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New data centers are popping up across the country, including right here in Colorado. Many communities have concerns, including how much energy they will use and what kind of pressure they put on the grid. Xcel Energy has proposed charging these companies for any new infrastructure that could be built to support new data centers. But if that proposal doesn't go through, will Xcel pass the buck onto consumers? Robert Kenney, president of Xcel Energy Colorado, joins host Bree Davies to answer that question and talk about the rising costs of electricity and gas on local households, what renewable energy looks like in the future, and more. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter at denver.citycast.fm. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on Reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member! Has your energy bill gone up significantly? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418 Learn more about the sponsors of this August 27th episode: Women's Foundation Chalat Hatten and Banker Blue Sky Colorado Chinese University Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise
Utilities used to plan around relatively predictable demand. That assumption is disappearing.In this opening keynote from Intersolar & Energy Storage North America Midwest, Nico Johnson sits down with 3 utility executives; Bria Shea of Xcel Energy, Andy Plenge of ComEd, and Brice Sheriff of Ameren Illinois to examine what happens when electricity demand can arrive faster than the infrastructure needed to serve it—and distributed energy resources increasingly change how power moves across the grid.The conversation explores the difficult balance between reliability, affordability, and investment; what rising electricity costs actually reflect; the practical constraints to deploying more DERs; and how utilities are rethinking planning for a system with far more uncertainty than the one they inherited.Three utilities operating in different markets arrive at a similar reality: planning the next grid will require more flexibility, better coordination, and new ways of thinking about both customers and the resources connected to the system.Are there other technologies you've scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast?Hit us up - team@suncast.me with your feedback & recommendations.If you want to connect with today's guest, you'll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today's guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus
Alice Yake's parents' taught her and her brother the importance of fairness and discipline, but also how to overcome obstacles and tackle big problems. Those life skills have served Alice throughout her career in the power sector, from a false start at Enron — just months before it declared bankruptcy — to a long, successful career at Xcel Energy. Last year, she left her role as the utility's chief planning officer to become VP of GRIDS at Breakthrough Energy, the organization founded by Bill Gates to accelerate clean energy using philanthropy and investment funding. This week on With Great Power, Alice shares how she's now helping energy planners across the world improve electric grids through open-source planning and modeling software. She also discusses the challenge of building a better workforce to modernize the grid, as well as the opportunities to integrate more distributed energy resources into infrastructure that can help meet growing demand for clean energy over the coming decades. Credits: Hosted by Brad Langley. Produced by Mary Catherine O'Connor. Edited by Anne Bailey. Original music and engineering by Sean Marquand. Stephen Lacey is executive editor. The GridX production team includes Jenni Barber, Samantha McCabe, and Brad Langley.
A V236 blade fails during construction at He Dreiht. Plus a 53 GW US wind forecast, Suzlon’s record quarter, and what turbine noise really measures. Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly newsletter on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard’s StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on YouTube, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary’s “Engineering with Rosie” YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us! The Uptime Wind Energy podcast, brought to you by StrikeTape. Protecting thousands of wind turbines from lightning damage worldwide. Visit striketape.com. And now your hosts Allen Hall: Welcome to the “Uptime Wind Energy” podcast. I’m your host, Allen Hall, and I’m here with Matthew Stead, Yolanda Padron, and Rosemary Barnes. And to lead off this week, s- there’s been some trouble in the North Sea. On July 22nd, a blade failed on one of the turbines at EnBW’s 960-megawatt He Dreiht offshore wind farm. Uh, EnBW spokesperson said there were no injuries, thank goodness, and that the authorities were notified immediately, which is generally the case in Europe. They’re very safety conscious, of course. But the machine was a Vestas V236, which is a– that 15-megawatt offshore turbine that Vestas is offering. And He Dreiht is where the platform [00:01:00] has made its debut. So Vestas and EnBW are working together on an investigation, an RCA, a- along, uh, looking at the environmental impact because parts of the blade landed in the water. And the, the images I saw online were like a sheer web that was being pulled in onto a ship, so big pieces of blade. Uh, there’s gonna be 64 of these turbines going into that wind farm, but this is probably a little bit of a weird thing because it does seem like that the wind farm is under construction when the blade broke, which is not the first time this has happened, right? That we’ve seen blade breaks at, uh, Vineyard Wind and at Dogger Bank on the GE side. Is this just a construction issue, Yolanda, you think? Or is it some sort of, uh, vibration that’s happening during construction that’s putting extra stress on the blades? Yolanda Padron: We were talking about it a little bit offline and how it might be a loading [00:02:00] issue because it’s not, uh, it’s not in the optimal operating, uh, conditions, right? Uh, but this is– It’s– I don’t like that it’s becoming a trend more than an anomaly from what we’ve seen on this podcast. Uh, Matt, I know you work a lot in solutions, right? What, what would you recommend people start doing? Matthew Stead: Yeah. I think, um, more and more there’s ways of just checking out, you know, pre-construction, um, you know, some of the vibration modes, some of the unusual, um, wind loading when it’s in standstill, you know, different yaw angles and so forth. So there, there’s more and more ways of, um, checking out what the blade is doing when it’s in those unusual, um, sort of pre-con, pre-operation phases. So, um, you know, for instance, um, we do know that there is some sort of sometimes edgewise or flatwise vibration, which, um, you know, maybe is not normal, um, and maybe could be, be [00:03:00] thought about in a bit more detail. Um, certainly I know there are some research organizations which are looking into this and also, you know, things like blade twists. Um, so what is actually happening in terms of the, um, the twisting of the blade along, along its axis. Allen Hall: I think the last time this happened, I remember going back and looking at patents about how to protect the blades during this construction phase. So you wanna prevent the blade from generating lift from sideways winds pretty much. So the designs that I saw were like putting like a, a netting across the blade to disrupt the airflow so that it wouldn’t generate lift. But I haven’t really seen that implemented. Maybe it is being implemented, but these loads are a little odd, right? I, I, I’m wondering if there’s any IEC certification test that looks into them, uh, just because it’s, it’s happened a couple of times now, more than a handful. Matthew Stead: We, we saw, um, we saw that picture of some blades on the ground. [00:04:00] You remember they were in storage. Um, there was a, a strong wind that came across them when they were in storage, and there was some, some flutter and, you know, some, some damage it caused, uh, even when they were on the ground. Um, yeah, I think just thinking out loud, you know how on some, you know, wind stacks and, or, you know, turbine stacks and, um, you know, poles, you know, exhaust stacks. Sorry, that’s the word I’m looking for. Exhaust stacks. They have the, the spiral around it. You know, it’s for around vortex shedding. So maybe it’s an opportunity for, for Rosie to jump in here and, uh, and comment. But, um, maybe we can put like vortex, uh, spiral vortex, um, you know, dissipators on the, on the blades before they’re fully commissioned. Rosemary Barnes: So it’s cer- certainly not a, a matter of the design just being a little bit wrong, right? That would mean that it would last for a, for a while and then And then break. But it, it also, it could be several things. It could [00:05:00] have been a manufacturing defect, a bad one. It could have been transport damage. Tho- those are two other things. It could have been, yeah, you know, like a, a new design feature or material that performed massively differently under real loads than what it did, um, you know, in their computer models and in their coupon tests and in their, um, static tests, fatigue tests that they did. It could be any of those things. Sometimes you do see problems where technically you’re not supposed to leave the rotor locked out for any period of time because it is not designed for the off, off-axis weird loads that you can get when the blade is oriented in a suboptimal way compared to the wind. And there have been instances where it’s like technically, you know, that was in the instruction manual, however, nobody ever followed it, and it’s only under extreme circumstances where that actually is severe enough to break it. There, there can be instances like that [00:06:00] where I would say that it- it’s pretty difficult/impossible to actually design s- for safety during any conceivable series of events during installation. The way that you would do it would be to make sure that the blade can handle any wind load and, you know, up to the maximum gust at any, at any time in any position. But having, you know, done a little bit of work, um, on blade design in my past, it is massive. That is just a massive, massive load that is y- it will never see in its lifetime. You would have such heavy, expensive blades if you actually designed it like that. Um, and so yeah, the That, that would be probably the most charitable reason for a failure where nobody really did their job wrong. It’s just kind of like some bad luck that happens every now and then. Allen Hall: Well, it does seem like there’s a trend there between Dogger Bank, Vineyard Wind, [00:07:00] some of the things we’ve seen in China. During the construction phase, those turbines are very vulnerable and the, the blades can break. Aren’t there extra precautions that could be put in place? Like, you, you could obviously do weather forecasting, and I know that that’s done, but it does seem like it’s, uh, such a consequential problem to have a blade break on a turbine in the North Sea, near Germany. Like, that, that’s just bad PR. Even if you have all the engineering precautions in the world there, you would still maybe play it a little bit safer so this wouldn’t happen? Rosemary Barnes: It’s really hard. Like I said, if you want to design it so that a blade won’t break under these, like, really unusual set of operating conditions that happen during construction, not during– Like, during operation it has to be able to handle whatever is thrown at it, like, no doubt. Um, everybody agrees on that, including, you know, certification bodies. But during installation, yeah, if you want your blade to be able to handle anything that [00:08:00] that area can throw at it, even, you know, one in 50, one in 100 year storm that comes up unexpectedly, I personally think I haven’t done the optimization. I wouldn’t be surprised if people had. In fact, I would be surprised if they hadn’t. But I bet that it will cost more to design every blade to withstand that than it would to lose the occasional one, you know, one out of What is it? Like one out of 500 blades or something this happens to, one out of 1,000? I, I, I don’t know, maybe even less, less than that. Um, you know, so it’s, I don’t know how much these blades cost new, but, you know, say a few hundred thousand. Uh, it’s just, it’s gonna be it, it’ll be more cost-effective to lose the odd one every now and then. And like you say, it’s bad PR, but, um, I don’t know. Is it that, like- It- … things, things happen, things break sometimes. Um, yeah, I don’t know. Is the PR that bad? I’m not sure. Matthew Stead: So [00:09:00] I, I’ve got a question and, um, you know, on LinkedIn, you know, you see whenever there’s a, um, whenever there’s a failure on L- um, e- everyone posts about it. Rosemary Barnes: Condition monitoring would’ve stopped this. If there had only been condition monitoring that, that turbine, then they wouldn’t have had a blade break during construction. That’s why I’m so hesitant to, to, you know, make any calls now ’cause I don’t wanna sound like one of those Allen Hall: LinkedIn losers. LinkedIn loser. Rosemary Barnes: I learned that the last, um, root cause analysis, like, you know, catastrophic blade failure, um, the last one that I, uh, yeah, got approached to work on, I was told y- you know, like half a dozen different companies have approached us after they saw this in the news. So people are ambulance chasing. I’m like, “Oh my goodness, should I, should I be ambulance chasing? Is this a new, a new thing that I should be doing?” Allen Hall: Let’s take a quick break and when we come back, a fresh forecast says the United States is building more wind than anyone expected As wind energy professionals, staying [00:10:00] informed is crucial, and let’s face it, difficult. That’s why the Uptime podcast recommends PES Wind magazine. PES Wind offers a diverse range of in-depth articles and expert insights that dive into the most pressing issues facing our energy future. Whether you’re an industry veteran or new to wind, PES Wind has the high-quality content you need. Don’t miss out. Visit peswind.com today. Well, here’s a number that runs against the mood of the industry. Wood Mackenzie now expects the United States wind industry to add more than 53 gigawatts of capacity by 2030. That is a 5% increase over the previous quarter’s five-year forecast, and the reason is really straightforward. Shovels are in the ground. Developers pushed to start construction ahead of the July safe harbor deadline, and firm turbine orders reached 1.1 gigawatts, five times the level of a year earlier. So demand is holding up too, [00:11:00] led by a 1.9 gigawatt deal between Google and Xcel Energy. So the One Big Beautiful Bill, or OB3 as I’ve heard it called more recently, is driving wind energy installations up for the time being. This is somewhat of a positive measure. Does it demonstrate in, in sort of uncertain terms that wind is still a choice for a lot of energy developers? Yolanda Padron: I mean, we’ve still seen a lot of wind developers continue on, right? And just maybe put something further back down the timeline than they initially would for, for a new project. Uh, but I, I don’t know. I kind of equate this to, like, you know when there’s, like, a massive sale or something on a, at a store where it’s like, “Everything must go”? And I feel like everybody was just kind of leaning towards that in the short term, and then there’s probably gonna be a lull, [00:12:00] and then just go back to, things will probably just go back to normal, I think. Matthew Stead: My, my take is that if I had a spare few billion dollars, um, and I was in the energy market I would be building wind solar and battery. And so I would see it continuing Allen Hall: The existing Department of War review, this is that are not being completed, so it’s holding up a number of projects. That’s gonna eventually hit the courts. I know it’s in the courts right now. I’m– At least that seems to be some of the news about it, and my guess is based on previous history in the courts is that they’re gonna force the Department of War to either finish the analyses and make some sort of proclamation or to allow them all to pass through. Uh, just put a stay on the, in the Department of War. I’m not sure how that works because I’ve never heard of that happening in the past, but w- you know, we’re in new times [00:13:00] obviously. But if they, if the courts were able to tell the Department of War to stand down and let the developers go, that would be very interesting. I think you may see some more activity in wind and that was, you know, off the table just a couple of weeks ago. Is, is that the feeling? I, I know that there’s also some larger discussions. I was listening to this discussion from an MIT analysis about how wind is gonna suffer because solar is so cool and battery is the hot thing. But in reality, good luck, right? I think you have to have all of the above scenario to get your projects done. If you can’t rely on gas turbines, you better be looking for every possible electricity-generating piece of equipment you can get your hands on right now. Yolanda Padron: Do you guys think it’s gonna be one of those things where the US kind of turns away from its traditional cowboy-like way of approaching wind [00:14:00] turbines? Or at least like blades, you know? Because there’s gonna– there seems to be a lot more I, I don’t know if a lot more restrictions, but a lot more implementation of those restrictions on the operation of wind turbines, um, just like from bird monitoring and just a lot of issues that you might see on a wind site that maybe people didn’t care too much to look at before. Allen Hall: Well, the argument that MIT was making was operating wind turbines is harder than running a solar farm, which generically is true early on. I think that’s probably true. But from what I see from solar farms and hear from operators, solar farms are not easy either. They have their own problems like fire, hail, uh, yeah, bad inverters, electrical problems, animals eating the wires. Like, everything comes with this set of issues that it has to work through. But wind’s been going a little bit longer. I feel [00:15:00] like there’s an infrastructure there that solar is just now developing, and the history from large solar developments like in, in Spain has not been great over time. And Australia’s sort of a little bit of a different case, Rosemary, where most of the solar in Australia is put on top of people’s roofs. But is there a real advantage to solar and battery over wind? Rosemary Barnes: I think yes. I think it’s, it, like, it’s not The scale is, yeah, there, it, there is maintenance and management to be done on a solar farm, but it’s not like on a wind farm, uh, in my opinion. Allen Hall: Why? Why do you say that? Rosemary Barnes: So when I talk with asset managers for solar farms, their number one challenge, at least in Australia, is, is grass, managing the grass. And in fact, there were some solar farms in Victoria that got shut down briefly by the safety regulator because the grass levels were not s- not safe in terms of, you know, being a fire hazard. You know, like basically it’s mowing the grass, and it’s once a year driving some drones around that are doing [00:16:00]thermal imaging and seeing if there’s any faults there, and then replacing them. So there’s stuff to do, but it’s not like as much stuff as there is in a wind farm. I’ve always thought that it’s wrong to have wind and solar competing against each other, and it’ll be, you know, like one renewable generation to rule them all. I think it’s definitely true that solar is cheaper and simpler than wind energy. It had a big disadvantage up until recently because it turns out that the sun sets every single night. I’m not sure if you guys were all aware of that, but, um, yeah, people, people have gotten in touch with me on LinkedIn comments to let me know that that’s true, that the sun sets every night, and sometimes it’s not windy. Are these two… You know, mind absolutely blown from the, um, YouTube commenters. Matthew Stead: LinkedIn losers. Yeah. Rosemary Barnes: Not so much LinkedIn losers, like YouTube, YouTube, um, I don’t know, Y- YouTube enthusiasts. But then batteries came along and started getting cheap enough that you can quite easily cover, you know, at least the evening peak with, um, by adding [00:17:00] batteries to a solar farm. So I think that that together has reduced how much wind energy we need by a bit. But what it hasn’t touched is, um, the times when there isn’t solar available. So wind can step in for that, wind can step in for cloudy weeks and, you know, that’s somewhere like Australia, which is, you know, the most favorable place for solar plus batteries. But then when you head to somewhere more northern, somewhere with a more severe winter, less sun, uh, and more, you know, demand for heating, et cetera, then y- you know, you just can’t do without wind. It’s, it’s, it’s doing a different thing than what solar is. So I do think that it’s wrong to think solar or wind. We have to be better than solar. Um, we need to be better for sure. We being wind energy. Wind energy does need to be better, but not because it’s in a competition with solar, but because it’s in a competition with, you know, fossil fuels and y- just being able to [00:18:00] do the transition, energy transition at all. Allen Hall: We’ll be right back after a short break, and when we return, a turbine maker having a very good year, and it may not be one that you would guess Delamination and bondline failures in blades are difficult problems to detect early. These hidden issues can cost you millions in repairs and lost energy production. CIC NDT are specialists to detect these critical flaws before they become expensive burdens. Their nondestructive test technology penetrates deep into blade materials to find voids and cracks traditional inspections completely miss. CIC NDT maps every critical defect, delivers actionable reports, and provides support to get your blades back in service. So visit cicndt.com because catching blade problems early will save you millions. Well, not [00:19:00] every wind turbine maker is having a hard year. Suzlon Energy has posted its highest ever first quarter deliveries, 506 megawatts of wind turbine generators. Revenue for the first quarter of the fiscal year came in at 3– 38.19 billion rupees, or roughly $398 million. That is up 22 and a half percent from a year ago. 506 megawatts delivered in a single first quarter says the machines are not just being ordered, they are going up. So there’s a, a big demand in India. India is trying to get into a lot of solar and wind and some battery storage to improve the electricity grid there. S-Suzlon is gonna be a, a winner in that race. At least there’s just a handful of companies that can really participate because of the way that India has structured the market there. But the Suzlon stock dropped, uh, a couple of percentage points on this news as the net profit was a little tighter than analysts would have [00:20:00] preferred, so there was a lot of profit-taking earlier in the day. But the long-term forecasts have to be very positive for Suzlon, right? It, it’s just been a long-term player in India and elsewhere even, United States being one of those places, um, Australia being another Is it a positive sign that they’re just seeing more orders, more deliveries, that eventually the profit margin will jump up and that Suzlon will be extremely profitable, kinda like Vestas is now? Matthew Stead: Yeah, I mean, they’re a, you know, great, great company. They’ve got great product. Um, they’ve got a great market in India. You know, India is growing. Um, I think they’ll continue to improve. I, I would’ve thought it’d be a great stock. Allen Hall: It’s, it does seem to be a little bit of a rough ride just because there’s now a lot of competitors within India, Adani being one of them. There’s o- other wind turbine manufacturers in India. Uh, not a lot of European participation. And was it GE Vernova is essentially out. [00:21:00] Is that right, Rosemary? GE Vernova is out of India altogether at the moment. Matthew Stead: And Siemens Gamesa as well? Allen Hall: Oh, that would be Omtera. I’m not sure if Omtera is in India at the minute. Yeah. Matthew Stead: Thanks for the reminder. Allen Hall: Do you think it’s gonna be a little bit of a rough ride? I think that’s my take on it. And even though the demand will be there and the, the government is making a huge push for it, it, it… Nothing is easy in wind is when you’re trying to scale up because it’s such a huge industry. Everything’s big. Everything’s expensive. You’re trying to expand your capacity. It doesn’t go smooth, and you’re gonna spend more than you would’ve spent because you gotta get new people in, and you need more equipment, you need more tooling. Everything gets more expensive as you’re doing it. I would expect the profits to drop down a little bit as you’re growing. That’s normal. Matthew Stead: I disagree. I, I think, you know, that they know what they’re doing. They’ve been doing it for a long time. You know, the market is growing, uh, but, you know, they’ve done it before. So I, you know, apart from their little wobble a while ago, um, I, I think it’s, it’s optimistic for [00:22:00] Suzlon. Allen Hall: The growth of Suzlon and all the Indian wind turbine manufacturers internally allow them to, uh, do much more work outside of India. Do you think that will help their order book, just because they’re successful in India and have that baseline of a marketplace that they can reach out to other parts of the world? Matthew Stead: Yeah, I think that one’s– That’s gonna be harder , ’cause there’s a whole lot more competition. Allen Hall: Right. That’s the real question. How are they gonna compete against the Chinese in, in places where they don’t have a foothold yet? Matthew Stead: Yeah, I mean, that one’s tricky. And, you know, I think, you know, while Suzlon has done well in Australia, they haven’t necessarily maintained their, their lead in Australia. So yeah, outside of India, it’s probably a different story. Allen Hall: Isn’t Europe the next marketplace just because it won’t be banned like China has essentially been with- within Europe, the greater Europe? That Suzlon would be that one place, that one company that would be allowed in to, to make some onshore turbines? Matthew Stead: I think we spoke about that probably about two months ago, and that was definitely in the news that, you know, Suzlon were looking at expanding into, into [00:23:00] Europe and, uh, exactly making the most of that. Um, yeah. So that, maybe that’s their, their golden, um, export market. Allen Hall: Well, a project in Queensland just got cut in half, and for two reasons at once. Alinta Energy has dropped the southern portion of its Mount Challenger wind farm in the Whitsunday Hinterlands. Six months of LiDAR monitoring showed that the wind resource at Kelsey Creek was not as strong enough to really to support the turbines, and the company also heard from residents opposed to turbines in that area, and a local action group gathered more than 6,000 signatures. And for developers, it’s, it’s really a case study in wind data and the community arriving at the same result. But we’ve seen a lot of action up in Queensland more recently. Uh, I’m not sure what’s driving all the opposition to wind turbines, but I’ve seen news stories about it in the United States. [00:24:00] It’s great to have Matthew here because he’s an acoustician. Uh, some of the discussion in the community, uh, event that I saw was just discussing 40 