Podcasts about public utility commission

The new Older Adult Advocacy Center in Scranton is the first of its kind in the state. It’ll serve older adults who are victims of abuse or neglect in parts of Northeast Pennsylvania. The Public Utility Commission has announced a series of six public hearings in early June regarding Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania's proposed rate increase, which could rise more than 10-percent. A progressive Pennsylvania group is calling for Democratic U.S. Sen. John Fetterman to resign, over his “apparent inability” to perform his job amid recent reports about his mental health. Pennsylvania Indivisible’s Bucks County chapter says polling of their statewide membership shows more than 90% of their 16-thousand members agrees with the request. A man has been charged with providing alcohol to the 20-year-old who fell from the outfield stands at a Pittsburgh Pirates game on April 30. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. That's what happened during Tuesday’s Primary, in one Lancaster County township. Voters in Colerain Township approved a small-games-of-chance referendum. It was the fourth time township voters have taken on the issue since the 1990s. Lake Pleasant in northwestern Pennsylvania was created more than 1500 years ago when a glacier retreated and is home to rare plants and birds like osprey. The Allegheny Front’s Kara Holsopple recently joined a team working to reforest an area that was once mined, as part of an effort to restore hundreds of acres of mineland across the region. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The investigation into hundreds of potentially fraudulent voter registration forms is ongoing, six months after it was first announced in the week before Election Day last fall. Thousands of people packed into the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg last Friday evening to hear from U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders. This is Small Business Week in Pennsylvania. A PA college football team recently held a drive to add students to the national registry of potential bone marrow donors. Steelton's Cleveland-Cliffs plant is temporarily laying off more than 500 employees. The company calls the move an "idling" of the plant, which produces rails that carry freight and passengers, along with steel for heavy machinery, power plants and military equipment such as submarines. 100 firefighters from dozens of fire companies battled a fire Saturday at a Snyder County modular home manufacturer. Damage, at Apex Homes of PA located in Middleburg, is estimated at $5 million. Pennsylvania utility regulators are bracing for a surge in electricity demand driven in large part by the opening of new, power-intensive data centers. WITF's Rachel McDevitt reports on a recent hearing at the Public Utility Commission. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we had the honor of hosting Chairman Thomas Gleeson of the Public Utility Commission of Texas for an insightful and timely discussion focused on power, the dynamics involved, and the power revolution happening in Texas and globally. Chairman Gleeson was appointed by Governor Abbott to his role in January of 2024. He brings 15-years of experience at the PUCT, where he previously served as Executive Director, Chief Operating Officer, Director of Finance and Administration, and Fiscal Project Manager. Prior to joining the PUCT, Chairman Gleeson worked as a legislative analyst for the Texas Senate and as a budget analyst for the Legislative Budget Board. He earned a Master of Public Administration from Texas A&M University. The PUCT is responsible for economic regulation of Texas's electric, telecommunication, water and wastewater utilities. We were thrilled to visit with the Chairman. Chairman Gleeson first outlines his objectives upon becoming Chairman, focusing on stabilizing the post-Winter Storm Uri environment, engaging stakeholders, as well as the differences in responsibilities compared to his predecessor, Peter Lake, who managed the immediate crisis after Winter Storm Uri. We discuss the enhanced relationship and collaboration between the PUCT and ERCOT, structural changes to the PUCT to increase the number of commissioners from three to five to improve decision-making and communication during emergencies, improvements in grid performance and reliability during recent cold weather events (including this week's arctic blast!), and the challenge of meeting Texas's rapid energy demand growth with infrastructure investments and a diversified energy mix. We discuss efforts to streamline regulatory processes for businesses that are considering relocating to Texas, balancing market growth with policy goals, the state's focus on energy expansion over transition, and addressing rising demand with all resource types while balancing reliability and costs. We explore collaboration with large companies to build additional generation capacity and support the grid, Texas's regulatory agility, differences between Texas's market and capacity markets in other regions, the need for exemptions or adjustments in federal emission standards during emergency grid situations to support grid reliability, and the economics of building new gas-fired power plants. Chairman Gleeson shares insights on the role of large hyperscalers as contributors to infrastructure development rather than just large energy consumers, distributed generation models and how co-locating with grid-connected resources and building additional capacity is the “sweet spot” for collaboration between private entities and the grid, the potential for additional nuclear power in Texas, leveraging Texas's budget surplus to foster energy innovation and reliability through public-private partnerships, the evolving role of ERCOT in integrating distributed energy resources, and much more. We want to thank Commissioner Gleeson for sharing his time and perspectives with us on a busy day. We look forward to staying in touch. Mike Bradley was in Panama for this week's COBT and opened the conversation by relaying that Panamanians seem generally surprised and concerned with Trump's continued rhetoric around control of the Panama Canal. From an overall markets standpoint, he noted that investors are really focused on Trump getting his Cabinet installed quickly, and more importantly, what Trump's flurry of Executive Orders means for policy and markets. From a crude oil market standpoint, WTI was down ~$1.50/bbl this week due to Executive Orders to unleash American Energy (lower energy prices?) but mostly due to a rally in the U.S. dollar which is impacting multiple commodities. On the broader equity market front, the DJIA was up 400-500 points as investors seem temporarily relieved that aggressive tariff policies weren't enacted in Trump's initial Executive

Checking in on the state's efforts to help people who develop gambling problems, after one year since online sports betting was legalized in Vermont. Plus, the Public Utility Commission recommends nixing the clean heat standard, some lawmakers in Montpelier want to exempt more Vermonters from paying state income taxes on Social Security, an outdoor clothing outlet in Essex will close a little more than a year after opening, the state director of the U.S.D.A. Farm Service Agency prepares to leave his post as a new presidential administration takes over in Washington, and we make predictions for this weekend's NFL divisional playoff games in our weekly sports report.

Chatham-Kent's Public Utility Commission will be hosting a virtual meeting at 3 p.m. on January 16. The St. Clair Region Conservation Authority has issued a flood outlook because of warmer temperatures and heavy rainfall. Hope House and Chatham Outreach for Hunger will benefit from an annual fundraiser this weekend. Health Canada is pulling Mother and Baby Plush Toys' stuffed animals from the market because of a choking hazard. The OPP predicts cryptocurrency scams could outpace wire transfers as the most used payment method demanded by fraudsters. NASA says a probe has made the closest ever approach to the Sun.

 Today we had the privilege of hosting Peter Lake, former Chairman of the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT). Peter was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to stabilize and strengthen the Texas electrical grid following Winter Storm Uri in 2021. He concurrently served as a Board Member of ERCOT and concluded his term with the PUCT in June 2023. Previously, Peter chaired the Texas Water Development Board. Since leaving public office, Peter has served as an independent strategic advisor and technical consultant through his firm, Cardinal Rose. We were thrilled to welcome Peter to our offices in Houston for a discussion of power systems broadly and his incredible experience tackling the Texas grid problems after the tragic events of February 2021. In our conversation, Peter provides candid insights into the post Uri rebuilding experience and discusses how and why Governor Abbott reached out to him to take on this incredibly hard role. We discuss the challenge in regaining public trust following the crisis and the strategies required to rebuild confidence in ERCOT, his very productive partnership with interim ERCOT CEO Brad Jones, the decision-making process at PUCT and its impact on power systems, ERCOT's unique governance structure and its relationship with PUCT, and the changes implemented after the 2021 storm. Peter shares his views on managing through a crisis, the importance of uniting stakeholders to facilitate efficient decision-making, and the rapid progress Peter and his team made with support from the Texas Legislature on projects that had previously been delayed. We explore the actions needed to address grid reliability, the challenges posed by Texas's rapid power demand growth, the need to expand transmission and dispatchable energy resources, the critical balance between renewables and reliable backup power, the importance of market-oriented solutions, concerns with over-reliance on batteries, problems brewing now in other US grids, and the federal government's role in system reliability. Peter also touches on the close relationship between water management and energy, the potential for adopting incentive models to improve power reliability, and much more. We walked away with a deeper appreciation for the efforts made by Peter and the teams at PUCT and ERCOT in 2021 to stabilize the grid and are grateful to Peter for sharing his unique insights. As Texans, we are all personally thankful to Peter and everyone else who stepped in to an unbelievably hard situation after the storm to improve the grid in Texas.    Mike Bradley kicked off the discussion by highlighting that this week looks to be starting out as a pretty slow and less volatile trading week for most markets. On the bond market front, over the last 4-5 weeks the 10yr bond yield has increased from ~3.6% up to ~4.2% due to a belief that the FED won't raise interest rates in 2024 as much as was previously expected. On the crude oil market front, WTI was up a couple dollars per barrel this week on talks of a further increase in Chinese stimulus. On the broader equity market front, the S&P 500 was down marginally this week after a significant runup over the past three months. Broader markets could trade sideways over the next couple of weeks as investors further digest the unexpected runup in interest rates, the beginning of Q3 earnings and the outcome of the U.S. Presidential election. On the energy equity front, a couple of oil service companies issued disappointing outlooks last week which weighed on the service industry. He also noted that this week's Q3 reporting would be peppered with a handful of electric utilities, mining companies, natural gas E&Ps and oil service companies. Jeff Tillery discussed the growing excitement in nuclear with major recent developments (Three Mile Island, tech offtake contracts, and tech company investments) but cautioned to stay mindful of potential challenges and realisti

Reporter Carrie Klein from Canary Media, a nonprofit news outlet focused on clean energy, examines the draft rules released by the Public Utility Commission. Commissioner June Tierney from the Department of Public Service joins the conversation to discuss the report. She represents the public interest in utility cases before the Public Utility Commission and in federal and state courts.At the end of the month, the commission will hold a public hearing on the draft. It will be held on Wednesday, October 30th, starting at 6:30 pm. You can find that information here.Broadcast live on Monday, October 14, 2024, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments, or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

On Friday's show: CenterPoint Energy executives spent much of the latest Public Utility Commission meeting defending their leases of mobile generators, costing more than $800 million, that went unused during and after Hurricane Beryl. And Harris County Commissioners approved a new version of the county's income assistance program. We learn more about both developments.Also this hour: NASA has a decision to make before the end of the month about when and how to bring two astronauts home who have been aboard the ISS for two months on a journey originally intended to last just a week. We discuss the circumstances surrounding Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams' mission, the problems detected with the Starliner vehicle that took them up there, and the safety culture at NASA today.Then, we talk with astronomer Dr. David Levy, who co-discovered Shoemaker-Levy 9, a comet that hit Jupiter in 1994. He's in town to meet with a local astronomy club.And from Disney wanting a wrongful death lawsuit thrown out because the plaintiff had Disney+ to a NFL player unveiling a mayonnaise-scented cologne, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.

On Friday's show: CenterPoint Energy appeared Thursday before the Public Utility Commission and faces a Texas Senate special committee on Monday to answer questions about its response to Hurricane Beryl. Reporter Andrew Schneider explains what the hearings entail.Also this hour: From exploding soda cans on Southwest Airlines flights, to the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile getting in a bit of a pickle, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week's news with our panel of non-experts.Then, the Paris Olympics get underway today. A number of Houston-area athletes will be taking part, including gymnast Simone Biles, who will be back in the spotlight after stepping back from some events in the Tokyo games in 2021. But don't call it a "comeback." A new book called The Price She Pays explains why and explores the mental health challenges many female athletes face.And we meet Houstonian Jeffrey Louis, aka "Bboy Jeffro" who's competing in the Olympics in breakdancing.

More than 2 million Texans lost power when Hurricane Beryl hit the Texas coast, and Gov. Greg Abbott wants to know why. The Austin American- Statesman reported Abbott has ordered the Public Utility Commission to conduct an immediate study into why the Houston area has again been hit by widespread power outages. CenterPoint Energy is the primary electricity transmission company serving the Houston area. Its CEO, Jason Ryan, appeared before the PUC last week and was questioned about the outages. As of Sunday morning, CenterPoint's website indicated 461,247 customers were still without power, nearly a week after Beryl made landfall....Article Link

In this episode of Know Power, Noha and Mike speak with Pat Wood, a pivotal figure in transforming energy markets through regulatory innovation. With a distinguished career spanning leadership roles at the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Wood brings a unique perspective on energy policy, market design, and the balance between regulation and innovation. Caitlin Smith, representing Jupiter Power, joins as a co-host, contributing insights from the renewable energy sector.Guest bio: Pat Wood III is the past Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and of the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT). The son of a small businessman, Mr. Wood has been a forceful advocate throughout his career for replacing government-centered monopoly regulation with customer-centered, technology-unleashing competition.Today, as CEO of Hunt Energy Network, Mr. Wood's focus is on new power system infrastructure and the related business systems to integrate it into competitive power markets. Mr. Wood also serves as the Lead Independent Director of solar pioneer SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR), and Director of specialty construction firm Quanta Services (NYSE: PWR), including his recent appointment to Luma Energy, overseeing the Quanta-ATCO joint venture to operate the Puerto Rico utility system. He is also a Director of Spring Valley Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: SV). In the past, he was Board Chairman of independent power producer Dynegy and a Director of TPI Composites, among others. ______________________________________________________________________[00:02:05] Pat Wood's origins in the energy sector, from Port Arthur to FERC[00:03:27] Transitioning gas utilities to competitive markets, drawing parallels to electricity[00:04:30] Market design and the unfinished business of standardization[00:06:16] The complexity of implementing a standard market design across diverse regions[00:07:31] Efforts in renewable energy integration and the role of competitive markets[00:10:05] The dynamic interplay between state and federal energy regulations[00:18:32] Discussion on grid constraints and integrating new generation resources[00:22:43] The potential of demand response and distributed energy resources in grid management[00:27:41] Future outlook on infrastructure development and renewable energy support[00:34:18] The socio-economic impacts of energy policy and infrastructure development[00:38:05] Examining successful renewable energy projects and key takeaways[00:42:22] Technological advancements and their implications for energy storage and distribution[00:45:37] Strategies for enhancing grid reliability in the face of growing energy demands[00:49:08] Global energy trends influencing domestic energy policies[00:53:17] The importance of consumer education in energy conservation and choice[01:02:09] Energy innovation and the collaborative effort towards a sustainable energy futureLearn more and stay up to date at KnowPowerShow.comConnect with our HostsNoha SidhomLinkedInMike BorgattiLinkedInGabel Associates

In this episode, TXOGA President Todd Staples and Shana Joyce, Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs are joined by Thomas Gleeson, Chairman of the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC), for a discussion on the electricity outlook for Texas this summer. In addition, they highlight the respective roles of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and PUC, the role of the Permian Basin Reliability Plan, and steps that Texans can take to do their part in contributing to grid reliability.--PUC: The PUC is the state agency responsible for economic regulation of Texas' electric, telecommunication, and water and wastewater utilities.The PUC oversees the state's competitive utility markets, implementing legislation and enforcing market rules that guarantee reliability and high-quality infrastructure, including oversight of ERCOT which runs the electric grid for 90% of Texas' power needs. Through rate regulation and consumer assistance, the PUC ensures consumers across the state are treated fairly and receive the benefits of competitive markets.ERCOT: ERCOT manages the flow of electric power to 27 million Texas customers – representing about 90 percent of the state's electric load. As the independent system operator for the region, ERCOT schedules power on an electric grid that connects more than 54,100 miles of transmission lines and 1,250 generation units. It also performs financial settlement for the competitive wholesale bulk-power market and administers retail switching for nearly 8 million premises in competitive choice areas.ERCOT: A Conservation Appeal is an elevated request for Texans to reduce their energy use during peak demand periods when there is a potential to enter emergency operations due to lower reserves. Help from Texans to conserve electricity use, if safe to do so, assists grid reliability.ERCOT: A Voluntary Conservation Notice is a call for Texans to voluntarily reduce energy usage during peak demand periods, if safe to do so. On days when electric demand is high, ERCOT can issue a Voluntary Conservation Notice to help decrease demand while deploying available tools to manage the grid reliably.Texas Advisory and Notification System (TXANS): TXANS is ERCOT's early notification system ahead of periods of higher electricity demand.TXOGA: TXOGA Statement on PUC's Adoption of an Proposed Order to Develop a Electricity Reliability Plan for the Permian Basin

Pat McDonald welcomes back Matt Cota, Owner of Meadow Hill Consulting, to discuss their formal request filed with the Public Utility Commission regarding the Vermont Clean Heat Standard.

California's Public Utility Commission is proposing a $24 monthly flat fee aiming to make electrifying your home and car more affordable. KCBS Radio news anchors Eric Thomas and Margie Shafer spoke to KCBS insider Phil Matier for more details.

Today we were thrilled to welcome our good friend Pat Wood, CEO of Hunt Energy Network. Pat's extensive career in power and energy includes serving as Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and Chairman of the Public Utility Commission of Texas during the administration of President George W. Bush. Additionally, he has held several independent director and advisor roles in solar, power, and utility-related organizations. Pat is also a civil engineer Aggie who went and got a Harvard law degree. Perhaps that's why he calls himself an armadillo – someone who likes the middle of the road! Under Pat's leadership, Hunt Energy Network has deployed a portfolio of distributed power assets across Texas. The organization aims to reach a portfolio of 1,000 MWs of batteries and peaker generation attached to the ERCOT grid by 2026. It was our pleasure to host Pat and hear insights from his unique perspective as a former regulator turned industry executive. Pat first provides background on the Hunt Energy Network, the organization's focus on decentralized power solutions including battery deployment and peaker generation, and the role of gas peaker plants in the energy grid to meet sudden spikes in demand. Pat shares his perspective on the complexities and challenges of managing energy infrastructure, the transition from a regulated utility business to a market-driven approach during his tenure at the PUC, the historical context of power prices, the role of subsidies and ongoing debate surrounding their effectiveness, and the need for innovative thinking and proactive measures to address growing demand for electricity. We touch on market approaches to integrating new technologies into the energy sector, the importance of having a diverse portfolio of power-generating technologies to meet future demands, economic implications of energy policy decisions, the effectiveness of market-driven approaches versus government-led initiatives in shaping energy systems, investing in cybersecurity and grid resilience to protect against potential threats, and much more. Before we wrapped up, we talked about states and countries around the world and the building blocks of getting power policy right. Overall, Pat did exactly what we really needed today as he supplied plenty of optimism and humor in an area (power) lacking in both these days. For some additional power thinking, please click here for a chart Pat provided showing estimated US energy sources, consumption, and “lost energy” from 2021. Mike Bradley kicked off the show by noting this week was a relatively light week for economic stats, with the PCE deflator release being the only real stat that traders seemed focused on. Broader markets continue to set new weekly highs but could lose some trading momentum in coming weeks given that Q4 earnings (especially AI and Big Tech) are essentially done. On the crude oil market front, he highlighted that WTI (~$79/bbl) is trading at the upper-end of its recent 3–4-month trading range despite large U.S. crude oil inventory builds from historically low seasonal refining runs, but that it will reverse in coming weeks. He noted that physical crude markets have tightened as WTI crude oil time spreads have moved into steep backwardation, and are now trading at levels last seen in October 2023, when WTI price was trading at ~$90/bbl. He flagged that nat gas prompt price has completely reversed gains post Chesapeake Energy's production cut announcement last week and that the 12-month natural gas strip has rallied, since that announcement, on an expectation that 2024 lower-48 natural gas production will be several bcf per day lower heading into summer. In energy news, he noted energy sector Q4 reporting was essentially complete and also noted another mid-sized E&P merger announcement from last week. He wrapped by h

The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: The Texas Supreme Court held oral argument today on the Public Utility Commission of Texas' actions during the big freeze of 2021. There are strong arguments for Luminant's case, the plaintiff, and also against it. The real issue is whether Texas is to have a market based electric grid or a politician controlled grid. Two stories that will give you a good idea of what is at stake and what happened in court: Texas Supreme Court to Decide Fate of $26 Billion Electricity Tax Texas Supreme Court questions 2021 winter storm power prices that cost billions Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.Texas Senate District 30 candidate Dr. Carrie de Moor joins us to discuss her primary battle.Lying RINO Drew Darby of San Angelo gets big slap down from Governor Abbott's campaign in a cease and desist letter.HD2 special election today is a proxy for the statewide factional divide in the Texas GOP.Dallas Fed: Texas service sector and retail join manufacturing in contraction in January.Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com

A Vermont Public reporter discovers a contemporary personal connection to an old murder. Plus, the state Fish and Wildlife Department is sued over new trapping rules, registry requirements for Vermont fuel dealers, the Public Utility Commission gets a new commissioner, and how demographic shifts could affect New Hampshire's primary and general elections.

