The GT Power Hour: Episode 33 (All Eyez on Md.: MD PSC Chair Jason Stanek's big task)

The GT Power Hour: Episode 33 (All Eyez on Md.: MD PSC Chair Jason Stanek's big task)

MOPRs, ROFRs and NOPRs, oy vey! In which we welcome back Jason Stanek, who chairs Maryland’s Public Service Commission, to discuss the tensions and challenges presented by Maryland’s Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022. Becoming effective on June 1 this year, the legislation is considered arguably the most ambitious climate-change law adopted by any state in the country, and Stanek’s commission will be tasked with getting the state on the right path to accomplish it — all without hiring any additional staff. It’s probably fair to think of Maryland over the next nine years as a bellwether for how feasible, given local objections to the necessary infrastructure development, rapid decarbonization in the power industry is. They’re the “canary in the coal mine,” as Chair Stanek notes, so “keep an eye on Maryland…”

Other topics include PJM’s recently released Grid of the Future study, the FERC/NARUC Joint Federal-State Task Force on Transmission, FERC’s NOPR on transmission, New Jersey’s evaluation agreement with PJM on offshore wind, food recommendations at the diner by the Buffalo airport, hot takes on college mascots, criticizing the U.S. Postal Service’s decision to not purchase EVs for its fleet, New Jersey officials for subsidizing nuclear plants and every overly-confident clean-energy activist on the Internet, thoughts about Maryland politics, its capital city and that big horse race it holds each year.

The GT Power Hour: Episode 32 (N.J.'s Path to Carbon-Free Power, w/ Princeton U. Prof. Jesse Jenkins)

The GT Power Hour: Episode 32 (N.J.'s Path to Carbon-Free Power, w/ Princeton U. Prof. Jesse Jenkins)

In which we… well, honestly, we talk a lot more about basketball than most episodes — but such comparative analysis fits well given that our guest is Jesse Jenkins, a Princeton University professor, energy-system analyst and modeler and all-around deep-thinker on the best and most-frugal paths to power-industry decarbonization. We dig into a study recently published by his ZERO Lab on pathways to a 100% carbon-free electricity in New Jersey (spoiler alert: you’ll still need natural gas, imports from other states will be key and offshore wind is perhaps too expensive), but also discuss life in the Ivy League in the time of COVID, technology tribalism in the energy-transition community, the media’s value in energy research, the good professor’s confession that he might be “a bad Duck” and much more!

The GT Power Hour: Episode 31 (Workers Wanted: ICC Chair Carrie Zalewski talks CEJA implementation)

The GT Power Hour: Episode 31 (Workers Wanted: ICC Chair Carrie Zalewski talks CEJA implementation)

In which we ask Illinois Commerce Commission Chair Carrie Zalewski to summarize Illinois’ new Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), and it still takes more than an hour — though, in fairness, we do also shoot a lot of hardball Illinois-related Rapid Fire questions at her. Listen for discussions on grid reliability, performance-based rates, integration plans for the state’s electricity-distribution utilities, lessons learned from the reliability issues in Texas and much more!

The GT Power Hour: Episode 30 (Planning for Renewables and the Grid of the Future, w. PJM's Ken Seiler)

The GT Power Hour: Episode 30 (Planning for Renewables and the Grid of the Future, w. PJM's Ken Seiler)

In which we ask Ken Seiler, PJM’s vice president of system planning, to unbox transmission-planning issues and how PJM is preparing for a grid of the future that’s dominated by intermittent-renewable resources. Generator interconnection is front and center, but we also get into the New Jersey BPU’s SAA and offshore wind, FERC’s transmission-focused ANOPR, cost allocation, system reliability, fly-tying, various books: A River Runs Through It by Norman MacLean, Power Hungry by Robert Bryce and Shorting the Grid: The Hidden Fragility of Our Electric Grid by Meredith Angwin, Penn State, THON and Glen’s recent visit to NARUC.