decibels of wind turbine noise, and which didn’t sound like a lot. And when I looked it up online, 40 decibels was like a library, which I think is being fairly quiet. Rosemary Barnes: Yeah. Imagine if something got built near your property that was so noisy it was as bad as being inside a library or having a refrigerator in your home. Easy to see how your life could be ruined. Allen Hall: Matthew, what’s the, what’s the amount of noise from a, a road going by? Like a truck going by on a road, what is, roughly what is that? Matthew Stead: I mean, that can quite easily get well above 60, 70, um, sometimes 80. I mean, the analogy, um, that I like to use is that each turbine has the sound emission which is similar to a truck. [00:25:00] You know, a reasonable sized truck. Okay? So each– imagine each turbine is a truck. Um, but those trucks are a kilometer away. So, you know, the noise level decays in a logarithmic way. Um, and so by the time you’re a kilometer away, the noise from that truck is quite low. An individual turbine is gonna be way, way, way, way, way less than 40 But, you know, there’s more than one turbine, so you need to add them up and it’s n- it’s not a, it’s not a, you know, 20 plus 20 equals 40. It’s a logarithmic addition. There are many, many, many people that live on busy roads with not 100 trucks, but thousands of trucks. So, you know, the noise exposure from a road can be way, way, way more than from a, you know, a wind farm. Rosemary Barnes: That’s one of the things that strikes me when I have a, a look at, um, yeah, like Twitter comments for this particular post and everyone’s like, “Oh my God, that’s so terrible, 40 decibels.” Like, yeah, I can see [00:26:00] why you’re ruining– that’s ruining your life. And yeah, I, um, I, you know, said that sarcastically at the start, but there’s, there’s plenty of, you know, hundreds of people that are, um, you know, thinking along the same lines, but the majority of them are like, “It should be legislated. You know, there should be rules around this. They can just do whatever they want.” But, uh, the, it is legislated, right? Like, we all accept that wind turbines make noise. It is legislated. You can measure it, right? And so if you h- uh, have a property and you think it’s too noisy for the wind turbines two or three kilometers away, there’s something you can do, right, Matt? Can you maybe tell us what is the process that, that happens when somebody thinks that a wind farm is too noisy? Matthew Stead: So a few things. So, um, normally at a house, um, where you’re, say you’re a kilometer away, normally the ambient environment can be louder than the wind farm. The first challenge is to actually measure the noise from the wind farm and not from the ambient environment. So what that means is that normally, um, measurements are taken around a wind [00:27:00] farm before the wind farm’s even built, and so that way we actually know, well, how much is the ambient noise. Um, and you know, the ambient noise is probably above 40 for a good proportion of the time. So th- that’s the first thing. You need to understand what the noise environment is like before the wind farm. And then, um, using highly sensitive, highly calibrated, um, sound level meters, which can be, you know, 0.1 decibel accuracy, um, you can then monitor the sound before and after And then compare the two. But what happens is, um, as I said, it’s normally very difficult to separate out the sound from the wind turbine from the general environment. So then what, um, there are different methods then to, um, either measure in like, um, halfway. So if you measure halfway between the wind turbine and the house, then you can start to separate out the wind turbine noise from the general environment and then do a, you know, propagation or a [00:28:00] prediction or extrapolation of what it’d be at the house. Um, the other way of doing it is actually measuring at the turbines. So you can measure the individual turbine sound and compare that to what was expected, um, and then sort of validate, um, the initial, you know, source levels. You know, is it really a truck or is it, um, quieter or, or louder than a truck? Rosemary Barnes: And if they do, it, it– I mean, I’m sure on occasion that people do get it wrong in terms of the noise. They are able to do stuff about that. That’s partly what the, um, serrations on a blade are, are there to make a, um, a blade quieter. And you can also just do something as simple as turning down the turbine when, um, wind conditions are such that you know that it’s gonna be particularly noisy. No one wants to do that because you get less power output, but certainly you can do something about it if it turns out to violate the conditions of the, um, y- you know, the noise that they promised it when the turbine was, when the wind farm was developed. Matthew Stead: Yeah. And, um, you know, in the past, it’s [00:29:00]improved a lot, but in the past there were some unusual sounds that came from some turbines, which came from like the gearboxes and, you know, you know, the drivetrain and so forth. Um, but, you know, those things are– they’re, they’re mechanical machines as we spoke about, you know, and they can be addressed, and they can be dealt with through, through design and good engineering, and also, also fixed, you know, retrospectively as well. And like you say, Rosie, um, if there’s too– if there’s more aerodynamic noise than expected, um, there are serrations and, and lower noise add-ons that can be added. Um, but also many of the turbines also have noise modes, uh, so it can be slightly derated y- with, with certain sectors of wind, um, wind direction and wind speeds to, you know, reduce the noise further. It is an absolute science. It’s really well understood. It’s, it’s measurable. I mean, there is some uncertainty in the measurements, but it’s, it’s, yeah, there is a lot of knowledge about this topic. Allen Hall: Well, I just had a math question. If they want to reduce the decibels by like three [00:30:00] dB, what kind of power reduction are we talking about? Is it like a 5% decrease or 50% decrease in power output to achieve that three dB reduction in noise Matthew Stead: Yeah. Uh, I don’t have the maths in front of me, but it would depend on the power curve and the actual make model, but I, I… It’s not, it’s not half the power. It’s, it’s, it’s, it’s, um, less tweaks to the power output than, than that much. Allen Hall: So i- it’s not a massive number. It’s, it’s a reduction of course, but it’s not, you’re not losing a, a ton of revenue. Matthew Stead: No, no. I mean, obviously it depends, but yeah, it’s not necessarily a ton of revenue loss. Rosemary Barnes: But I think it’s a real shame, ’cause like when I look at, you know, social media posts where, um, people are up- upset about noise, like they are clearly not aware that there is a very mundane process to go through. Like, you know, it is not… You don’t, you don’t have to get so worked up. If you’ve got noise at your house and, um, you know, it’s upsetting you, [00:31:00]there is a very established process that you can go through and it can be, it can be fixed. And I know from, you know, the asset managers that I, I work with, um, that are some of my friends, like I, I know that they want to help you. They do not want people living around the wind farm to hate the wind farm. So y- you need to get in touch and let them know, and, and I… They’re gonna be able to fix your problem. If it’s, if it’s detectable y- you know, with the methods that Matt said, then they are gonna be able to, um, fix it. I know that sometimes people say that they can hear noise, and you just cannot find any evidence of it, and therefore you cannot, there is nothing you can do to that wind farm operation to be able to solve that problem. So I’m not saying in every case if you think you’ve got a problem they’re gonna be able to solve it, but if they can pick it up with a, what is it called? A noise meter? A decibel meter? Yeah, whatever that doodad’s called. If they can pick it up on that, then they can, they can fix the problem for you. And yeah, it’s just, uh, it, it upsets me that, you know, people are really, are really getting worked up [00:32:00] about this issue, but there’s a, a process to go through. Matt’s holding it now for everyone just listening in. It’s like the size of, I don’t know, a liter of milk. It’s just not it’s not, not a complicated thing. Matthew Stead: I think one of the big challenges that we’ve had is that there’s been a lot of negativity around noise, and then people get sensitized. And so, um, the, you know, what I’ve, um, what I, what I’ve heard many times is, um, the sensitivity to noise can be communicated Um, so, you know, like Rosie, if I tell you you’re gonna be really annoyed by this thing, this thing is coming, you’re not gonna like it, you’re gonna hate it, and then you’re sensitized to it, and then you’ll tend to have more of a, you know, a, a response Rosemary Barnes: If we’d gone on a nationwide campaign to, you know, visit every house that’s within 600 meters of a y- you know, of a road and, um, you know, given impassioned speeches to them about [00:33:00] how it would ruin their life, then yeah, it is easy to see how we would be so fixated on it that our lives would really be ruined. Allen Hall: Meanwhile, the Australian band AC/DC came to Charlotte the other day to a sold-out concert at the huge football stadium, and I guarantee you that concert was way above the noise level of a wind farm. Rosemary Barnes: I hope so. Imagine if imagine if a, a bunch of whingers in the audience are like, “Excuse me, I’ve got my little noise measuring doodad and it’s over 40 decibels.” Allen Hall: Well, that wraps up another episode of the Uptime Wind Energy podcast, and thank God for that. If today’s discussion sparked any questions or ideas, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us on LinkedIn, and if you found some value in today’s conversation, please leave us a review. It really helps other wind energy professionals discover the show. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. And so for Rosie, Yolanda, and Matthew, I’m Allen Hall, and we’ll see you here next week on the Uptime Wind Energy [00:34:00] podcast.
Jason talks about a pair of news bits late on a Friday - DHS dropping charges against a former Olympian who'd been charged with vandalizing the reflecting pool in DC, because it turns out the damage was from poor installation, not him. Plus, Xcel Energy says enough of you have complained, so they'll stop sending you the "please turn up your thermostat" texts. And since it's National Mutt Day, we skip the "3 Disasters" and just bring you a story about a heroic puppy!
Friday 5pm Hour: Jason talks a pair of stories the government and Xcel Energy would rather you not notice on a Friday News Dump. Plus, Alec Lewis from The Athletic tells Jason if the Vikings QB competition is a REAL competition, or a FOR SHOW competition, plus more Purple news.
On Friday's Drivetime with DeRusha... 3pm Hour: Jason talks about driving in the rain today. Is it possible drivers are actually worse in the rain than they are in the snow? Then he talks with Steve Marsh from MSP Magazine who profiled WWE Superstar (and MN native) Tiffany Straton ahead of SummerSlam! 4pm Hour: Jason hosts another edition of his game show where contestants compete for a $50 gift card to Jester Concepts restaurants - it's Card DeSharks! Then he talks with Dan Hayes from The Athletic about the Twins who made a trade last night for a relief pitcher. What else might be coming before Monday's deadline? 5pm Hour: Jason talks a pair of stories the government and Xcel Energy would rather you not notice on a Friday News Dump. Plus, Alec Lewis from The Athletic tells Jason if the Vikings QB competition is a REAL competition, or a FOR SHOW competition, plus more Purple news.
As heat waves are hitting the Upper Midwest for the next few days, Xcel Energy says its crews and operation teams are prepared. Xcel says they have more crews on standby and the company also pushed people to sign up for alerts and report outages.The Minneapolis City Council is set to vote this week on whether to approve a reconstruction project on Lyndale Avenue South. Project officials with Hennepin County say the street is due for improvements. But some business owners are seeking a delay. They say they're worried about losing customers as some businesses on nearby Hennepin Avenue continue to struggle after recent road work there.The Minnesota Department of Commerce has advice for homeowners affected by the recent rash of weather events around the state. The agency recommends homeowners document all damages and should not repair anything until talking to their insurance provider first.Enrollment in the state's MNsure health insurance plans plunged 12 percent already this year in the wake of rising health insurance costs.
As heat waves are hitting the Upper Midwest for the next few days, Xcel Energy says its crews and operation teams are prepared. Xcel says they have more crews on standby and the company also pushed people to sign up for alerts and report outages.The Minneapolis City Council is set to vote this week on whether to approve a reconstruction project on Lyndale Avenue South. Project officials with Hennepin County say the street is due for improvements. But some business owners are seeking a delay. They say they're worried about losing customers as some businesses on nearby Hennepin Avenue continue to struggle after recent road work there.The Minnesota Department of Commerce has advice for homeowners affected by the recent rash of weather events around the state. The agency recommends homeowners document all damages and should not repair anything until talking to their insurance provider first.Enrollment in the state's MNsure health insurance plans plunged 12 percent already this year in the wake of rising health insurance costs.