Also, a utility company increases its rates after a vote by the Public Utility Commission, and learn more about the Fentanyl discussion that KRLD is hosting.

Jimmy Glotfelty has spent more than 30 years in and around the power sector, including stints at the state of Texas, Department of Energy, the private sector, and now, as a regulator at the Texas Public Utility Commission. In this episode, Glotfelty explains how the Texas Advanced Nuclear Reactor Working Group hopes to incentivize the construction of new reactors in the state, why federal tax incentives for wind and solar have created an “uneven market,” why it's hard to build high-voltage transmission projects, and the role of batteries on the electric grid. (Recorded October 9, 2023.) 

We are excited to share this Special Edition with you. We had the opportunity late last week to visit with Jimmy Glotfelty, Commissioner on the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC). Jimmy was appointed as Commissioner by Governor Abbott in 2021 following an extensive career in the energy and power public and private sectors, including Founder of Clean Line Energy, Senior Policy Advisor to US Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham, Energy Policy Director to then Texas Governor George W. Bush, Legislative Director for Congressman Sam Johnson, and Executive and Managerial roles at Calpine Corporation, ICF Consulting and Quanta Services. Jimmy was recently and additionally directed by the Governor (letter linked here) to lead a new Working Group focused on the future of nuclear energy in Texas. It was our honor not just to visit with Jimmy but to help him publicize the Working Group's efforts in order to allow for anyone who has ideas or thoughts to aid in evaluating advanced nuclear energy to be able to share them with the Commissioner.   In our discussion, Jimmy shares background on the group's creation and goals, Texas' position to be a leader in nuclear energy, as well as the role of Texas communities. On Thursday, September 28th, the first public meeting will take place in Austin (details linked here) to discuss the Working Group's proposed organizational structure, process and timeline for the coming months. Jimmy reiterated the group's willingness to hear all opinions, including voices from underserved communities and those who are opposed to nuclear. We also discuss which other states are preparing to build nuclear sites and how nuclear can position Texas to have reliable and clean power for decades to come, how to address short-term power and transmission issues, how the Working Group will collaborate with the Federal government, the feedback Jimmy has received so far, and Jimmy's personal interest in the cause. We ended with Jimmy's vision for power in Texas in ten years. We are confident that Jimmy and his team are prepared for the challenge and were thrilled to spend time with him.   Mike Bradley kicked us off by highlighting that bond markets are under pressure given the FED's recent dialogue that interest rates are likely to stay higher for longer, which pushed the 10-year yield to 17-year high of 4.5%. From a commodities standpoint, he highlighted that Brent and WTI price were relatively unchanged on the week given that Saudi remains vigilant with crude oil production management, which is keeping global physical crude oil markets tight. He also noted that WTI could be getting additional price support due to Cushing crude oil storage levels nearing 10-year seasonal lows. He highlighted that broader equity markets were down roughly 4-5% over the last five trading days due to lingering concerns around interest rates, crude oil prices, a US government shutdown, and the UAW strike against the three largest US automakers. He also noted that two high profile IPOs have recently traded under their recent IPO price which could be a worrisome sign for equity markets. Mike wrapped by noting that the UK government looks to be pushing out the phase out date for their ICE vehicle sales from the current date of 2030 out to 2035. Brett Rampal joined and contributed his nuclear perspective and questions in the discussion.   If you are in the area, we hope you'll consider joining the Commissioner on Thursday or tune in online. Updates on the Working Group's progress will be available on the PUC website (linked here) under Project #55421. Thanks to you all!

