In this panel, moderator John Burns (Carnival Burns) gathers a diverse group of industry heavyweights to discuss the practical policy considerations facing Minnesota leaders. The conversation brings together the perspectives of an investor-owned utility, rural electric co-ops, and organized labor.

Jim Pearson (Xcel Energy), Darrick Moe (Minnesota Rural Electric Association), and Lucas Franco (LIUNA) explore the critical intersection of policy and infrastructure. The group finds strong consensus on several major issues, most notably the need to lift Minnesota's moratorium on new nuclear energy to ensure reliability and meet carbon-free goals.

The panel also dives into the explosion of data center demand and the necessity of permitting reform to keep those projects—and jobs—in Minnesota. They discuss the untapped potential of geothermal energy, the flexibility of the co-op model, and the future of the Renewable Development Account (RDA).