Energy Solutions: A Podcast From EPSA – Details, episodes & analysis

What would happen if a coordinated cyber and physical attack disrupted the systems that power daily life—not just power plants, but data centers, pipelines, and communications? 

Cyber and physical threats to the electric grid are growing more advanced, more frequent, and harder to detect. The impacts can ripple far beyond the energy sector, affecting communities, public safety, and the broader economy. From sophisticated phishing to copper theft from power plants, competitive power suppliers, grid operators, and utilities must stay prepared. 

In this episode of Energy Solutions, EPSA President and CEO Todd Snitchler sits down with one of the nation’s top grid security leaders to unpack today’s threat landscape and what it takes to strengthen the power system. Michael Ball is Senior Vice President of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) and CEO of the Electricity Information Sharing and Analysis Center (E-ISAC). They discuss the rising role of AI in cyberattacks, how adversaries target industrial control systems, and why information sharing across the energy sector is essential. 

They also cover insights from the recent national GridEx VIII exercise—as well as a new “Grid-Ex-in-a-Box" drill EPSA customized for member companies this November in Houston—and explore how competitive power suppliers can get prepared before a real crisis hits. 

Topics include: 

• How cyber threats have become constant and increasingly sophisticated, 
• The rise of almost autonomous AI-enabled cyberattacks, 
• Physical security risks including vandalism, copper theft, and drone activity at power plants, 
• How adversaries target industrial control systems with advanced toolkits,  
• The critical role of information sharing across competitive power suppliers, utilities, and government partners, 
• What the E-ISAC does and how it supports industry-wide situational awareness, 
• Key insights from GridEx VIII, 
• The importance of resilient communications strategies and updated playbooks, 
•  And what competitive power suppliers and utilities should focus on heading into 2026. 

Host: Todd Snitchler, President and CEO, EPSA 

Guest: Michael Ball, senior vice president, NERC, CEO, E-ISAC   

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As AI, electrification, and manufacturing growth drive record electricity demand, the U.S. grid faces new pressures to deliver reliable, affordable power. What can other regions learn from New England — one of America’s most energy-constrained power systems? 

In this episode of Energy Solutions, EPSA President and CEO Todd Snitchler sits down with Gordon van Welie, outgoing President and CEO of ISO New England, to reflect on 25 years of market evolution and what it takes to keep the lights on. They discuss how competitive power markets have driven investment and reliability, and why policy alignment between grid operators, states, and the federal government is key to meeting the demands of an AI-powered economy. 

Topics include: 

• How New England’s competitive market evolved — and what’s worked best, 
• Why policy alignment among grid operators, states, and the federal government is critical, 
• The growing interdependence between gas and electric systems, 
• Lessons from managing fuel constraints and preparing for winter, 
• How transmission planning and collaboration with states can unlock progress, and 
• What the AI-era demand surge means for investment and reliability. 

Host: Todd Snitchler, President and CEO, EPSA 

Guest: Gordon van Welie, President and CEO, ISO New England 

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As AI, data centers, and manufacturing drive historic electricity demand growth, how will the U.S. power the future? In this special bonus episode, Ohio Congressman Bob Latta, chair of the House Energy Subcommittee, joins Energy Solutions to discuss the urgent need for more energy, the role of nuclear power and natural gas, and why permitting reform is critical for grid modernization. Latta shares insights on rising demand from AI, the reshoring of manufacturing, and how Congress can support investment in competitive, reliable energy solutions.

“Just five miles from where I’m sitting, a new data center is going up. Another town in my district is building one too. And we’re looking at energy demand rising 4.5 to 8% just this year alone.” – Bob Latta

Plus, hear his thoughts on why bipartisan momentum could lead to meaningful energy policy changes in 2025. Don’t miss this conversation on what's top of mind for energy decisionmakers on Capitol Hill.

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EV charging. Transformers. Medical imaging devices. As energy demand surges across industries, how can we ensure a smarter, more resilient, and efficient power system? In this episode, we explore the evolving landscape of electrification, the role of smart technology, and the pressing challenges of supply chains and grid flexibility. Our guest, NEMA President and CEO Debra Phillips, shares insights on policy solutions, workforce development, and the technologies driving the future of electrical manufacturing. Tune in for a deep dive into the trends shaping the electroindustry and what it will take to power the next generation of innovation -- including a sneak preview of key findings from NEMA's upcoming study on just how much energy will be needed to power data centers, electric vehicles, and more. 