In this episode, Maine State Senator Nicole Grohoski discusses an upcoming ballot measure that gives Maine voters the opportunity to replace the state's unpopular for-profit utilities with a nonprofit public utility.(PDF transcript)(Active transcript)Text transcript:David RobertsMaine's two big investor-owned power utilities — Central Maine Power and Versant Power — are not very popular. In fact, they boast among the lowest customer satisfaction scores of any utilities in the country, perhaps because their customers face some of the nation's highest rates, suffer more and longer outages than average Americans, and pay more to connect rooftop solar than ratepayers in almost any other state. This November, Mainers will vote on a radical alternative: a ballot measure to replace the two for-profit utilities with a single nonprofit utility that would be called Pine Tree Power. Maine and many other states already have lots of small nonprofit municipal utilities, but this would mark the first time a whole state with existing private utilities decided to make them public en masse.Naturally the utilities are opposed and have dumped $27 million and counting into a campaign to crush the measure; supporters have mustered just under $1 million. To discuss this David vs. Goliath fight, I contacted one of its champions, Democratic state Senator Nicole Grohoski. We discussed why she thinks a public utility would perform better, what it would do for clean energy, how it would be governed, and what other states can learn from the effort. With no further ado, Maine State Senator Nicole Grohoski. Welcome to Volts. Thank you so much for coming.Nicole GrohoskiThank you so much for having me. I'm thrilled to be with you today.David RobertsI am super excited to talk about this issue. There's a lot of ins and outs I want to cover, but maybe let's just start with a brief history of this thing. So the idea here is, as I said in the intro, to replace Maine's two big investor-owned utilities, Central Maine Power and Versant Power, with a single publicly owned main utility called Pine Tree Power. Tell me who first had that idea? Where did it first pop up? I know it was legislation and then it got vetoed. Just tell us a little bit about how we got to where we are now.Nicole GrohoskiThe history is really interesting, and I'll try to not spend too much time on it, but I think it's really important to start with the reality here in Maine as a backdrop. So a couple of things that are important to know for listeners is that we, as Mainers, find that our electricity isn't really affordable or reliable and our utilities aren't trustworthy. So we have, for many years running now, the worst customer satisfaction in the country, some of the highest rates in the country for electricity, and those just keep going up. We have experienced a 20% increase this summer, with another increase coming in January.And we also have the most frequent outages in the country. And there are a couple of other reliability metrics that we're not doing so well on, including the length of outages and how long it takes to restore power. So basically what we see here in Maine is that the status quo of these for-profit multinational corporations is just not working for us. About a tenth of our residents in Maine received disconnection notices earlier this year because they just couldn't afford to pay their bills. And it's not working for companies or big corporations that really rely on low cost and reliable electricity to compete.So that's kind of the background. So a number of us were wondering, does it have to be this way? Is there an alternative to worst of the worst? We are Maine, we are very proud and independent, and we like to be leading, but this is not the way that we wanted to be leading. So there was a lot of grassroots pressure. In 2017 we had a big storm, and the power was out for days. But at the same time, there was a billing fiasco, which resulted in billing errors for over 100,000 customers, which is in a state of 1.3 million people, that's a very big percent.So there was a lot of pressure, a lot of phone calls to legislators, to the Public Utilities Commission, to the public advocate about these utilities. And so I think that really planted a seed for a number of folks. Specifically, Maine's first public advocate pointed out to some members of the legislature, including Representative Seth Barry at the time, myself, and a few others, that there were other options and that the financial and local control aspects of those options might be really helpful for Maine. So we started meeting in 2019 with the previous public advocate, economists, labor, legislators, people that were part of a group called CMP Ratepayers Unite.And that's when we formed this idea of creating a consumer-owned utility for Maine that would be non-profit and similar to the ten other consumer-owned utilities we have in Maine. I don't know that we had a name for it at that time, but we do now call it the Pine Tree Power Company. So those were the early days. And then to sort of fast forward, the Legislature commissioned a study which was done by London Economics International in 2019 to learn more about the economics and also legal pathway here. Then, of course, 2020, everybody knows what happened then, things kind of went on pause. And then in 2021, we wrote a bill. And that bill passed in both chambers in Maine with bipartisan support. As you mentioned, the governor did veto that bill.David RobertsAnd that bill was to create the utility or to put the question to voters.Nicole GrohoskiThat bill put the question to voters, and it's very similar to the language that we'll be voting on this November. So we did revise the language based on some feedback from the governor, and that is the language that is now in front of us to vote on this November, November 7. And in order to get the question on the ballot we had hundreds of volunteers working together to collect around 80,000 signatures in total, which is a little bit above the requirement needed to get a question on the ballot in Maine.David RobertsI'm a little curious why — this is a Democratic Governor Mills. What was her rationale? I mean, I guess I can imagine her rationale for opposing the public utility, but what was her rationale for opposing asking voters what they thought? Did she have a good rationale?Nicole GrohoskiNot in my opinion. I'm sure in her opinion it was great. But we read the veto letter for the most part. There was very little in there that was substantive. Some of those minor changes that we made are all things that we would have happily made in advance had we had outreach from her office about them. You know, the unfortunate thing with governors in Maine is that we have yet to elect one that has campaigned using our clean elections, publicly funding campaign option, which is something that most legislators use. So you can draw your own conclusions there about the — money in politics may have been at play.I can't say for certain.David RobertsYeah, we should just make a note here because a couple of podcasts we've done here on Volts are about state laws prohibiting utilities from using ratepayer money to lobby and pay off politicians. Maine does not have one of those laws.Nicole GrohoskiWell, we actually did just pass a law. We were one of four states earlier this year to be sure that ratepayer dollars are not going for lobbying. You know, industry membership, group memberships.David RobertsOh, interesting.Nicole GrohoskiYou know, Edison Electric, for instance, Chambers of Commerce, et cetera. So that is a new law. It will be in effect in about a month. So we'll see if that improves things.David RobertsJust in time or actually just a smidge too late. So the bill of particulars here then, against these two utilities, as you say, they have really low ratepayer satisfaction scores, lots of power outages, more than usual, higher rates, some of the highest rates in the country. Like every state, Maine has a Public Utility Commission that is meant to regulate its utilities. That has members appointed by the governor or elected? I'm not sure how it goes in Maine.Nicole GrohoskiIn Maine, the commissioners are appointed and then subject to Senate approval.David RobertsSo why not just use the PUC to sort of get these utilities in line? That seems like it would be the sort of first order of business.Nicole GrohoskiIt's a great question. I mean, I think everyone kind of wants to default to using the systems we have in place, but I have a couple of thoughts about that. Our Public Utilities Commission I do think is full of folks who are hardworking and really trying to get under the hood with utilities. But there's a lot of information there that the utilities really understand best. And so when you have questions, you're going to ask the utilities and there is sort of a long term back and forth relationship there. Some people might call how that turns into regulatory capture sometimes.Additionally, we do have the ability to fine the utilities if they're not performing up to snuff and that has happened. It doesn't happen that often, and the most recent fine, I think was around $10 million. At the same time they had a significant rate increase and are pulling out over $100 million in profit every year. So it's not really proportional and we could theoretically increase those fines a bit. But there is hesitance. I think the legislature has interest in doing some of that but the utilities are of course not interested and I think we would see another veto pen action is my guess.But all that being said, this effort to create a consumer utility has led to a lot of us just digging down into what is the history of utilities in this country and regulation. And what we found is that utilities are natural monopolies so it makes sense for there to be regulation because there isn't competition. But the folks who sort of started the effort to create public utilities commissions were those who were going to be regulated. And so there has been this hand in glove relationship since the start around the regulators and the regulated.David RobertsIt's not ideal.Nicole GrohoskiThat's probably a subject of a whole other podcast but —David RobertsIt doesn't work quite like you would want it to.Nicole GrohoskiExactly. And additionally, I would say I have recently been talking to folks in other states and other people have served as public advocates. And what I find remarkable is the backflips and cartwheels that we go through with regulation to try to outfox the utilities when, by no fault of their own, the investor owned utilities are created with their number one mission to be maximizing repair profit. So it's like we could keep trying to think of creative and clever ways to balance this out. But at the end of all of it, I keep coming back to the fact that we don't have our roads, which are critical to our economy and our safety and our way of life in the private sector; and nor are our schools, nor is our military.Why does it make sense for something as important as our electricity grid to be subject to for-profit motivations?David RobertsListeners will be rolling their eyes right about now because this is something I say I find a way to say it almost every episode no matter what we're talking about. But utilities, they are structured such that they make money insofar as they spend money. So all they really want to do is deploy more big infrastructure. And so as you say, like PUCs find these elaborate Rube Goldberg mechanisms to sort of beg and plead with them to do things like efficiency or distributed energy, know on and on, inter, regional transmission, name it, all of which are sort of just counter to the basic incentive.So as you say, you can spend the rest of your life coming up with more and more elaborate ways to try to trick them into doing something against their interests. But at a certain point you just got to grapple with the central issue which is that they're set up wrong, they're set up badly, they're set up to not want things that are in the public interest and at a certain point you got to just deal with the root cause. Anyway, sorry to go off on my standard canned rant there. So then a skeptic will say these two utilities, just so people are clear about this, these are not vertically integrated utilities.These are just distribution utilities. They just have wires, they just distribute power. They do not own generation. They're dealing with a certain set of supply issues, a certain set of power plants, a certain geography. Maine is very heavily forested which is a nightmare for transmission lines for all the obvious reasons. So it just has a sort of set of things that it's dealing with. And so I guess the skeptic is going to ask what reason do we have to believe that given the sort of same resources that Pine Tree, a public utility, would perform any better?Nicole GrohoskiWell I think we have a lot of evidence that it would because we already have ten consumer owned utilities in Maine. Just for an example, there is one that's called Eastern Maine Electric Co-op. That's a traditional co-op. It is more rural than most of Maine. You might find it interesting that it is serving about 1.2% of the state's load in kilowatt hours but it is in an area that's twice the size of Rhode Island. Now EMAC, which is in rural downeast Maine is directly adjacent to the territory of Versant that I live in and the cost for delivery in EMAC is nine cents and the cost for delivery in Versant is 13.1 cents per kilowatt hour.So I don't think that's just some kind of magical happenstance that when you take profit out of the equation you're just paying less. We know that together CMP and Versant are sending out about — was last year was $187 million a year in profit. So I think if Mainers are in charge of our utility we can decide do we want to use that money to lower rates? Do we want to use it to reinvest in the grid to increase reliability? And I think it would probably be a mix of both of those things.David RobertsAnd that amount of money you think is material enough that it would show up as improved performance, show up as measurably improved performance?Nicole GrohoskiI do think so. I mean I think for your listeners, while Maine is large and rural we do have 1.3 million people. So, when you sort of divide those numbers out it does make a difference. And we've had some independent economic analysis that shows us that Mainers would be saving on average $367 a month, excuse me, a year, because of the fact that we're basically going from expensive rent for the grid to a lower cost mortgage. So I think it's easy to explain it to folks in terms of, like, "What's better when you're looking for housing, dropping your money down a rent hole, black hole for the rest of your life, or swapping out to a mortgage where you've got a lower interest rate than what we see now with the guaranteed return on equity that happens for our for-profit utilities."David RobertsYeah, this was another piece I wanted to ask about. So part of why you think this will be cheaper for ratepayers is just you take that huge slice of profits that are going, as you say, out of state to the owners of these utilities and keep that in state and that alone will buy you some better service. There's also the issue of investor-owned utilities expect and want and are guaranteed relatively high rates of return on their investments and often resist making investments if the rate of return is lower than that. But as you say, a public power utility can be more patient with its capital, right?Can make investments with lower returns as long as they pay off eventually, right?Nicole GrohoskiYeah. So we see here in Maine that the utilities are getting a ROE of 8% to 12%. And we know that firstly that's kind of astounding because it's not all that risky. Most people are paying their bills.David RobertsCrazy. It's guaranteed. It's huge and it's guaranteed. It's wild what it is. This is like the safest business on the planet as being a regulated utility.Nicole GrohoskiCouldn't agree more. And on the flip side, the Pine Tree Power Company can access low-cost capital through revenue bonding at 3-5%. So when we think about paying off that debt over many years with compounding interest, when we think about the fact that our grid really isn't ready to electrify our economy and experts expect it's going to need to be, increased two to three times. Now is the right moment in time, I think, to move away from high cost, low-risk investment to low cost, low-risk investment before we literally triple our grid.David RobertsTell us a little bit about how the utility would be governed or structured and what implications you think that might have.Nicole GrohoskiI love this question. I am a public servant and so I believe in local governance and people getting to vote and go to public meetings and have a say and all that is built into the ballot question. So the Pine Tree Power Company would have elected board members and there are seven of them, one for each grouping of five Senate seats, state Senate seats. And those members then turn around and appoint six members who have specific expertise in things like utility law and management, concerns of workers, concerns of economic, environmental and social justice, things like that, that we really want to make sure those folks are at the table.And this group of 13 people, they serve six-year terms each of them. And of course, there's like a little bit of a lead-in time because they'd all be elected at once, where some of them served shorter terms at the start. But point is, they are people in our communities. They have to be living in Maine. They have open meetings that are subject to freedom of access laws. And in order to best serve the public, I think they would be doing a lot of public outreach. And that's something that in talking to managers and board members from other consumer utilities in the country, I've been really impressed with how much local engagement they have. I think Sacramento Municipal Utility District, they said they're hosting 1300 community meetings a year.David RobertsGood grief.Nicole GrohoskiA couple a day on average. But they have, I think they said 95% customer satisfaction. So people feel like they're valued, their experience matters and they also have a plan to get to 100% clean energy by 2030. So our Pine Tree power governance is very much in the spirit of "It's a public good. It should be publicly governed."David RobertsThere's a little bit of a controversy in Maine a few years ago. I don't remember all the details, but it was about a big transmission line that would have brought hydro from Canada down through the woods of Maine. It was fought and I believe killed by popular resistance. And there was a lot of, at least nationally there was a lot of talk of like here again we have environmentally minded locals blocking things for environmental reasons, but in a short-sighted way that's going to be worse for the environment overall. In the long term, they're NIMBY's. We've got to figure out a way of dealing with this problem, et cetera, et cetera.So this leads to my question, which is: if you have a governing board that is elected by local people, and it is the local people who are often the source of the NIMBYism, do you not have some fears? That this would lead to a more NIMBY rather than less NIMBY operation of the utility, which is going to be difficult when, as you say, this is the time when every state everybody needs to be increasing and bolstering their transmission systems. Do you worry that local control is going to translate into more rather than less NIMBY opposition to new lines?Nicole GrohoskiI'll put it in a way that I think makes sense to me as a person in Maine who's intimately familiar with what you laid out, which is at the root of that decision, was a fundamental lack of trust in Central Maine Power. A trust that it would be doing anything in our best interest, that it would be giving us appropriate benefits, that it was really after anything more than profits. And so I think it wouldn't be true that as soon as Pine Tree Power was created that everyone would immediately trust the company. But I do think it would be a fresh start.And on top of that, with elected and appointed leaders spending time in communities and just energy literacy, I think in general would increase because it's something we would be talking about more if we had to elect the board. I'll say I think that people's interest in energy policy has gone through the roof this year compared to where it was in the past. And people are asking just really great questions, a new curiosity around electricity that I hadn't seen before growing up here. So I think that the outcome would actually be that folks would feel like they had a say in how the transmission was cited, who was benefiting if we remove the profit motive.Imagine if that money that would have gone to profit was actually going to community benefits. That might really change how people feel. And I think that here in Maine we are sort of skeptical of what's being pushed on us by people from away, quote unquote, is a saying we have. I don't always love it, but it is accurate in this case. You've got Central Main Power, owned by Avangrid, then owned by Iberdrola, based in Spain, telling us, "Oh, we've got this great deal for you." And people are skeptical of that. So I think we have a greater chance actually of doing transmission right and in a way that people can accept if there was this broader community process and a lack of for-profit skepticism that comes naturally to us here.David RobertsOne of the criticisms of the two existing utilities is that they're kind of slow-walking clean energy in particular. So I wonder if you could just say a word about what that means and why and how we think Pine Tree would be better on that score. Because it's not obvious. These are just wires utilities, right? So they're not dealing directly with clean energy generation. So what are the issues around clean energy and how will Pine Tree be an improvement?Nicole GrohoskiSo, historically, we have seen that the utilities do spend a lot of time and money in the State House, not just behind the scenes, but also right out publicly testifying against clean energy bills. Now, that has slowed in recent years, but certainly in the previous gubernatorial administration, that was a very common practice.David RobertsIf I could just pause there, I guess I just don't fully understand why, like, if you're a company that's just running wires, what's it to you?Nicole GrohoskiRight back to the return on equity question. So, these utilities make more money when they build transmission lines than when they upgrade the distribution system. They get a higher rate of return, right? So it is in their best interest to continue with the model of large far-off generation facilities compared to local rooftop solar type solutions or microgrids or battery storage. So that's the first part of the problem, I think. And secondly, I think some of these utilities just really are not very nimble. They're sort of in the business that they've been in for a long time and thinking about how to create a dynamic grid that has time of use rates that actually work, for instance, or bidirectional power.We have had smart meters in this state for over a decade and I can't see how they're being used in any kind of smart way. I mean, people are still calling the utilities to let them know the power is out.David RobertsIt's just baffling to me. Like, if I'm in the utility business, this is like my time to be a hero, you know what I mean? After 100 years of sleepy operation in the background, all of a sudden the world is calling upon me to be cutting edge and be the hero and save the world and instead, I'm just going to "I just want to keep doing things the way I've been doing." I don't know, people are disappointing.Nicole GrohoskiNo comment.David RobertsYeah. So I read in one of the stories about this. One of the opponents of this measure said, quote, "The people behind this proposal have no actual plan to lower rates, improve reliability and enable a swifter energy transition." The implication being that the fans of this measure just think that making the utility public is going to be sort of automagically, make everything easier and cleaner and cheaper, but there's no actual plan to do so. Is there a specific plan for how Pine Tree would operate and how it would do these things? Has anyone modeled out sort of you know what I mean?Is there more than just hope that the structure will do the work for you?Nicole GrohoskiWell, I think that the person who said that spent some time cherry-picking certain things in the ballot language but missed the bigger picture here, which is we have to start by saying yes on November 7 and then at that time then we have an election for the board of directors and it goes on from there. But until that time the Maine Public Utilities Commission cannot compel the utilities to give over their very private data to do that kind of in-depth modeling that is going to be the very next task for the Pine Tree Power Board once it exists and that is spelled out in the ballot question. You know, these utilities, I'm just going to be level about it: They don't have a plan either.And I can tell you that because the legislature last year had to pass a law requiring them to do integrated grid planning and think about how is it going to work to increase renewables on the grid, to increase demand as people install more heat pumps and use electric vehicles. They're not doing that or if they are doing it they're not doing it in any kind of way that is transparent or subject to review. So I think it's like a great bait and switch tactic.David RobertsAren't they supposed to create integrated resource plans? I thought that was something that all utilities had to do.Nicole GrohoskiI think they have some planning, but it is clear from the way that the interconnection queues are looking, the very high cost they're pushing onto developers for even just what turns out to be basic grid maintenance, there isn't really — maybe they have something that says "plan" at the top, but I'm not sure that all the nuts and bolts are actually there.David RobertsYeah, I meant to hit on interconnection before because that's one of the critiques also is that they are slow-walking interconnection of distributed resources, etc. Presumably they're doing that, or at least they say they're doing that to protect the grid. Do we have reason to believe they're slow-walking that on purpose such that Pine Tree could substantially speed up the interconnection queue?Nicole GrohoskiWe do have reason to believe that specifically because of all the complaints that we've received as legislators. We did ask the Public Utilities Commission to look into this and they hired the Interstate Renewable Energy Council, or IREC, to do a study. And the IREC findings were basically especially around Versant, which is in eastern and northern Maine. These guys are some of the worst actors we've ever seen in the United States. They are requiring things that they can't justify why they're requiring them, and we can find no reason from an engineering perspective to require them. And your listeners might find it fascinating to know that for Versant customers, the average cost of interconnecting your rooftop solar to the grid is $10,000.David RobertsJesus.Nicole GrohoskiThat is not normal is what I'm told. Another great story that I've heard from a couple of constituents is that they need a transformer upgrade to interconnect their rooftop solar. Okay, that might be true, and that upgrade is going to cost you $1,000 - $1,500. But we can't get the parts for two years.David RobertsOh my goodness.Nicole GrohoskiNow the same solar installers that are working in my area are also working in CMP's area Central Maine Power. Because I live my district includes both, and the installers are saying "CMP says they can get it in two months." So then I asked my constituents "Can you file a formal complaint at the PUC using this process we had to create because this is such a rampant issue?" And when they do that and go through the whole process, then that transformer has arrived and been installed within two to three months time. So I don't know what to say about it.I can only say what I see from the outside and the experience that I have heard about from people that pick up the phone and call me. But it seems shady to go from two years to two months.David RobertsLet's grapple here with what is probably the biggest and most difficult issue around all this, which is say Maine voters say yes to this, and it goes forward. Basically, it would involve the state of Maine buying these two utilities assets from the utilities, and depending on who you believe those assets are worth anywhere from $5 to I think CMP is now saying it could get up to $13 billion. So that's a big public expense. So how's that going to get financed? Who's going to pay it? How long is it going to take to pay it? Have we thought through in any detail how that process works?Nicole GrohoskiYes, definitely. And that was a big part of what the London Economics analysis included was that legal analysis of what that purchase price process would look like. We also have been able to look at this transition as has happened in other communities in the country, and we created an expedited and refereed process to determine the purchase price. And all told, from this fall to switch over to Pine Tree Power, we expect it to take three to four years. What we know from the LEI study is that this is a completely legal and constitutional effort. It's helpful to remind folks that because these are actual monopolies, they only have the right to be doing business because we give it to them.And in the Maine statutes, it literally says the PUC can take it away.David RobertsYeah, I mean, of course, again, this drives me crazy. I'm reading articles about this and of course, just once I'd like there to be a good argument had in public instead of idiots. But all the Republicans are now saying "This is a communist takeover of private business by the state. It's Communists. Why don't we call it Chinese electricity?" I've read, some of the dumbest quotes.Nicole GrohoskiAre you in the comments section?David RobertsNo, these are legislators. This is not even I mean, there's barely a distinction anymore. But like, the Republican legislators are saying this now. So it's worth just emphasizing the point that you just made, sort of drawing a line under it, which is these businesses have been granted a monopoly by the state and granted guaranteed returns by the state. So of course the state can take that back. Of course this is legal. Like if the state grants, the state can take away if the state is granting it on the grounds that it will be of service to the state's residents and it's not anymore, then of course the state can take that monopoly back.It's just crazy viewing. It's not like Maine is going to go take over the potato chip industry.Nicole GrohoskiWe have no interest in that.David RobertsThis is not a normal business. Utilities are not normal private businesses. They are state basically state created entities. And so of course, the state can uncreate them if it wants to. Sorry, I know that will not have any effect at all on the dumb things Republicans say about this.Nicole GrohoskiWell, I do want to clarify. We do have some really strong Republican support, from certain legislators as well as just regular folks. I mean, that was the greatest thing about collecting signatures for this initiative, which I did and my family did and many other people I know was that when you remove it from a debate in a state house, regular people just get it. They get that this is really important to our economy to have an electricity grid that works for us and for our health and safety. And they also understand that maybe this is not a place for profits.And I've had folks wearing Birkenstocks and folks wearing MAGA hats sign the petition because I think Maine people are really resilient. We are proud of our ability to solve problems and I think the majority of us believe this is something that we can do and that we probably could do it better than some far-off foreign monopoly.David RobertsAnyway, I interrupted you. You were talking about how these giant bills are going to get paid. Basically you say it's going to take about four years to do all the work, to transfer everything over. Would the $5 billion or however much it turns out to be, be paid off over those four years or how will it be financed?Nicole GrohoskiNo. So we did meet with some municipal bond banks. This sort of acquisition, like in the case of Long Island, has been paid off over a long period of time. And that's how we're able to see the rate reduction. You know again, similar to renting versus owning. I was able to buy a home. My mortgage is less than my rent would be, but I am still paying it off. And even with the interest, it's still less. So we have the ability through revenue bonding to borrow that money backed by the ratepayers, not actually by the state government and the general fund, but by the ratepayers.We have the ability to borrow that money, and then pay it off over time, and borrow more as we need to build out the grid.David RobertsWould it being a public utility enable it to draw on state money? Because one of the points a few pods ago we were talking about a new offshore wind bill that would draw money from state coffers rather than from ratepayers. And one of the sort of arguments and defense of that is taking tax money from state taxpayers is much more progressive than taking it from ratepayers. Basically you're getting a much more progressive source of funding. Is there any talk of Pine Tree being able to draw on state money or would it still just operate as a utility and get all its money and revenue and stuff from ratepayers the same way a private utility would?Nicole GrohoskiThe enabling statute has it separate. I think that that is really important, especially to our union workers because they had concerns about becoming public sector workers and what that would mean for their right to strike, for instance. So we have ensured that they are private sector workers.David RobertsOh, interesting.Nicole GrohoskiWhether or not a future legislature might say we're able to maintain that and have the utility doing efficiency programs that are paid through the taxpayer dollars versus ratepayer dollars, I can't predict. To your point about regressivity, one of the things that is required in the bill language for the Pine Tree Power Company is to establish lower rates for low income residential customers in the first five year plan. So we are trying to address that challenge that you're absolutely correct. It's the regressive funding structure, unlike taxation.David RobertsAlso, one of the criticisms of these utilities is that they're sending all these cutoff notices, they're cutting off people from power, which is bad for all obvious reasons. But is Pine Tree going to pledge not to do that? And if it doesn't do that, where does that money to cover those people's rates come from? Because that would seem like an additional expense because whatever you might say about cutting people off, it does save the utilities money.Nicole GrohoskiRight. Well, we do have what's called the Arrearage Management Program here in Maine and that does help folks get out of arrears and that is ratepayer funded program. So that is a somewhat fiscally progressive approach to that. You know the details of that program are probably more than you'd want to know. But the long and short is if you get back on track then some of your debt will be just forgiven. But it's not forgiven by the utilities, it's forgiven by your neighbors.David RobertsRight. Well, would Pine Tree pledge not to cut people off? Like, is that part of the campaign here or how would it treat cutoffs ?Nicole GrohoskiYou know, it's a good question that surprisingly I don't know if anyone has posed to me it is not in the legislation one way or the other. I'm of the belief that if rates go down and we could have rates that were income stratified to some extent, that the amount of disconnection notices that we saw earlier this year would go way down just economically. But I think it would be really a decision of the board. And then I'm also not sure if the Public Utilities Commission if there are any rules on the books because this utility, unlike a lot of consumer utilities in the country, is regulated by the Public Utilities Commission as if it were an investor owned utility.So, there may be specific rules about that already.David RobertsYeah, I would just think though, if you're trying to sell this, making this public rather than private, one of the things you could sell is like we think this is a public right to have electricity on some level.Nicole GrohoskiThe one other thing about it that just comes to mind is that a couple of years ago during COVID, people were especially concerned about the disconnection notices, not knowing if they were going to be receiving a next paycheck but we were told that the disconnection notices were necessary in order to provide certain assistance. So the utilities said, "Oh don't worry, we're not actually going to disconnect anyone but we have to do this to get them into this next program." So, I don't know if that would come into play here but I'm not convinced that the utilities wouldn't have ultimately shut the people off but that was a way that they spun it at least.David RobertsOne more kind of semi-technical question that's a little bit of a side thing but is of interest, I think, to Volts listeners. One of the provisions in the IRA, the Inflation Reduction Act, is that it makes some of the tax credits direct pay, which means you don't have to pay taxes to get it back. You can get it back directly as a check and one of the categories of entities that would qualify for this is tax-exempt entities. So I wonder, has anyone done any thinking, and maybe this is too in the weeds but done any thinking about what advantage it might pose for Maine to have its utility be tax-exempt, whether it will benefit from the IRA through that.Nicole GrohoskiIt is something we're thinking about because we were excited to see that direct pay provision sort of leveling the playing field for publicly owned generation which is another topic I'm very interested in, but I think it remains to be seen. In the case of Pine Tree Power, it is not allowed to own generation and it may be permitted to own some storage as is necessary to maintain the grid functioning. So I'm not entirely sure that that direct IRA provision would help in this case but what I think it does is sort of change the paradigm a bit there that may then also shift to other things. If the federal government says let's have an ITC or PTC for transmission lines, the next step might be —David RobertsPraise be.Nicole GrohoskiWell, let's make sure we set it up the same way we've just done with generation. Yes, I think it's a really important conversation even if it doesn't have a direct immediate effect on the Pine Tree Power Company.David RobertsInteresting. As I think anyone could predict just from what we've said so far, even knowing nothing else about it but what we've said so far, I'm sure people could predict that the private utilities in question are not excited about this happening and have mobilized to prevent it from happening. So tell us a little bit about the campaign against this. Is it as hysterical as one would predict?Nicole GrohoskiYeah, I mean hysterical is one word for it. Deeply troubling is another phrase that comes to mind. But these are utilities, like I mentioned, about the amount of profit that they make and that's just off of their Central Maine Power and Versant holdings. But Central Maine Power is just a small, small fraction of the entire Iberdrola conglomerate. So, yeah, we have seen them spending a lot of money against the campaign. They've put $27 million toward the campaign, both utilities, as of the end of June. So we expect to see more of course.David RobertsNot a small amount in a small state.Nicole GrohoskiNo. And honestly, talking to my neighbors, people are very upset by it. They're kind of irate that they're the people whose power goes out and doesn't come back on for a couple of days. They're the folks who had to spend $10,000 for a generator which isn't part of a clean energy solution last I checked. And there go the utilities putting $27 million toward just running ads.David RobertsYeah, I mean, are they experiencing it as a flood of ads? I mean, $27 million must allow you to kind of dominate the airwaves.Nicole GrohoskiYes, the airwaves are definitely bought up, as far as we can tell. And they have just their two donors, which are the utility parent companies, which are Avangrid and Enmax.David RobertsAre they funding 100% of this?Nicole Grohoski100%, yes. And these utilities, lest they tell you how amazing and green and climate-friendly they are, they are gas utilities, Avangrid and Enmax anyhow. And then on the flip side, we are a smaller organization. We don't have Mainers' pockets to pickpocket on a regular basis.David RobertsI'm guessing you guys haven't hit $27 million yet. How much money have you have?Nicole GrohoskiYou're closer to around a million, I think. And that's over 1000 donors, most of whom are just regular donors giving what they can because they understand these differences. And also I think the big difference is the utilities are putting out a lot of fear, doubt, scare tactic type ads. And on the flip side, what we're offering people is something different and something positive, something that we can all lean into and make sure that it succeeds because it would actually be ours. So I think that's resonating with folks.David RobertsWhat are the scare tactics specifically? Are they saying this will be expensive or what?Nicole GrohoskiYeah, expensive. I mean, you quoted some of their numbers and it's laughable. They're like, "Oh, we're going to get $13.5 billion." Well, they're worth $5.4 billion. That's what they pay taxes on. That's what they filed their official paperwork saying. So I think especially as we learn more and more about how decrepit certain portions of this grid are, they'd be lucky to get a little bit over that. So that's one of them. "Is there a plan? We don't have a plan, but do they have a plan?" is another one. You know what, a lot of it is just to my sensibility is a little insulting to Maine people.You don't know what you're doing, that kind of thing. Meanwhile, we're going to keep the line workers who are doing the work and we're giving them a retention bonus because we value their expertise, because they're the ones that actually know how the grids work, not the CEOs and the CFOs.David RobertsYeah, it is historically pretty easy though just to I mean, when you're fighting against change, you barely even need arguments. You know what I mean? You can just say "Booga booga booga change" and you're halfway there, it seems like.Nicole GrohoskiWell, I think that's why we're in such a unique position in Maine because while that can be kind of an initial gut reaction, I think people here are curious. We've certainly seen plenty of campaigns where one side was outspent a lot by the other and it didn't make a difference. We have led in other policy areas. Ranked choice voting could be one recent example. Clean elections one of the only states that splits our electoral college votes. So I think Maine people, I think we're interested in things that are different if they make sense to us.David RobertsWhere is the public on this? Do we know do we have enough polling or survey data or what have you to know kind of what the level of support is or where the public is on this? Do we have a barometer? Do we have a measure here?Nicole GrohoskiYeah, I think the most recent public polling was probably a couple of months ago. But what it showed was there were people that were solidly in each camp but a lot of undecided voters and it really put us in a dead heat in terms of the people that were decided. And what I think is interesting is folks are not being swayed by Central Maine Power and Versant ads mainly because we don't trust them. They have not been good faith actors.David RobertsAre they creating fake groups like "Mainers for puppy dogs and grandma"?Nicole GrohoskiYes, Maine Affordable Energy is one of them. Yeah, so they sound pretty good, but all you have to do is google that and you find out pretty quickly, because of our disclosure rules, that's 100% utility funded.David RobertsTo the extent that the public supports this, are they viewing it as primarily a green thing, a thing about clean energy? Or is it primarily " Screw these out of state —," you know what I mean? Like a Maine pride kind of thing. Is it a reliability? Do you know what it is about this that the public has taken from it? What it is the public is supporting when the public supports it?Nicole GrohoskiThat's a great question and it does vary depending on the person and their interest and maybe even where they live in the state because the utility rates are the worst where I live compared to all the other districts in the state. So it depends. I think if you're a person who tried to interconnect and you got told you have to wait two years and $10,000, then it might be about greening the grid. But I think for a lot of folks underlying whatever their specific reason might be, it is that question of trust. I think about this all the time we have aggressive clean electricity goals, but 50% of our carbon emissions in this state are coming from vehicles and we are the most heating oil dependent state in the country.So we've got to get people onto the electricity grid in order to have any hope of cleaning it up. But it's really hard for me to knock on someone's door and say, "I really hope you'll consider changing your whole house over to heat pumps, even though we have below zero temperatures sometimes. Or I know that the power went out for a week last year, but would you consider an EV?" So I think that in order to make this transition work, we have to have utilities that people trust and that are providing just basic service. People should not have to think as hard as they're thinking about if their electricity is going to be there for them.David RobertsYes, that's such an important point. And so generalizable too, like if electrification is the thing, then people have got to trust the institutions in charge of electrification and they do not have much public trust these days. So that's an interesting argument in favor, I think, of making utilities more accountable, more public. What about the other big argument against one of the big scare things is you have to buy all these assets, which is like a big bill, a big one-time bill. The other scare story is that utilities are going to immediately sue, that this is going to get mired in the courts, and that it's going to take 4, 5, 6, 7 years to even get it all settled, and until then it will be chaos and no one will know what's going on and blah, blah, blah.So realistically, what's your view of, say, voters approve this in November? What is your view of sort of how that plays out and when and how the inevitable legal wrangling gets resolved?Nicole GrohoskiBasically, the Pine Tree Power Board will offer a certain amount for the utility infrastructure. I don't expect that the utilities will accept that on first pass you're buying a used car, you don't just take the first price. Right. So we would expect some negotiation, but if that doesn't work, then it will go to the courts. And there is a refereed process that's spelled out in the legislation in the Superior Court that then can be appealed to the Supreme Court in the state of Maine. But there are timelines set up. So it cannot go on for years and years and years, because at some point, if you lose or win a case, that's it.You have one appeal. I think it's funny that this argument is coming from the utilities because if there are any lawsuits and if it got dragged out, as they say, even though we've protected against that to the best of our ability, that's coming from them. That is a choice that they are making.David Roberts"Don't make us do this."Nicole GrohoskiYeah, so it's kind of ironic but additionally, one of the things that comes up is how do we know the utilities will continue to invest in the meantime? And it's like the best parallel I could say to that is if I'm going to sell my house, I don't just stop fixing things before I sell it. I keep it up in really good shape. And in fact, utilities would have an incentive to invest more because usually they don't just sell it for exactly what it's worth. There's usually a multiplier. We expect it to be like 1.5 times.So we actually have increased the oversight capacity of the Public Utilities Commission to ensure that there isn't any of that sort of last-minute gold plating going on, because that is actually what we'd expect, not the further disrepair scenario.David RobertsOh, so you think if this goes through, they'll plow a bunch of money into high dollar upgrades just to boost their price that you have to pay for them?Nicole GrohoskiThat's what I would do if I were them. Fortunately, we're going to keep an eye on that on behalf of Maine people. But if you are able to invest a million dollars here and in two to three years time make $1.5 million because that's the multiplier that the courts assign, that's pretty good.David RobertsYeah. So what's your timeline in your head then? What do you envision? At what point is there just the one public utility operating and all this is behind us? Were you willing to predict?Nicole GrohoskiYeah, we're looking at fall 2027, so four years from now, and that includes having the elections for the board members next year. So that's the first major hurdle, which I think is exciting, especially because living in one of the more rural parts of Maine, we don't always feel here that our interests are represented at the Public Utilities Commission, which is folks from southern Maine. And I think this geographic component is really compelling to, you know, so that's our first step. And then basically we have to get a lot of information. I mean, the board would have to get a lot of information from the utilities in order to know what purchase price they should put forward, what's the business plan, what does the revenue bonding look like, and make sure they can secure that financing through a large municipal bond market.So that takes time and we want to make sure we do it right. On the other hand, doing nothing is also a risk that I think sets people in my generation and folks younger than me behind economically and environmentally for decades. So a couple of years to do it right is definitely worth it.David RobertsOkay, final question then. I can see lots of Maine-specific reasons why one might argue that this is a good deal; these utilities are particularly bad, Maine has a particular set of problems, it has a particular sort of public culture, a culture of participation and a culture of civic engagement, et cetera, et cetera. Lots of Maine-specific reasons why you could make the case for this. I wonder, to what extent do y'all have your eyes on other states and trying to make this the beginning of something bigger? Like, do you believe that taking private utilities public is a good idea across the board?Is that something you'd like to see become a national trend or are you just purely focused on Maine? How do you think about the influence this may or may not have on other states?Nicole GrohoskiI think that all the issues we've had in Maine are what led us to looking around for solutions, but it is a structural imbalance that we have with the regulated monopolies when they're for profit. So, I do think it is something that is exportable to other states. We people in our coalition have been working with and talking to people elsewhere in the country who are looking to make a similar transition also elsewhere in the world. It's kind of interesting. The Scottish power is also owned by Avengrid, which owns Central Maine Power, and they are looking to become a public, truly public utility over there.So, in doing this work, we've found a lot of interest for that business model change. And I think as we become another case study, we are standing on the shoulders of other case studies that have happened in this country. And as we become another one for folks, I think that we'll see some opportunities arise. And I would like to see that because I want every American to be able to afford their electricity and to be able to have clean energy and not a lot of hurdles to getting there, because we are literally all in this together as a country and as a world with our climate crisis.David RobertsThat seems like a wonderful note to wrap up on. Nicole Grohoski, thanks so much for coming on and walking through this with us. It's super fascinating and I think it will be an example to the rest of the country one way or the other. However it plays out.Nicole GrohoskiWe're hoping that we're a positive "yes" example. We're working every day toward that. And I want to thank you, David, for having me on and talking about this topic, which is, I think, endlessly important and fascinating.David RobertsAgreed, agreed. OK. Thanks, Nicole. Thank you for listening to the Volts podcast. It is ad-free, powered entirely by listeners like you. If you value conversations like this, please consider becoming a paid Volts subscriber at volts. WTF. Yes, that's volts.WTF so that I can continue doing this work. Thank you so much and I'll see you next time. Get full access to Volts at www.volts.wtf/subscribe