Grid operators sit at the center of many of the biggest forces reshaping the global energy system. They're navigating rising electricity demand, a lack of transmission infrastructure, shifting regulatory policies, and maintaining the tricky balance between affordability, reliability, and the need for dispatchable power. Both here in the US and around the world, operating a reliable and resilient grid—in the face of increasingly severe weather and complex interconnection demands—is more difficult than ever. And these challenges are felt well outside the power sector. Spiking utility rates in some regions have turned electricity into a major political issue. So, what does the future of grid planning tell us about the ultimate pace of the energy transition? How can system operators manage the surge in demand from AI and data centers without compromising reliability? And how can open-source grid planning tools help both developed and developing markets build a flexible power system for the next 30 to 50 years? Today on the show, Jason Bordoff speaks to Alice Yake about the opportunities but also the challenges in building cleaner electrical grids. Alice is vice president of GRIDS at Breakthrough Energy, where she leads a team focused on the development of an open-source grid planning ecosystem designed to make energy system modeling transparent, accessible, and trustworthy. Previously, she spent 14 years at the utility Xcel Energy, where she rose to chief planning officer. Before that, she worked for the oil and gas company Occidental. She started her career at Enron. And for more about the Center on Global Energy Policy's work on electricity affordability, read here. Credits: Hosted by Jason Bordoff and Bill Loveless. Produced by Mary Catherine O'Connor, Caroline Pitman, and Kyu Lee. Engineering by Gregory Vilfranc.
In der heutigen Folge sprechen die Finanzjournalisten Philipp Vetter und Holger Zschäpitz über die Trump-Rallye bei Intel, den Ritterschlag für QuantumScape und eine spektakuläre Hochstufung bei Marvell. Außerdem geht es um QuantumScape, Micron, KLA, Infineon, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Schaeffler, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, L3Harris Technologies, Kroger, Honda, Applied Optoelectronics, SanDisk, Western Digital, Seagate Technology, Celestica, Vertiv, Argan, NextEra Energy, Dominion Energy, Xcel Energy, Capgemini, Cognizant, Infosys, Wipro, EPAM Systems, Globant, Concentrix, BILL Holdings, DXC Technology, Gartner, Robert Half, ManpowerGroup, Coursera, SoundHound AI, Duolingo, VeriSign, Goldman Sachs, Tata Consultancy Services, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Siemens. Wir freuen uns an Feedback über aaa@welt.de. Noch mehr "Alles auf Aktien" findet Ihr bei WELTplus und Apple Podcasts – inklusive aller Artikel der Hosts. Hier bei WELT: https://www.welt.de/podcasts/alles-auf-aktien/plus247399208/Boersen-Podcast-AAA-Bonus-Folgen-Jede-Woche-noch-mehr-Antworten-auf-Eure-Boersen-Fragen.html. Hier könnt ihr den AAA-Newsletter abonnieren: https://www.welt.de/newsletter/article232797673/Alles-auf-Aktien-Der-taegliche-Boersen-Newsletter-fuer-WELTplus-Abonnenten.html Und - ganz neu: AAA gibt es jetzt auch auf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alles_auf_aktien/ Disclaimer: Die im Podcast besprochenen Aktien und Fonds stellen keine spezifischen Kauf- oder Anlage-Empfehlungen dar. Die Moderatoren und der Verlag haften nicht für etwaige Verluste, die aufgrund der Umsetzung der Gedanken oder Ideen entstehen. Hörtipps: Für alle, die noch mehr wissen wollen: Holger Zschäpitz können Sie jede Woche im Finanz- und Wirtschaftspodcast "Deffner&Zschäpitz" hören. +++ Werbung +++ Du möchtest mehr über unsere Werbepartner erfahren? Hier findest du alle Infos & Rabatte! https://linktr.ee/alles_auf_aktien Impressum: https://www.welt.de/services/article7893735/Impressum.html Datenschutz: https://www.welt.de/services/article157550705/Datenschutzerklaerung-WELT-DIGITAL.html
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.volts.wtf/subscribeAre data centers and electrification going to break the US power grid, or are they the secret to making it cheaper for everyone? In this episode, I talk with Pier LaFarge of Sparkfund about Minnesota's landmark decision to let Xcel Energy deploy batteries directly into local distribution networks. We look past the politics and map out how a battery-saturated system can socialize the benefits of load growth, ushering in an era of boringly reliable, low-cost energy by 2030.
Red flag warning for Gogebic, Iron and Vilas Counties, Xcel Energy using AI powered wildfire detection cameras in Wisconsin, tribal colleges and universities could face crippling federal budget cuts
U.S. utilities are navigating a rapidly evolving threat environment shaped by unprecedented load growth, increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks, and the growing overlap between cyber and physical risks. In this episode of Schweitzer Drive, guest host Frank Harrill, vice president of security at SEL, speaks with Sharla Artz, security and resilience policy area vice president at Xcel Energy. The discussion explores how AI, data centers, and the electrification of everything are changing the risk profile for utilities—and how technology and policy are evolving to keep pace with emerging threats.
In this episode, Michael dives into the complexities of institutional risk aversion, using the Marshall fire and Xcel Energy as a case study. He argues that the company's decision to shut off power during adverse conditions is a disproportionate response to the risk, and that the real issue lies in the underlying infrastructure. Michael also touches on the topic of the Save Act and the importance of addressing election integrity. He shares some surprising statistics on voter fraud, citing the Heritage Foundation and the Brennan Center. This episode explores the intersection of policy, politics, and the pursuit of truth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode, Michael shares his thoughts on a recent experience with his mom's health issues and the importance of community support. He also discusses his frustration with Xcel Energy's decision to cut power to thousands of customers in Colorado due to high winds, citing the company's $640 million settlement for the Marshall Fire. Michael questions the logic behind this decision, arguing that it's a liability shield for the company rather than a genuine safety measure. He also touches on the theme of risk aversion in society, using examples from everyday life, such as warning labels and express lane fines.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The city of St. Paul is in the midst of negotiating a new contract with one of its largest electricity suppliers, Xcel Energy. The final outcome of these discussions will be a new franchise agreement. Franchise agreements are contracts between a city and a utility laying out how the company can use the city's existing infrastructure to provide its services. Unidos MN has been working behind-the-scenes to push the city toward what it would see as a more climate-forward and flexible agreement with Xcel Energy. Madi Johnson, an organizer with Unidos MN, explained more about the process and what's at stake.
On today's newscast: Construction began last week on Aspen's Lumberyard affordable housing project; Xcel Energy is setting new rates for data centers in Colorado; and a wolf abuse case that sparked international headlines is one step closer to coming to an end. Tune in for these stories and more.
How do utilities decide what they want — and need — to build? It's one of the most important problems driving the data center and clean energy conversations right now. But it's hard to get a sense of what constraints and ideas actually drive utility decisionmaking from the inside.Alice Yake is the vice president of GRIDS at Breakthrough Energy, and the former senior vice president of system strategy and chief planning officer at Xcel Energy in Colorado. On this episode of Shift Key, she walks us through a half century of the grid's biggest decisions — what constraints utilities and planners thought they faced, what choices they made, and what it means for the future. She also discusses Breakthrough's work to build an open-source grid planning tool and how it couldShift Key is hosted by Robinson Meyer, the founding executive editor of Heatmap News.You can find a full transcript of the episode here.Mentioned:California Burning, by Katherine BluntJesse's paper on uncertainty-aware grid planning in the real worldJames Bonbright's landmark work on public utility rates--This episode of Shift Key is sponsored by ...Lunar Energy is building the technology to turn homes into active participants in the power system. Learn more about Lunar's vision of the future at lunarenergy.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
n this episode of Banker with a Beer, Jerry talks with Julie Thoney, Manager of Community Relations and Economic Development for Xcel Energy. Topics discussed include: Data Centers Residential Renewable Energy Transmission Lines Xcel's effort to expand renewable energy options The return of nuclear power Beer Enjoyed: Spotted Cow Thank you for listening to this episode! Help support the show by leaving Banker with a Beer a 5-star rating or review on Apple or Spotify. Banker with a Beer is brought to you by Northwestern Bank. A community bank headquartered in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Follow us on Facebook or learn more on our website northwesternbank.com. We're a community bank with all the services of a big bank in a personalized friendly size. Member FDIC.
Join the Conversation at 303-477-5600 or text to 307-200-8222 Monday - Friday from 3 pm - 6 pm MT. https://RushToReason.com 3-11-26 HOUR 1 Hour 1 of Rush to Reason dives into Health and Wellness Wednesday, blending practical planning with conversations about brain health, sleep, and aging. John Rush begins with estate planning attorney Michael Bailey, discussing how changing tax laws and retirement rules—such as those affecting inherited IRAs—can impact what families pass to the next generation. Are Americans planning wisely, or unknowingly leaving more to the IRS? The conversation then shifts to brain health, dementia prevention, and daily habits that influence long-term wellness. Drawing from research by a Harvard neurologist, John explores how sleep, stress management, social interaction, exercise, and lifelong learning may help protect cognitive function. Could small daily routines be the key to staying mentally sharp? Later, Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum joins the program to discuss sleep science, daylight saving time, fatigue, and cognitive health. Why do some people struggle for days after the clock change? And could poor sleep be quietly contributing to chronic pain, fatigue, and dementia risk? From estate strategy to brain longevity, the hour asks an important question: are your daily habits helping—or hurting—your future? Timestamps 1:57 — Michael Bailey — https://michaelbaileylawllc.com 27:51 — Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum — https://endfatigue.com & https://vitality101.com/ HOUR 2 Hour 2 opens with a conversation about leadership, accountability, and adversity with author Richard Battle. What separates leaders who rise during challenges from those who collapse under pressure? Through real-world stories, Battle explains how trust, honesty, and a leader's first response to adversity can shape long-term credibility. The discussion then turns to media narratives and public perception, including controversial crime statistics (https://bjs.ojp.gov). John questions whether news coverage highlights some stories while ignoring others that do not fit prevailing narratives. Next, the focus shifts to preparedness as John warns about possible Xcel Energy power shutoffs during extreme wind and wildfire conditions. What should families do if the power goes out for days? The hour concludes with Colorado politics, examining debates over coal plant closures, energy reliability, school choice, and education funding. As Colorado surpasses six million residents, the question becomes: can policy decisions keep pace with the state's growing needs? HOUR 3 Hour 3 begins with Jerzee Joe's rapid-fire “stupid stories of the week,” covering topics ranging from an Oregon proposal that could ban hunting and livestock production to debates over media bias, cultural politics, and race narratives in the headlines. Clips from Senator Eric Schmidt, Senator John Kennedy, Bill Maher, and Congressman Wesley Hunt highlight concerns about political rhetoric and media framing. The conversation then turns to gun control policies and rising background check fees, raising a larger question: are regulations quietly limiting the rights of lower-income Americans? Later, Scott Garliss of Bent Pine Capital joins John to analyze tensions in the Middle East and the importance of the Strait of Hormuz, where nearly 20% of the world's oil supply moves daily. If Iran disrupts that chokepoint, what happens to global energy markets? The hour wraps with a discussion of energy geopolitics, LNG exports, inflation, Fed policy, and market volatility—examining how global conflicts can ripple into fuel prices, the economy, and financial markets at home. Timestamps 1:14 — Jerzee Joe — https://www.jerzeejoe.com 25:45 — Scott Garliss — https://substack.com/@cscottgarliss