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We close 2024 with a look back at some of our top episodes this year and end with a look forward into 2025 with EPSA’s President and CEO Todd Snitchler. Listen in for thoughts on gas-electric coordination from 2024’s NARUC President Julie Fedorchak, highlights from our 3rd annual Competitive Power Summit, and a glimpse into the top conversation of the year: the impact of AI, data centers, and other new technologies on load growth – and the role competitive power suppliers have in supporting the energy expansion. We’ll close out the episode with a 2024 debrief and an outlook for 2025 from EPSA President and CEO and Energy Solutions host Todd Snitchler.

Guests:

• Julie Fedorchak, North Dakota Public Service Commission, Congresswoman-elect (ND), NARUC
• Jim Robb, NERC
• Christi Tezak, ClearView Energy Partners LLC 
• Kelly Speakes-Backman, Invenergy 
• Aftab Khan, PJM Interconnection
• Rep. August Pfluger, Texas (R-11)  
• Derrick Kulalapai, United Association

Watch: Competitive Power Summit Recordings
Register: EPSA Competitive Power Summit 2025
Listen: ENERGY RUSH: Expert Voices Talk Rising Power Demand 

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Joining us for this episode is Christina Hayes, executive director of Americans for a Clean Energy Grid (ACEG), a nonprofit coalition of labor and environmental groups, clean energy buyers, renewable developers, transmission developers, and utilities. ACEG focuses on deploying high capacity transmission, which it says is the most cost effective and reliable way of decarbonizing the grid.  

Hayes shares just how early she started working in public policy (the answer will surprise you), some of the top focus areas for ACEG, how she sees the energy “trilemma” working out — and just why transmission permitting is ACEG’s #1 priority.  

Plus, don’t miss her joint op ed written with EPSA President and CEO Todd Snitchler on energy policy needs that transcend partisan divides.

Our 4th annual Competitive Power Summit registration is NOW OPEN. Register here to join us on April 2, 2025 for a day of expert panels and networking geared towards facing the challenges and opportunities posed by a changing energy grid.

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Pipefitters, pipeliners, and welders install and maintain the essential building blocks of the nation’s energy grid.  A labor union leader representing these essential workers, Derrick Kualapai joins us for this episode of Energy Solutions. He shares how manufacturing is changing through a shifting energy landscape and how those changes impact workers, why his industry is so essential to the nation’s energy expansion, and exactly how much power – and how many human beings – go into manufacturing the intricate parts of our infrastructure which most of us take for granted. Derrick paints a picture of what union laborers in construction and manufacturing do, how they see a “just transition” playing out, and what he wants policymakers to prioritize.

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To meet the nation’s rising demand for electricity, we need to build a lot of power generation, and fast, and keep what we have. What’s the best way to get there? What policies and market foundations can best incentivize the investment and enable the buildout needed while mitigating costs and keeping the grid reliable? 

In part 2 of the final episode of our four-part series exploring the challenge and opportunity presented by rising power demand, we interview competitive power experts and executives from Alpha Generation, Calpine Corporation, and LS Power.

See Calpine's press release on expansion of generation development efforts in the PJM region.

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To meet the nation’s rising demand for electricity, we need to build a lot of power generation, and fast, and keep what we have. What’s the best way to get there? What policies and market foundations can best incentivize the investment and enable the buildout needed while mitigating costs and keeping the grid reliable? 

In part 1 of the final episode of our four-part series exploring the challenge and opportunity presented by rising power demand, we interview state and national policy leaders Texas Representative August Pfluger and Arizona Commissioner Lea Marquez Peterson.

Liked this episode? Share it on X @EPSANews or LinkedIn at Electric Power Supply Association. Want more competitive power updates? Sign up for our monthly Power Moves newsletter.

Meeting the rapid growth in electric demand posed by AI and data centers, manufacturing, electrification, and other factors requires a significant buildout of electric power resources on a tight timeline. Solving for decarbonization and reliability adds to the challenge – requiring not just existing generation resources, but new technologies and innovative approaches. For competitive power suppliers, the challenge is also an opportunity. Independent power producers are at the forefront of both providing existing dispatchable generation and connecting critical new resources to the grid – including battery storage, carbon capture and storage, hydrogen, more efficient gas generation, and more. We hear from Competitive Power Ventures, Invenergy, and Vistra Corp. on the solutions they’re currently providing and what they’re eyeing for the future.  

This is the third episode in a four-part series from Energy Solutions, exploring the challenge and opportunity presented by rising power demand, policy and market design considerations, and ways to meet the moment. 

Liked this episode? Share it on X @EPSANews or LinkedIn at Electric Power Supply Association. Want more competitive power updates? Sign up for our monthly Power Moves newsletter.