Federal safety investigators have issued a subpoena to the state Public Utility Commission for documents related to a fatal explosion at a chocolate factory in West Reading. All nine young people who escaped from a Berks County youth detention center have been re-captured. State police say hey didn't appear to have very good survival skills. Voters in Allegheny County's 21st state House district will decide which party will control the state House. Police say thousands of minks have been released from a Northumberland County fur farm after someone cut holes in the surrounding fence.    Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Troy Cross and Bitcoin Bassload Treble + Bass = Energy Grid Harmony   In this electrifying episode of BitBuyBit, Max and Jon speak with energy market expert and Pleb Miner Mafia Capo, Bitcoin Bassload as well as Philosopher and Bitcoin enthusiast Troy Cross from the Bitcoin Policy Institute.   The relationship between Bitcoin mining and the American energy industry is complex, nuanced, wrought with acronyms, oversight, and regulation. The purpose of this conversation is to find where we agree and disagree on the relationship between Bitcoin mining and the energy industry and what we as Pleb Miners can do when our energy is focused and pointed in the same direction. Troy and Bassload come from different perspectives when looking at the relationship between Bitcoin mining and energy, but their hearts and minds are focused on making sure that Bitcoin wins.   In this discussion Bassload defines terms like the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Regional Transmission Organizations (RTO), and Independent Systems Operators (ISO) and explains how regulation and government policy steer energy markets. He discusses the Physical Grid versus Policy Grid, balancing authorities, generation fleet mix, and Meredith Angwin's fatal trifecta for the grid: over reliance on renewables, backing up the renewables with just in time resources, and overdependence on neighbors. Bassload offers advice on creating relationships with energy providers: 1. Print the load 2. Pay an invoice. Bitcoin Bassload's Energy Market Inflows can be found on his Substack in which he puts out frequent updates.    Troy discusses the unique characteristics of Bitcoin mining and its relationship with energy, particularly in the context of environmentalism and regulatory arbitrage. He highlights that Bitcoin's decentralized nature and algorithmically fixed production makes it resistant to local regulations and taxes. His point in conveying this, is that Bitcoin mining can take advantage of excess energy in regions with corrupt governments, it can bypass restrictions, and potentially disrupt the energy market. The discussion emphasizes that Bitcoin's fundamental value is tied to the cost of energy rather than fiat currency. Over the long term, government regulations and subsidies may not significantly impact Bitcoin mining, or its adoption. Troy expands on this theory in this recent article.   Treble and Bass = Grid Harmony   Terms and Definitions   FERC- FERC was originally called the Federal Power Commission to then become the Federal Regulatory Commission created on October 1 1977. The FPA was originally designed to coordinate federal hydropower development (in 1920) then in 1935 it was given the independent regulatory status to then regulate both hydropower and electricity.  Then in 1938 the natural gas act gave FPA jurisdiction over interstate NG pipelines and wholesale sales.  FERC was created due to a response to the oil crisis of 1973 and thus passing the Department of Energy Organization act of 1977 in an effort to consolidate agencies into a ‘department of energy'. DOE was born.  Congress insisted that the independent regulatory body be retained. FERC originally was to determine whether wholesale electricity prices were unjust and unreasonable  If so regulate the pricing and give some refunds to ratepayers FERC an independent organization that its commissioners are appointed by the president and confirmed by the senate Order 888 was issued in 1996 which created the RTO's (regional transmission organizations) in response to the Energy Policy Act in 1992.       RTO's- Organized by FERC to have what were the former power pools to ‘rebrand' themselves as independent transmission operators that would be able to compete in a wholesale electric market administered by RTO's.  PJM, NYISO and ISONE were first in line. Like an ISO they operate transmission systems and develop innovative procedures to manage transmission equitably.    ISO's- Independent System Operators were designed to consolidate and manage the operation of transmission facilities to provide nondiscriminatory open transmission service for all generators and transmission customers.   Traditional wholesale markets were in the SE, SW and NW and most were vertically integrated where they own generation, transmission and distribution systems to serve electricity consumers.  They also many include federal systems: Bonneville Power System Tennessee Valley Authority Western Area Power Administration   At the wholesale level, the RTO's and the ISO's is managing economic dispatch of generators and its auctions to the clearing price.  Less expensive power gets dispatched first.  RTO controls the bids, they know the cost of fuel, and they know the marginal cost of the next kwh your generator plant makes.  One can add a risk premium to the bids but the RTO's are checking. (Meredith Angwin)    TYPES of RTO's and ISO's CAISO- California Independent System Operator ERCOT- Electric Reliability Council of Texas SPP- SouthWest Power Pool MISO- Midcontinent Independent System Operator (15 states and canadian province of Manitoba)  SouthEast Power Pool PJM- Pennsylvania New Jersey and Maryland NYISO New York Independent System Operator ISONE Independent System operator of New England    Vertically integrated- this is where the same entity owns all of the generation, transmission and distribution to service electricity consumers in the given region that they are in.   PUC's- Public Utility Commission were designed to do a couple of things: Balance the needs of consumers AND utilities  Ensure safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates Protect public interest Educate consumers to make independent and informed utility choices Typically the PUC's were designed for the consumer, but they are also heavily “in bed' with the utilities Regulate electric, gas, telecommunications, water and wastewater facilities Typically appointed by the governor serving 4-6 year terms. Typically regulate all investor owned utilities in their state Municipalities and cooperative utilities are often exempt from PUC regulations    PUCs often use non-adjudicatory processes to address new and evolving issues. This would include traditional rulemakings, in addition to informal stakeholder collaborative processes. Over the past decade, the stakeholder process has become one of the mainstays of issue resolution. In these proceedings, professional facilitators are often used and the parties work toward a narrowing of issues or their complete resolution through a negotiated or shared agreement. Typical participants include utilities, ratepayer advocates, environmental advocates, and industry advocates.    Load Shape- the amount of energy consumption one uses, measured in watts or kilowatts over a period of time.  When looking at the curve of how that energy is consumed, the shape of that curve is what is monitored.  If flat, good.  If not and seeing spikes means that the shape is inconsistent with the amount of watts consumed over time   BTU- A British Thermal Unit, the base unit of measure for measuring energy in the US.  a btu is the amount of energy required to heat one pound of water    Joule- joule, unit of work or energy in the International System of Units (SI); it is equal to the work done by a force of one newton acting through one metre. Named in honour of the English physicist James Prescott Joule, it equals 107 ergs, or approximately 0.7377 foot-pounds.   Watt- the SI unit of power, equivalent to one joule per second, corresponding to the power in an electric circuit in which the potential difference is one volt and the current one ampere. 1 watt = 1J/s   Baseload- Baseload electricity generation creates 24/7 power to the grid to meet the base energy needs of the U.S. While peaking generation must follow the varying hourly electricity needs as demand rises and falls, base load generation operates constantly to support the increment of demand that is always there no matter the time of day or day of the week. https://energytransition.nema.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/NEMA-QuickFacts-Baseloadgeneration.pdf   Balancing Authority- The BA makes sure that the supply of power on the grid is exactly matched with the requirement for power always.  The BA must keep voltage within a narrow range and balance demand on the grid.  The BA must also make sure that the VARs (Volts Amps Reactive) are in balance. Refer to page 28-30 of shorting the grid.  “A well run grid is like a good bicyclist on a smooth road, while a more difficult grid (more sudden ups and downs in power or energy requirements) requires more of a balancing-type energy (Meredith Angwin).  60Hz or 60 cycles per second in the US 50HZ or 50 cycles per second everywhere else The responsible entity that integrates resource plans ahead of time, maintains load-interchange-generation balance within a balancing authority area, and supports interconnection frequency in real time.   Energy Auction House- mentioned above and see pages of Mereidth Angwins book shorting the grid pages 91-93   Generation Fleet Mix Nuclear  Coal Natural Gas Oil Hydro Solar Wind Geothermal   Renewable energy- Renewable energy is energy produced from sources like the sun and wind that are naturally replenished and do not run out. Renewable energy can be used for electricity generation, space and water heating and cooling, and transportation. Non-renewable energy, in contrast, comes from finite sources that could get used up, such as fossil fuels like coal and oil. (DOE definition) energy from a source that is not depleted when used, such as wind or solar power. "the environmental benefits of renewable energy" (Oxford Dictionary)   Net Zero- net zero means cutting greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible, with any remaining emissions re-absorbed from the atmosphere, by oceans and forests for instance. To ‘go net zero' is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and/or to ensure that any ongoing emissions are balanced by removals. (university of oxford) REC- Renewable Energy Credits A renewable energy certificate, or REC (pronounced: rěk, like wreck), is a market-based instrument that represents the property rights to the environmental, social, and other non-power attributes of renewable electricity generation. RECs are issued when one megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity is generated and delivered to the electricity grid from a renewable energy resource. RECs include several data attributes, including:* Certificate data Certificate type Tracking system ID Renewable fuel type Renewable facility location Nameplate capacity of project Project name Project vintage (build date) Certificate (generation) vintage Certificate unique identification number Utility to which project is interconnected Eligibility for certification or renewable portfolio standard (RPS) Emissions rate of the renewable resource *Note: This list is not exhaustive and, depending on the market in which the REC is generated, other attributes may be associated with the certificate   Three buckets  o   financial- everything to do with pricing, hedging, derivative markets for energy, from wholesale to retail  o   physical- infrastructure related, engineering and design of the implementation and installation of large equipment o   regulatory- politics, rules and regulation from governing bodies aka FERC, DOE, PUC, ISO, RTO and alike.   We hope this to be the first of many discussions on Bitcoin's relationship with energy markets and energy providers. If you enjoyed the discussion in this episode, let us know by boosting on Fountain.    Ungovernable Misfits Socials https://www.ungovernablemisfits.com   Twitter  https://twitter.com/ungovernablemf   Ungovernable Misfits Socials https://www.ungovernablemisfits.com   Twitter  https://twitter.com/ungovernablemf     Show Sponsor - Foundation Devices   Foundation builds Bitcoin-centric tools that empower you to reclaim your digital sovereignty. As a sovereign computing company, Foundation is the antithesis of today's tech conglomerates. Returning to cypherpunk principles, they build open source technology that “can't be evil,”    Thank you Foundation Devices for sponsoring the show.  Use code BITBUYBIT at check out for $10 off your purchase.   https://foundationdevices.com   Show Sponsor: sx6.store   SECURE YOUR BITCOIN IN MARINE GRADE, 316L STAINLESS STEEL!  

Please take our listener survey.Energy Storage leaders join us for Creating Cost-Competitive Energy Storage Systems - Aug 24, 10 AM Central. ( Link )Today on the Clean Power Hour, how Illinois' Public Utility Commission is speeding the energy transition. In this episode, Tim Montague sits down with Carrie Zalewski, former chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC).Carrie Zalewski served as a utility regulator and an energy attorney with an engineering background with over 15 years of experience in environmental and energy regulation. She has an extensive background in public utility regulation, environmental policy, and compliance, wholesale power issues, and corporate governance.In this episode, Tim and Carrie delve into the essential functions of the ICC, examining its vital role in overseeing utilities and ensuring a seamless shift to cleaner power sources.Carrie Zalewski sheds light on how the ICC is breaking down barriers and streamlining interconnection processes for solar projects. Tim and Carrie also delve into the dynamic world of electric vehicle infrastructure expansion in Illinois.Join us for an engaging discussion that unveils the driving force behind Illinois' sustainable energy transformation. Key TakeawaysThe role of the ICC in regulating utilities and overseeing the energy transition in IllinoisTools the ICC has to incentivize utilities to support distributed energy resources like rooftop solar and battery storageHow ICC is improving interconnection processes and removing barriers to solar projectsThe efforts to expand electric vehicle infrastructure in IllinoisHow ICC is advocating for clean energy and consumers in regional transmission marketsConnect with Carrie ZalewskiFollow Illinois Commerce Commission on LinkedInIllinois Commerce Commission Support the showConnect with Tim Clean Power Hour Clean Power Hour on YouTubeTim on TwitterTim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple PodcastsThe Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America's number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

Our friend J Pete Laney is back for a Texas Legislature Recap as has become tradition.  J Pete and I talk through several key bills related Texas Agriculture as well as some bills that did not pass.  It's always fun to chat with J Pete and get his on-the-ground knowledge about what's going on in Austin. Contact Info for J Pete Laney (website) http://www.jpetelaneylaw.com/ (phone) 512-473-0404 Links to Topics Mentioned on the Show Right to Farm Statute - Blog Post Amendments to the Right to Farm Statute HB 1750 HB 2308 HB 2947 Constitutional Amendment protecting the right to engage in farming, ranching, timber production, horticulture, and wildlife management HJR 126 Relating to limitation of certain liability of owners, lessees, and occupants of land in connection with livestock and agricultural land HB 73 A program to compensate landowners for property damage caused by certain criminal activities SB 1133 Labeling of analogue and cell-cultured products SB 664 Use of certain weapons in or on the bed or bank of a navigable river or stream; providing a penalty SB 1236 Eligibility of land to continue to be appraised for ad valorem tax purposes as qualified open-space land following a transfer to a surviving spouse HB 2354 Late applications for the appraisal of land for ad valorem tax purposes as qualified open-space land following the death of the owner of the land SB 1191 Burden of proof in certain ad valorem tax appeals HB 2488 Creation of a specialty trial court to hear certain cases; authorizing fees HB 19 Bills that did NOT pass Purchase of or acquisition of title to real property by certain aliens or foreign entities SB 147 Prohibiting contracts or other agreements with certain foreign-owned companies in connection with agricultural land SB 552 Certain property interests of a foreign government in agricultural land HB 1075 Permitting of renewable energy generation facilities by the Public Utility Commission of Texas; authorizing fees SB 624 HB 3707 Ownership of the pore space underlying the surface of land and to the use of that space for the geologic storage of carbon dioxide; authorizing a fee HB 4484 Criteria considered by groundwater conservation districts before granting or denying a permit HB 5052 Requiring state contractors, political subdivisions of this state, and private employers to participate in the federal electronic verification of employment authorization program, or E-verify SB 1621    

Last week, the Public Utility Commission of Texas voted to raise Texas' electricity tax by $500 million a year. On this week's Liberty Café, we'll learn how the PUC and […]

Last week, the Public Utility Commission of Texas voted to raise Texas' electricity tax by $500 million a year. On this week's Liberty Café, we'll learn how the PUC and Texas Legislature are doing their best to keep this–and billions more in electricity taxes–hidden from public view.

