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In recent weeks, the nation’s electric power supply has been called into question. Expected extreme weather this summer will drive up demand, and power supplies are increasingly coming from intermittent sources that rely on favorable weather conditions to power the grid. During this episode, we highlight speakers at EPSA’s recent Competitive Power Summit and the solutions they would like to see implemented. Speakers include: Jim Robb, North American Electric Reliability Corporation; Manu Asthana, PJM Interconnection; Thad Hill, Calpine; and Devin Hartman, R Street Institute.

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As policymakers across the country examine how to meet ambitious climate goals, what will ensure grid reliability while reducing emissions efficiently and at the lowest cost? Experts at EPSA's Competitive Power Summit discuss how fostering a just transition means more than providing clean energy - but also managing the disproportionate cost burden being shouldered by those who can least afford it, shoring up reliability and improving our country’s energy resilience. 

Featuring ISO New England's Gordon van Welie, E3's Arne Olson, Shell's Jill Davies, Brookfield Renewable US' Stephen Gallagher, and John Moore, director of the Sustainable FERC Project at the NRDC.

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After the passage of the most expansive energy policy in years through the Inflation Reduction Act, what's next for lawmakers on Capitol Hill when it comes to the nation's power grid? Ohio Rep. Troy Balderson talks with Todd about why power grid reliability is critical, how he forges bipartisan connections to get priorities into legislation, and why industry innovation can deliver energy solutions. 

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America’s power grid was pushed to the brink this summer – making system reliability even more top of mind for one of the nation’s chief energy regulators. Commmissioner Mark Christie, one of five members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, shares why he’s concerned, and what else is on his mind as FERC weighs how to address electricity costs, infrastructure needs, carbon emissions, competitive power markets, and cybersecurity. 

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In July, the organization responsible for monitoring the reliability of America’s power system released a stark warning – the grid faces “unprecedented” challenges to its ability to keep the lights on. In this episode, Todd talks with Mark Lauby, senior vice president and chief engineer at the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, to understand more about what’s driving reliability concerns and what’s needed to keep the lights on this winter. 

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With small gecko-like machines that scale power plant walls, founder of Gecko Robotics Jake Loosararian says technology can help solve the reliability and cost challenges facing the electric grid. He shares how his robots collect useful data to enhance the reliability of critical infrastructure, and how we can encourage American innovation to deliver a reliable and affordable energy transition. 

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What top energy policy issues and themes stood out in 2022? We look back at key moments with Energy Solutions podcast guests as they reflect on power grid disturbances, global dynamics and Russia’s war on Ukraine, challenges facing competitive power markets, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission priorities, policy proposals like carbon pricing, and innovative new technologies as we seek to build a more reliable, affordable, and cleaner power system in 2023 and beyond.

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2023 has no shortage of energy challenges, following Winter Storm Elliott's power outages, cyber and physical threats, rising costs, and continued need for innovation. EPSA Chairman and Vistra Corp. President and CEO Jim Burke joins Todd to discuss priorities for the new year, a new Congress and FERC leadership, what’s on tap for new investments, and how competitive power can lead a reliable energy transition. 

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Cyber and physical attacks on America's power system are at their highest level in at least a decade, posing a risk to reliable electricity. The good news is that all hands are on deck when it comes to preparing for, guarding against, and responding to these threats. We check in with Manny Cancel, who leads the Electricity Information Sharing and Analysis Center (E-ISAC), which brings together industry, government, and other stakeholders to safeguard the system and keep the lights on. He shares the latest threat landscape, what the electric sector and government are doing, and what individuals can do to protect not just their own digital property but also the electric grid.

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How is major global energy company Shell preparing for a decarbonized future while meeting reliability needs today? What needs to be considered when it comes to cost, sustainability, emissions, and diversity and inclusion? This month, we’re rolling out audio from EPSA’s 2023 Competitive Power Summit in a special series. In this episode, hear a fireside chat with Shell Energy North America President and SVP of Shell Energy Americas Carolyn Comer and EPSA President and CEO Todd Snitchler. 

