America runs on reliable, affordable electricity - but the demands on our grid are changing. From natural gas to renewable power, electric vehicles and the competitive power markets, what are the energy solutions to cultivate cleaner air, new technology and more innovative and reliable power generation - at the least cost? Experts and voices from throughout the electric industry and government join the Electric Power Supply Association to discuss emerging trends, current issues, energy customer needs, and new projects. Discover how competition unlocks solutions to build the grid of the future.
Last refreshed: ⓘ
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more
After years of flat demand, the power sector is facing a dramatic shift. AI, hyperscale data centers, electrification, and manufacturing growth are driving a new wave of electricity demand—and putting unprecedented pressure on the grid. Gas turbine orders are expected to peak in 2026 as developers secure equipment for more than 60 gigawatts of new gas capacity. In this episode, Matt Neal, President of Siemens Energy North America, joins EPSA President and CEO Todd Snitchler to break down what th...
In this special live episode of Energy Solutions , recorded at EPSA’s 5th Annual Competitive Power Summit, Ed Crooks of Wood Mackenzie moderates a panel on what it will take to finance the power system of the future. Panelists discuss how quickly new infrastructure can be built to meet rising demand, what investors need to deploy capital, and the policy and regulatory challenges shaping development in an increasingly tight supply-demand environment. Topics include: What it will take to finance t...
In this special episode of Energy Solutions , recorded live at EPSA's 5th Annual Competitive Power Summit, Kathryn Clay, Lead Energy & Climate Analyst at Washington Post Intelligence, moderates a discussion with LS Power Generation President Nate Hanson, Speaker Matt Huffman of the Ohio House of Representatives, Competitive Power Ventures CEO Sherman Knight, and Gordon van Welie, former President and CEO of ISO New England, on how state leadership is shaping where and how new energy resource...
In this special live episode of Energy Solutions , recorded at EPSA’s 5th Annual Competitive Power Summit, NARUC President Ann Rendahl and FERC Commissioner David Rosner join Todd Snitchler to discuss how regulators are navigating rising costs and growing investment needs across the power grid. They explore who pays for grid expansion, how to balance affordability with reliability, and the critical role state and federal regulators play in shaping the future of the power system. Topics include: ...
In this special live episode of Energy Solutions , recorded at EPSA’s 5th Annual Competitive Power Summit, Peter Lake of the White House National Energy Dominance Council joins Todd Snitchler to discuss the future of the U.S. power grid as demand surges from AI. Lake highlights the need to modernize grid policy, speed up interconnection, and support new infrastructure, emphasizing that energy policy is critical to economic strength, competitiveness, and national security. Topics include: Top pri...
In this special live episode of Energy Solutions , recorded at EPSA’s 5th Annual Competitive Power Summit on March 3 in Washington, D.C., EPSA President and CEO Todd Snitchler joins Wolfe Research analyst Steve Fleishman to discuss the surge in electricity demand driven by AI, data centers, and electrification—and what it means for investment in new power infrastructure. The conversation covers the reality behind rising load forecasts, how investors are responding, and why clear market structure...
AI and data centers are driving electricity demand higher just as Americans are feeling the pressure of rising energy bills. Meanwhile, utilities are seeking approval for unprecedented levels of grid investment. As state regulators gather this week for their annual Winter Policy Summit, the question is front and center: how do we keep the lights on without breaking the bank? In this episode, Ann Rendahl—who leads state utility regulators nationwide as president of NARUC and serves as a utility c...
With AI, data centers, and electrification are driving a surge in electricity demand, the pressure is on to keep America’s power grid reliable and affordable. The real question is whether we’ll meet this moment with competitive, market-driven investment – or shift the risk and the cost back onto consumers. In this episode of Energy Solutions , EPSA President and CEO Todd Snitchler sits down with Mason Emnett, Senior Vice President of Public Policy at Constellation Energy, the nation’s largest nu...