Podcast: The PrOTect OT Cybersecurity Podcast (LS 29 · TOP 10% what is this?)Episode: Terence Gill & Roger Simmons: Bringing Texas Utilities Together to Strengthen The Grid Through CollaborationPub date: 2023-07-27About Terence Gill: Terence Gill is a seasoned professional with 26 years of experience in technical roles across various industries. With a background in Computer Science and Finance, he has successfully designed and developed critical systems for organizations like Lockheed Martin, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and BNY Mellon. Currently, as the Program Manager of the Texas Cybersecurity Outreach Program, he collaborates with Cybersecurity Specialist Roger Simmons and the Public Utility Commission of Texas to enhance cybersecurity posture among almost 60 utilities across the state, transforming the program from a legislative bill into a pivotal force safeguarding the Texas grid.About Roger Simmons: Roger Simmons, CISSP, C|EH, is a highly experienced Cybersecurity Specialist at Paragon Systems, boasting an impressive career spanning over 18 years. With a diverse background in both public and private sector organizations, he has played pivotal roles in establishing and fortifying security and compliance programs. Notably, he contributed to shaping the U.S. Department of Defense's cyber workforce requirements and co-chaired Texas's Statewide Information Security Advisory Committee on Security Workforce Development.In this episode, Aaron, Terence, and Roger discuss:Exploring the Texas Cybersecurity Outreach ProgramCollaborative efforts in strengthening cybersecurity for power utilitiesAsset management and its role in cyber resiliency for organizationsThe importance of personnel identification for cybersecurity in the Texas gridKey Takeaways:The Texas Cybersecurity Outreach Program is a unique initiative bringing utilities together to cooperate on cybersecurity solutions, driven by government vision and legislative support, fostering a platform for knowledge exchange and mutual learning to bolster the security of electric utilities in Texas.In the power utility industry, a strong culture of sharing and collaboration drives significant advancements in safety and reliability, as organizations unite to tackle challenges and bolster the grid's resilience, ultimately benefiting the greater good of society.Asset management is the foundational key to enhancing cybersecurity resilience, understanding the true risks to the business, and building a more reliable system, and it requires continuous improvement and buy-in from the C-suite to ensure its effectiveness.Effective cybersecurity in the energy sector requires comprehensive asset management, including identifying critical personnel responsible for managing assets during a crisis and fostering communication and collaboration between utilities. "Not enough utilities are talking to each other, getting involved and talking to each other. That's really my main concern. Because, as we know, a lot of bad actors are out there, and they're working together. And they're doing whatever they can to penetrate our systems and to cause chaos and havoc......getting utilities to talk to one another, I think that's critical communication." — Terence Gill "The first piece of asset management is understanding what you have and trying to divide that into bite-sized pieces. So, regardless of the size of your organization, unless you're like a one person, one computer shop, you're going to have to divide and conquer." — Roger SimmonsResources Mentioned:Texas Utilities Cybersecurity Monitor Outreach Program: https://parasys.com/cybermonitor/Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity Summit: https://parasys.com/cybersummit/Public Utility Commission of Texas: https://www.puc.texas.gov/Connect with Aaron:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronccrowLearn more about Industrial Defender:Website: https://www.industrialdefender.com/podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/industrial-defender-inc/Twitter: https://twitter.com/iDefend_ICSYouTube: hThe podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Aaron Crow, which is the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Listen Notes, Inc.

About Terence Gill: Terence Gill is a seasoned professional with 26 years of experience in technical roles across various industries. With a background in Computer Science and Finance, he has successfully designed and developed critical systems for organizations like Lockheed Martin, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and BNY Mellon. Currently, as the Program Manager of the Texas Cybersecurity Outreach Program, he collaborates with Cybersecurity Specialist Roger Simmons and the Public Utility Commission of Texas to enhance cybersecurity posture among almost 60 utilities across the state, transforming the program from a legislative bill into a pivotal force safeguarding the Texas grid.About Roger Simmons: Roger Simmons, CISSP, C|EH, is a highly experienced Cybersecurity Specialist at Paragon Systems, boasting an impressive career spanning over 18 years. With a diverse background in both public and private sector organizations, he has played pivotal roles in establishing and fortifying security and compliance programs. Notably, he contributed to shaping the U.S. Department of Defense's cyber workforce requirements and co-chaired Texas's Statewide Information Security Advisory Committee on Security Workforce Development.In this episode, Aaron, Terence, and Roger discuss:Exploring the Texas Cybersecurity Outreach ProgramCollaborative efforts in strengthening cybersecurity for power utilitiesAsset management and its role in cyber resiliency for organizationsThe importance of personnel identification for cybersecurity in the Texas gridKey Takeaways:The Texas Cybersecurity Outreach Program is a unique initiative bringing utilities together to cooperate on cybersecurity solutions, driven by government vision and legislative support, fostering a platform for knowledge exchange and mutual learning to bolster the security of electric utilities in Texas.In the power utility industry, a strong culture of sharing and collaboration drives significant advancements in safety and reliability, as organizations unite to tackle challenges and bolster the grid's resilience, ultimately benefiting the greater good of society.Asset management is the foundational key to enhancing cybersecurity resilience, understanding the true risks to the business, and building a more reliable system, and it requires continuous improvement and buy-in from the C-suite to ensure its effectiveness.Effective cybersecurity in the energy sector requires comprehensive asset management, including identifying critical personnel responsible for managing assets during a crisis and fostering communication and collaboration between utilities. "Not enough utilities are talking to each other. That's really my main concern. Because, as we know, a lot of bad actors are out there, and they're working together. And they're doing whatever they can to penetrate our systems and to cause chaos and havoc… getting utilities to talk to one another, I think that's critical communication." — Terence Gill "The first piece of asset management is understanding what you have and trying to divide that into bite-sized pieces. So, regardless of the size of your organization, unless you're like a one person, one computer shop, you're going to have to divide and conquer." — Roger SimmonsResources Mentioned:Texas Utilities Cybersecurity Monitor Outreach Program: https://parasys.com/cybermonitor/Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity Summit: https://parasys.com/cybersummit/Public Utility Commission of Texas: https://www.puc.texas.gov/Connect with Aaron:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronccrowLearn more about Industrial Defender:Website: https://www.industrialdefender.com/podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/industrial-defender-inc/Twitter: https://twitter.com/iDefend_ICSYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@industrialdefender7120Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Water rates could rise as much as 70% over the next three years, and as homeowners, you stand to pay a lot more than a big commercial business. City Cast Pittsburgh host Megan Harris chats with Ann Belser, the editor and publisher of Print, about why PWSA says it needs so much more money, how the state's getting involved, and what you can do to have your voice heard before the price per gallon goes up. Ann's work also publishes online with NEXTpittsburgh. Check out her piece detailing why the rate hike got delayed from its proposed July 8 start date. Another one should be dropping soon. The state wants to hear from you! If you want to weigh in on the proposed rate hike, the Public Utility Commission is holding in-person hearings on tomorrow, July 25 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Jeron X. Grayson Community Center in the Hill District, and via Zoom at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 27. You can use the event links on the PWSA website, check in with the PUC schedule directly, or send letters of support or objection to:  Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission Post Office Box 3265, Harrisburg, PA 17105-3265 Want some more Pittsburgh news?  Make sure to sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We're also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Instagram @CityCastPgh! Not a fan of social? Then leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the number of 100-plus degree days pile up and Texans continue to set new records for energy demand, it begs the question: Can our power grid keep up with our growing population? This week, Baylee Friday is joined by a former advisor to the chair of the Public Utility Commission of Texas Alison Silverstein, state Sen. Nathan Johnson (D-Dallas), and J.P. Dowling with Houston-based Reliant Energy.

