Energy Solutions: A Podcast From EPSA

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 standing in the way of a more reliable, affordable, and cleaner grid – and the race to power AI and a growing economy.  

Highlights: 

•  Why we need all types of energy projects – urgently 
• How local roadblocks are making infrastructure slower and more expensive
• What’s changed in permitting, siting, and community politics 
• What developers and policymakers can do differently 

A must-listen for anyone who cares about the future of the grid, energy innovation, or how we build anything in America today. 

Guest: Curtis Wilkerson, Orion Strategies 

Host: Todd Snitchler, President and CEO, EPSA 

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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. 

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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 collaboration are essential to meet the moment.

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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 investment in competitive, reliable energy solutions.

“Just five miles from where I’m sitting, a new data center is going up. Another town in my district is building one too. And we’re looking at energy demand rising 4.5 to 8% just this year alone.” – Bob Latta

Plus, hear his thoughts on why bipartisan momentum could lead to meaningful energy policy changes in 2025. Don’t miss this conversation on what's top of mind for energy decisionmakers on Capitol Hill.

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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 manufacturing. Tune in for a deep dive into the trends shaping the electroindustry and what it will take to power the next generation of innovation -- including a sneak preview of key findings from NEMA's upcoming study on just how much energy will be needed to power data centers, electric vehicles, and more. 

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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 energy expansion. We’ll close out the episode with a 2024 debrief and an outlook for 2025 from EPSA President and CEO and Energy Solutions host Todd Snitchler.

Guests:

• Julie Fedorchak, North Dakota Public Service Commission, Congresswoman-elect (ND), NARUC
• Jim Robb, NERC
• Christi Tezak, ClearView Energy Partners LLC 
• Kelly Speakes-Backman, Invenergy 
• Aftab Khan, PJM Interconnection
• Rep. August Pfluger, Texas (R-11)  
• Derrick Kulalapai, United Association

Watch: Competitive Power Summit Recordings
Register: EPSA Competitive Power Summit 2025
Listen: ENERGY RUSH: Expert Voices Talk Rising Power Demand 

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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 top focus areas for ACEG, how she sees the energy “trilemma” working out — and just why transmission permitting is ACEG’s #1 priority.  

Plus, don’t miss her joint op ed written with EPSA President and CEO Todd Snitchler on energy policy needs that transcend partisan divides.

Our 4th annual Competitive Power Summit registration is NOW OPEN. Register here to join us on April 2, 2025 for a day of expert panels and networking geared towards facing the challenges and opportunities posed by a changing energy grid.

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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 the intricate parts of our infrastructure which most of us take for granted. Derrick paints a picture of what union laborers in construction and manufacturing do, how they see a “just transition” playing out, and what he wants policymakers to prioritize.

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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 executives from Alpha Generation, Calpine Corporation, and LS Power.

See Calpine's press release on expansion of generation development efforts in the PJM region.

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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 Texas Representative August Pfluger and Arizona Commissioner Lea Marquez Peterson.

Liked this episode? Share it on X @EPSANews or LinkedIn at Electric Power Supply Association. Want more competitive power updates? Sign up for our monthly Power Moves newsletter.