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What is needed to manage a reliable power grid in today’s current landscape? Nate Hanson, president of power generation at LS Power, says we’re on the tip of doing so effectively – and calls for policies and competitive market constructs to meet rising electric demand, even as his company builds low-and-zero carbon solutions including EV charging and competitive transmission. This month, we’re rolling out audio from EPSA’s 2023 Competitive Power Summit in a special series. In this episode, hear a fireside chat with Hanson and EPSA President and CEO Todd Snitchler.   

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How is a major natural gas power provider preparing for a decarbonized future while working to protect against reliability challenges like those faced during Winter Storms Uri and Elliott? This month, we’re rolling out audio from EPSA’s 2023 Competitive Power Summit in a special series. In this episode, hear a fireside chat with Calpine President and CEO Thad Hill and EPSA President and CEO Todd Snitchler. Calpine owns and operates the nation’s largest natural gas power generation fleet, in addition to the world’s largest geothermal power facility, while also building and planning battery storage and carbon capture and sequestration technology. Hill shares lessons from recent extreme weather events, the role for natural gas generation going forward, and needed energy market changes to enhance reliability. 

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As the world rapidly changes and new challenges emerge, many are questioning the best way to continue providing safe, reliable, cost-effective, and cleaner power. For some, that means reforming electric power markets. For others, it could mean doing away with competition entirely. In this episode, Lynne Kiesling, an economist and expert on electric competition unpacks the complex world of power markets, their benefits as compared to a vertically integrated model, what critics get wrong, and what’s on the horizon for new energy solutions.  

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The Western states have seen their share of challenges in recent years when it comes to electric reliability – with rolling blackouts in California, extreme drought and wildfires, and political differences across a broad geographic expanse. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation included the region on its watch list for areas that could experience electric shortages this summer should temperatures spike. We check in with Scott Miller, Executive Director of the Western Power Trading Forum, to hear what’s unique about America’s frontier, what’s ahead this summer for the region’s power grid, and how efforts to enhance reliability, cost savings, and emissions reductions by expanding organized power markets are progressing.

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New York has ambitious climate goals. But its electric grid operator has also recently signaled reliability warnings as power plants are driven into retirement. Diane Burman has served on the New York State Public Service Commission for nearly ten years. She joined Energy Solutions to talk about the current energy policy landscape in New York, her priorities as a regulator, and what other policymakers can learn from the Empire State.

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How did Ohio go from the 41st to the 7th best state for business in the nation? Among other factors, a foundation of reliable and cost-effective energy drove economic growth and helped attract businesses and employers to invest in the Buckeye State. Meanwhile, emissions have dropped while competitive energy markets have grown. In this episode, Dana Saucier of Jobs Ohio shares how energy keeps Ohio’s economic engine running.

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From wildfires to winter storms to cyber and physical attacks, the power system is under greater stress than ever – all while under pressure to transition rapidly to new sources of electricity. In this episode, Todd speaks with Katherine Blunt, reporter for The Wall Street Journal and author of California Burning, a look at PG&E operations and the fallout from 2017 and 2018’s tragic wildfires. Katherine discusses the state of America’s changing electric grid and mounting reliability concerns – and the power we rely on is impacted by efforts to reduce emissions, extreme weather and climate change, and the business decisions utilities and power companies make.   

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Wyoming is the top coal-producing state in the U.S. But like much of the country, the state is transitioning to new sources of energy. This comes as the region faces reliability challenges from heat, drought, and other factors. How are Wyoming and other Western states balancing the growth of lower carbon power sources with the need for a reliable grid and continued economic growth? The University of Wyoming’s Kara Fornstrom, formerly Director of State Regulatory Policy for the Southwest Power Pool and Chair of the Wyoming Public Service Commission, weighs in. 

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Winter is coming. Is America’s power grid ready? That’s top of mind for Chairman Willie Phillips, who heads the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. In this episode, he addresses infrastructure development and streamlining to meet growing energy demand, making sure the power system can weather extreme heat and cold, and the importance of affordability and environmental justice. But as you’ll hear, reliability remains the top priority. 