Our guest in this episode is Shea Cunningham. I met Shea on LinkedIn way back in July 2022. We recorded our time together in early February 2023 and both commiserated about the cold Southern California weather. She is an extremely busy, productive, and visionary woman. Currently, among other jobs, she is the director of Sustainability at ASGN. She will tell us all about ASGN and other organizations with which she works and has worked. Shea studied and majored in International Relations and minored in Latin American Studies at San Francisco State University. Through an internship, she received the opportunity to work in Thailand for two years working on a number of international-related issues. As she says, that wasn't a part of her plan for herself, but “it was a wonderful opportunity”. After Thailand, she went to UCLA's School of Public Policy where she obtained her master's degree in urban planning with an emphasis on Sustainability. Shea will tell us a lot about the subject of “Sustainability” and why it is so important. She uses her life story to discuss how she got so involved in addressing sustainability issues and will show you why it can be an important subject for all of us to ponder and address. About the Guest: Shea Cunningham (she/her) is the Director of Sustainability of ASGN Incorporated. She is a sustainability planning and ESG strategy expert with over twenty years of consulting experience across multiple industry sectors, from the community to international levels. Ms. Cunningham established several sustainability-focused organizations including the Balanced Approach, Focus on the Global South (Bangkok, Thailand), the Culver City Sustainable Business Certification Program, and the US Department of Education Green Ribbon Award-wining sustainability program for the Culver City Unified School District. Ms. Cunningham was also an analyst for the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (Paris, France), and a consultant for Sony Pictures, Athens Services and the Malibu Foundation, amongst numerous other businesses, municipalities, and academic institutions. She is the lead author of “Our Climate Crisis: A Guide for SoCal Communities in the Wildland Urban Interface,” and co-author of many other articles, reports and books. In 2021, Shea was awarded the Women in Business Leadership Visionary Award from the Culver City Chamber of Commerce. She holds an MA in Urban and Regional Planning from the UCLA School of Public Policy and is a LEED Green Associate. Shea's recommended links on climate change: The Nature Conservancy's Chief Scientist (and evangelical Christian) Katharine Hayhoe's Ted Talk Katharine Hayhoe's article How to Talk About Climate Change across the Political Divide in the New Yorker A Washington Post article on the US Army's Climate Strategy Methodist Church's Resolution on a Response to Climate Change 1% for the Planet's 10 Viable solutions to climate change Article from NASA on Scientific Consensus on Climate Change http://www.newclimatevoices.org/ About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes Michael Hingson  00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i  capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us.   Michael Hingson  01:20 Well, hi, and yes, we are here once again for another episode of unstoppable mindset. Shea Cunningham is a sustainability expert with over 20 years of experience, and we're going to talk about that she works for a company now. For the company she works for is ASGN. She's the director of sustainability and we're going to have to talk about that and see what all that means. But first, che thanks for being here. And welcome to unstoppable mindset.   Shea Cunningham  01:52 Thank you so much, Michael. I'm really happy to be here with you.   Michael Hingson  01:56 Well, we're we're excited now, where are you located?   Shea Cunningham  02:00 I am in Culver City, which is basically, yeah, it's LA County, West LA adjacent to Santa Monica. That sort of area.   Michael Hingson  02:10 So from up here in Victorville. I could just kind of Chuck a rock down the past and maybe it would find you and pound on your window.   Shea Cunningham  02:18 Yeah, we're not too far apart. That's right.   Michael Hingson  02:20 And we have reasonably decent weather.   Shea Cunningham  02:24 Yeah, today is gorgeous. I actually just took a bike ride i just i That's one of my passions is bike riding road road biking. So it was a lovely, lovely day this morning.   Michael Hingson  02:36 Much better place to do within going and trying to do it in Oh, Buffalo, New York.   Shea Cunningham  02:42 That is true. Yes. I have some friends in Chicago right now. There. Yeah, it's like four degrees. So yeah, I'm very grateful.   Michael Hingson  02:50 Yeah, not quite this pleasant is here. It was 31 degrees this morning when I got up in Victorville. And like yesterday, I think it was or Wednesday, it was down to 22. So but we're a little bit up in the mountains, we're in the high desert. So we get a little bit more of the cold weather, but not nearly as much as the precipitation. As you all saw down there. The the water doesn't tend to drop in Victorville very much. We're in a valley. So clouds have to go up over mountains and other things. So by the time it gets here, it loses a lot of its moisture.   Shea Cunningham  03:24 So you didn't get to experience the atmospheric rivers that we were having around my area, then.   Michael Hingson  03:30 Not so much. I think we maybe got three quarters of an inch of rain, but that was about all.   Shea Cunningham  03:35 Yes, that's good. Because yeah, there was quite destructive not in my community, but around around the larger region.   Michael Hingson  03:44 So yeah, well, I I know, right now, they're saying we have in the Sierras, what about 250% of the normal snowfall for this time here? And it's just going to be a question of how soon it melts. And hopefully it won't too quickly.   Shea Cunningham  03:59 Correct. Yeah. And yeah, it's been hasn't rained this much and produce this much snowpack for over a decade. So it's it's definitely welcomed. But I know, we're also not capturing as much as we need to. And then because our infrastructure is still inadequate. So I'm hoping I'm optimistically hopeful, then that there will be our cautiously optimistic that that there's going to be progress in that regard.   Michael Hingson  04:27 Oh, I hope so. Well, I want to get to a lot of the things that you do and so on, but I'd like to start by you telling us kind of your your roots where you came from going to school and all that and what you what you studied and learned and anything else like that that you want to tell us about the earlier che   Shea Cunningham  04:45 Okay, sure. Well, I I got well, actually, before I went to graduate school, I was at San Francisco State University where I studied international relations and I minored in Latin American Studies, and I had the great fortune too, to actually be my my internship and end my undergrad program basically turned into a real job, I was the research assistant to the executive director. And I got the opportunity opportunity to actually live and work in Bangkok, Thailand for a couple of years, which is not obviously not Latin America was not really on my, my, the planned path that I had. But it was a fantastic experience, I helped to build a sort of a think tank at Chulalongkorn University focused on looking at the impacts of Trade and Development on communities, economies, and the environment. So I basically started working in the sustainability world, before the buzzword sustainability kind of came into the picture. And I was working at the Institute for Food and development policy in San Francisco as well. And then I went to graduate school, at UCLA in the School of Public Policy and got my master's degree in urban and regional planning with a focus on sustainability. And, and I have always been sort of a nature lover at heart, like as a young girl, I was already like, I would be upsetting to see trash on the ground. And, you know, I just I very much have always loved to camp and hike and be in the ocean, that sort of thing. So I'm sort of naturally, you know, became a sustainability. Professional   Michael Hingson  06:36 Chulalongkorn University, is that an outgrowth of the king? And I?   Shea Cunningham  06:41 Well, it is actually the oldest university in, in Bangkok, the very first university ever built right in the center of the city. And it is it is basically named after the king. Yes.   Michael Hingson  06:56 Cool. Well, that I've heard of it before never had a chance to ask the question. But it, it is certainly something that comes to mind. So that's pretty cool. But you spend time there. Well, you you in undergraduate work, you did Latin American Studies and so on. Growing up what got you interested in that, that you decided to go to college and study that?   Shea Cunningham  07:19 That's a good question. Well, I definitely had always, we I had gone with my parents a few times to Mexico for holidays, and, you know, sort of summer vacations. And, and I really was always very curious about learning Spanish, because I wanted to be able to understand what people were saying. And I also had friends who were actually farmworker families in grade school. And so I was just always fascinated with learning Spanish, because that was the second language that I heard in my, in my young life. So and I also just started to really pay attention to the disparities in wealth between my family and the other families, that farmworker families as well as obviously, in Mexico, in some of the places that we stay, we know we'd stay in a resort, and then we'd go into town and was very obvious that there was a lot of poverty. And that was upsetting to me. So that's something that I wanted to sort of learn more about, and see how I could be somehow, you know, improve the situation to, you know, in my own way. So that's kind of where I came into this is because as I mentioned, sustainability is not just about the environment, it's also about the social aspects, social well being as well as, as the economics.   Michael Hingson  08:43 And I would assume that at least to a degree, your parents encouraged the concept and the the idea of those kinds of studies.   Shea Cunningham  08:51 You know, I was kind of like a free range kid, quite frankly. My dad, I live in my parents, sadly divorced at a young age and my I ended up living with my dad and my brother, and you know, so he was kind of like, Mr. Mom. And, and so, you know, he was kind of hands off and my mom as well. So I just sort of just kind of created my own path. And they've always been supportive. Both of them have always been supportive with everything I've chosen to do.   Michael Hingson  09:23 It is so good to have parents who are supportive, no matter what the circumstances like that. It's great that they were what did they do for work?   Shea Cunningham  09:32 Well, I am actually the first person in my family to get a master's degree. And so my mom, she is she actually is an amazing interior designer. She doesn't she's never really done it for money. But she's like, jaw dropping capabilities in that, in that regard. She also got a real estate license and she was As a realtor for quite some time, and my father, he did go and got he got his a degree and then ended up, you know, back in the day when it was not that unusual for people in their early 20s To get married and have babies. That's what they did back in the day. And so he did not enough finished college. And but he did. I'm very proud of him. He started in the mailroom at IBM, and worked his way up to regional manager over the years.   Michael Hingson  10:28 Wow. And that's a pretty good feat. It company like IBM to do that.   Shea Cunningham  10:34 I think so, too. He did. Yeah. He's a smart guy.   Michael Hingson  10:38 He's still doing that. Nope. He retired. He retired.   Shea Cunningham  10:41 Yeah, he was kind of forced into retirement. Actually, he was given the, the sort of the Golden Handshake. When they're, I think when you know, when 2008 When things were falling apart, the wheels were coming off the economy.   Michael Hingson  10:56 Yeah. happens all too often. So did he? Did he find something else to do? Or is he just enjoying retired life after now? What 15 years almost?   Shea Cunningham  11:07 Yeah, he's he's enjoying retirement. And he did a little bit of, of, sort of what was it was like, delivery of legal documents, in a kind of in his car driving around town. He kind of had fun doing that for a couple of years. And then he realized he didn't really need to do that. So he's just just enjoying his life.   Michael Hingson  11:28 Well, that's cool. Well, so you went off to do things in Bangkok, and so on, got a degree and started to deal with public policy? And then what did you do? So what did you do out of college when she got your master's degree?   Shea Cunningham  11:43 Yes, I actually I first Well, first, I did a little exploring in South America. I did you. Thank you. I did I actually lived in, in my, in my undergraduate I didn't mention this. And when I was in my undergraduate program, in my senior year, I did live in Mexico for for like, not not quite a full year in Wahaca, which was amazing. So if you ever get a chance to go to a haka, Mexico, I think it's one of the most special places on earth. So, after graduate school, I did take a little bit of time to do some exploring, and South America, which was an amazing, amazing trip. Being in the Andes, for instance, was just incredible. And just the different cultures, the different cities, I'm especially enamored with Buenos Aires in Argentina. But I, so I kind of brushed up on my Spanish and whatnot. And then I, I was very fortunate, I had the chair of my thesis committee started teaching at last or bone and in Paris, and wait, see, see ASBO I think actually, it's which is an another, like a science based university in Paris. And, and so I got the opportunity to be introduced to the OECD, which is the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris is sort of a I liken it to a mini think tank or not, it's really not that many sort of a smaller version of the United Nations. But it's, it's really a think tank between between the Western world countries. So it's like a, it's like, membership. You know, there's member countries basically, so, and it's headquartered in Paris. And I was offered a position there. So I ended up working there for about a year and living in Paris, which is a magnificent opportunity, as well. And I was focused on looking at social innovations across the, across the European region, specifically looking at sort of community community based projects that focused on improvement of both, again in sustainability, looking at the environment impacts on the environment of certain sorts of projects, and impacts on the community. And just also spotlighting just innovations, innovative community projects.   Michael Hingson  14:10 When you were you said in your senior year, you spent most of the year and Wahaca. How did how did that work from a studying standpoint? Was that just part of the university assignment? And did you sort of work remotely? Or how did that work?   Shea Cunningham  14:22 It was really wonderful. It was through the School of International Training. So it was a it was an abroad program that that we didn't have coursework. And we did have field work as well. And so my, so we did have classes, we had a lot of guest lectures, everything from culture to politics to history. And then I had I did a we had to do like a focus project. And so I selected looking at the sea turtles of Wahaca Nick problem, it's actually called Laguna state chicawa, which is where two different types of sea turtles come to lay their eggs. And the and as you probably know, the sea turtles got on the endangered species list. And so that had to stop. And so this was a project run by marine biologists. And so I basically live with them for about six weeks and experienced their project. And I helped it was it was magical I, I was able to help you know, bring the little little, the well the, the eggs that were being laid, and then we would transfer them into a safe area. And then in the evenings, we would liberate them into the sea and watch them watch a little babies crawled down to the sea was incredible. And at night, we would watch the, the moms coming up, the female turtles coming up onto the shore, and then making their nest and laying their eggs. And the reason why that project was happening was because the community there was reliant upon the sea turtle sea turtles for you know, making lotions and, and using their shells to create combs and all sorts of things like that. So then, there was also a project focused on helping to create a new economy, you know, new economic options for the community,   Michael Hingson  16:22 to not so much doing the turtles.   Shea Cunningham  16:25 Exactly. So it became a more sustainable, you know, operation for the community. And obviously, for the turtles.   Michael Hingson  16:33 How big were the adult turtles? Or are they How big are the adult turtles?   Shea Cunningham  16:38 I don't remember exactly in terms of measurement, but I would say, I mean, they're huge. The the green turtles are they get to be like, at least four feet long. Okay. Yeah, yeah, they're pretty big.   Michael Hingson  16:53 So they're big, like some of the Galapagos turtles and so on. Well, not   Shea Cunningham  16:56 as large as those because those the Galapagos are the largest turtle, I believe on Earth, but, but there, there are some moral big ones that kind of take your breath away.   Michael Hingson  17:05 I'm more used to desert tortoises and we don't see them nearly as much now I grew up in Palmdale, we had a pet tortoises growing up. And then later, after I was married, my mother in law went out of her house in Mission Viejo one day, and there was a tortoise just walking up the driveway. And clearly it had been someone's pet. But no one could ever claim it or find it. So we ended up deciding that we would take him and putting him in our yard. And later we got another another tortoise. So it was kind of fun. So we had a male and a female, very sweet bar, like desert tortoises were fun, and we could pet them. And we would give them rose petals and lead us and things like that. And they would also just stick their necks out if you're going to scratch under their necks. They would love it. Oh, yeah. So we made good friends. And actually, it got to the point where they decided that one day they wanted to come into the house. And our screen door or screen door was closed but not locked. And they just popped it open and came in to the consternation of our cat at the time, but everyone got along.   Shea Cunningham  18:19 That's really cute. I love it. I love any kind of turtle.   Michael Hingson  18:25 Yeah, I like turtles and tortoises. I saw one Galapagos turtle, but I was pretty young, only seven or eight at the San Diego Zoo. Oh, wow. But yeah, I like turtles and tortoises in there. They're kind of fun. Well, you so you eventually went off and went to graduate school. And then what did you do after graduate school?   Shea Cunningham  18:46 Well, then, I mean, after working at the the the OECD, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris, I ended up coming back to Los Angeles area. And I started to do some consulting actually for the Thai Community Development Center. And another the Community Development Center, which my goodness, I'm forgetting the name of it, but there are I basically started to consult as a sustainability planner for some different organizations. And I also was invited back to UCLA. I was a graduate student researcher at the North American Integration and development center. So I continue to take on some research projects there. I also worked as, as the research director for the Service Employees International Union, focused on the the public sector and actually worked with one of the projects that was especially rewarding and interesting was with people with developmental disabilities. So it was working with people there called people first I'm not sure if you're familiar with that organization, little David I think they're based in Sacramento. So that was that was an interesting project and you know, working also with the with the, with the helpers that you know that the in home care workers and then I, you know, so I bopped around a bit i i also had a full day and I still I still practice it yoga, I started teaching yoga I was I had two children. So my first one, I was really into yoga, and I ended up ended up being asked, well, I just found this really interesting and cost efficient program. And I ended up becoming a teacher through it. And I really just wanted to do that, because I was interested in learning more about the roots of yoga, and you know, just not not just the actual poses and postures. And, and, and then I started teaching and I as a young as a mom with young kids, that was that was a nice sort of side path. And then it took, and then after, after my kids got a little bit older, and I started going to, to elementary school and in my first kid and in elementary school in kindergarten, that's when I noticed that there was not any even recycling happening at the school. And so I kind of kicked it into high gear and said, Okay, we need to, we need to change things here at the school district. And I connected with some like minded parents, and some like minded teachers and the principal. And we, we sort of piloted a waste reduction and recycling program at the elementary school. And then from there, we raised some money through CalRecycle. And then we, I was asked to be a part of a new sort of committee for sustainability for the school district. And then I ended up leading that, and I really went all in with it. So we we raised a couple of large grants and created composting recycling bins across the entire 10 School 10 site school district. And then we worked with we started with that, but then we we really got into building our sort of co curricular awareness program and worked with the with the the janitorial staff and brought in green cleaning supplies so that they're moving. So it's basically healthier for them as well as the teachers and then students, we brought in solar to offset the you know, the fossil fuel burning, and to reduce the carbon emissions and to provide Sun shading for the parking lots and and playground areas. And we also worked on water reduction or water conservation. We we worked in brought in some new landscaping. So it was like for about five or six years, I was really I was very focused on that while doing other sort of consulting projects on the side. I also worked for help Sony Studios, which is also in Culver City, become a become a zero waste studio, because it's really neat. They they, they being the studio, they have friendly competitions with other studios across the region. And so they're they're really into becoming more green and more sustainable. And so I was brought in to help them create a zero waste studio at the headquarters, which was fun. And I mean, I could go on I have a few other projects that I actually because of the work I was doing at the schools, I gave a speech at a green schools Conference, which is an annual conference that happens in Pasadena. And from there I was invited to work. There's a proposition 39 That was created kind of a loophole that there was found for funding, energy efficiency and renewables in public schools. That money is sunsetted. This is bad for about six years, there was a really good amount of money for different schools for LED lighting retrofits and solar panels. And so I basically helped with that program. And and then I and then my sort of biggest, longest term project that I have that's continuing. And I think I haven't mentioned yet that I developed my own business called balanced approach. And it is a certified woman owned business. It's a sustainability doing sort of a micro sustainability planning firm. And I collaborated with a colleague of mine who who is the co director of sustainable works. And we pitched a Culver City sustainable business certification program to the city council took a couple of years to get it going. But now we're in the sixth year of the program. And we have certified over 70 businesses now as sustainable and kind of on the same model of what we did for the or what I did for the school district with my my other colleagues, which is, you know, from working on green cleaning, you know, taking out toxics working on energy efficiency, working on bringing it bringing in renewables, water conservation, and awareness building. And also transportation. That's another aspect because that's a big transportation is a large factor in terms of carbon emissions.   Michael Hingson  25:58 When How long ago was it that you discovered that the school needed to deal with recycling and so on your kid your child was in kindergarten, how long ago was at   Shea Cunningham  26:08 dating myself? Now? My, my son is 18. Now, okay, yeah, that was like 13 years ago.   Michael Hingson  26:17 It is sort of surprising. And that's This is why I was asking the question that that late in the game, well, maybe not. But it's sort of surprising that they hadn't gotten very conscious about doing recycling and so on. So 13 years ago, would have made it about 2010, you would have thought that they would have done more to address the issue, but then you're getting you're dealing with the innocence the government.   Shea Cunningham  26:45 Yes, I would like that's why I was like, Okay, with this is not okay, we need to teach our kids how to be environmental stewards. And it's not it as we know, recycling is not you know, what's, well, there's like the you've heard of the three R's, right? Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Right? And it really isn't that priority, like first we got to focus on reducing our waste and reducing our our plastics and our disposables, and then it's reusing whatever we can, and then, you know, recycle what we can't, you know, reduce and reuse. But yes, too, as to your question, or, yeah, I, I agree with you, it was really surprising that they didn't have that in place, you would think that that would be something that that is everywhere, universally, but it still isn't, I mean, it just still isn't. So we still have a long road to the hall that Culver City Unified now. Thankfully, there, it's become part of the culture. And we actually received a state level and federal level Green Ribbon Award for the work that we did in Culver City. So I'm pretty proud of that.   Michael Hingson  27:50 And you talked about solar and creating shade for parking lots, and so on. So you put the solar panels above the parking lots and so on. So that created shade, but it also generated power through the solar energy process.   Shea Cunningham  28:04 Exactly. Yeah. And then we also in one of the elementary schools, we have also shading the playground. And as you know, we have how, you know, we're having more heat waves, and it's gonna continue, unfortunately, until we, you know, really slow the ship down on terms of our fossil fuel burning. But, yeah, so that's really been helpful, because we've had a lot of hot days out on the playground, so it's nice to have that additional shade.   Michael Hingson  28:28 Oh, is all of that surviving in the winter with the heavy winds and all?   Shea Cunningham  28:33 Ah, so far, so good. It's pretty solid. Thankfully, yes.   Michael Hingson  28:38 Which is cool. And I suppose you could say, in a sense that maybe helps a little bit in sheltering from some of the winds because they're up there, but they're, they're sort of flat. So I'm not sure that it shelters all that much, but it must help a little, yeah, helps   Shea Cunningham  28:51 a little, and it helps reduce also the bills, the costs. Energy,   Michael Hingson  28:58 where does the where does the solar power go to the school? Or how does that work?   Shea Cunningham  29:03 It goes back to the grid, you know, so it goes to the grid, but then, you know, what happens is the because it is a, at least as of when I was, you know, really in the weeds on the program, it was over 50% of the energy needs were met by by the solar panels. So yeah, but yeah, so that's yeah, because it is on the grid, it's not an off grid system, but that is you know, that's something that resilience, climate resilience is is really would be the next step is to have like a battery backup system. So when the when the blackouts happen as we know, they do happen, especially in heat waves and whatnot, then the school will be able to stay and keep the lights on basically. So I was gonna   Michael Hingson  29:55 actually ask you about batteries. I know that the technology hasn't probably progressed as nearly as much as we would like, but has battery backup technology advanced to the point where it makes economic sense to to get batteries. So for example, in our home here, my home, we have solar, we sell back to the grid, and we don't have battery backups. And when we bought solar and set it up six years ago, when the house was built, the person who did it said, batteries are still not worth it. They don't get warranted long enough. And they're very expensive for what you actually get. What do you think?   Shea Cunningham  30:34 Well, I mean, I'm not a full on expert and up on up on that. But I would say this, in general, it's the technology just keeps improving rapidly, the costs keep coming down. And when I was I actually also worked for a couple of years in the city of Malibu and, and battery backups, were going in very rapidly across the, you know, the residents. And I know that's a little bit more affluent. community, but but there are more and more certainly, sort of government agencies and buildings that are that recognize the importance of the battery backup for for sort of public safety. So you might want to weigh it out. I mean, I would just keep I would keep looking out. And also, the other thing I meant to say, is they also have a lot of rebates and what not, because they're, you know, there is government programs that are encouraging people to do this. So I would just say Keep it keep an eye out.   Michael Hingson  31:38 What do you think about the new rules in California, the Public Utility Commission just adopted some new rules that I guess are gonna make a significant change in how much people get back from solar and so on. Are you familiar with those?   Shea Cunningham  31:51 You know, I'm not super up to date on it. But I know that there's stuff going on. And and I think some of it is not in a good direction. Yeah. So yeah. So I think that, yeah, there's that is something to stay abreast of. But I think in the end, you know, it's got to get move in the right direction, because we I can just, I mean, in terms of emission reduction targets, yes, tonsa municipalities have made them, certainly the state has made them a lot of cities have made them, you know, going net zero by 20 2040, I believe is Los Angeles, by 2050, for the state of California. And also, if I'm not mistaking, I think that's also the case for the federal government has made that commitment as well. And then corporations are publicly traded corporations are actually going to be mandated to do so beginning January 1 2024. Because the SEC, the Security and Exchange Commission is going to be there any day. Now, q1, when this this first quarter here in this this year, 2023. They're supposed to be publishing their new regulations, which will be effective January 1 2024. And that's going to that's going to include greenhouse gas inventories, they need to be third party certified, there needs to be target emission reduction targets made and there needs to be progress made upon those targets on an annual basis through reporting. So things are definitely moving in that direction.   Michael Hingson  33:35 Well, we said at the beginning that you were a sustainability expert. And so I'd love to get into some of that what it really is sustainability.   Shea Cunningham  33:45 Sustainability, the the UN, I believe the United Nations calls, defines it as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs a future generations. So that's it in a nutshell. But it's also seen there. There's also a term called the three P's, which is people planet and profit. So it's definitely not just about the environment. It is also equally about the impacts on the community, you know, community well being social well being, as well as the finances of it, like is it? Is it financially sustainable? There's another sort of visual of the three legged stool. So you need each pillar because they won't stand up if it if, if if you have a pillar that's missing. So it's the environment, it's the social aspect, and it's the, like I said, the economy or the financial aspect of it.   Michael Hingson  34:46 So, the the idea, though, is that we do need to look not only for now, but we do need to look for the future. And it just seems to me that when I hear a lot of the debates, and I hear are a lot of the discussions coming out of Washington and other places. There's a cadre of people who just tend to not seem to be thinking much about the future at all. How do we change that? How do we get people to really look more toward the fact that we are all responsible, and we have to take an active effort and all this   Shea Cunningham  35:22 very good point, you really hit it on the head, but it is, it is perplexing to me that there are so many people that are not not really taking the responsibility and not really accepting the fact that that we all need to work together to sort of do our part, because the signs are all out there. I mean, we are we are living in the reality of climate change at a much more rapid pace than the scientists predicted. By but at the end of the day, it Yeah, it's not political. And I think that it's become politicized, sadly. And I think we got to, I think it to really answer your question, I think everybody, everybody wants to live in a clean world, everybody wants, doesn't want to see, you know, a garbage and pollution. Nobody likes that stuff. I think everybody is, is shares that, that desire. And I think that, you know, we, I think that's part of the message that we need to get across is like, you know, we're not, this is not a blame game, we just, you know, we just need to work together on this. And it's not about I mean, the earth is going to be fine. I mean, quite frankly, if humans humans go, the earth is going to repair itself, because we know Mother Nature is amazing. So it's really more about like saving ourselves, quite frankly, and saving our, you know, our, our grandchildren, our children, our grandchildren. So and it's, again, it's not something I want to emphasize, it's not something that's in the future, we're already living in this situation, as you know, the extreme weather events, like very massive storms, elongated storms, larger fires than ever long, long term droughts. We're in a 20 year drought. Now, even though we already have this. Tons of precipitation happening now, that's probably not going to continue. That's, so we have, you know, it's kind of like Global Weirding. I'm not sure if you heard of that term, but I think I really feel like that encapsulates it, there's just crazy weather patterns going on. It's very destructive. And, and that's why businesses are really waking up. In fact, the US military has woken up to this, you know, a couple decades ago, they've been building climate resilient systems because of that. So and then corporations, larger corporations are really, they're out in front of the SEC regulations already, because they're seeing that their supply chains are starting to go wonky, because when you have flooding happening, when you have fires happening, you know, it destabilizes the supply chain, it, you know, obviously cuts into productivity cuts into the cost the revenues. And, and it makes things much more in, you know, it's it's, it's not a shirt, you know, and I'm saying it's, it's, it makes it much more challenging, basically. So they're waking up. And they're, it's, and I think they really, especially with the United Nations, and the Global Compact, which is the sort of corporate member corporate kind of club for engaging in the United Nations and their sustainable development goals and whatnot. They're working together with corporations to, to achieve, you know, to work on progressing and to work on getting more renewables out there. So we have the options to start really bringing down the carbon.   Michael Hingson  38:53 Yeah. And you said that this isn't really a political issue, or shouldn't at least be a political issue. And that makes perfect sense. But unfortunately, it's become so much of a political issue, let's say, at least in this country, you've got people who say, Well, this isn't really set, there's no such thing as climate change, because it's really just nature. And it's the way it's always been, it's the way it's always going to be, how do we get people to recognize that there really is a difference?   Shea Cunningham  39:23 Well, I think it's really there's so much evidence, you know, so I think it's, it's really boils down to education. I think we need to have more kind of roundtable discussions. I think we need to, you know, meet people where they are and and sort of focus in on what what's impacting them personally, and what might be impacting their family personally, but also the coming back to it's really the sciences there. The evidence is there, I think and I'd be happy I don't know if we if this is a possibility, but I'd be happy to, to to I'm give you some links that you can share on your in your program, please do. Okay, so I'll do that. But I think at the end of the day, it's really the education piece.   Michael Hingson  40:12 And people need to be open to be educated, before it gets too late, because this is it's not a new concept that there are things happening. I mean, you can go back to the Silent Spring with Rachel Carson years ago. That's right. So we're not dealing with anything magical here. And the more some people protest, and the more things happen, it's pretty clear that there really is an issue that we have to deal with.   Shea Cunningham  40:41 Absolutely. And so So for you,   Michael Hingson  40:43 you, you did a lot of work and public policy and so on, but what really then drew you to get so incredibly involved in sustainability and so on, was it what happened in kindergarten? Or is it just that you always notice those things are what?   Shea Cunningham  41:01 Yeah, you know, it's, I think it's just in my DNA, Michael, I just, it just really was a no brainer for me that this is what I wanted to do with my, you know, professionally with my life. So I very much, you know, I feel very fortunate actually, to be in this to be in this field. Because it's, it's, for me, it's just deeply meaningful. And I sort of live and breathe it, like I try to be as sustainable as I can in my own life. And, you know, so I make sure that I am, you know, I tried to reduce my own carbon footprint. So I'm, I'm also walking the talk, but it just was a natural fit for me. And, again, as I mentioned, like, I've, I'm a big nature lover, I've always felt better when I'm outside and, you know, taking a walk in the forest, or, or, you know, watching the sunset on the beach. And I mentioned, I loved them or ride my bike, and, you know, go through in being different, explore different routes, you know, and, and I just feel very compelled to do my part to help preserve and conserve and repair and restore our, our environment.   Michael Hingson  42:18 Well, it's, it really is, I think, relevant and important to step out and look at things that are different from what we're used to. I love, for example, going to, when we were in Northern California, places like near woods, and forests, and so on, I love forest, just because the sounds are so different, or in the environment is so different. It was so much fun to be able to be in there and experience a different environment like that. And I've kind of always thought to myself, I can live here. But it's so important that we understand different places then we're specifically used to and as a public speaker, who has been traveling for now, the last 21 and a half years, I've always been so interested and excited to explore new places and just experience different environments, caves and other things like that as well.   Shea Cunningham  43:19 Yeah, I'm with Yeah, I definitely feel the same way. And it's just, it's, you know, it's, it's a way for us to repair ourselves when we when we're out in nature.   Michael Hingson  43:31 You haven't lived until you've been in the middle of New York City just after a blizzard, and you're walking down Madison Avenue, when there are no cars around, and it's so quiet. And nothing is going on. Because there's just way too much snow it was it was so much fun to get to do that once.   Shea Cunningham  43:49 Right on. It's awesome. And there's also nature, you know, I think it's so important to bring nature to the cities to, you know, in terms of like, you know, there's urban forests, for instance. I mean, when we have a lot of trees in the city, it just makes everybody feel better.   Michael Hingson  44:10 Yeah, absolutely. It's, it really is important to, to, if you can't bring people to it, then bring it to people, at least as much as you can.   Shea Cunningham  44:21 Absolutely.   Michael Hingson  44:22 So you talked earlier about what you did when your son was in kindergarten and really noticing the whole issue about recycling and so on. Overall, I guess two thoughts. One, how is it effective and why is it effective to explore and bring sustainability into elementary schools?   Shea Cunningham  44:49 Very good question. I think it is imperative to do that. To bring it to young really young kids, because they are like sponges, you know, so they're are, they're able to pick up these new habits and make them just habits that they don't have to think about in terms of, you know, being good at and reducing their waste, for instance, not bringing, you know, reuse are like water, plastic water bottles, for instance, in plastic bags. And like, in saying, No, I'm going to bring reusable as I have a reusable water bottle, and you know, that's better for the environment, it's better for me. And, and, and being careful about recycling and that sort of thing. It when, when you teach the young kids they are like, like I mentioned, they're little sponges, and so it just becomes habit for them. And then it's not something that they really have to learn and, and whatnot. So that's really, you know, when you get to like, high school, as we all know, something happens to the teenage brain. And, and they are, you know, sometimes it's, they're a little defiant, and, you know, they don't necessarily want to do with what the adults are saying and whatnot, so. So it's harder, it's harder. And as we all know, it's also it's always hard, hard to change, especially for adults. You know, not everybody, it's usually change is hard. I mean, you've heard that term before. But that's one only one thing you can ever, ever really be sure of in life is change, because everything changes. And so we might as well go with the flow, and learn how to be skillful at riding the waves of change. Right. So that Yeah, I mean, I just think that the younger, the better. And if we all did that, if it was universal, you know, within a within a half a generation we'd be we'd be, you know, doing great.   Michael Hingson  46:45 What's ironic, of course, is that, however it happens, we're taught to fear change. Yep. You know, we all say yeah, change is all around us. Change happens. But when it really comes down to it, we're afraid of it.   Shea Cunningham  46:59 Yes, chain. Well, that yeah, they talked about change being hard. And yeah, we kind of go into that reptilian brain of like, oh, yeah, no fear. We gotta watch out for this. And I think it's, I think that makes it the biggest challenge, you know, and it's, and I do think that he is a politician and Al Gore. And if you remember his Inconvenient Truth, Inconvenient Truth. Yeah. I think that's a brilliant phrase, because that's really what it is. Yeah, it's not it's not, you know, we we have built especially in in this country, as you mentioned, it's it's more political in this country than anywhere else in terms of climate action, and, you know, and the awareness of climate change or lack of awareness, but it is it is something that you know, we what am I trying to say, Where am I going with my thoughts? I'm having a moment   Michael Hingson  47:53 well, we continue to fear change, it's yes. And it's it it shouldn't be an inconvenient truth the change happens but you have it on the hand. He's right. I was a while before I actually saw it. I was actually flying to Japan after my first book thunder dog was published and that's where when I actually watched the movie, it was on the on the airplane, but it was so enjoy I watched it twice. But I I really appreciated what he had to say and he is absolutely right. Yeah. And it's it shouldn't be An Inconvenient Truth but we make it something that's inconvenient we just don't like to deal with all of that   Shea Cunningham  48:36 good point and that's what I the the word convenient is what I was get trying to get back to that we have created this culture and in America I think it really started in the 1950s of convenience creating a culture of convenience Yeah, so you know like Oh, TV dinners and fast food and disposable water bottles and you know does everything is to go coffee to go with with a disposable you know, cup and lid and we've we we are we are literally swimming and like we're you know way over our heads and waste now we have a serious waste problem, which of course is also carbon emission problem as well. And we have so much waste in this country and it's and it's all because of like oh you know creating this sort of like it's a mirage really of like, oh we're better off because we have all this stuff that we can collect and we can you know just enjoy once and throw away and you know and so that's the kind of stuff that it is hard but we got to change that that we can't keep living like that. Are there   Michael Hingson  49:42 any water bottles so they throw away water bottles that actually are recycle and Will are biodegradable and so on? Have we done any of that?   Shea Cunningham  49:51 There are there are bio plastics, but that's actually a whole nother problem. Because our infrastructure, our recycling info structures inadequate, and to handle those bio plastics, they have to be basically heated up to a really high degree. And very, very few municipalities have that capacity at this point in time. But, you know, there is something about like being up, you know, in terms of the source is better, because it's not fossil fuel driven, or, you know, it's not made by fossil fuels are made from fossil fuels. But, but, you know, standard plastic bottles can be recycled, but at the end of the day, you know, only about I mean, it's really, it's really kind of like, oh, like, only about like, 10% of total recycling stream really gets recycled. And it's because they're, you know, so I know, there is some hope in California, there is a bill that finally got passed. It's been like up for passage for many, many, many years. But all I forget exactly the year, I think it's not till 2025, maybe 2030, which is too far into the future, from my perspective, but that all packaging has to be actually recycled or composted by that date in in, in California. And you know, when California when something as big as the California economy makes a change like that, then it will, it will have reverberate reverberations across other states as well. So I'm somewhat hopeful that we're moving in a in a good but very slow direction, in the right direction. But, you know, besides just like the disposable, sort of packaging and whatnot, it's, it's just, you know, like a fast fashion, I'm sure you've heard of that term of like, you know, Textiles and Apparel, that sort of thing, and, you know, purchasing of stuff, we don't really need, that. That's the kind of stuff that I think we just need to be more reflective and mindful in our in our society.   Michael Hingson  51:57 Yeah, we, we need to recognize that we need to be the solution and not the problem are not part of the problem. And we're just not collectively doing nearly as much of that as we should. And another example of some of that we hear about a lot is greenhouse gases, where where do they come from? And where do greenhouse gases fit into the whole equation of what we're talking about? Right.   Shea Cunningham  52:23 Good question. So greenhouse gases, I have been mentioning emissions, and I was referring to greenhouse gas emissions. So that is basically what is what happens when fossil fuels are burned. So fossil fuels are, you know, mined or are extracted from the earth. very, they're very, very polluting. And they, they're basically through the through the energy industry. That's one of the major sources of fossil fuel burning and greenhouse gas emissions in our country, and actually, mostly around the entire world. Industry. And transportation is another another source of the greenhouse gas emissions, it's up to depends on you know, it's kind of any, there's different ways to slice and dice the pie of in terms of where the emissions come from. But I've read many, many different sources that say about 40% of our emissions come from fossil fuel burning of in cars, and trucks. So that's one of the reasons why it's so important to move away from fossil fuel burning cars and move into electric cars. I know that there is gap greenhouse gases that are emitted in the making of the cars, but in terms of in terms of driving the electric vehicle vehicles, especially if you are charging, you know, in a house or a home that is that is has solar energy, right? Yes, then you really are making a big impact and big positive impact.   Michael Hingson  54:06 Yeah, and that, that makes a big difference. And I know we're going to get there. I do hope it happens sooner than later. I I'm absolutely, totally supportive of the whole concept of electric vehicles. Although I do think that we need to be responsible. And there have been laws passed about this. But too many electric vehicles still Don't make a noise. So those of us who don't see those cars coming are put in danger. And it's now been 13 or 12 years. And since the law was passed the pedestrian enhancement Safety Act that said the cars need to make noise, and they're still playing with standards and trying to deal with it and the reality is that the best ironically, from at least my perspective, maybe scientifically, someone will come up with something different but I happen to hurt it. At the best way for me to deal with a vehicle and making noise is the sound of an internal combustion engine. And they ought to be able to emulate that sound in cars because I can tell the difference between a bus and a car and a truck. And I can tell more about whether the car is speeding up or slowing down because of all the different nuances of an internal combustion engine sound. So one tone isn't going to do it. But they haven't done that yet, really. And at some point, once again, it's going to have to be addressed because even NITSA has said that when cars are quiet, for the total population, there's 1.5 times as likely hood of an accident happening and the pedestrian doesn't just blind people anymore. Right? You know, that that's what got the law passed in the first place?   Shea Cunningham  55:59 How interesting. Thank you for telling me that, because that's something I never thought about that's really opens my mind to that?   Michael Hingson  56:05 Well, it is it is something that needs to be dealt with. And but I love the concept of electric vehicles. And you know, I have I've actually driven a Tesla down i 15. And the driver was the the normal owner and driver was in the car and said you want to drive it? I said, Sure. So I drove about 15 miles and appreciate what it can do. And I realized that we've really are on the cusp of the whole concept of autonomous vehicles. What we have now is not anything like what we're going to have in 20 years, and the viability and the the foolproof nature of what they can do is going to come. But we have to start somewhere.   Shea Cunningham  56:49 Absolutely. Yeah, that's, that's gonna be fair. I mean, I'm a little nervous about it. But you know, again, change is hard.   Michael Hingson  56:57 Well, I think there's reason to be nervous. Because we can't move too quickly or otherwise, we're going to push the cars beyond the limits of what they can do today. But we're seeing constant improvements in the whole concept of autonomous vehicles. And the time is going to come when they really will be as safe and as foolproof as we would like them to be. Or as we read about in science fiction books, that's coming.   Shea Cunningham  57:25 Pretty wild.   Michael Hingson  57:26 I know, isn't it? Well, how about carbon, a measurable carbon emissions and so on measuring them. And dealing with all the reporting and studying of such such things? That's obviously important. And I would assume that one of the values of that is it really helps us get to a better understanding of whether we are we're not having an effect on the environment in a positive way.   Shea Cunningham  57:53 Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. So that's the greenhouse gas inventory that we you can do, you know, on a personal residential level? And of course, you know, municipalities do it. And businesses do it. And a lot of businesses are not doing it yet. But as I mentioned, many corporations are doing it and are demanding that their suppliers do it. And and the Security Exchange Commission will be mandating it. So that is, you know, in a nutshell, it's basically, you know, for for business, it's looking at the different sources of greenhouse gases, which I'm not sure if I mentioned, it's really the major cause to global warming, which is like, which I think is it's more aptly called Global Weirding. Because there's, there's extreme cold, that's snaps that happen, as well as extreme heat. And as you know, glaciers are melting ice, and sea levels are rising the whole business. But But so, in terms of the greenhouse gas inventory, and we look at the different sources, which of course, buildings are a major source, you know, using the energy in the buildings, and then we calculate, you know, what, what is that in greenhouse gases, in terms of energy, and we look at the transportation, we look at business travel, we look at, you know, so airplanes, as we know, our jet fuel is very polluting, thankfully, we're seeing the aviation industry start to starting to move toward making commitments at least to have electric planes, at least starting to phase them in by 2030. Because 2030, by the way, is sort of the year that the United Nations has focused on and to like, we need to have really measurable reductions and like half of our emissions need to be reduced by 2030 globally. And then, in terms of going back to like the business travel, you know, there's more hotels as well that are just starting to make commitments as well to be net zero hotels by a certain date. So, you know, and it's really the the proof is gonna be in the pudding like, we need to see the progress. We can't just say, Okay, we're gonna do that and then share best practices and 2030 No, every year, we need to win, you know, we need to redo the inventory, we need to put programs into place to incentivize people to, to take alternative transportation to work, including public transportation, carpooling, you know, if you're going to buy a new car, go, Evie. You know, if you can ride your bike to work, if you're not that far away, choose to do that do active transportation, that sort of thing. So we need to get those sorts of things in place and incentivize people tend to make it fun, because Because change is hard, you gotta kind of gotta be smart about it, and be creative about it, and make it something that is going to be engaging, and is going to, you know, people are going to open their minds to it. So and So basically, we take all the different sources of the data, where the greenhouse gases are coming from, and then we crunch the numbers. And then we like we, you know, we have our, our carbon emissions, sort of portfolio, so to speak. And then we know where, okay, this is where we are this year, this is where we need to get next year. So we have to do short term, medium term and longer term planning for year after year for, you know, reducing the carbon and in terms of the corporations as well, there's, at least in terms of like office based work, I think it's very important that we maintain, and it's looking like it's feasible to maintain sort of hybrid work schedules and flexible work schedules. So we are not, you know, needlessly driving back and forth to the office every single day,   Michael Hingson  1:01:43 I think we're starting to grow to realize that there's value in so many ways to allow people at least to have a hybrid schedule and do some work at home, helps family helps mindset, it helps everyone to sometimes be able to do a little bit more on your own schedule, rather than, Oh, there's just one process to do it. Right. And so you are the director of sustainability for ASTN   Shea Cunningham  1:02:12 ASGN incorporated in and what is ASGN. ASGN is a is a company that is it's a publicly traded firm in the Fortune 600. And there and they are an IT consulting and staffing firm. And as Jan's main clients are really the top sort of 25 of the Fortune 500 Club. And so Microsoft, Apple, Google, Amazon, IBM, and others are the main clients. And so that's where the and especially Microsoft have to give a shout out to Microsoft, they're the ones who are really the most sort of at the at the forefront of of making target reductions, and also requiring suppliers to follow their lead.   Michael Hingson  1:03:01 All well, it's going to be exciting to see how things evolve over time. I really appreciate what you're doing. And I hope the people who are out here listening will learn from it. And definitely please send me links and maybe links to things you have written and so on. And we will ensure that those are in the show notes so that people will have access to all of   Shea Cunningham  1:03:25 that. We'll do we'll do thank you so much, Michael. Well, this   Michael Hingson  1:03:28 has been really fun. Well, I definitely want to thank you Shea for being here. How can people reach out to you or get in contact?   Shea Cunningham  1:03:36 Well, you can either go on LinkedIn and look me up Shea Cunningham, S H E A Cunningham. And also, as I mentioned, I still have my certified woman owned business balanced approach. And my email is just Shea S H E A  at balanced approach.net.   Michael Hingson  1:03:53 There you go. Direct contact all the way. Well, absolutely. This has been fun. I hope you've enjoyed listening to us today in this conversation. I'd love to hear your comments, feel free to email me at Michaelhi at accessibe A C C E S S I B E.com. And while you're thinking about access to be go to the website and do a free audit of your own website and see how accessible it is, which is another whole story. But you can also go to Michael hingson.com/podcast hingson is h i n g s o n and we hope that you'll give us a rating wherever you're hearing the podcast and that you go back and listen to some of the other podcasts. We really appreciate it. But a five star rating and your comments are absolutely invaluable and we hope that you'll give us any thoughts that you have. Shea for you and anyone listening. If you have any thoughts of other people we should have on his guests on unstoppable mindset. Please let us know please email me. Let us know about guests. Give us introductions. We'll bring them on.   Shea Cunningham  1:04:57 Well do.   Michael Hingson  1:04:58 I appreciate that? Well again, Shea, thanks very much for being here with us and doing this today.   Shea Cunningham  1:05:04 Thank you so much, Michael. Take care. You too.   Michael Hingson  1:05:12 You have been listening to the Unstoppable Mindset podcast. Thanks for dropping by. I hope that you'll join us again next week, and in future weeks for upcoming episodes. To subscribe to our podcast and to learn about upcoming episodes, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com slash podcast. Michael Hingson is spelled m i c h a e l h i n g s o n. While you're on the site., please use the form there to recommend people who we ought to interview in upcoming editions of the show. And also, we ask you and urge you to invite your friends to join us in the future. If you know of any one or any organization needing a speaker for an event, please email me at speaker at Michael hingson.com. I appreciate it very much. To learn more about the concept of blinded by fear, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com forward slash blinded by fear and while you're there, feel free to pick up a copy of my free eBook entitled blinded by fear. The unstoppable mindset podcast is provided by access cast an initiative of accessiBe and is sponsored by accessiBe. Please visit www.accessibe.com. accessiBe is spelled a c c e s s i b e. There you can learn all about how you can make your website inclusive for all persons with disabilities and how you can help make the internet fully inclusive by 2025. Thanks again for listening. Please come back and visit us again next week.