The GT Power Hour: Episode 29 (The Politics of Energy Generation, w. FERC Cmmsr. Mark Christie)

The GT Power Hour: Episode 29 (The Politics of Energy Generation, w. FERC Cmmsr. Mark Christie)

In which we receive several history lessons from FERC Commissioner Mark Christie on what has caused capacity markets to (so far) fail to live up to their full promise and threatens to tear regional markets apart, as well as what choices states have. From there, we consider the impact to the industry of the shale-gas revolution, get to the bottom of the tension regarding the minimum offer-price rule (MOPR), make a plea for Robert Caro to finish his LBJ biography series and the Steelers to draft Heisman-finalist Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett to replace Roethlisberger, reminisce about the heroes of the golden age of Pittsburgh Pirates baseball and the antiheroes of the current Golden Age of Television, pay tribute to former Virginia SCC Judge Preston Shannon, discuss new year’s resolutions and Glen’s apparent love of coffee, plus much more.

The GT Power Hour: Episode 28 (The Second Annual Holiday-Season Year-End Predictions Show)

The GT Power Hour: Episode 28 (The Second Annual Holiday-Season Year-End Predictions Show)

In which we mark the end of Season 2 in our now annual tradition of debating the major industry trends of the past year. Listen closely as we explain how a Trump-era addition to the Federal Power Act is having unintended consequences, why 2021 may end up being the high-water mark for RTO/ISO participation and what happens to Pennsylvania’s currently most-famous Bens: Simmons and Roethlisberger. Happy holidays and see you next year!

The GT Power Hour: Episode 27 ("Exciting, challenging, but a little scary": How one long night in Harrisburg changed Pennsylvania's electricity future)

The GT Power Hour: Episode 27 ("Exciting, challenging, but a little scary": How one long night in Harrisburg changed Pennsylvania's electricity future)

In which we reminisce with current PA Public Utility Commission Chairman Gladys Brown Dutrieuille and two former chairs -- John Quain and Jim Cawley -- about Pennsylvania's Electric Generation Customer Choice and Competition Act of 1996, which celebrates its 25th anniversary next month. Aside from the benefits of the act, which ushered in customer choice and competition amongst generation suppliers while deconstructing vertically-integrated utility monopolies, we also dig into downsides of its legacy, including default service and utility-consolidated billing that continue to provide an ongoing advantage to incumbent suppliers, and the debates on both sides. Relive from the people who were there all the trepidation and intrigue of the those heady days and one very long night in Harrisburg in the late-fall of 1996!

The GT Power Hour: Episode 26 (How to Engage with Regulatory Commissioners, the Right Way)

The GT Power Hour: Episode 26 (How to Engage with Regulatory Commissioners, the Right Way)

In which we discuss state and federal energy regulation with Paul Kjellander, president of both the Idaho PUC and the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. Beyond cooperative federalism and the interface between FERC and state commissions, we dive into the problems with joining CAISO, what the future of the power grid will look like, generator-interconnection advice, the national political pastime of bashing the federal government, NARUC’s upcoming annual meeting in Louisville, Rory’s resemblance to folk-grass musician Tyler Childers, arcana of ancient Roman calendars, predictions for the winner NARUC-president Jeopardy, how energy professionals can best engage with utility commissioners and why Idaho is called the Gem State and the marketing ploy behind Boise State University’s blue football field.

The GT Power Hour: Episode 25 (A Primer on the Infrastructure Bill and all things Beltway)

The GT Power Hour: Episode 25 (A Primer on the Infrastructure Bill and all things Beltway)

In which we sit down with one of FERC’s newest voices, Commissioner Allison Clements, and delve into her perspectives on transmission, public participation, the grid of the future and many other topics, not to mention her love of the band Wilco and live music in general, split allegiances in the age-old Michigan-Ohio rivalry, and advice for how the white-male-dominated energy sector can increase representation and inclusion of everyone.