Join the Conversation at 303-477-5600 or text to 307-200-8222 Monday - Friday from 3 pm - 6 pm MT. https://RushToReason.com 3-11-26 HOUR 1 Hour 1 of Rush to Reason dives into Health and Wellness Wednesday, blending practical planning with conversations about brain health, sleep, and aging. John Rush begins with estate planning attorney Michael Bailey, discussing how changing tax laws and retirement rules—such as those affecting inherited IRAs—can impact what families pass to the next generation. Are Americans planning wisely, or unknowingly leaving more to the IRS? The conversation then shifts to brain health, dementia prevention, and daily habits that influence long-term wellness. Drawing from research by a Harvard neurologist, John explores how sleep, stress management, social interaction, exercise, and lifelong learning may help protect cognitive function. Could small daily routines be the key to staying mentally sharp? Later, Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum joins the program to discuss sleep science, daylight saving time, fatigue, and cognitive health. Why do some people struggle for days after the clock change? And could poor sleep be quietly contributing to chronic pain, fatigue, and dementia risk? From estate strategy to brain longevity, the hour asks an important question: are your daily habits helping—or hurting—your future? Timestamps 1:57 — Michael Bailey — https://michaelbaileylawllc.com 27:51 — Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum — https://endfatigue.com & https://vitality101.com/ HOUR 2 Hour 2 opens with a conversation about leadership, accountability, and adversity with author Richard Battle. What separates leaders who rise during challenges from those who collapse under pressure? Through real-world stories, Battle explains how trust, honesty, and a leader's first response to adversity can shape long-term credibility. The discussion then turns to media narratives and public perception, including controversial crime statistics (https://bjs.ojp.gov). John questions whether news coverage highlights some stories while ignoring others that do not fit prevailing narratives. Next, the focus shifts to preparedness as John warns about possible Xcel Energy power shutoffs during extreme wind and wildfire conditions. What should families do if the power goes out for days? The hour concludes with Colorado politics, examining debates over coal plant closures, energy reliability, school choice, and education funding. As Colorado surpasses six million residents, the question becomes: can policy decisions keep pace with the state's growing needs? HOUR 3 Hour 3 begins with Jerzee Joe's rapid-fire “stupid stories of the week,” covering topics ranging from an Oregon proposal that could ban hunting and livestock production to debates over media bias, cultural politics, and race narratives in the headlines. Clips from Senator Eric Schmidt, Senator John Kennedy, Bill Maher, and Congressman Wesley Hunt highlight concerns about political rhetoric and media framing. The conversation then turns to gun control policies and rising background check fees, raising a larger question: are regulations quietly limiting the rights of lower-income Americans? Later, Scott Garliss of Bent Pine Capital joins John to analyze tensions in the Middle East and the importance of the Strait of Hormuz, where nearly 20% of the world's oil supply moves daily. If Iran disrupts that chokepoint, what happens to global energy markets? The hour wraps with a discussion of energy geopolitics, LNG exports, inflation, Fed policy, and market volatility—examining how global conflicts can ripple into fuel prices, the economy, and financial markets at home. Timestamps 1:14 — Jerzee Joe — https://www.jerzeejoe.com 25:45 — Scott Garliss — https://substack.com/@cscottgarliss
Join the Conversation at 303-477-5600 or text to 307-200-8222 Monday - Friday from 3 pm - 6 pm MT. https://RushToReason.com 3-11-26 HOUR 1 Hour 1 of Rush to Reason dives into Health and Wellness Wednesday, blending practical planning with conversations about brain health, sleep, and aging. John Rush begins with estate planning attorney Michael Bailey, discussing how changing tax laws and retirement rules—such as those affecting inherited IRAs—can impact what families pass to the next generation. Are Americans planning wisely, or unknowingly leaving more to the IRS? The conversation then shifts to brain health, dementia prevention, and daily habits that influence long-term wellness. Drawing from research by a Harvard neurologist, John explores how sleep, stress management, social interaction, exercise, and lifelong learning may help protect cognitive function. Could small daily routines be the key to staying mentally sharp? Later, Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum joins the program to discuss sleep science, daylight saving time, fatigue, and cognitive health. Why do some people struggle for days after the clock change? And could poor sleep be quietly contributing to chronic pain, fatigue, and dementia risk? From estate strategy to brain longevity, the hour asks an important question: are your daily habits helping—or hurting—your future? Timestamps 1:57 — Michael Bailey — https://michaelbaileylawllc.com 27:51 — Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum — https://endfatigue.com & https://vitality101.com/ HOUR 2 Hour 2 opens with a conversation about leadership, accountability, and adversity with author Richard Battle. What separates leaders who rise during challenges from those who collapse under pressure? Through real-world stories, Battle explains how trust, honesty, and a leader's first response to adversity can shape long-term credibility. The discussion then turns to media narratives and public perception, including controversial crime statistics (https://bjs.ojp.gov). John questions whether news coverage highlights some stories while ignoring others that do not fit prevailing narratives. Next, the focus shifts to preparedness as John warns about possible Xcel Energy power shutoffs during extreme wind and wildfire conditions. What should families do if the power goes out for days? The hour concludes with Colorado politics, examining debates over coal plant closures, energy reliability, school choice, and education funding. As Colorado surpasses six million residents, the question becomes: can policy decisions keep pace with the state's growing needs? HOUR 3 Hour 3 begins with Jerzee Joe's rapid-fire “stupid stories of the week,” covering topics ranging from an Oregon proposal that could ban hunting and livestock production to debates over media bias, cultural politics, and race narratives in the headlines. Clips from Senator Eric Schmidt, Senator John Kennedy, Bill Maher, and Congressman Wesley Hunt highlight concerns about political rhetoric and media framing. The conversation then turns to gun control policies and rising background check fees, raising a larger question: are regulations quietly limiting the rights of lower-income Americans? Later, Scott Garliss of Bent Pine Capital joins John to analyze tensions in the Middle East and the importance of the Strait of Hormuz, where nearly 20% of the world's oil supply moves daily. If Iran disrupts that chokepoint, what happens to global energy markets? The hour wraps with a discussion of energy geopolitics, LNG exports, inflation, Fed policy, and market volatility—examining how global conflicts can ripple into fuel prices, the economy, and financial markets at home. Timestamps 1:14 — Jerzee Joe — https://www.jerzeejoe.com 25:45 — Scott Garliss — https://substack.com/@cscottgarliss
In this special mini episode of Elevated Access, host Chad Hughes welcomes Blandon Granger, Chair of the International Electric and Utility Committee, along with Gina Cannova and Taylor Doyle, to spotlight the upcoming IEUC Symposium taking place April 9, 2026, in New Orleans. The conversation centers on the mission of the International Electric and Utility Committee within the International Right of Way Association and its role in advancing technical knowledge, education, and networking opportunities for professionals in electric, telecommunications, water, sewer, and natural gas sectors. The group discusses the expanding demand for electric transmission projects, data center development, and grid modernization, all of which are driving new right of way challenges and opportunities. Gina outlines the educational lineup, featuring speakers from Encore, Xcel Energy, Duke Energy, SMUD, and leading industry attorneys. Topics include legal risk where construction meets right of way, federal utility relocation guidelines, infrastructure project conflicts, asset management, and real-world case studies covering eminent domain, mineral rights, conservation, and large-scale transmission development. Blandon and Taylor highlight the networking, dining, and entertainment opportunities in the host city of New Orleans. From the historic hotel located in the heart of the French Quarter to delicious local cuisine, the visit will be one to remember. Beyond the educational and cultural content, attendees will meet peers across the electric and utility sectors. With registration nearing capacity and sponsorship opportunities limited, the committee emphasizes early registration. Scholarships are also available for utility professionals seeking support to attend. For those involved in electric transmission, land acquisition, regulatory compliance, infrastructure planning, and right of way project delivery, this IEUC Symposium offers both timely education and meaningful industry connection. “Anybody that wants to stay ahead of trends, learn best practices, and connect with peers that are shaping the future of electric utilities in the right of way space should be there.” – Blandon Granger For more information on the IRWA SPARK event in New Orleans on April 9, 2026, visit LinkedIn ___ About Taylor Doyle: With a multifaceted career and roles spanning from Project Manager to General Counsel to Business Development Lead, Taylor's insights into the Energy Industry are both deep and broad. Taylor is passionate about his current position managing Doyle's Business Development Department. He loves to meet and connect with fellow industry professionals and find ways to work together in improving America's energy infrastructure. As a licensed attorney in both Louisiana and Illinois, Taylor's core legal proficiencies include crafting client agreements, ensuring regulatory compliance, and steering corporate governance frameworks. Further, Taylor holds a Bachelor's Degree in Leadership Studies and is enthusiastic about his team members' development and helping Doyle employees be better leaders. In 2017, he moved from New Orleans to Chicago, so feel free to ask him about the city, except for how cold it gets. (His Southern spirit is still in denial that winter is coming every year). When Taylor is not working, he enjoys cooking, volunteering in his community, and exploring Chicago with his wife, daughter, and dog. Taylor Doyle on LinkedIn Website: DoyleLandServices.com About Gina Cannova, MAI, SR/WA, R/W-AC: Ms. Cannova is the Senior Managing Director for the O'Brien Right of Way Valuation Public sector, overseeing Transportation and Water projects, as well as Electric. She has managed and appraised numerous right-of-way projects on both transportation and utility projects over the past decade, including a 300-mile HVTL project on the West Coast. She has extensive knowledge of performing complex assignments for eminent domain in all types of real estate and has testified in over 150 Special Commissioners' hearings in various counties within the state of Texas. Prior to re-joining O'Brien Right of Way, Ms. Cannova was the Senior Director within the Infrastructure Practice Group for Valuation & Advisory at Cushman and Wakefield, and prior to that she was the Managing Director for Transportation at O'Brien Right of Way Valuation. She also serves on the Planning & Zoning Commission for the City of Southlake, the Board for Chapter 36 International Right of Way Association (IRWA), the Board for the IRWA International Electric & Utility Committee, and is an approved IRWA PEAK Instructor. Gina Cannova on LinkedIn Website: obrien-row.com About Blandon Granger, SR/WA: Blandon Granger is Supervisor of Real Estate Services at Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), the sixth-largest publicly owned electric utility in the United States. With over 25 years of experience in public infrastructure real estate, Blandon specializes in electric utilities and telecommunications, managing critical land rights that support renewable energy, thermal and hydro generation, electric and gas transmission, distribution, and utility operations. He currently serves as Chair of the International Right of Way Association's International Electric and Utilities Committee (IEUC) and has a long-standing commitment to advancing technical knowledge, education, and best practices within the utility right of way industry. Blandon also served on the City of Roseville Public Utilities Commission, providing strategic guidance on utility policy and regulatory compliance. Blandon Granger on LinkedIn Website: smud.org --- Chad Hughes | CEO, Entrepreneurial Leader, Author: website |linkedin Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: U.S. trained soldiers took down a major Mexican drug cartel thug. The reaction of the Mexican people shows the lies of Mexico's Leftist leadership and our complicit media. Mexico Confirms 25 National Guardsmen Killed in Cartel's Terror Response to El Mencho's Death Mexico Erupts in Flames After Death of Largest Terrorist Cartel Boss Governor Abbott Directs DPS To Increase Public Safety Operations Amid Cartel Violence $9.9 million liquid meth bust in Dallas gave glimpse into El Mencho-led cartel operation Big Bend border wall to be completed by 2028 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 manufacturing sector growth remains solid, says Dallas Fed.Attorney General Paxton Secures Injunction Against Electric Company that Caused the Devastating Smokehouse Creek Fire – Xcel/Southwestern Public Service.Hitchcock mayor's arrest on gambling charges tied to “game rooms” in Galveston County. A perfect example of why Lubbock Co. Commissioner Jason Corley fought so hard, against the county judge and sheriff, to get a better handle of these operations. Today, Lubbock Co. further tightened its regulations on these places.Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates. www.PrattonTexas.com