Get a FREE “Fake News Stops Here” mug when you buy an annual subscription to The Texan: https://go.thetexan.news/mug-fake-news-stops-here-2022/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=weekly_roundup The Texan's Weekly Roundup brings you the latest news in Texas politics, breaking down the top stories of the week with our team of reporters who give you the facts so you can form your own opinion. Enjoy what you hear? Be sure to subscribe and leave a review! Got questions for the reporting team? Email editor@thetexan.news — they just might be answered on a future podcast. This week on The Texan's Weekly Roundup, the team discusses: The Texas House's investigation into Attorney General Ken PaxtonU.S. House Republicans passing a border security bill as the Title 42 order came to an endThe Senate passing a House education bill after tacking on school choice proposalsThe House passing a bill to ban the state from adopting ESG policies just minutes before a legislative deadlineThe House passing a ban on state public universities having DEI officesTexas House Democrats defeat a measure to require U.S. citizenship to vote in TexasThe Senate approving a substitute for the House's bill to replace the expired Chapter 313 programThe House moving forward with a bill to increase state control over Harris County's electionsHarris County considering legal action over the House's actions over its electionsThe Senate passing a bill to remove explicit materials from public school librariesThe Senate passing a bill to create a state border force and increase penalties for human smugglingBills to address gun crime and bail policies dying on the House floor as deadlines roll inThe Senate adding grid priorities to the Public Utility Commission as insurance against the HouseThe House passing a b

In preparation for launching Season 2 of Probably True Solar Stories, we've combined all three parts of "The Solar Heist, or How I Got Into the Solar Business" into a single 53-minute episode. Two neighbors meet unexpectedly at an Oakland, California coffee shop that specializes in dark, rich coffee. Mazz owns a trucking business by day and is a thief at night. Charlie is a solar project developer by day and a guy with an international solar problem that can only be solved by Mazz.After a somewhat successful solar panel heist, the two neighbors become friends. Inspired by Charlie, Mazz opens a legitimate residential solar business while Charlie builds his large-scale solar project. But when Mazz unexpectedly sees that Charlie is working for an underworld acquaintance, Mazz realizes that Charlie may be more of a threat than a friend.True Solar TakeawaysThe solar installation industry is made up of residential, commercial, and utility-scale installers. There's a U.S. law against importing solar panels made with forced labor.Some solar developers hire quality assurance companies to monitor the supply chains and factories.All solar installations, regardless of size, can now receive a  U.S. 30% tax credit. Big developers can also receive other tax incentives.Chinese solar panels still have import tariffs, as of 2022."Procurement" means sourcing, purchasing, and delivering equipment.Generally, large solar asset owners hire an experienced solar developer to take care of building the product. The solar developer may in turn hire an "EPC," which stands for engineering, procurement, and construction.After the writing of this story, it was reported that the U.S. government has confiscated gigawatts (GWs) of solar panel shipments. Large-scale developers typically only buy solar panels that are on a "Tier 1" list that's sold by Bloomberg. Even if the Tier 1 solar manufacturer is financially sound and honors the warranty, if you have a huge project, the replacement time and cost will be huge. With the passage of the IRA (Inflation Reduction Act of 2022), all solar projects, regardless of size, receive a 30% Investment Tax Credit (ITC) if they pay prevailing wages.Solar projects that are built on landfills, brownfields, and EPA superfund sites can get bonus ITCs.The solar industry is filled with acronyms and jargon. AHJ (Authorities Having Jurisdiction) are the permitting authorities that review and approve the building of solar projectsPTO (Permission to Operate) is the official utility permission to start generating solar power on the utility's grid. PUC (or in California, the CPUC) stands for Public Utility Commission. The PUC regulates utilities and approves or modifies utility rates and sets policies for a state's public utilities.Single Axis Trackers (SATs) are used in most large solar projects today. Solar project owners are paid by utilities for eve Visit ProbablyTrueSolar.com to sign up for the newsletter to learn about new episodes and live solar storytelling events. Support the show by visiting the merch store and buying a tee shirt! Learn how sponsors can be a part of Probably True Solar Stories and tell their own creative stories. Follow @SolarFred and/or @ProbTrueSolar on Twitter to discuss episodes Don't forget to: Subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast streaming service Rate Review, and Share!