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From New York to California, what are the top issues facing America’s electric grid? We gather leaders from the organizations representing competitive power suppliers in RTOs and ISOs throughout the nation to discuss the top stories from the past year – and what to expect in 2024 when it comes to delivering reliable electricity while reducing carbon emissions, serving rapidly rising demand, and mitigating consumer costs.

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Electricity demand is growing for the first time in years. Are grid operators and competitive power suppliers prepared to maintain reliability while balancing decarbonization mandates? Nathan Hanson, President of LS Power Generation, believes that maintaining a healthy market for firm generation resources will be essential to meet the growing demand from data centers, manufacturing, and transportation electrification. How stakeholders address these challenges could mean the difference between economic progress or dislocation.

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EPSA’s 3rd annual Competitive Power Summit is just over a week away. What better way to gear up for the Summit than to hear from our speakers themselves? We brought our four panel moderators onto the pod—Politico's Catherine Morehouse, the Forum Consulting’s Ben Marter, former WSJ and Washington Post reporter Tim Puko, and Bloomberg’s Daniel Moore—to discuss the thoughts and questions they’re most looking forward to bringing to their panels.

Want to see them in person? Register here for the Competitive Power Summit on Tuesday, March 26 in Washington, DC: bit.ly/epsa24register

Find this episode's guests on X/Twitter:
Catherine Morehouse: @cmorehouse10
Tim Puko: @TimPuko
Ben Marter: @BenMarter
Daniel Moore: @bydanielmoore

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What will it take to meet the nation’s rising power demand? NARUC President and North Dakota Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak joins EPSA President and CEO Todd Snitchler for this episode, where she shares the initiatives that she has taken to solve the challenges facing a system being asked to perform in ways it has never had to before. Fedorchak unpacks her concerns for power grid reliability amidst a changing resource mix, and why the Peace Garden State continues to prioritize dispatchable generation. 

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In this episode, the head of the nation’s regulatory authority for power system reliability gives an update on the reliability and security of the grid – discussing steps to improve performance after 2022’s Winter Storm Elliott and other extreme weather events, the top reliability risks for the power system, and progress on gas-electric harmonization. Listen in to NERC and EPSA Presidents and CEOs Jim Robb and Todd Snitchler’s conversation. 

This is part of our special series featuring four fireside chats from EPSA’s 3rd Annual Competitive Power Summit on March 26. Listen in for audio from the day’s conversations, featuring grid reliability experts, top energy executives, trade association leaders, and competitive power generators, as they discuss reliability, innovation to deliver the energy expansion, state energy priorities, ways to integrate clean power into the grid, and more. 

• Ep 38(b): Power Generators CPV and GE Vernova Talk new Tech to for Reliable Energy Expansion: Competitive Power Summit Fireside Chats  
• Ep 38(c): What Have the top Utility Regulators Been Up To? NARUC President Fedorchak Shares Priorities: Competitive Power Summit Fireside Chats  
• Ep 38(d): Clean Power and Reliability With ACP’s Jason Grumet: Competitive Power Summit Fireside Chats  

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How is technology enabling greater efficiency and performance in power generation? In this episode, Tom Rumsey from Competitive Power Ventures and Roger Martella from GE Vernova discuss the launch of a new highly efficient combined-cycle gas turbine in Illinois, along with other new developments.

This is part of our special series featuring four fireside chats from EPSA’s 3rd Annual Competitive Power Summit on March 26. Listen in for audio from the day’s conversations, featuring grid reliability experts, top energy executives, trade association leaders, and competitive power generators, as they discuss reliability, innovation to deliver the energy expansion, state energy priorities, ways to integrate clean power into the grid, and more. 

• Ep 38(a): NERC’s Jim Robb on Power Grid Reliability and Security: Competitive Power Summit Fireside Chats  
• Ep 38(c): What Have the top Utility Regulators Been Up To? NARUC President Fedorchak Shares Priorities: Competitive Power Summit Fireside Chats  
• Ep 38(d): Clean Power and Reliability With ACP’s Jason Grumet: Competitive Power Summit Fireside Chats  

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How are state utility commissioners addressing big power system questions like resource adequacy, a changing energy mix, and balancing individual state needs and federal authority? Plus, what’s the latest on NARUC’s new initiative to address gas-electric harmonization, GEAR? North Dakota Public Service Commissioner and NARUC President Julie Fedorchak joins us in this episode to discuss. 