Bob Frenzel, CEO of Xcel Energy, discussed artificial intelligence data centers, his experience in the Navy, why he thinks the company's stock is worth buying, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Power grids are shifting from reactive crisis management to proactive simulation and planning. Utilities can now rehearse extreme weather events, wildfire scenarios, and load surges before they happen, fundamentally changing how the grid stays reliable.Alejandro De Diego speaks with Marcus Johansson, Senior Executive - Wildfire Mitigation, Digital Transformation, Grid Modernization at Xcel Energy. The conversation explores how digital twins, virtual replicas of the physical grid, are enabling utilities to run simulations of weather events, wildfire scenarios, and increasing electricity demand. You can watch or listen to new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.Transmission is a Modo Energy production. Your host is Alejandro De Deigo - VP of Insights.Modo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage understand the market — and make the most out of their assets. Want all the latest power market news? Sign up for our free Weekly Dispatch newsletter: https://bit.ly/TheWeeklyDispatchChapters- 00:03 - Introduction- 01:45 - Xcel Energy Overview- 03:05 - Grid Modernization Role- 04:26 - Digital Twin Technology- 05:27 - Analytics vs Simulations- 06:15 - Wildfire Mitigation Strategies- 07:28 - Advanced Metering Infrastructure- 08:13 - Predictive Maintenance Applications- 08:42 - Data Integration Challenges- 10:29 - Distribution Management Systems- 13:17 - AI Load Forecasting- 14:20 - Peak Demand Management- 16:01 - Sustainability Journey- 16:28 - Energy Transition Motivation- 17:10 - Infrastructure Investment Plans- 18:22 - Transmission Focus Areas- 18:58 - Join Xcel Energy- 19:18 - Contrarian Industry Views- 20:11 - Service Orchestration Mindset- 20:44 - Build vs Buy- 21:25 - Future Generation Optimism
Power grids are shifting from reactive crisis management to proactive simulation and planning. Utilities can now rehearse extreme weather events, wildfire scenarios, and load surges before they happen, fundamentally changing how the grid stays reliable.Alejandro De Diego speaks with Marcus Johansson, Senior Executive - Wildfire Mitigation, Digital Transformation, Grid Modernization at Xcel Energy. The conversation explores how digital twins, virtual replicas of the physical grid, are enabling utilities to run simulations of weather events, wildfire scenarios, and increasing electricity demand. You can watch or listen to new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.Transmission is a Modo Energy production. Your host is Alejandro De Deigo - VP of Insights.Modo Energy helps the owners, operators, builders, and financiers of battery energy storage understand the market — and make the most out of their assets. Want all the latest power market news? Sign up for our free Weekly Dispatch newsletter: https://bit.ly/TheWeeklyDispatchChapters- 00:03 - Introduction- 01:45 - Xcel Energy Overview- 03:05 - Grid Modernization Role- 04:26 - Digital Twin Technology- 05:27 - Analytics vs Simulations- 06:15 - Wildfire Mitigation Strategies- 07:28 - Advanced Metering Infrastructure- 08:13 - Predictive Maintenance Applications- 08:42 - Data Integration Challenges- 10:29 - Distribution Management Systems- 13:17 - AI Load Forecasting- 14:20 - Peak Demand Management- 16:01 - Sustainability Journey- 16:28 - Energy Transition Motivation- 17:10 - Infrastructure Investment Plans- 18:22 - Transmission Focus Areas- 18:58 - Join Xcel Energy- 19:18 - Contrarian Industry Views- 20:11 - Service Orchestration Mindset- 20:44 - Build vs Buy- 21:25 - Future Generation Optimism
Hour 1 of https://RushToReason.com opens with John Rush taking on one of the most misunderstood concepts in America today: free speech. What does it actually protect—and where does it stop? Using real-world examples from churches, workplaces, schools, stadiums, airlines, and even the NFL, John breaks down the critical difference between public spaces and private property, challenging assumptions on both the left and the right. The discussion intensifies with calls from listeners highlighting school censorship and workplace double standards, raising tough questions about when speech is being silenced—and when rules are simply being enforced. John then pivots sharply into Colorado GOP politics, alleging serious digital misconduct by former party leadership and warning about the dangers of poor oversight, technical ignorance, and unchecked power. Who's accountable when records disappear? And how much damage can one person do on the way out the door? This hour is blunt, confrontational, and packed with uncomfortable truths—about rights, responsibility, and why misunderstanding civics has consequences far beyond social media outrage. HOUR 2 Hour 2 of Rush To Reason dives headfirst into economics, the Federal Reserve, NFL playoff drama, and a high-profile car review. John Rush is joined by Mitch Francis, founder of Francis Development Inc. (https://Bad-AssSolutions.com), for a blunt breakdown of why the Fed's interest-rate strategy may be hurting Main Street more than helping inflation. Why do unelected officials wield so much power—and why does the cost always land on consumers and small businesses? The hour then shifts into NFL playoff chaos, as John and Richard Rush analyze the Broncos' emotional win, controversial calls, and the sudden loss of Bo Nix. Can backup Jarrett Stidham rise to the moment, and is Denver actually ahead of schedule? The hour closes with a detailed car review of the 2026 Lexus TX 550h Plug-In Hybrid. From monetary policy to playoff pressure to plug-in hybrids, this hour asks one big question: who's really prepared for what comes next? Timestamps * Mitch Francis, Founder – Francis Development Inc. - 1:11 * Richard Rush, NFL - 26:47 * Car Review: 2026 Lexus TX 550h Plug-In Hybrid- 42:27 HOUR 3 Hour 3 of Rush To Reason is fast-paced and unapologetic, opening with John Rush in a deep dive on worker freedom and union power. John is joined by Mark Mix, president of National Right to Work (https://www.nrtw.org/), who breaks down Colorado legislation that could force workers to pay union dues without a vote. Is this about representation—or political power funded by workers who may not agree with it? The hour then pivots sharply to planned power outages, lawsuits, and accountability, as John dismantles the City of Golden's claims and explains why Xcel Energy is prioritizing liability protection after the Marshall Fire settlement. Listeners weigh in with legal and real-world insight, exposing how Colorado's liability standards, regulatory politics, and court venues are shaping utility behavior statewide. The takeaway is blunt: outages aren't a fluke—they're the future. From elections to energy policy to personal preparedness, this hour challenges listeners to ask a hard question: if the system won't protect you, are you ready to protect yourself? Timestamps * Mark Mix, President – National Right to Work - 1:12
Hour 1 of https://RushToReason.com opens with John Rush taking on one of the most misunderstood concepts in America today: free speech. What does it actually protect—and where does it stop? Using real-world examples from churches, workplaces, schools, stadiums, airlines, and even the NFL, John breaks down the critical difference between public spaces and private property, challenging assumptions on both the left and the right. The discussion intensifies with calls from listeners highlighting school censorship and workplace double standards, raising tough questions about when speech is being silenced—and when rules are simply being enforced. John then pivots sharply into Colorado GOP politics, alleging serious digital misconduct by former party leadership and warning about the dangers of poor oversight, technical ignorance, and unchecked power. Who's accountable when records disappear? And how much damage can one person do on the way out the door? This hour is blunt, confrontational, and packed with uncomfortable truths—about rights, responsibility, and why misunderstanding civics has consequences far beyond social media outrage. HOUR 2 Hour 2 of Rush To Reason dives headfirst into economics, the Federal Reserve, NFL playoff drama, and a high-profile car review. John Rush is joined by Mitch Francis, founder of Francis Development Inc. (https://Bad-AssSolutions.com), for a blunt breakdown of why the Fed's interest-rate strategy may be hurting Main Street more than helping inflation. Why do unelected officials wield so much power—and why does the cost always land on consumers and small businesses? The hour then shifts into NFL playoff chaos, as John and Richard Rush analyze the Broncos' emotional win, controversial calls, and the sudden loss of Bo Nix. Can backup Jarrett Stidham rise to the moment, and is Denver actually ahead of schedule? The hour closes with a detailed car review of the 2026 Lexus TX 550h Plug-In Hybrid. From monetary policy to playoff pressure to plug-in hybrids, this hour asks one big question: who's really prepared for what comes next? Timestamps * Mitch Francis, Founder – Francis Development Inc. - 1:11 * Richard Rush, NFL - 26:47 * Car Review: 2026 Lexus TX 550h Plug-In Hybrid- 42:27 HOUR 3 Hour 3 of Rush To Reason is fast-paced and unapologetic, opening with John Rush in a deep dive on worker freedom and union power. John is joined by Mark Mix, president of National Right to Work (https://www.nrtw.org/), who breaks down Colorado legislation that could force workers to pay union dues without a vote. Is this about representation—or political power funded by workers who may not agree with it? The hour then pivots sharply to planned power outages, lawsuits, and accountability, as John dismantles the City of Golden's claims and explains why Xcel Energy is prioritizing liability protection after the Marshall Fire settlement. Listeners weigh in with legal and real-world insight, exposing how Colorado's liability standards, regulatory politics, and court venues are shaping utility behavior statewide. The takeaway is blunt: outages aren't a fluke—they're the future. From elections to energy policy to personal preparedness, this hour challenges listeners to ask a hard question: if the system won't protect you, are you ready to protect yourself? Timestamps * Mark Mix, President – National Right to Work - 1:12
Hour 1 of https://RushToReason.com opens with John Rush taking on one of the most misunderstood concepts in America today: free speech. What does it actually protect—and where does it stop? Using real-world examples from churches, workplaces, schools, stadiums, airlines, and even the NFL, John breaks down the critical difference between public spaces and private property, challenging assumptions on both the left and the right. The discussion intensifies with calls from listeners highlighting school censorship and workplace double standards, raising tough questions about when speech is being silenced—and when rules are simply being enforced. John then pivots sharply into Colorado GOP politics, alleging serious digital misconduct by former party leadership and warning about the dangers of poor oversight, technical ignorance, and unchecked power. Who's accountable when records disappear? And how much damage can one person do on the way out the door? This hour is blunt, confrontational, and packed with uncomfortable truths—about rights, responsibility, and why misunderstanding civics has consequences far beyond social media outrage. HOUR 2 Hour 2 of Rush To Reason dives headfirst into economics, the Federal Reserve, NFL playoff drama, and a high-profile car review. John Rush is joined by Mitch Francis, founder of Francis Development Inc. (https://Bad-AssSolutions.com), for a blunt breakdown of why the Fed's interest-rate strategy may be hurting Main Street more than helping inflation. Why do unelected officials wield so much power—and why does the cost always land on consumers and small businesses? The hour then shifts into NFL playoff chaos, as John and Richard Rush analyze the Broncos' emotional win, controversial calls, and the sudden loss of Bo Nix. Can backup Jarrett Stidham rise to the moment, and is Denver actually ahead of schedule? The hour closes with a detailed car review of the 2026 Lexus TX 550h Plug-In Hybrid. From monetary policy to playoff pressure to plug-in hybrids, this hour asks one big question: who's really prepared for what comes next? Timestamps * Mitch Francis, Founder – Francis Development Inc. - 1:11 * Richard Rush, NFL - 26:47 * Car Review: 2026 Lexus TX 550h Plug-In Hybrid- 42:27 HOUR 3 Hour 3 of Rush To Reason is fast-paced and unapologetic, opening with John Rush in a deep dive on worker freedom and union power. John is joined by Mark Mix, president of National Right to Work (https://www.nrtw.org/), who breaks down Colorado legislation that could force workers to pay union dues without a vote. Is this about representation—or political power funded by workers who may not agree with it? The hour then pivots sharply to planned power outages, lawsuits, and accountability, as John dismantles the City of Golden's claims and explains why Xcel Energy is prioritizing liability protection after the Marshall Fire settlement. Listeners weigh in with legal and real-world insight, exposing how Colorado's liability standards, regulatory politics, and court venues are shaping utility behavior statewide. The takeaway is blunt: outages aren't a fluke—they're the future. From elections to energy policy to personal preparedness, this hour challenges listeners to ask a hard question: if the system won't protect you, are you ready to protect yourself? Timestamps * Mark Mix, President – National Right to Work - 1:12
Didn't have a chance to attend the 2025 Growth Summit? Listen in to our Power 101 panel featuring SMGA CEO Tyler Tordsen as the panel moderator and panelists: Sam Wagner (Business and Community Development Manager, MidAmerican Energy), Steve Kolbeck (State Director-SD, Xcel Energy), and Mike Jaspers (VP of Business Development, East River Electric).
