GT Power Hour

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.

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 Business Insider podcast discussed during the episode can be found here: https://www.businessinsider.com/brought-to-you-by-podcast-btyb-enron-mail.

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 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!

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.

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!

In which we once again subject FERC Commissioner Neil Chatterjee to the now-infamous Power Hour gauntlet for our one-year anniversary to sift through the fallout of an historic election, discuss the backlash he received for pushing the policy envelope and prognosticate on the state of affairs when this new administration's term concludes. In the aftermath of tectonic shifts to the landscape and now unencumbered by the confines of the chairmanship, our guest's rules of engagement have changed, and nothing escapes his crosshairs as we sweep the theater of operations, from the "Chevron deference" doctrine and the Jones Act to carbon pricing, his future in public service, his former boss Sen. Mitch McConnell, Tom Brady and USA Rugby. In a world on the brink of an energy revolution… with incendiary ideological conflict spilling into the halls of power and division at the highest levels… one man stands unbowed, ready to bridge the divide. Don't miss our talk with him!

In which we pressure Cheryl LaFleur, the former-FERC commissioner and current distinguished visiting fellow at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy, for hot takes on her fields of expertise - specifically the ones where her beloved New England Patriots are playing. Hustling as efficiently as a Tom Brady two-minute drill, we also go deep into the nuances of carbon pricing, how annoying fellow former-FERC Commissioner Rob Powelson was, the importance of not imputing bad intent from colleagues, maintaining FERC/state relationships, ensuring someone is responsible for and authorized to maintain reliability (we’re looking at you, California…), the ongoing transition to the grid of the future, being put in “the odd position of trying to explain climate skepticism” and the idyllic atmosphere for a dirty vodka martini. Don’t miss a minute!

In which we sit down with Calpine President/CEO Thad Hill for our first “executive interview” and end up picking his brain about everything from insights from leading the company back to private ownership in 2018 to how Vice President Biden can earn cred for his campaign’s environmental platform to whether the Ivy League or the SEC has the most insufferable fans. Oh yeah, there’s also carbon pricing, capacity markets, what’s gone wrong (and right) in California, which Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is currently on his nightstand and our requisite (but brief) ruminations on sports. It’s worth a listen during your one-hour workout.

In which we task Todd Snitchler, President/CEO of the Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA), with leveraging his experiences as both a state legislator and utility-commission chairman in Ohio to help us break down the FirstEnergy and ComEd nuclear-subsidy legislation scandals, offer unsolicited advice to state officials across the board and ponder whether the way things are will ever change. The responses may surprise you... We go on to discuss EPSA's role as the vanguard of competition in electricity markets, Todd's roots in the Twin Tiers of Pennsylvania and New York, a comparison of dive bars in capital cities and the best golf course for somewhat-middling skills.

In which we ask Stefanie Brand, the the Director for the New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel, to not only defend her adopted state but also hold it accountable, which - as the state's consumer advocate, she of course does with aplomb. FRR, MOPR, ZECs... they're all here - as is the Taylor Ham/Pork Roll controversy, why everyone dumps on NJ, whether Central Jersey exists, love for New York, Pennsylvania, Jacob DeGrom and Michelle Obama, living as a Mets fan, the Jersey Shore Sound and feeling like an underdog, Eagles vs. Giants, Phillies vs. Mets (and why that's even the question)... all-Jersey all the time on this episode. Check it while you're chilling down the shore.

In which we spend quality time with the lone Democrat at FERC, Commissioner Richard Glick, who delves deep into his relationship with the three Republicans on the Commission, how he approaches the fraught dynamics of maintaining personal relationships with coworkers with whom he's ideologically opposed, his thoughts on minimum offer-price rules (MOPRs), his preference for a national carbon price, why the social cost of carbon should be included in judging the value of proposed pipeline projects, why sports fanaticism is the workplace is a good thing and, finally, the many contributions of the late, great George Carlin.

In which we go toe to toe with the man himself, FERC Chairman Neil Chatterjee. Actually, it's quite cordial because, as the Chairman makes clear from the jump, he likes his reputation as a "people person" and works very hard to maintain it. Also: What it was like behind the scenes during the tumultuous beginning of his tenure, if he takes any of the criticism and accusations of politicizing the office personally, why he doesn't consider it work, when the University of Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team will win the NCAA National Championship again, who Bryce Harper is and where he goes to listen to the GT Power Hour.

In which we discuss how the Annual Meeting was done - for the first time - all by conference call; the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic - including estimates on how it will impact PJM's bottom line; the unsung heroes of the energy business; a fond farewell to two big names at PJM; Michael Moore's new documentary "Planet of the Humans" and a cameo by a previous guest of the podcast; Lebanon County, Pennsylvania; the horse latitudes; the Washington Redskins; PJM CEO/President Manu Asthana's first five months on the job, taking advantage of retail choice and problem with advocate journalists at the heart of fake news.

In which we grill Joe Bowring, PJM’s Independent Market Monitor (IMM), on his takeaways from FERC’s MOPR order, his team’s efforts to engage in PJM’s competitive-transmission bid-evaluation process and his vision for revamping the ARR/FTR financial trading market.

In which we get right down to business discussing PJM's new President/CEO Manu Asthana, FERC's order on PJM's minimum offer price rule (MOPR) and predictions for 2020 (including the Eagles' playoff hopes).

In which we discuss Glen's lasting reputation in Harrisburg, activity in state capitals throughout PJM's footprint, odds that we'll soon have a new FERC commissioner and how soon that commission will rule on the growing pile of PJM-related issues on their plate!

In which we discuss hamburgers, subsidies, PJM, its current "golden age" of providing both competitive prices and reliability, but also its struggles in accommodating state interests, historically low electricity prices, the importance of decisions made in the next few years to the continued viability of energy markets and impassioned support for RTOs!