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...
May 15, 2024•45 min•Ep. 39
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...
Apr 19, 2024•34 min•Ep. 38
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 Summ...
Apr 19, 2024•35 min•Ep. 38
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...
Apr 19, 2024•29 min•Ep. 38
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 fires...
Apr 19, 2024•32 min•Ep. 38
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 Comp...
Mar 15, 2024•35 min•Season 1Ep. 37
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 dispa...
Feb 21, 2024•41 min•Ep. 36
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 ec...
Jan 29, 2024•36 min•Season 1Ep. 35
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. Liked this episode? Share it on X @EPSANews or LinkedIn at Electric Power S...
Dec 19, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 34
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. Liked this episode? Share it on X @EPSANews or LinkedIn at E...
Nov 21, 2023•34 min•Season 1Ep. 33
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 Po...
Oct 18, 2023•34 min•Season 1Ep. 32
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 concern...
Sep 19, 2023•39 min•Season 1Ep. 31
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. Liked this episode? Share it on X @EPSANews or LinkedIn at Electric Powe...
Aug 28, 2023•34 min•Season 1Ep. 30
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. Liked this episode? Share it on X @EPSANews or LinkedIn at Ele...
Jul 19, 2023•45 min•Season 1Ep. 29
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 ...
Jun 15, 2023•42 min•Season 1Ep. 28
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...
May 23, 2023•41 min•Season 1Ep. 27
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 addi...
May 02, 2023•33 min•Season 1Ep. 26
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 ...
Apr 19, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 25
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. Liked th...
Apr 19, 2023•34 min•Season 1Ep. 24
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 ...
Feb 28, 2023•29 min•Season 1Ep. 23
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. Liked this episode? Share it on X @EPSANews or LinkedIn at Electric Power Supply Assoc...
Feb 01, 2023•42 min•Season 1Ep. 22
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. Liked this episode? Share it...
Dec 21, 2022•31 min•Season 1Ep. 21
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. Liked this episode? Share it on X @EPSANews or LinkedIn at Electric Power Supply Association. Want mor...
Nov 17, 2022•43 min•Season 1Ep. 20
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. Liked this episode? Share it on X @EPSANew...
Oct 21, 2022•39 min•Season 1Ep. 19
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. Liked this episode? Share it on X @EPSANews or LinkedIn at ...
Sep 22, 2022•39 min•Season 1Ep. 18
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. Liked this episode? Share it on X @EPSANews or LinkedIn at Electric Power Supply Association. Want...
Aug 30, 2022•32 min•Season 1Ep. 17
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 G...
Jul 27, 2022•21 min•Season 1Ep. 16
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...
Jun 20, 2022•19 min•Season 1Ep. 15
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. Liked this episode? Share it on X @EPSANews or LinkedIn at Electric Power Supply Associat...
Apr 14, 2022•33 min•Season 1Ep. 14
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...
Mar 23, 2022•37 min•Season 1Ep. 13