This is part of our special series featuring four fireside chats from EPSA’s 3rd Annual Competitive Power Summit on March 26. Listen in for audio from the day’s conversations, featuring grid reliability experts, top energy executives, trade association leaders, and competitive power generators, as they discuss reliability, innovation to deliver the energy expansion, state energy priorities, ways to integrate clean power into the grid, and more. 

• Ep 38(a): NERC’s Jim Robb on Power Grid Reliability and Security: Competitive Power Summit Fireside Chats  
• Ep 38(b): Power Generators CPV and GE Vernova Talk new Tech to for Reliable Energy Expansion: Competitive Power Summit Fireside Chats
• Ep 38(d): Clean Power and Reliability With ACP’s Jason Grumet: Competitive Power Summit Fireside Chats  

Liked this episode? Share it on X @EPSANews or LinkedIn at Electric Power Supply Association. Want more competitive power updates? Sign up for our monthly Power Moves newsletter.

What energy priorities do policymakers and decisionmakers need to have no matter what side of the aisle they’re on? In this episode, American Clean Power Association CEO Jason Grumet joins Todd to debrief the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act on energy infrastructure investment, why power system reliability needs to be #1, and the ways clean power can combine with all resources to serve the nation’s demand for electricity. 

This is part of our special series featuring four fireside chats from EPSA’s 3rd Annual Competitive Power Summit on March 26. Listen in for audio from the day’s conversations, featuring grid reliability experts, top energy executives, trade association leaders, and competitive power generators, as they discuss reliability, innovation to deliver the energy expansion, state energy priorities, ways to integrate clean power into the grid, and more. 

• Ep 38(a): NERC’s Jim Robb on Power Grid Reliability and Security: Competitive Power Summit Fireside Chats  
• Ep 38(b): Power Generators CPV and GE Vernova Talk new Tech to for Reliable Energy Expansion: Competitive Power Summit Fireside Chats  
• Ep 38(c): What Have the top Utility Regulators Been Up To? NARUC President Fedorchak Shares Priorities: Competitive Power Summit Fireside Chats  

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What does a previous federal energy regulator have to say about markets, reliability, and the current state of the energy grid today? We got the scoop from Joseph T. Kelliher, former chairman and commissioner on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and former NextEra energy executive. Joe helped shape how competitive power markets function today, establishing structures that guard against market manipulation, encourage reliability, and protect consumers. He also oversaw the implementation of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Listen as Joe sits down with EPSA President and CEO Todd Snitchler and highlights some of the key moments in his career at the Commission – and how they inform today’s challenges. 

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Amid rapid decarbonization and skyrocketing demand, America’s power grid is straining to continue providing homes and businesses with reliable electricity. What technologies are innovators investing in to combat these challenges? Covarrubia Energy Chairman and CEO Russell Covarrubia joined us for this episode to break down what exactly pyrolysis means – and why it’s opened a door for reducing plastic waste while adding much needed power to the grid.  

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Washington, D.C. may be the nation's capital, but it sources nearly all of its power generation from other states – presenting unique considerations for the head of its Public Service Commission. In this episode, DCPSC Chairman Emile Thompson shares how the district’s position gives both a local and national perspective on energy priorities. How is the Chairman thinking about the energy expansion – and how to support the three-legged stool of reliability, cost-savings, and decarbonization? What does Thompson want policymakers and regulators to keep in mind about energy and innovation?

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Electric power demand has been estimated to skyrocket over the next decade, with some saying growth could double from projections made just two years ago. AI and the rush to build large energy-intensive data centers, a domestic manufacturing resurgence, and electrification trends are some of the key factors driving this thirst for electricity. In this episode, guests including Wall Street Journal reporter Jennifer Hiller, stock market analyst Anthony Crowdell, and Karen Onaran, the head of the national trade group for large industrial energy consumers, weigh in on the numbers and key drivers of load growth. 

