In this episode of Know Power, Noha and Mike sit down with Christina Hayes, Executive Director for Americans for a Clean Energy Grid. They unravel the complexities of the energy grid, focusing on the evolution of transmission systems, the implications of recent policy changes, and the urgent need for a robust, high-capacity transmission infrastructure to meet the nation's energy demands. Christina shares her journey from her roots in Oregon to her pivotal role in shaping energy policy and infrastructure on a national scale.

Guest bio: Christina Hayes is the Executive Director of Americans for a Clean Energy Grid. She previously served as Vice President of Federal Regulatory Affairs at Berkshire Hathaway Energy, advising Midwestern and Western utilities in navigating FERC, NERC, and other federal agencies. Prior to joining BHE, Christina spent nearly a decade at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, serving as an attorney and advisor to Chairman Wellinghoff. A native Oregonian, Christina has also served as an administrative law judge at the Public Utility Commission of Oregon.

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[00:01:14] Christina Hayes’ background and career path

[00:02:08] Discussion on energy's universal impact

[00:03:31] Christina’s journey from Oregon to FERC and beyond

[00:04:59] Early career influences and legislative work

[00:06:55] The effect of Order 888 and Order 1000 on transmission development

[00:12:15] The need for adaptation and ongoing adjustments in energy policy

[00:13:57] Emerging needs and the inevitable investment in transmission

[00:20:57] FERC's efforts in improving state-level coordination for transmission projects

[00:26:15] State policies and their impact on energy planning

[00:28:09] Interregional coordination and the concept of "Big Wires"

[00:36:08] The economic impact of transmission systems

[00:42:47] Challenges and solutions in planning, permitting, and paying for transmission

[00:47:58] Tax credits and incentives for transmission development

[00:55:26] Transmission infrastructure and future planning

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Noha Sidhom

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Mike Borgatti

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Gabel Associates

In this episode of Know Power, Noha and Mike speak with Pat Wood, a pivotal figure in transforming energy markets through regulatory innovation. With a distinguished career spanning leadership roles at the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Wood brings a unique perspective on energy policy, market design, and the balance between regulation and innovation. Caitlin Smith, representing Jupiter Power, joins as a co-host, contributing insights from the renewable energy sector.

Guest bio:

Pat Wood III is the past Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and of the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT). The son of a small businessman, Pat has been a forceful advocate throughout his career for robust infrastructure and for customer-centered, technology-unleashing competition.

Today, as CEO of the Hunt Energy Network, Pat and his team are shaping the dependable, decarbonized, democratized, decentralized, diverse and digitalized future of the power grid. By the end of 2028, the team expects to have an 1100 MW portfolio of distributed batteries and peaking generation assets attached to the Texas power grid.

Pat has served as a director of a number of public energy companies: independent power producer Dynegy (Board chairman); solar pioneer SunPower (lead independent director), modular nuclear generation (NuScale) sponsor Spring Valley Acquisition Corp., natural gas producer Memorial Resource Development, and infrastructure contractor Quanta Services. Pat is chairman of the board of Luma Energy, overseeing the Quanta-ATCO joint venture to rebuild and operate the Puerto Rico utility system.

Pat holds a B.S. degree (civil engineering) from Texas A&M University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. He, and his wife, Kathleen, are raising four sons, and there is never a dull moment.

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[00:02:05] Pat Wood's origins in the energy sector, from Port Arthur to FERC

[00:03:27] Transitioning gas utilities to competitive markets, drawing parallels to electricity

[00:04:30] Market design and the unfinished business of standardization

[00:06:16] The complexity of implementing a standard market design across diverse regions

[00:07:31] Efforts in renewable energy integration and the role of competitive markets

[00:10:05] The dynamic interplay between state and federal energy regulations

[00:18:32] Discussion on grid constraints and integrating new generation resources

[00:22:43] The potential of demand response and distributed energy resources in grid management

[00:27:41] Future outlook on infrastructure development and renewable energy support

[00:34:18] The socio-economic impacts of energy policy and infrastructure development

[00:38:05] Examining successful renewable energy projects and key takeaways

[00:42:22] Technological advancements and their implications for energy storage and distribution

[00:45:37] Strategies for enhancing grid reliability in the face of growing energy demands

[00:49:08] Global energy trends influencing domestic energy policies

[00:53:17] The importance of consumer education in energy conservation and choice

[01:02:09] Energy innovation and the collaborative effort towards a sustainable energy future

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Noha Sidhom

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Mike Borgatti

In today's episode, we're joined by a seasoned expert, David Applebaum of The Hawthorne Group. We will unpack the challenges of implementing renewable projects and the political campaigns that sometimes need to accompany them. David will share why developers must adopt a campaign-style approach to successfully engage with various communities and stakeholders, especially amidst the diverse local regulations and concerns. We’ll touch on the power of traditional outreach methods, such as town meetings and door knocking, and new-school strategies, like social media, to engage communities effectively. Michael will explore renewables' real impacts on local economies and landscapes, acknowledging the concerns and emphasizing the benefits. At the same time, Noha will highlight developers' crucial role in respecting and engaging with communities to foster project success.

Guest bio: David has nearly four decades of experience as a political and policy strategist with deep experience in state and local issues management in the public and private sectors and working with Regional Transmission Organizations in the Northeastern U.S. and Canada. In the private sector, David was Director of Business Development for Ballard Generation Systems, a subsidiary of Vancouver-based fuel cell developer Ballard Power Systems; Vice President for Government and Community Relations for New York-based independent power company Sithe Energies, Inc.; and most recently retired as Senior Director of Regulatory & Political Affairs at NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, the world’s leading producer of electricity from the wind and sun and a world leader in energy storage. During his 22-year tenure with both NextEra Energy Resources and Sithe Energies, David was responsible for managing legislative, regulatory, and community matters at the state and local levels, as well as representing the companies at the Regional Transmission Organizations covering New York, PJM, New England and Ontario.

[00:02:32] Community-level power project strategies

[00:06:55] Renewable energy development and community engagement progress

[00:10:40] Successful engagement strategies for renewable energy developers in rural communities

[00:19:25] Progress in renewable energy development in Southwest Power Pool regions

[00:24:18] Strategies for successful renewable energy project campaigning

[00:28:50] Challenges developers face with the power of new media tools

[00:32:44] The importance of upfront community analysis for renewable energy developers

[00:36:32] Tailoring renewable energy project strategies to community concerns

[00:40:33] The organic nature of opposition to renewable projects, not driven by big money

[00:49:19] Local considerations in renewable energy project development

[00:52:35] Lessons from fracking for renewable energy development

[00:56:59] Advocating for a campaign mindset in renewable energy development

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Noha Sidhom

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Mike Borgatti

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Gabel Associates