The Electric Wire

Latest Episodes:

2024 Year-in-Review Roundtable + 2025 Predictions Dec 30, 2024

Show notes

Our year-in-review crew is back to reflect on 2024 and look ahead to 2025. Special guests include: Kara Pennoyer, Chief of Staff to Public Service Commission of Wisconsin Chairperson Summer Strand; Matthew Spencer, Director of Government Relations, Madison Gas and Electric; Luke Fuller, Government Relations Manager, Dairyland Power Cooperative; Jessica Niekrasz, Vice President of Operations, BIOFerm.

Episode 50! The 2024 Power Breakfast featuring Marcus Hawkins, Laurel Peltier, Brent Ridge, and more Sep 30, 2024

Show notes

Earlier this year we celebrated some of our top episodes of the Electric Wire podcast in person by inviting previous podcast guests to Madison to speak at our annual Power Breakfast.

Thanks to WisconsinEye, we are able to bring Power Breakfast audio and video to our listeners. Please visit wiseye.org to check out more live and archived footage from WisconsinEye and consider making a donation to this free service!

This podcast episode follows the Power Breakfast agenda for speaker order:

- Opening Remarks by Commissioner Marcus Hawkins, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin

- Laurel Peltier, Journalist and Energy Advocate

- Brent Ridge, President and CEO, Dairyland Power Cooperative

- Wisconsin's Energy Providers Panel

- Rep. Lisa Subek, Ranking Member, Assembly Energy & Utilities Committee

Thanks for listening!

Previewing the 2024 Power Breakfast with Justin Chasco Aug 08, 2024

Show notes

Justin Chasco of Fredrikson & Byron joins the podcast to discuss CFC's upcoming Power Breakfast event, which will celebrate the 50th episode of the Electric Wire podcast. Registration and info about the event can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-power-breakfast-the-best-of-the-electric-wire-tickets-923933468877

Overview of Vista Sands Solar Project in Central WI with Jon Baker Jun 28, 2024

Show notes

Jon Baker, Project Manager of the proposed Vista Sands Solar Project in Central Wisconsin, joins the Electric Wire to discuss the process, opportunities, and challenges that come with siting a large solar project. Read Jon’s recent opinion column highlighting the project, here: https://captimes.com/opinion/guest-columns/opinion-solar-project-furthers-conservation-clean-energy-goals/article_b0e07dba-0ef5-11ef-9435-dba12b87857a.html Register for CFC's August 15, 2024, Power Breakfast, here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-power-breakfast-the-best-of-the-electric-wire-tickets-923933468877

Powering Wisconsin with Peder Mewis and Mike Kuglitsch Jun 28, 2024

Show notes

On Episode 47 of the Electric Wire, we discuss the steps Powering Wisconsin is taking to help include utility-scale renewable energy in Wisconsin’s generation portfolio and the process it takes to get more renewable energy sited here in Wisconsin. Special guests include Peder Mewis, Clean Grid Alliance, and Mike Kuglitsch, Michael Best Strategies LLC, representing Powering Wisconsin. Matthew Spencer, Madison Gas & Electric, co-hosts. Read Peder’s recent Op-Ed on Wisconsin’s energy policies, here: https://captimes.com/opinion/guest-columns/opinion-lawmakers-taking-right-approach-to-renewable-energy/article_668ac7f6-03ed-11ef-8533-7b7ef69acb83.html

Don't forget to register for CFC's Power Breakfast on August 15, 2024, here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-power-breakfast-the-best-of-the-electric-wire-tickets-923933468877

Consumer Issues, Data Centers, and Recapping the NASUCA Conference with Tom Content Jun 20, 2024

Show notes

Tom Content, Executive Director of the Citizens Utility Board of Wisconsin, joins host Kristin Gilkes to recap the recent NASUCA Conference in Madison, WI, and the issues discussed at the conference, such as data centers, transmission, EV buildout, innovative rate designs, and more.