This is the first episode in a four-part series from Energy Solutions, exploring the challenge and opportunity presented by rising power demand, policy and market design considerations, and ways to meet the moment. 

Episode Guests: 

• Anthony Crowdell, managing director, Mizhuo 
• Jennifer Hiller, energy reporter, The Wall Street Journal 
• Karen Onaran, president and CEO, Electricity Consumers Resources Council  

The opinions and analysis presented in this episode represent the viewpoints of the speakers, not necessarily those of the Electric Power Supply Association.

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Rapidly rising electric power demand driven by data centers and AI, manufacturing growth, the push to electrify the economy, and other factors means we’re going to be asking a lot of America’s energy infrastructure. What is the current state of the power grid? With reliability concerns already on the horizon, how will the need to connect and run not just new megawatts or gigawatts – but terawatts – of power impact the system? What kinds of power generation will be needed to keep the lights on, and how are system planners keeping pace? Reliability watchdog Jim Robb of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, analyst Christi Tezak, and Aftab Khan, who leads operations, planning, and security for the nation’s largest grid operator, PJM Interconnection, weigh in. 

This is the second episode in a four-part series from Energy Solutions, exploring the challenge and opportunity presented by rising power demand, policy and market design considerations, and ways to meet the moment.

Episode Guests: 

• Jim Robb, president and CEO, North American Electric Reliability Corporation
• Aftab Khan, executive vice president of operations, planning, & security, PJM Interconnection
• Christi Tezak, senior director, ClearView Energy Partners LLC

The opinions and analysis presented in this episode represent the viewpoints of the speakers, not necessarily those of the Electric Power Supply Association.

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Meeting the rapid growth in electric demand posed by AI and data centers, manufacturing, electrification, and other factors requires a significant buildout of electric power resources on a tight timeline. Solving for decarbonization and reliability adds to the challenge – requiring not just existing generation resources, but new technologies and innovative approaches. For competitive power suppliers, the challenge is also an opportunity. Independent power producers are at the forefront of both providing existing dispatchable generation and connecting critical new resources to the grid – including battery storage, carbon capture and storage, hydrogen, more efficient gas generation, and more. We hear from Competitive Power Ventures, Invenergy, and Vistra Corp. on the solutions they’re currently providing and what they’re eyeing for the future.  

This is the third episode in a four-part series from Energy Solutions, exploring the challenge and opportunity presented by rising power demand, policy and market design considerations, and ways to meet the moment. 

Liked this episode? Share it on X @EPSANews or LinkedIn at Electric Power Supply Association. Want more competitive power updates? Sign up for our monthly Power Moves newsletter.

To meet the nation’s rising demand for electricity, we need to build a lot of power generation, and fast, and keep what we have. What’s the best way to get there? What policies and market foundations can best incentivize the investment and enable the buildout needed while mitigating costs and keeping the grid reliable? 

In part 1 of the final episode of our four-part series exploring the challenge and opportunity presented by rising power demand, we interview state and national policy leaders Texas Representative August Pfluger and Arizona Commissioner Lea Marquez Peterson.

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To meet the nation’s rising demand for electricity, we need to build a lot of power generation, and fast, and keep what we have. What’s the best way to get there? What policies and market foundations can best incentivize the investment and enable the buildout needed while mitigating costs and keeping the grid reliable? 

In part 2 of the final episode of our four-part series exploring the challenge and opportunity presented by rising power demand, we interview competitive power experts and executives from Alpha Generation, Calpine Corporation, and LS Power.

See Calpine's press release on expansion of generation development efforts in the PJM region.

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Pipefitters, pipeliners, and welders install and maintain the essential building blocks of the nation’s energy grid.  A labor union leader representing these essential workers, Derrick Kualapai joins us for this episode of Energy Solutions. He shares how manufacturing is changing through a shifting energy landscape and how those changes impact workers, why his industry is so essential to the nation’s energy expansion, and exactly how much power – and how many human beings – go into manufacturing the intricate parts of our infrastructure which most of us take for granted. Derrick paints a picture of what union laborers in construction and manufacturing do, how they see a “just transition” playing out, and what he wants policymakers to prioritize.