In this episode of The Vivek Show, host Vivek Ramaswamy explores the paradox of carbon reduction advocates opposing nuclear energy and discusses the complexities of US energy policy with guest Neil Chatterjee, former Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). They delve into FERC's role in overseeing competitive wholesale power markets, the challenges faced by differing state policies on decarbonization, and the consequences of shutting down coal plants on communities. The conversation covers the role of public policy and market forces in shaping the energy landscape, touching on the controversial topic of carbon capture pipelines and the potential for fostering nuclear energy without subsidies. Throughout the episode, Ramaswamy and Chatterjee engage in a thought-provoking discussion on the future of US energy policy and the potential for reforming key regulatory agencies.--Donate here: https://t.co/PE1rfuVBmbFor more content follow me here:Twitter - @VivekGRamaswamyInstagram - @vivekgramaswamyFacebook - http://facebook.com/VivekGRamaswamyTruth Social - @VivekRamaswamyRumble - @VivekRamaswamy--Indranil "Neil" Chatterjee is a prominent American lawyer, political advisor, and former member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). He served twice as FERC Chairman, from August 10, 2017, to December 7, 2017, and October 24, 2018, to November 5, 2020. Prior to FERC, Chatterjee was an energy policy advisor to United States Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and held roles with the United States House Committee on Ways and Means, and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Throughout his career, he has been committed to shaping balanced energy policies that promote both energy production and environmental stewardship.--Time-codes:00:00:00 - Mystery of carbon reduction advocates not supporting nuclear energy00:01:19 - Possible anti-growth agenda in the US00:02:53 - Introduction of guest Neil Chatterjee00:08:21 - Structure of FERC for independent judgment00:09:37 - Constitutionality concerns over independent agencies00:11:59 - Oversight and nomination process reining in radical FERC agenda00:16:12 - FERC's role in competitive wholesale power markets00:17:58 - Implementation of a minimum offer price rule00:20:56 - Reversal of the minimum offer price rule after 2020 election00:34:36 - Vivek questions the need for a top-down energy transition00:36:19 - Neil's support for solar plus storage00:38:57 - Impact of shutting down coal plants on communities00:40:41 - Neil's opposition to burdensome EPA regulations00:43:50 - Vivek's skepticism on government-subsidized carbon capture pipelines00:44:53 - Biden administration's clean energy transition and transmission line challenges00:46:20 - Opposition to energy infrastructure built near homes00:52:06 - Bilateral contracting in energy markets00:53:07 - Roles of RTOs and ISOs in energy markets00:56:49 - Fostering nuclear energy without subsidies and private capital's role00:57:38 - Public Utility Commission's role in evaluating utility rates00:58:38 - Challenge of short-term thinking for long-term energy projects01:01:04 - Vivek's proposal for a new nuclear energy regulatory agency

Host: Kevin Smith Dives into the weekly news most impactful to the HeartlandHEADLINE 1: Idaho hospital to stop labor and delivery services citing "political climate" and doctor shortages HEADLINESIdaho hospital to stop labor and delivery services citing "political climate" and doctor shortagesCBS https://www.cbsnews.com/news/idaho-hospital-bonner-general-stops-labor-delivery-services-citing-political-climate-doctor-shortages/Advisory Board- https://www.advisory.com/daily-briefing/2023/03/22/rural-hospitalsTexas Mass Shootings Up 62.5 Percent Since Permit-less Carry Bill Reform Austin - https://www.reformaustin.org/public-safety/texas-mass-shootings-up-62-5-percent-since-permitless-carry-bill/LIGHTNING ROUNDMissouri,Republicans looking out for number 1...percentersMissouri House Democrats https://www.mohousedemcaucus.com/post/dems-respond-as-house-gop-votes-for-more-irresponsible-kansas-style-tax-cutsAmeren Missouri wants Right of First RefusalMissouri Independent  - https://missouriindependent.com/2023/03/20/missouri-kansas-utilities-back-bills-to-reestablish-monopoly-on-transmission-projects/Wyoming,Wyoming has become the first US state to outlaw the use or prescription of medication abortion pills.The Guardian - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/18/wyoming-becomes-first-us-state-to-outlaw-use-of-abortion-pills?CMP=Share_iOSApp_OtherTexas,Texas Electric gouge? Texas Tribune - https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/17/puc-appeals-court-uri-prices/?utm_campaign=trib-social-buttons&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR2LBp_QWfCYZUkaapnJ2zK7KbbYD70TaV2Df5WPxejrlGPGwofijQ57sTY&mibextid=Zxz2cZWisconsin,Judge Candidates DebateAP - https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-abortion-trump-81e311c9d0416d4a04489ad7a38c134dTennessee,Country Star Maren Morris tells TN to arrest herUSA Today - https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2023/03/22/maren-morris-takes-stand-against-tennessee-drag-show-bill-nashville/11524014002/Oklahoma,OK's Don't Say Gay BillKFOR Oklahoma https://kfor.com/news/oklahoma-legislature/oklahoma-dont-say-gay-bill-passes-house/Narrow win for Abortion carePolitico - https://www.politico.com/news/2023/03/21/oklahoma-abortion-mothers-life-00088189Kansas,Kansas Republican fearmonger with what scraps they have left regarding AbortionAP - https://apnews.com/article/born-alive-abortion-bill-kansas-legislature-89b7276e071fda4808c96d9d3e8cce4eLastly, in the Ozarks of Missouri, Show me the toes!Springfield News Leader - https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2023/03/22/james-river-church-leader-says-woman-regrew-toes-during-a-service/70028744007/?fbclid=IwAR246xmpVxo0jzwvE6ZcWSselFy8tuz90oqYmmXT3quK46StyGtifbPMk9Y&mibextid=Zxz2cZ#lfjwjwcqjrzzgwbltrg

Host: Kevin Smith Dives into the weekly news most impactful to the HeartlandHEADLINE 1: Idaho hospital to stop labor and delivery services citing "political climate" and doctor shortages HEADLINESIdaho hospital to stop labor and delivery services citing "political climate" and doctor shortagesCBS https://www.cbsnews.com/news/idaho-hospital-bonner-general-stops-labor-delivery-services-citing-political-climate-doctor-shortages/Advisory Board- https://www.advisory.com/daily-briefing/2023/03/22/rural-hospitalsTexas Mass Shootings Up 62.5 Percent Since Permit-less Carry Bill Reform Austin - https://www.reformaustin.org/public-safety/texas-mass-shootings-up-62-5-percent-since-permitless-carry-bill/LIGHTNING ROUNDMissouri,Republicans looking out for number 1...percentersMissouri House Democrats https://www.mohousedemcaucus.com/post/dems-respond-as-house-gop-votes-for-more-irresponsible-kansas-style-tax-cutsAmeren Missouri wants Right of First RefusalMissouri Independent  - https://missouriindependent.com/2023/03/20/missouri-kansas-utilities-back-bills-to-reestablish-monopoly-on-transmission-projects/Wyoming,Wyoming has become the first US state to outlaw the use or prescription of medication abortion pills.The Guardian - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/18/wyoming-becomes-first-us-state-to-outlaw-use-of-abortion-pills?CMP=Share_iOSApp_OtherTexas,Texas Electric gouge? Texas Tribune - https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/17/puc-appeals-court-uri-prices/?utm_campaign=trib-social-buttons&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR2LBp_QWfCYZUkaapnJ2zK7KbbYD70TaV2Df5WPxejrlGPGwofijQ57sTY&mibextid=Zxz2cZWisconsin,Judge Candidates DebateAP - https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-abortion-trump-81e311c9d0416d4a04489ad7a38c134dTennessee,Country Star Maren Morris tells TN to arrest herUSA Today - https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2023/03/22/maren-morris-takes-stand-against-tennessee-drag-show-bill-nashville/11524014002/Oklahoma,OK's Don't Say Gay BillKFOR Oklahoma https://kfor.com/news/oklahoma-legislature/oklahoma-dont-say-gay-bill-passes-house/Narrow win for Abortion carePolitico - https://www.politico.com/news/2023/03/21/oklahoma-abortion-mothers-life-00088189Kansas,Kansas Republican fearmonger with what scraps they have left regarding AbortionAP - https://apnews.com/article/born-alive-abortion-bill-kansas-legislature-89b7276e071fda4808c96d9d3e8cce4eLastly, in the Ozarks of Missouri, Show me the toes!Springfield News Leader - https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2023/03/22/james-river-church-leader-says-woman-regrew-toes-during-a-service/70028744007/?fbclid=IwAR246xmpVxo0jzwvE6ZcWSselFy8tuz90oqYmmXT3quK46StyGtifbPMk9Y&mibextid=Zxz2cZ#lfjwjwcqjrzzgwbltrg

Former Fort Worth cop Aaron Dean is challenging his manslaughter conviction for killing Atatiana Jefferson. Public Utility Commission expected to approve a plan aimed at making the state's power grid more reliable, but it will cost Texans more. NTSB report says driver speeds topped 100 mph on the morning of Feb. 2021 during the deadly I-35W pileup. KRLD All Local - January 19, 2023

Plus, major developments in missing Frisco woman's case and McKinney National Airports makes expansion plans.

Bill Peacock of The Energy Alliance opines that the state of Texas is going in exactly the wrong direction in its attempt to prevent another massive power outage like the 2021 winter storm that killed hundreds of Texans. The Public Utility Commission intends to redesign the electricity market by forking out huge taxpayer subsidies to wind, solar, natural gas, coal and nuclear - which Peacock regards as “billion-dollar errors” at approximately 8 billion annually! Legislators claim that the big loser is the Texas end user, ratepayer, and taxpayer. Most new generation has been unreliable power dependent upon whether the wind blows or the sun shines, and it is unclear that this will change. - - - - - Jacki pays tribute to the “godfather of talk radio,” Rush Limbaugh, and gives her view of the new book devoted to his legacy, Radio's Greatest of All Time. Rush had the most-listened-to show in America and was one of the highest paid entertainers in history. - - - - - More states divest from the ESG agenda that divests from their natural resources. - - - - - Joan Sammon, founder of OG360 consulting, joins Jacki to discuss her newest release, The Malign Genesis of ESG, holding accountable those who promote a movement that is not living up to its billing.

As if it wasn't enough that Texas has some of the best wind resource, best solar resource, and largest shale oil and gas deposits in the world, the Lone Star State also has a great geothermal resource. Unlike the others resources, though, geothermal is yet to be tapped. That's about to change.The Texas Geothermal Alliance launched last year and has grown to nearly 50 members including major oil and gas companies, power generators, and pure play geothermal companies.  On Episode 4 of the Texas Power Podcast, host Doug Lewin is joined by Barry Smitherman, TxGEA's chairman and president. Barry's not new to the energy world in Texas though. He's the only Texan to ever chair both the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Railroad Commission (which regulates oil and gas). He literally has a unique perspective.Barry and Doug talked about geothermal and how perfectly suited it is to a state that has drilled—get this—one million wells. They also discussed the ongoing PUC market design debates and discussions which are reaching a sort of crescendo as the PUC drives toward a January 12 decision just two days after the Texas Legislature gavels in for their biennial regular session. If you like the Texas Power Podcast, please leave a rating and review!The Texas Power Podcast is a production of Renewable Energy World and Clarion Energy. Check out our podcast for the solar industry, Factor This!You can connect with Texas Power Podcast host Doug Lewin on Twitter and LinkedIn.  

The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: With the 88th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature approaching, I'll begin to provide more looks at issues and argument to which we'll be treated in the session. Already an issue, Governor Abbott pushed school choice and parental empowerment in his re-election campaign. Most all admit that overcoming the giant bureaucracies, fears, and habits of thinking make school choice very much an uphill battle.As expected the public school lobby is trying to get more of your money for schools with less and less accountability. Now they want to get paid for students who don't even attend!Also, a key Senate committee has put sent up quite a major flare over the Public Utility Commission of Texas' electric grid power generation plan. Let's hope that legislators will stop what's happening and do what is right: Put the burden of cost for unreliable power generation directly upon the investors of unreliable power as opposed to putting such on rate payers.Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.Texas sales tax revenues in November hit an all time record.Oil and gas rig count report.More bad border news.And, other news of Texas.Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com

In the next episode of Probably True Solar Stories, we continue the story of two neighbors who are part of the solar industry. Charlie is a large-scale utility solar developer while Mazz is a medium-scale thief who successfully "liberated" Charlie's solar panel shipment from a U.S. customs warehouse in Part 1 and Part 2. Now,  in Part 3, it's a year later. Mazz has invested in a home solar company and trying to go legit. Meanwhile, Charlie's big solar project is almost complete... but there's a complication. Somebody knows about the solar panel heist. And that somebody now wants a favor that Charlie and Mazz can't refuse. True Solar TakeawaysWith the passage of the IRA (Inflation Reduction Act of 2022), all solar projects, regardless of size, receive a 30% Investment Tax Credit (ITC).Solar projects that are built on landfills, brownfields, and EPA superfund sites receive an extra 10% bonus ITC. There are other ITC bonuses that could net the solar owner as much as 70%. The solar industry is filled with acronyms and jargon. AHJ (Authorities Having Jurisdiction) are the permitting authorities that review and approve the building of solar projectsPTO (Permission to Operate) is the official utility permission to start generating solar power on the utility's grid. PUC (or in California, the CPUC) stands for Public Utility Commission. The PUC regulates utilities and approves or modifies utility rates and sets policies for a state's public utilities.20% efficient solar panels are considered high efficiency and cost more. Efficiency means that solar panel converts 20% of the sunlight that hits it into electricity. That means that 80% of the power gets reflected. So, the higher the efficiency, the more solar you'll generate with fewer panels. High-efficiency panels are more expensive than panels in the 17% range, but they produce more energy on small rooftops and reduce the number of panels needed.Single Axis Trackers (SATs) are used in most large solar projects today. Like high-efficiency panels, they're more expensive than fixed-tilt racks. But because they automatically track the sun throughout the day, they generate more power.Solar project owners are paid by utilities for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) generated by the solar farm. So their goal is to keep projects online and pumping out as much solar in a day for 30 years or longer.  There are maintenance costs, but if a project is well maintained, it's a very steady revenue stream. That's why they often use trackers with high-efficiency solar panels. So, even a tiny boost of 2% efficiency can generate more power--and more profits over a 30-year contract. Solar project owners don't always own the land. Landowners often lease their Visit ProbablyTrueSolar.com to sign up for the newsletter to learn about new episodes and live solar storytelling events. Support the show by visiting the merch store and buying a tee shirt! Learn how sponsors can be a part of Probably True Solar Stories and tell their own creative stories. Follow @SolarFred and/or @ProbTrueSolar on Twitter to discuss episodes Don't forget to: Subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast streaming service Rate Review, and Share!

Ever since the 2021 blackout, Texas politicians have been trying to cover up their role in bringing it about. Now, they are at it again. On this week's Liberty Cafe, we'll look at new plan from the Public Utility Commission of Texas to redesign the electric grid that could lead to the end of affordable … Continue reading "Episode 104: The End of Affordable and Reliable Electricity in Texas"

We're happy to share with you the first episode of Renewable Energy World's newest podcast, the Texas Power Podcast.In each episode, Doug Lewin guides listeners through the complicated world of Texas energy, introducing them to the people and policies behind it all. In Episode 1 of the Texas Power Podcast, host Doug Lewin is joined by Pat Wood, former chairman of both the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Public Utility Commission of Texas. He helped deliver former Texas Gov. George W. Bush's deregulation agenda in the 1990s.Doug's conversation with Pat Wood covered the state's market redesign efforts, the enabling technologies that can support grid resilience, and the moment when then-governor Bush was first drawn to renewables.If you like the Texas Power Podcast, please leave a rating and review! The Texas Power Podcast is a production of Renewable Energy World and Clarion Energy.You can connect with Texas Power Podcast host Doug Lewin on Twitter and LinkedIn.  Show notes:-Episode article-Subscribe to the free Renewable Energy World newsletter 

Texas is tackling an energy market redesign not seen in decades. The freeze and subsequent outages from Winter Storm Uri in 2021 left hundreds dead and millions without power. The storm's aftermath also sparked a debate over how to make the ERCOT grid more resilient in the face of extreme weather events and a changing energy mix. On Episode 1 of the Texas Power Podcast, host Doug Lewin is joined by Pat Wood, former chairman of both the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Public Utility Commission of Texas. He helped deliver former Texas Gov. George W. Bush's deregulation agenda in the 1990s.Doug's conversation with Pat Wood covered the state's market redesign efforts, the enabling technologies that can support grid resilience, and the moment when then-governor Bush was first drawn to renewables.If you like the Texas Power Podcast, please leave a rating and review! The Texas Power Podcast is a production of Renewable Energy World and Clarion Energy. Check out our podcast for the solar industry, Factor This!  You can connect with Texas Power Podcast host Doug Lewin on Twitter and LinkedIn.  Show notes: -Episode article -Subscribe to the free Renewable Energy World newsletter 

The rate increase will help replenish a state fund to maintain and operate cellphone networks in rural Texas. A court determined the state's Public Utility Commission needed to restore $200 million in overdue money to the fund.

No one ever said regulatory meetings, no matter what the type, are what you would call entertaining. Dry and not particularly fast-moving, it's the information inside these meetings that are important whether it's ERCOT or a Public Utility Commission meeting. Enter Jim Curtin, Chief Product Officer of Grid Monitor. No he doesn't make the meetings exciting, but what he and his do is make the widely available information in the meetings - widely accessible - and saves the user TIME with a data management system that brings thousands of hours of regulatory information to your fingertips in seconds. Curtin, no stranger to the SaaS world and a veteran of startup success stories, shares why Grid Monitor is so valuable and how the future of its capability goes far beyond capturing meeting data. Find out more about Grid Monitor and Jim Curtin.

Peter Lake, Chairman of the Public Utility Commission of Texas, joined Rick Roberts to discuss recent ERCOT appeals to conserve energy, the state of the electric grid, and Phase II See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Texan's “Weekly Roundup,” the team discusses how public school districts compare with charter schools after the release of this year's STAAR scores, calls to replace the official accused of mishandling benefits for families of victims of the Uvalde shooting, a Smith County constable arrested on charges of theft and official oppression, the Texas Supreme Court considering the limits of civil courts after one of them tried to shield abortion facilities, Senator John Cornyn's response to conservative criticism of his bipartisan civics education bill, the Public Utility Commission getting stuck with a $200 million bill in obligations to rural telecom providers, and charges for the two men accused of smuggling dozens of people across the border, resulting in the death of over fifty people in San Antonio last week.  Got questions for the reporting team? Email editor@thetexan.news — they just might be answered on a future podcast.