What would happen if a coordinated cyber and physical attack disrupted the systems that power daily life—not just power plants, but data centers, pipelines, and communications? Cyber and physical threats to the electric grid are growing more advanced, more frequent, and harder to detect. The impacts can ripple far beyond the energy sector, affecting communities, public safety, and the broader economy. From sophisticated phishing to copper theft from power plants, competitive power suppliers, gri...
As AI, electrification, and manufacturing growth drive record electricity demand, the U.S. grid faces new pressures to deliver reliable, affordable power. What can other regions learn from New England — one of America’s most energy-constrained power systems? In this episode of Energy Solutions , EPSA President and CEO Todd Snitchler sits down with Gordon van Welie, outgoing President and CEO of ISO New England, to reflect on 25 years of market evolution and what it takes to keep the lights on. T...
The U.S. power sector is at a critical turning point. AI, electrification, and manufacturing and economic growth are leading to surging electricity demand, and power supply is struggling to keep up as prices increase. How should policymakers and energy leaders respond to encourage wise investment without overbuilding, overspending, or undermining reliability? In this episode of Energy Solutions, EPSA President and CEO Todd Snitchler sits down with David Hill, Executive Vice President of the Bipa...
This episode delves into the PJM Governors' Conference, addressing critical issues like unprecedented load growth from data centers and the debate over rising power bills. Experts discuss the effectiveness of competitive markets versus re-regulation, the importance of accurate load forecasting, and the impact of political intervention on investment. They advocate for smarter reforms, better state-federal collaboration, and policy certainty to ensure a reliable and affordable power grid for the future.
The United States is undergoing a once-in-a-generation shift in electricity demand — driven in large part by the extraordinary growth of data centers, AI development, and cloud infrastructure. These digital engines are vital to national competitiveness, economic growth, and everyday life. But delivering on their promise requires a power system that can grow with them — reliably, affordably, and sustainably. In this episode of Energy Solutions, EPSA President Todd Snitchler sits down with Aaron T...
As electricity demand surges across the country due to data centers, electrification, and industrial growth, the U.S. power grid is under pressure to keep up. But what do the numbers really show, and where are we headed? In this episode of Energy Solutions, EPSA President and CEO Todd Snitchler sits down with Angelina LaRose, Assistant Administrator for Energy Analysis at the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), to dive into what the data is telling us – from a changing resource mix to ...
As electricity demand surges across the U.S. — driven by AI, data centers, electrification, and reshoring of manufacturing — one critical question rises to the top: Who’s going to build the grid of the future, where does the money come from, and how fast can we do it? In this episode of Energy Solutions, EPSA President and CEO Todd Snitchler sits down with Doug Kimmelman, Founder and Executive Chairman of Energy Capital Partners, to explore the role of private investment in meeting this challeng...
America’s energy demand is rising fast and our power supply has shrunk, but getting infrastructure built is harder than ever. In this episode, Curtis Wilkerson breaks down why critical projects like solar farms, natural gas plants, transmission lines, and hydrogen hubs face costly delays and fierce local (and outside) opposition – sometimes turning 3-year builds into 10-year battles. We explore how permitting challenges, political gridlock, and cultural disconnects at the community level are sta...
EPSA President and CEO Todd Snitchler talks with Stephen DeFrank, Chairman of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, about how the commonwealth is managing major electricity demand growth and advancing competitive power solutions. The Chairman offers a candid look at how a restructured state like Pennsylvania is addressing surging load from data centers, manufacturing, and electrification—while staying focused on reliability and affordability. Liked this episode? Share it on X @EPSANews or ...
Can the grid keep up with AI, data centers, and soaring energy demand? FERC and state leaders break it down live at EPSA’s Competitive Power Summit. Catch this conversation recorded live from EPSA’s Competitive Power Summit on April 2, 2025 with FERC Commissioner David Rosner and Georgia PSC Commissioner Tricia Pridemore. They explore how rising demand from AI and data centers is reshaping the electric grid — and why market innovation, infrastructure investment, and strong state-federal collabor...
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...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 executi...
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 Tex...
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 p...
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, a...
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 n...
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 ...
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. Liked this episode? Share it on X @EPSANews or...