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Joining us for this episode is Christina Hayes, executive director of Americans for a Clean Energy Grid (ACEG), a nonprofit coalition of labor and environmental groups, clean energy buyers, renewable developers, transmission developers, and utilities. ACEG focuses on deploying high capacity transmission, which it says is the most cost effective and reliable way of decarbonizing the grid.  

Hayes shares just how early she started working in public policy (the answer will surprise you), some of the top focus areas for ACEG, how she sees the energy “trilemma” working out — and just why transmission permitting is ACEG’s #1 priority.  

Plus, don’t miss her joint op ed written with EPSA President and CEO Todd Snitchler on energy policy needs that transcend partisan divides.

Our 4th annual Competitive Power Summit registration is NOW OPEN. Register here to join us on April 2, 2025 for a day of expert panels and networking geared towards facing the challenges and opportunities posed by a changing energy grid.

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We close 2024 with a look back at some of our top episodes this year and end with a look forward into 2025 with EPSA’s President and CEO Todd Snitchler. Listen in for thoughts on gas-electric coordination from 2024’s NARUC President Julie Fedorchak, highlights from our 3rd annual Competitive Power Summit, and a glimpse into the top conversation of the year: the impact of AI, data centers, and other new technologies on load growth – and the role competitive power suppliers have in supporting the energy expansion. We’ll close out the episode with a 2024 debrief and an outlook for 2025 from EPSA President and CEO and Energy Solutions host Todd Snitchler.

Guests:

• Julie Fedorchak, North Dakota Public Service Commission, Congresswoman-elect (ND), NARUC
• Jim Robb, NERC
• Christi Tezak, ClearView Energy Partners LLC 
• Kelly Speakes-Backman, Invenergy 
• Aftab Khan, PJM Interconnection
• Rep. August Pfluger, Texas (R-11)  
• Derrick Kulalapai, United Association

Watch: Competitive Power Summit Recordings
Register: EPSA Competitive Power Summit 2025
Listen: ENERGY RUSH: Expert Voices Talk Rising Power Demand 

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EV charging. Transformers. Medical imaging devices. As energy demand surges across industries, how can we ensure a smarter, more resilient, and efficient power system? In this episode, we explore the evolving landscape of electrification, the role of smart technology, and the pressing challenges of supply chains and grid flexibility. Our guest, NEMA President and CEO Debra Phillips, shares insights on policy solutions, workforce development, and the technologies driving the future of electrical manufacturing. Tune in for a deep dive into the trends shaping the electroindustry and what it will take to power the next generation of innovation -- including a sneak preview of key findings from NEMA's upcoming study on just how much energy will be needed to power data centers, electric vehicles, and more. 

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As AI, data centers, and manufacturing drive historic electricity demand growth, how will the U.S. power the future? In this special bonus episode, Ohio Congressman Bob Latta, chair of the House Energy Subcommittee, joins Energy Solutions to discuss the urgent need for more energy, the role of nuclear power and natural gas, and why permitting reform is critical for grid modernization. Latta shares insights on rising demand from AI, the reshoring of manufacturing, and how Congress can support investment in competitive, reliable energy solutions.

“Just five miles from where I’m sitting, a new data center is going up. Another town in my district is building one too. And we’re looking at energy demand rising 4.5 to 8% just this year alone.” – Bob Latta

Plus, hear his thoughts on why bipartisan momentum could lead to meaningful energy policy changes in 2025. Don’t miss this conversation on what's top of mind for energy decisionmakers on Capitol Hill.

Liked this episode? Share it on X @EPSANews or LinkedIn at Electric Power Supply Association. Want more competitive power updates? Sign up for our monthly Power Moves newsletter.

Liked this episode? Share it on X @EPSANews or LinkedIn at Electric Power Supply Association. Want more competitive power updates? Sign up for our monthly Power Moves newsletter.

The Biden Administration has announced new carbon emissions targets. But what will it take to decarbonize power generation - and the rest of the economy - and how fast can we get there without breaking the bank or the electric grid? 

Is a 100% renewable power system possible and what would it cost? How do we encourage the innovation needed to build the grid of the future? 