Hour 1 of Rush to Reason sets a powerful tone for Health and Wellness Wednesday as John Rush welcomes guests who challenge listeners to rethink stress, purpose, and personal health during the most demanding season of the year. Financial expert Al Smith of Golden Eagle Financial (https://goldeneaglefinancialltd.com/) opens with urgent year-end reminders and a bigger question: what if the most meaningful gift isn't money at all, but service to those quietly struggling around us? The conversation then turns inward with Owen Marcus, founder and CEO of MELD (Men's Emotional Leadership Development / https://meld.community) and author of Grow Up: A Man's Guide to Emotional Maturity. Why do so many men try to carry holiday pressure alone? Owen explains how chronic stress affects the body and reveals simple tools — breathwork, connection, and co-regulation — that can restore resilience when life feels overwhelming. Finally, Dr. Julie Gatz dives into “jingle belly” season, exposing how skipping breakfast, dehydration, cravings, and digestive distress may be sabotaging energy and brain health. Could smarter food choices, hydration, and listening to your gut be the key to surviving the holidays feeling stronger instead of stuffed? This hour teases practical insights that just might change how you finish the year. When ordering from https://naturessources.com/ or calling 800-827-7656, use code: RADIO for a discount. HOUR 2 Hour 2 of Rush to Reason delivers a fast-moving mix of leadership, local outrage, and global politics as John Rush challenges listeners to think bigger about accountability and strength. The hour opens with Richard Battle (https://richardbattle.com), author and leadership expert, who breaks down why great leaders stay calm under pressure while poor leaders panic. Drawing on powerful moments from history — Apollo 13, Gettysburg, and the Battle of the Bulge — Richard asks: when everything is on the line, do you react emotionally or lead with clarity and confidence? The conversation then turns fiery as John takes on Colorado's power outages, questions Xcel Energy, and lawsuits tied to the Marshall Fire, and asks whether politics and the courts are leaving everyday people in the dark. Who's really responsible — utilities, lawmakers, judges, or underprepared homeowners? Hour 2 closes with Sunny Kutcher of Young Americans Against Socialism (https://www.yaas.org), diving into President Trump's tough stance on cartels, border security, and Venezuela. Is this saber-rattling… or strength through peace? From fentanyl deaths to socialist collapse, Sunny challenges listeners to look at history and ask: what should America do when families and freedoms are at stake? HOUR 3 Hour 3 of Rush to Reason tackles high-stakes economics and global power as John Rush welcomes two sharp minds to break down what's next for America. Jim Paff of https://theconservativecaucus.com previews President Trump's Oval Office address, asking: Will Trump make the case that inflation has plateaued, confront corruption in Venezuela, and call out the Federal Reserve for holding back growth? Jim warns about China's influence in our hemisphere, the rise of NGO power, and why the Monroe Doctrine still matters. Is bold leadership abroad the key to stability at home? The hour then shifts into market reality with Scott Garliss of Bent Pine Capital (https://www.bentpinecapital.com), who dives into tech stock sell-offs, inflation data, and why the Fed's rate decisions affect everything from credit cards to mortgages. Scott also unpacks China's weakening economy, Trump's tariff strategy, and where smart money could move next. Could small-cap stocks be the sleeper play for 2026? From debt and inflation to trade wars and opportunity, Hour 3 asks: are we ready for the economic crossroads ahead?
Hour 1 of Rush to Reason sets a powerful tone for Health and Wellness Wednesday as John Rush welcomes guests who challenge listeners to rethink stress, purpose, and personal health during the most demanding season of the year. Financial expert Al Smith of Golden Eagle Financial (https://goldeneaglefinancialltd.com/) opens with urgent year-end reminders and a bigger question: what if the most meaningful gift isn't money at all, but service to those quietly struggling around us? The conversation then turns inward with Owen Marcus, founder and CEO of MELD (Men's Emotional Leadership Development / https://meld.community) and author of Grow Up: A Man's Guide to Emotional Maturity. Why do so many men try to carry holiday pressure alone? Owen explains how chronic stress affects the body and reveals simple tools — breathwork, connection, and co-regulation — that can restore resilience when life feels overwhelming. Finally, Dr. Julie Gatz dives into “jingle belly” season, exposing how skipping breakfast, dehydration, cravings, and digestive distress may be sabotaging energy and brain health. Could smarter food choices, hydration, and listening to your gut be the key to surviving the holidays feeling stronger instead of stuffed? This hour teases practical insights that just might change how you finish the year. When ordering from https://naturessources.com/ or calling 800-827-7656, use code: RADIO for a discount. HOUR 2 Hour 2 of Rush to Reason delivers a fast-moving mix of leadership, local outrage, and global politics as John Rush challenges listeners to think bigger about accountability and strength. The hour opens with Richard Battle (https://richardbattle.com), author and leadership expert, who breaks down why great leaders stay calm under pressure while poor leaders panic. Drawing on powerful moments from history — Apollo 13, Gettysburg, and the Battle of the Bulge — Richard asks: when everything is on the line, do you react emotionally or lead with clarity and confidence? The conversation then turns fiery as John takes on Colorado's power outages, questions Xcel Energy, and lawsuits tied to the Marshall Fire, and asks whether politics and the courts are leaving everyday people in the dark. Who's really responsible — utilities, lawmakers, judges, or underprepared homeowners? Hour 2 closes with Sunny Kutcher of Young Americans Against Socialism (https://www.yaas.org), diving into President Trump's tough stance on cartels, border security, and Venezuela. Is this saber-rattling… or strength through peace? From fentanyl deaths to socialist collapse, Sunny challenges listeners to look at history and ask: what should America do when families and freedoms are at stake? HOUR 3 Hour 3 of Rush to Reason tackles high-stakes economics and global power as John Rush welcomes two sharp minds to break down what's next for America. Jim Paff of https://theconservativecaucus.com previews President Trump's Oval Office address, asking: Will Trump make the case that inflation has plateaued, confront corruption in Venezuela, and call out the Federal Reserve for holding back growth? Jim warns about China's influence in our hemisphere, the rise of NGO power, and why the Monroe Doctrine still matters. Is bold leadership abroad the key to stability at home? The hour then shifts into market reality with Scott Garliss of Bent Pine Capital (https://www.bentpinecapital.com), who dives into tech stock sell-offs, inflation data, and why the Fed's rate decisions affect everything from credit cards to mortgages. Scott also unpacks China's weakening economy, Trump's tariff strategy, and where smart money could move next. Could small-cap stocks be the sleeper play for 2026? From debt and inflation to trade wars and opportunity, Hour 3 asks: are we ready for the economic crossroads ahead?
Hour 1 of Rush to Reason sets a powerful tone for Health and Wellness Wednesday as John Rush welcomes guests who challenge listeners to rethink stress, purpose, and personal health during the most demanding season of the year. Financial expert Al Smith of Golden Eagle Financial (https://goldeneaglefinancialltd.com/) opens with urgent year-end reminders and a bigger question: what if the most meaningful gift isn't money at all, but service to those quietly struggling around us? The conversation then turns inward with Owen Marcus, founder and CEO of MELD (Men's Emotional Leadership Development / https://meld.community) and author of Grow Up: A Man's Guide to Emotional Maturity. Why do so many men try to carry holiday pressure alone? Owen explains how chronic stress affects the body and reveals simple tools — breathwork, connection, and co-regulation — that can restore resilience when life feels overwhelming. Finally, Dr. Julie Gatz dives into “jingle belly” season, exposing how skipping breakfast, dehydration, cravings, and digestive distress may be sabotaging energy and brain health. Could smarter food choices, hydration, and listening to your gut be the key to surviving the holidays feeling stronger instead of stuffed? This hour teases practical insights that just might change how you finish the year. When ordering from https://naturessources.com/ or calling 800-827-7656, use code: RADIO for a discount. HOUR 2 Hour 2 of Rush to Reason delivers a fast-moving mix of leadership, local outrage, and global politics as John Rush challenges listeners to think bigger about accountability and strength. The hour opens with Richard Battle (https://richardbattle.com), author and leadership expert, who breaks down why great leaders stay calm under pressure while poor leaders panic. Drawing on powerful moments from history — Apollo 13, Gettysburg, and the Battle of the Bulge — Richard asks: when everything is on the line, do you react emotionally or lead with clarity and confidence? The conversation then turns fiery as John takes on Colorado's power outages, questions Xcel Energy, and lawsuits tied to the Marshall Fire, and asks whether politics and the courts are leaving everyday people in the dark. Who's really responsible — utilities, lawmakers, judges, or underprepared homeowners? Hour 2 closes with Sunny Kutcher of Young Americans Against Socialism (https://www.yaas.org), diving into President Trump's tough stance on cartels, border security, and Venezuela. Is this saber-rattling… or strength through peace? From fentanyl deaths to socialist collapse, Sunny challenges listeners to look at history and ask: what should America do when families and freedoms are at stake? HOUR 3 Hour 3 of Rush to Reason tackles high-stakes economics and global power as John Rush welcomes two sharp minds to break down what's next for America. Jim Paff of https://theconservativecaucus.com previews President Trump's Oval Office address, asking: Will Trump make the case that inflation has plateaued, confront corruption in Venezuela, and call out the Federal Reserve for holding back growth? Jim warns about China's influence in our hemisphere, the rise of NGO power, and why the Monroe Doctrine still matters. Is bold leadership abroad the key to stability at home? The hour then shifts into market reality with Scott Garliss of Bent Pine Capital (https://www.bentpinecapital.com), who dives into tech stock sell-offs, inflation data, and why the Fed's rate decisions affect everything from credit cards to mortgages. Scott also unpacks China's weakening economy, Trump's tariff strategy, and where smart money could move next. Could small-cap stocks be the sleeper play for 2026? From debt and inflation to trade wars and opportunity, Hour 3 asks: are we ready for the economic crossroads ahead?