The GT Power Hour: Episode 24 (Clements on Transmission, Among Other Things)

The GT Power Hour: Episode 24 (Clements on Transmission, Among Other Things)

In which we sit down with one of FERC’s newest voices, Commissioner Allison Clements, and delve into her perspectives on transmission, public participation, the grid of the future and many other topics, not to mention her love of the band Wilco and live music in general, split allegiances in the age-old Michigan-Ohio rivalry, and advice for how the white-male-dominated energy sector can increase representation and inclusion of everyone.

The GT Power Hour: Episode 23 (Line in the Sand: A Garden State-ment)

The GT Power Hour: Episode 23 (Line in the Sand: A Garden State-ment)

In which we submit New Jersey Board of Public Utilities President Joe Fiordaliso to our line of questioning on resource adequacy, capacity markets, offshore wind, PJM, NIMBYism, state relations with PJM and FERC, New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan and its aggressive goals and the state of thermal generation in the Garden State.

Later, we force the president to engage in a little political Catch-22 and force him to pick favorites among beloved New Jersey icons, after which he doles out some advice to another president whose tenure his own has far exceeded and finally urges everyone to follow his state’s bold lead in addressing climate change.

The GT Power Hour: Episode 22 (Morgan You Bargained For)

The GT Power Hour: Episode 22 (Morgan You Bargained For)

In which we sit down with Curt Morgan, the president and CEO of Vistra Corp., to discuss his investment philosophy in the power-generation business, the current investment status of generation technologies, how financial markets are disciplining the industry and leading the ESG revolution, the “terminal value” issue with gas-fired generation and why you never want to be the first owner of such a facility, gas pipelines’ dirty little secret, the reality of climate change, putting the power-industry transition into historical perspective, how PJM’s markets have performed, why power markets need to ditch some terminology as they add emissions to their list of must-haves, why carbon pricing and PJM’s MOPR are DOA and ERCOT turning gun-shy.

The GT Power Hour: Episode 21 (Bowring 2: The Monitor Is Always Watching)

The GT Power Hour: Episode 21 (Bowring 2: The Monitor Is Always Watching)

In which we welcome PJM Independent Market Monitor Joe Bowring into the illustrious GT Power Hour Two-Timers Club to continue discussion of the compelling comments fellow club-member FERC Chairman Glick made on the previous episode, and the Monitor - as he is wont to do - happily (and ably) complies. Brace for a deep dive on the minimum offer-price rule (MOPR) in the capacity market, why FERC wants it pared back, how PJM appears likely to respond, the interaction of capacity and energy markets and what can be done to transfer generators’ reliance on capacity-market payments to actual performance in energy and ancillary-services markets. Let’s just say the Monitor and the Chairman don’t see eye to eye on several things.

It’s a pretty meaty talk that doesn’t stray far from the issues at hand, but there is some ranting and commiseration on the misery of driving the I-76 Schuylkill Expressway. Better buckle up!

The GT Power Hour: Episode 20 (Glick 2: A Change Is Gonna Come... No Really, Like Now)

The GT Power Hour: Episode 20 (Glick 2: A Change Is Gonna Come... No Really, Like Now)

In which we take a second crack at recently appointed FERC Chairman Rich Glick as he settles into his new role, and he is very clear in setting his agenda: changes are coming - and some are already here. Less than three months into his leadership, Glick’s FERC has already announced more than a dozen major changes and initiatives, some of which touch on hot-button issues - like system reliability and resource adequacy in relation to climate change - and others that focus on it, such as creating a new senior-level commission position to address environmental justice and opening an Office of Public Participation.

From PJM’s minimum offer-price rule (MOPR) to the standards for evaluating proposals for natural-gas pipelines to how power generators are compensated and whether capacity markets are essential, the chairman goes on to lay out his vision and plans going forward, as well as expected timelines. We also discuss his beloved New York Mets, his abysmal record in picking this year’s March Madness winners and his expectations on energy-related legislation coming out of Congress this session. Shorter than many of our episodes, let’s just call this one “highly concentrated” and well worth the time!