E3's Arne Olson shares research on the costs and benefits of various clean energy policy approaches such as carbon pricing or a clean energy standard. Then, you'll hear how the energy development firm Competitive Power Ventures is planning to build and invest in lower-carbon resources while providing cost-effective reliable electricity today.

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How can climate policy support reliable, affordable energy, American business and continued economic growth? New proposals from major U.S. energy and business trade groups show momentum for solutions that balance trade-offs by pointing market competition at decarbonization.

In this episode, we talk with officials from the American Petroleum Institute and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to explore what’s driving their growing climate focus and the possibilities ahead.

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Google, Amazon and Disney are some of America’s largest companies and innovators. They are also some of the largest buyers and users of electricity. That means finding affordable, reliable and cleaner energy is essential to their business success. And they all believe that competitive power markets will help them point their buying power at reducing carbon emissions and putting more renewable energy on the grid. Miranda Ballentine, head of the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance, joins Energy Solutions to explain why these iconic brands are speaking up about power markets – and what they need to buy more clean energy.

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With February's Winter Storm Uri power outages in Texas, calls for energy conservation in California, and even threats to system reliability in New England, a changing electric grid, cyber threats and extreme weather events bring new challenges for keeping the lights on and America powered up. Jim Robb, president and CEO of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation joins Energy Solutions to share why the power system is under stress – and why it's time to recommit to reliability as the energy landscape evolves.

Hosted by Todd Snitchler, president and CEO, Electric Power Supply Association

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Can conservatives learn to love climate policy? As more and more Republicans understand the need to reduce emissions, Alex Flint talks to industry and walks the halls of Capitol Hill to find and share ideas that can accelerate decarbonization – without sending America over the fiscal cliff. Hear what matters to conservatives when it comes to improving our environment, economy and energy security – and why competitive market-based solutions like a carbon price will accelerate the energy transition and could gain elusive bipartisan agreement.   

Guest: 

Alex Flint, executive director, Alliance for Market Solutions 

Host: 

Todd Snitchler, president and CEO, Electric Power Supply Association 

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Americans want reliable, affordable and cleaner electricity. This episode's guest, Dr. Joe Bowring, says if working properly, competitive markets will deliver those goals – but there are a lot of challenges from the pressure to subsidize power plants and new policy goals. He’s the referee – or independent market monitor – for PJM Interconnection, the nation’s largest grid operator and competitive wholesale electricity market. We discuss why subsidies to nuclear plants like those passed in Illinois drive up costs and harm market efficiency, the true impact of the Minimum Offer Price Rule (MOPR) on energy resources in PJM, and how we can better design markets to deliver emissions reductions while keeping costs low and the lights on. 

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In many parts of the country, regional transmission organizations and independent system operators – RTOs and ISOs – govern the flow of electricity. Many experts say RTOs and ISOs are the foundation to get to where we want to go on climate, cost and energy security. But this episode's guest, Vince Duane, says RTOs may no longer be able to meet today's complex energy challenges. We dig in on what's needed to continue the progress these competitive models have enabled.

Guest: Vince Duane, principal, Copper Monarch, LLC and former senior vice president and general counsel, PJM Interconnection

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As winter approaches, electricity suppliers are working hard to ensure reliable and affordable power is on hand when customers need it. It’s a full team effort, relying on all parts of the energy production, generation and delivery chain. We check in with the Natural Gas Supply Association for the outlook on natural gas supply and prices, which are projected to be slightly higher this year - as well as how to enhance reliable electric service nationwide as we add more clean generation to the grid.

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Energy solutions require both political parties to be part of the conversation. In this episode, we talk with Utah Representative John Curtis, a Republican who founded the Conservative Climate Caucus. He shares what approaches to reduce emissions fit a conservative framework, and what's needed to forge consensus - both at home and on a global scale.

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In this episode, we look at how leaders on the global stage are addressing climate change. Our guest, Lord Gregory Barker is co-chair of the World Bank's Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition as well as executive chair of the En+ Group. He's optimistic that progress is being made on the drive to decarbonize - and that a price on carbon would really move the needle. Plus, his takeaways from COP 26.

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