Join CFC experts John Suter, vice president of economic research, and Jan Ahlen, vice president, utility research and policy, for their takes on the trends our research teams expect will shape 2026. 

This episode contains the audio content from our 2026 Industry and Economic Trends Report. If you'd rather watch Jan and John, their commentaries are available as videos in the full report. 

• Visit the full Trends Report for more, including videos and PDF transcripts.

For questions and requests about industry research topics, please contact [email protected].

For questions and requests about economic topics, please contact [email protected].

Join Tracy McBride as she explores the power of sharing knowledge to prepare the next generation of leaders and drive meaningful change. 

As energy demands evolve and sustainability goals intensify, nuclear power is re-entering the conversation in a significant way. In this edition of Industry Insights, CFC’s Alisha Pinto takes a closer look at the recent developments shaping the future of nuclear energy—its potential, its challenges, and what its return could mean for the broader energy landscape.

In this episode of Solutions Cast, Jonathan Layfield, Vice President of Finance at York Electric Cooperative, explores his unique path from the restaurant industry to the utility sector. Their conversation covers leadership development, the introduction of AI to the workforce, and the challenges of maintaining reliable service during rapid growth and natural disasters. 

As summer temperatures soar across the United States, electricity demand surges to record highs. In this episode of Industry Insights, Chris Whittle, CFC’s energy industry analyst, explores how dispatchable generation helped grid operators maintain reliability during extreme heat events.

In this episode of Industry Insights, Vice President of Financial Tools & Analysis Aaron Stallings explores the recent release of the 2024 Key Ratio Trend Analysis (KRTA) report, now in its 50th year. Find out what areas are driving growth and how electric cooperatives continue to maintain solid financial metrics despite the elevated interest rate environment and persistent inflation.

In this episode of Industry Insights, Senior Energy Industry Analyst Alisha Pinto breaks down the U.S. Department of Commerce’s proposed tariffs on solar imports from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Learn how these anti-dumping and countervailing duties—some as high as 3,400%—could reshape the solar supply chain, impact electric cooperatives and open doors for domestic manufacturing. Tune in for insights on policy shifts, market responses and what lies ahead for the solar sector.

In this episode of Industry Insights, Vermont Electric Cooperative CFO Caroline Mashia shares how the cooperative is adapting to rapid electrification, rooftop solar and shifting energy peaks in one of the most dynamic energy landscapes in the U.S.

Join CFC’s Jan Ahlen to discover how AI is revolutionizing the utility industry, improving operations and serving members better.

Electricity consumption will drive U.S. economic growth, with data centers leading the charge. Join CFC’s Chris Whittle to explore the challenges and opportunities for electric cooperatives in this evolving landscape.