Excerpts from GTPH Episode 19: An interview with energy leader Pat Wood on what really happened during the Texas power crisis

Excerpts from GTPH Episode 19: An interview with energy leader Pat Wood on what really happened during the Texas power crisis

We’ve had a lot of current and former electricity-industry regulators on the GT Power Hour, as well as several current and former company CEOs and other industry leaders. But few of the interviews were quite as revealing as the conversation we had this month with Pat Wood III.

Maybe it’s his Texas-raised demeanor or his experience as the top industry regulator in both his home state and FERC, which has authority over all but his home state. Whatever it is, Pat has a way with words (and images: he even provided the accompanying picture of his hearty azaleas, the storms’ impacts on which we discuss in depth during the episode as part of the explanation on what happened) - so much so that I felt it was worth the time and energy to transcribe a few of the highlights.

The GT Power Hour: Episode 19 (What Really Happened in Texas?)

The GT Power Hour: Episode 19 (What Really Happened in Texas?)

In which we dig into the causes of the Texas power outages in February 2021 and their potential consequences by sitting down with perhaps the one person in the world best equipped to discuss the situation: Pat Wood, who’s served as the top utility regulator both at FERC and the one state FERC doesn’t oversee, Texas. If you’re wondering what the likelihood is that Texas gets a capacity market, FERC oversight, a change in the pace of its power-generation transition or additional direct-current (DC) ties to neighboring grids, Pat’s got an answer.
But it’s also the one-year anniversary of the global pandemic, St. Patrick’s Day, Oscar’s nominees were announced - and don’t forget the return of March Madness! All receive their due attention, not to mention discussion of final requests, Cuban cigars, the famous Gruene Hall, BBQ, Mother Nature and the heartiness of azaleas.
There’s so much here, that (for the first time ever) we couldn’t keep it all to a single hour… Apparently everything is bigger in Texas - even podcasts!

The GT Power Hour: Episode 18 (Capacity-Market Deep Dive)

The GT Power Hour: Episode 18 (Capacity-Market Deep Dive)

In which Glen and Rory dig deep to break down PJM’s capacity construct: where it’s been, where it’s going, how it compares to other regional grids and the major forces at play in shaping its future.
But that’s not all! (It never is.) TB12 and the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip make appearances in the conversation as Glen coins the phrase “that warm barn of regulation” and presages the devastating blackouts in Texas that would occur just hours after recording the episode. What should become of the MOPR? Are PJM and its member states still invested in competitive markets? What’s the deal with monopsony market-power? Can state statutes play nice with market forces? How does the new-look FERC impact all of this? Does New Jersey’s new market-design idea have legs? No questions barred and all things considered, it’s a discussion about electricity supply and system reliability that you don’t want to miss!

The GT Power Hour: Episode 17 (The Right Manu for the Job)

The GT Power Hour: Episode 17 (The Right Manu for the Job)

In which we probe deep into the mind of Manu Asthana one year into his tenure as PJM’s president and CEO, and he proves to be up to the task – both in the interview and the job. Ranging from the MOPR, the ORDC, the NJBPU’s state-agreement approach on analyzing offshore wind and a word salad of other industry jargon to the pandemic and social-justice movements, we explore our guest’s perspectives on a wide variety of topics – and consistently return to themes of unity and equality that might be exactly the kind of leadership PJM needs right now.

The GT Power Hour: Episode 16 (Season 1 Year-in-Review Holiday Special)

The GT Power Hour: Episode 16 (Season 1 Year-in-Review Holiday Special)

In which Glen and Rory mark the end of Season 1 by kicking back and reviewing the year that was in their own signature way: debating over lists! Without ruining the suspense, expect to hear about the MOPR, action on carbon and climate, the ascendancy of the Washington Football Team and the ending of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ bid for an undefeated season, a return to stronger pandemic restrictions and what that means for PJM, ELCC, nuclear-bailout scandals, interconnection frustrations, stakeholder tensions and organizational challenges at PJM. Don’t like our lists? Send us a note and tell us what we missed… Happy holidays and see you next year!