Strategy & Planning

“We must find ways into resources that provide baseload power. If we can define a real path to the future, perhaps we can slow down the transition to where we can protect the consumer, not just residential consumers but the commercial and industrial consumers, and keep the economy flowing.”

“If I had one wish, we would have more interregional transmission planning and be addressing the seams issue. That is a need and can be the solution for the number of renewables that need to come online across our country, particularly to address reliability issues and extreme weather events.”

“The one issue bringing all western Commissioners together is being asked to engage on how to design markets in the west. There are two organizations proposing competing day-ahead markets.”

Conversations with Commissioner Ann Rendahl, Chair Carrie Zalewski, and Commissioner Eric Skrmetta with PUF’s Paul Kjellander, former NARUC President.

“More than ever before, the utilities that operate the grid, their regulators, and society at large, understand their fates should be increasingly intertwined going forward. Climate change and GHG reduction mandates make DER integration a necessity, along with building and transportation electrification.”

“We see opportunities, especially with the Inflation Reduction Act. There’s a lot of benefit to coal plant repurposing from a cost-per-megawatt-hour savings with the tax credit. You gain more tax credit benefit from hydrogen production.”

Fourteen Guidehouse experts hit their buzzers and answer our questions: Chris Rogers, Raquel Malmberg, Britt Harter, Ed Batalla, Robyn Link, Graham Dickson, Nicole Wobus, Shaun Fernando, Danielle Vitoff, Lisa Frantzis, Patrick Di Gregory, Peter Shaw, Jenny Hampton, and Erik Larson.

“We submitted two concept papers for the GRIP programs aimed at grid resiliency infrastructure. One for grid modernization and infrastructure enhancement to reduce wildfire. We were invited to apply on two concept papers, which is remarkable because about 50% were requested to apply for a grant.”

“With the Infrastructure Act, the State of Idaho can receive about $25 million over five years to make investments in grid hardening and modernization. We’ve never done that before. The State relies on utilities and specifically the PUC, to decide when and how to shape those investments. Now, we’ve got an opportunity to help facilitate investments.”

“Although grant funding is speculative, the sums available for eligible projects are significant and that is a driver. A lot of the funding is open to innovative solutions that are on the cusp of commercialization, such as the distributed energy startup we have at Emera called BlockEnergy.”