CFC Solutions Cast

CFC Senior Energy Industry Analyst Alisha Pinto examines how utilities are using microgrids to rethink resilience, prioritizing outcomes like uptime, faster recovery and continuity over one-time asset investments. Related content:

• Watch the video of this episode, "Microgrids Shift Resilience from Assets to Outcomes."
• Read the Solutions article, "Wired for Resilience: Microgrids Solve Reliability Issues."

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

CFC members can learn more about the latest industry and technology trends by visiting nrucfc.coop/Solutions.

CFC Director of Utility Research & Policy Brian Sloboda shares what electric cooperatives can do to protect utility infrastructure and how they should focus their physical security efforts. Related content:

• Watch the video of this episode, "Why Deterrence, Resilience Matter in Physical Security."
• Read the Solutions article, "Mid-Year Trends Update: Physical Security."

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

CFC members can learn more about the latest industry and technology trends by visiting nrucfc.coop/Solutions.

CFC Senior Energy Industry Analyst Alisha Pinto examines how wildfires are becoming not just a serious safety and operational risk for electric cooperatives, but also a financial threat and governance issue that insurance companies and credit rating agencies are watching closely. Related content:

• Watch the video of this episode, "Wildfire Mitigation Is Now a Financial, Governance Issue"
• Read the Solutions article, "Missoula EC Responds to Rising Wildfire Risk"
• Read the Solutions article, "Co-ops Harness the Power of Data for Wildfire Protection"

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

CFC members can learn more about the latest industry and technology trends by visiting nrucfc.coop/Solutions.

CFC Energy and Data Analyst Chris Whittle takes a closer look at how a shift in federal policy toward reliability and phase-out of key tax incentives is shaping power supply dynamics and what this means for electric cooperatives. 

Related content:

• Watch the video of this episode, "What Co-ops Should Know About Changing Power Supply Dynamics"
• Read the Solutions article, "As Load Growth Accelerates, Utilities Tap Private Capital"
• Read the Solutions article, "Power Supply Trends To Watch in 2026: Renewables, Coal" 

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

CFC members can learn more about the latest industry and technology trends by visiting nrucfc.coop/Solutions.

SECO Energy CEO Curtis Wynn discusses how innovation in electric cooperatives should be tied to the specific challenges in a co-op’s environment, guided by long-term strategy rather than the status quo.

Watch the video of this episode, "Cooperative Innovation ‘Essential’ in Today’s Environment."

For questions and requests about industry research topics, please contact [email protected].
Learn more about the latest industry and technology trends by visiting nrucfc.coop/Solutions.

CFC Director, Utility Research & Policy Brian Sloboda offers a pragmatic outlook on virtual power plants over the short-term and their implications for electric cooperatives.

Related content:

• Watch the video of this episode, "Virtual Power Plants: Strategic Opportunity, Not Strategic Imperative"
• Read the Solutions article, "Exploring Virtual Power Plants: Key Considerations for Leaders."
• Download CFC's issue brief, "Co-ops See Movement Toward Virtual Power Plants." 

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

CFC members can learn more about the latest industry and technology trends by visiting nrucfc.coop/Solutions.

CFC Director of Utility Research & Policy Brian Sloboda looks at how artificial intelligence (AI) use policies can help electric cooperatives get the most benefit from using AI while keeping human beings firmly in control.

Related content:

• Watch the video of this episode, "AI Use Policies Key To Leveraging Its Potential."
• Read the Solutions article, "Turning AI Into Member Value."
• Download CFC's issue brief, "Powering the AI Boom: What Data Center Growth Means for Electric Cooperatives." 

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

CFC members can learn more about the latest industry and technology trends by visiting nrucfc.coop/Solutions.

Join CFC researchers Sam Kem and Chris Whittle as they look at the risks of building large-scale, long-duration infrastructure to fuel AI computing power with uncertain future demand.

Mentioned on the show:

• The Data Center Surge: What 2026’s Fastest-Growing Sector Means for Utilities
• Economic & Market Watch: ⁠A Buyer's Market for Credit
• Economic & Market Watch: ⁠Don't Budget for AI Costs to Hold Steady

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

Contact the Economic & Market Watch team at [email protected].
Visit us, download the dashboard and explore other Solutions media on our website, nrucfc.coop/Solutions.

CFC Energy and Data Analyst Chris Whittle explores data center-driven load growth forecasts, market constraints and how electric cooperatives can best position themselves for success.

Related content:

• Watch the CFC Solutions Cast video of this episode, "What Data Center Growth Means for Electric Co-ops." 
• Read the CFC Solutions Cooperative News article, "The Data Center Surge: What 2026's Fastest-Growing Sector Means for Utilities."
• Download CFC's issue brief, "Powering the AI Boom: What Data Center Growth Means for Electric Cooperatives." 

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

CFC members can learn more about the latest industry and technology trends by visiting the Solutions website under the Energy & Tech page, nrucfc.coop/Solutions.

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].