Strategy & Planning

Conversations with Chair Joseph Maestas, Vice Chair Cynthia Hall, and Commissioners Theresa Becenti-Aguilar, Stephen Fischmann, and Jefferson Byrd.

We expect much more from these Fortnightly Under Forties and look forward to seeing where they go in their careers.

“Resilience is increasingly top of mind – despite the growing frequency and severity of extreme weather events and fires – but it is cybersecurity, rather than physical security and grid hardening, where utility industry participants see the greatest risk currently.”

“When we look at deep decarbonization, it’s going to take at least a couple decades. We have to be careful that the decisions we’re making for short-term gains aren’t making it more difficult for us in the future.”

Fourteen Guidehouse experts hit their buzzers and answer our questions: Hector Artze, Dan Bradley, Michelle Fay, Lisa Frantzis, Nicole Reed Fry, Ben Grunfeld, Derek Jones, Robyn Link, Chris Luras, Macky McCleary, David O’Brien, Molly Podolefsky, Danielle Vitoff, and Ted Walker.

“It’s resource adequacy, supply chain headwinds, and also market development. Those are the key issues in the west, regardless of whether you’re a state with clean-energy policies or not.”

“The secret that not everyone knows is, for many of these critical minerals, the U.S. has them here domestically. They can be found in different sources across the country. But can they be recovered in a way that’s environmentally friendly and can compete on cost?“

Utilities in the present aim to be fleet of foot. For them, nimble is a common buzzword. Fail fast is another.

“Working collaboratively has broad benefits. It can help utilities genuinely understand the needs of the communities they serve, so they can make more effective investments and act as partners in building more equitable, just communities.”

Panelists discuss technologies, financing options, and regulatory mechanisms states have pursued to break down barriers to facilitate microgrid development.