More than 100,000 Coloradans were left without electricity this week as Xcel Energy preemptively shut down power lines to mitigate the risk of wildfire — just like they did last April. But the controversy is way different this time. Comedian and longtime friend of the show JD Lopez returns with producers Olivia Jewell Love and Paul Karolyi to parse the politics of power. Plus, we discuss Denverite's investigation into allegations of toxic work culture at the Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce, pick Denver's Word of the Year 2025, and share our wins and fails of the week. Paul mentioned the podcast he and JD host, “Hold on to Your Butts: A Podcast About Great Franchises that Uhhhhh Lost their Way.” He also talked about the “gonzo lawyer,” the decline of the “slop bowl,” the Broncos' new anime connection, and this reddit thread he posted about Denver's word of the year. Olivia talked about zebra mussels. JD sang “Colorado Christmas” by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. What do you think should be Denver's word of the year? We want to hear from you! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418 For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm. Watch clips from the show on YouTube: youtube.com/@citycastdenver or Instagram @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm/Denver Learn more about the sponsors of this December 19th episode: Denver Botanic Gardens Foothills Animal Shelter Elizabeth Martinez with PorchLight Real Estate - Do you have a question about Denver real estate? Submit your questions for Elizabeth Martinez HERE, and she might answer in next week's segment. Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise
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Today on America in the MorningNew Images Of Alleged Brown University Shooter Authorities have released images of the new person of interest in the deadly shooting at Brown University, as Rhode Island police and the FBI continue to look for more clues and want the public's help to find the person they believe could be the attacker at the Ivy League school. The details from correspondent Joan Jones. Wiles White House Comments White House aides and allies on Tuesday rushed to publicly defend Susie Wiles after the Chief-of-Staff's jaw-dropping interview in Vanity Fair had her pointedly criticizing the President, Vice President, and many in the Cabinet. Correspondent Marcela Sanchez reports on the revealing series of conversations with Wiles, who typically shuns the media spotlight. US Targeting Tankers President Trump has ramped up pressure on Venezuela on Tuesday by announcing that he is ordering a blockade of all “sanctioned oil tankers” entering and leaving the South American country. Murder Charges Planned For Rob Reiner's Son The Los Angeles District Attorney will be unveiling murder charges against the son of legendary actor and director Rob Reiner and his wife, and new details are emerging about Nick Reiner, accused of his parent's killing. Correspondent Haya Panjwani reports. Judge Considering OK For WH Ballroom A US District Judge says he's inclined to allow the continuation of construction of a ballroom addition, giving the White House additional time to submit plans for the court to review. Correspondent Ben Thomas reports the Trump administration says the White House ballroom construction is a matter of national security. Trump's Address To The Nation President Trump took to social media to announce he will hold a prime-time address to the nation tonight. Correspondent Clayton Neville has a preview. Healthcare Test Vote Today House Republican leaders say there will be no votes on compromise legislation that some moderate Republicans and Democrats want to see that would extend Obamacare subsidies that are set to increase significantly for millions of Americans in 2026. John Stolnis has the latest from Washington. Uproar Over Drug Boat Videos There was both understanding and anger on Capitol Hill after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told senators he will not release video of a controversial boat strike to the American public. Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports. More Learned About The Australia Shooters We're learning more about the father and son believed to be responsible for a terror attack in Sydney, Australia over the weekend that authorities say targeted Jews. Correspondent Clayton Neville reports Australians are speaking out saying their government has been lax against stopping anti-Semitic activity. Planned Colorado Power Outage Thousands of people in the counties that surround Boulder, Colorado are going to find themselves in the dark come midday today. Xcel Energy announced they will be cutting off the power to more than 50,000 customers in five Colorado counties. Travel Ban Updated The White House has revised their list of nations under a travel ban to the United States, adding an additional 20 countries. Correspondent Haya Panjwani reports. California Maps To Court The fight over California's new congressional map designed to help Democrats flip a string of U.S. House seats kicked off in court. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
It's been an unseasonably warm December, and that means the risk of wildfires is relatively high. So, producer Olivia Jewell Love and producer Paul Karolyi discuss how Xcel Energy is preparing for a possible pre-emptive power shutdown this week. Plus, we unravel the mystery of the street safety signs that were hacked last Friday to read “Cars Ruin Cities” and respond to listener questions about movie theaters, tipping, and South Park's latest take on Denver. Paul talked about the controversy around Xcel's unannounced pre-emptive power shutdowns last year. What do you think about all these hacked street signs? What would you put on one? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418 For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm Learn more about the sponsors of this December 16th episode: Denver Health Aura Frames - Use code CITYCAST for $35 off Denver Botanic Gardens Foothills Animal Shelter Cozy Earth - Use code COZYDENVER for up to 20% off Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise
Power outages are rolling across Colorado's Front Range (thanks, Xcel Energy), and Connery is deeply concerned about the real victims: local strip clubs. Meanwhile, Zootopia 2 has accidentally inspired chaos in China, as a character named Gary leads young people to start buying venomous pit vipers. Aussie DeHuff weighs in on whether a deadly snake makes a good holiday gift (spoiler: probably not). Merriam-Webster crowns its Word of 2025 as “slop,” a not-so-subtle jab at the flood of AI-generated garbage taking over the internet — including, potentially, this sentence. Colin Cowherd of FOX Sports shows unexpected love to Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos, and Broncos Wire breaks down exactly how Denver can win the AFC West and snag the #1 seed this weekend. And finally, a reminder for humanity: wear clothes when you work out at a public gym. We shouldn't have to say it, but here we are. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Power outages are rolling across Colorado's Front Range (thanks, Xcel Energy), and Connery is deeply concerned about the real victims: local strip clubs. Meanwhile, Zootopia 2 has accidentally inspired chaos in China, as a character named Gary leads young people to start buying venomous pit vipers. Aussie DeHuff weighs in on whether a deadly snake makes a good holiday gift (spoiler: probably not). Merriam-Webster crowns its Word of 2025 as “slop,” a not-so-subtle jab at the flood of AI-generated garbage taking over the internet — including, potentially, this sentence. Colin Cowherd of FOX Sports shows unexpected love to Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos, and Broncos Wire breaks down exactly how Denver can win the AFC West and snag the #1 seed this weekend. And finally, a reminder for humanity: wear clothes when you work out at a public gym. We shouldn't have to say it, but here we are. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Hosts Scott Hennen and Kevin Flynn broadcast live from the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo Chamber Energy Summit, dedicating the show to energy policy, the fight for educational freedom in North Dakota, and a deep dive into the politically charged debate surrounding health insurance premiums, government subsidies, and rising healthcare costs. ⏱️ Standout Moments Energy Workforce: The Graying Grid (0:02:54): Katherine Warren of Otter Tail Power Company highlights a critical workforce challenge: approximately 25% of the utility industry will be eligible for retirement in the next 5–10 years, making recruitment and training essential. ND's Poor Education Choice Rank (0:06:04): Headmaster Paul Fisher of Capstone Classical Academy reveals that North Dakota ranks 48th out of 50 states for educational freedom and choice, arguing that excessive state regulation forces private schools to mirror public schools, hindering innovation. Democrats' "Treasonous" Military Video (0:13:30): The hosts react to a video where Democratic members of Congress, including former military personnel, explicitly encourage active members of the military to defy orders from the Trump administration if they perceive them as "illegal." Insurance Subsidies and Profits (0:23:55): North Dakota Insurance Commissioner John Godfrey addresses President Trump's criticism of subsidized health insurance premiums, noting the subsidies insulate consumers from rising healthcare costs, but delay real reform on the price drivers. Xcel's Future Energy Mix: Nuke is Key (0:31:17): Xcel Energy President Bria Shea states that their diverse future energy mix includes a strong nuclear fleet (25% of energy mix) that runs 24/7 and carbon-free, and they are actively looking to build new nuclear plants in North Dakota. The AI/Energy National Security Race (0:35:43): Stacey Dahl of Minn Kota Power and the host discuss the top national security priority: winning the AI race, which hinges on building out the energy infrastructure (intelligence factories) in the Midwest. Data Centers Do Not Increase Rates (If Done Right) (0:34:04): Xcel Energy affirms that data centers do not increase electricity rates for current consumers if the partnerships are done right, ensuring the data center pays its own way and helps absorb fixed system costs.
Earlier this month, Minnesota-based Xcel Energy announced it wants to double the amount of lithium battery storage it already planned to install next to its Sherco coal-fired power plant in central Minnesota. The batteries would allow Xcel to store energy produced at its wind, solar, nuclear and natural gas plants across the Upper Midwest.MPR News reporter Kirsti Marohn has been covering how batteries that store electricity on demand are becoming an increasingly important part of the transition to clean energy. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to share more about her reporting as part of a weekly check in with MPR News reporters based in greater Minnesota.
Today is Monday, October 13. Here are some of the latest headlines from the Fargo, North Dakota area. InForum Minute is produced by Forum Communications and brought to you by reporters from The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead and WDAY TV. For more news from throughout the day, visit InForum.com.
Xcel Energy customers could see their electric bills jump by an average of $13 a month next year. That's if state regulators approve the rate hikes the company is proposing: 9.6 percent for 2025 and another 3.6 percent for 2026. Xcel, which is Minnesota's largest electricity provider, says the higher rates will fund investments in reliability, clean energy and its nuclear plants – and help it prepare for higher energy use in the future. The Public Utilities Commission, which is the board that regulates utilities in Minnesota, is holding meetings around the state this month to gather public input. Annie Levenson-Falk advocates for utility consumers as the leader of a group called the Citizens Utility Board. She joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about it. There's a virtual public hearing on electric rates Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m. Others are scheduled around the state through next Thursday. In a statement to MPR News, Xcel wrote, “We are committed to meeting our state's growing demand for electricity, maintaining reliable service, working toward a cleaner energy future and keeping costs low for our customers. Our proposal reflects the needs expressed by our customers as they electrify their homes and businesses and invest in economic development.”
Gov. Tim Walz is running for reelection in 2026. If he were to win, he would be the first ever Minnesota governor to win a third four-year term. And several Republican candidates have also started campaigns. Politics correspondent Dana Ferguson joined the show to explain the dynamics of the governor's race. Mayors from more than 100 cities and towns along the Mississippi are in the Twin Cities Tuesday. We learned how they're approaching issues like flooding, pollution and federal funding cuts. Xcel Energy wants to raise electricity rates, but it will need approval from state regulators. We talked to a consumer advocate about the proposal. All this week we're helping new Lynx fans get on the bandwagon. We explored the ins and outs of the team's starting five.Our Minnesota Music Minute was “Weedkiller” by POSTER BOY. Our Song of the Day was “Shotgun” by Sleeping Jesus.
Minneapolis police say five men were struck by gunfire today near the intersection of Lake Street and Stevens Avenue on the city's south side. Police chief Brian O'Hara says one man suffered serious injuries. Parents of Annunciation Catholic Church and School students told Minnesota lawmakers about the horror they and their children felt during a mass shooting that killed two and injured many more.Xcel Energy customers have a chance this week to weigh in on a proposed rate hike, including at a meeting tonight in Stillwater.This is an MPR News Evening update, hosted by Emily Reese. Theme music is by Gary Meister. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or RSS.
Anti-Trump protests have been escalating in Denver, especially as the president ratchets up his immigration crackdown. While no Waymos have been torched here in the Mile High, there is a still an open question about violence. Eighteen protesters were arrested last Tuesday after a confrontation with police, and one conservative talk show host was kicked. 710KNUS's Jeff Hunt has been attending protests in Denver all year, and he caught his alleged assault on video. So host Bree Davies spoke with Jeff about the kick, his self-described “gotcha”-style videos,” the question of violence, and why, through it all, he says he still loves Denver. Check out Jeff Hunt's protest videos for yourself! Here's the one from the conservative “March for Life” This one is from the Bernie/AOC rally in March This is the one he referenced featuring protesters warning others not to talk to him And here's the one where he gets kicked For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm What do you think about Jeff Hunt's "gotcha" videos? Or the violence at the protests? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418 If you enjoyed this interview with Grace Ramirez the Senior Manager of Xcel Energy, learn more here. Learn more about the other sponsors of this June 16th episode: Xcel Energy Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Has Governor Jared Polis gone too far in his push for housing density? After he signed an executive order conditioning state funds on local municipalities implementing his new zoning laws, six of Denver's suburbs filed a lawsuit to stop him. So today, we're taking a look at what's at stake in the battle for local control over housing policy. Producers Olivia Jewell Love and Paul Karolyi dig into a couple of YIMBY vs. NIMBY dust-ups in Littleton and Lakewood, and they're on to break down the details and talk about what it means for all of us. What do you think about Save Belmar Park and Rooted in Littleton? We want to hear from you! Especially if you live in Littleton or Lakewood. Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418 For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm If you enjoyed this interview with Grace Ramirez the Senior Manager of Xcel Energy, learn more here. Learn more about the other sponsors of this June 10th episode: RAQC Central City Opera Denver Health Multipass Edgewater Music Festival Cozy Earth - Use code COZYDENVER for 40% off all men's apparel and more. Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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