CFC's Power Breakfast on August 15 will highlight key speakers from the Electric Wire podcast as we celebrate our 50th episode. Register here: 2024 Power Breakfast: The Best of the Electric Wire Tickets, Thu, Aug 15, 2024 at 8:15 AM | Eventbrite Key Moments from this Episode:

4:00 – NASUCA Conference: Discussion of Consumer Impacts from Extreme Heat + PSCW Commissioner Kristy Nieto Introductory Remarks

5:57 – Issues related to data centers

8:10 – Considerations of direct selling baseload power to data centers in other states

9:30 – Microsoft data center in WI

10:15 – cost allocation for data centers

11:06 – transmission issues discussed at conference

16:22 – EPRI Electric Vehicles Buildout Tool for Utilities

18:45 – Consumer issues on the horizon

19:50 – Increasing demand/affordability tipping point

20:50 – Bringing down costs

23:15 – Tom’s “All the Power” moment

25:12 – Appropriate levels of spending on energy efficiency

27:00 – Upcoming CFC Power Breakfast on August 15

Registration Link:

2024 Power Breakfast: The Best of the Electric Wire Tickets, Thu, Aug 15, 2024 at 8:15 AM | Eventbrite

31:20 – Upcoming CCIF report on innovative rate designs and time of use rates

Wisconsin Moving Forward with National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan Apr 05, 2024

Show notes

Wisconsin is taking action to access federal funding through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program which will help install EV fast charging stations along the state's major highway corridors. Our special guests for this episode include: Emma Heins of the Electrification Coalition and Kaleb Vander Wiele of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

Links from Episode

Wisconsin Department of Transportation – Electrification

https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/multimodal/electrification.aspx

Interactive Map of Potential Charging Station Locations

https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/8405604ccc034f7c8c4e95e6776951a7#data_s=id%3AdataSource_7-189ad031f53-layer-11%3A17

Electrification Coalition

https://electrificationcoalition.org/

Key Moments

1:40 - Interview with Emma Heins begins

4:40 - WI legislation

8:00 - Additional aspects of legislation

11:15 - Why federal incentives for EVs?

13:00 - How will EV charging in WI change over the next year?

14:30 - Other policy actions needed on EVs?

17:40 - Emma's "All the Power" moment

19:57 - Interview with Kaleb Vander Wiele begins

25:00 - Changes in EV policies since 2017

28:10 - NEVI

30:30 - Charging Station Map (See map online: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/8405604ccc034f7c8c4e95e6776951a7#data_s=id%3AdataSource_7-189ad031f53-layer-11%3A17)

38:22 - Where do we go from here?

46:37 - Kaleb's "All the Power" moment

Chairperson Rebecca Valcq Reflects on Her Time Leading the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin Jan 31, 2024

Show notes

Chairperson Rebecca Valcq joins us to reflect on her five years leading the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin as she prepares for her final day at the agency on February 2, 2024. We discuss her proudest moments, biggest challenges, memorable cases, and much more. Lori Sakk, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Public Utility Institute, joins to co-host this episode.

Chairperson Valcq discusses the following during our conversation:

What’s been happening at the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin since the last time we spoke (5:05)
Looking back at expectations for the job (7:00)
Proudest moments (9:22)
Biggest challenges (12:16)
Major cases (18:38)
Generic dockets (20:25)
Memorable episodes of the Electric Wire podcast (25:15)
Memorable WPUI programs (28:00)
Sharing wisdom from experience (31:20)
Legacy (34:44)
All the Power moment (37:28)
What’s ahead (40:10)

Links from Episode:

Wisconsin Public Utility Institute (WPUI):

https://wpui.wisc.edu/

Upcoming Educational Programs from WPUI:

https://wpui.wisc.edu/programs/

Electric Wire, Episode 3 (Apple)

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/energy-innovation-with-wisconsin-energy-leaders/id1497322756?i=1000468353689

Electric Wire, Episode 3 (Spotify)

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6gpyBr1DZAFbYOq2rIc6Ja

2023 Year-in-Review Roundtable and Highlight Clips Dec 28, 2023

Show notes

The year-in-review roundtable is back with both new and familiar faces to help us recap this year in Wisconsin energy news. We discuss the top stories, ideas, and developments in 2023, as well as making some predictions for the year ahead.

Our special guests include:

· Kara Pennoyer, Chief of Staff to Public Service Commission of Wisconsin Chairperson Rebecca Valcq

· Matthew Spencer, Director of Government Relations, Madison Gas and Electric

· Carrie Templeton, Regulatory Relations and Policy Manager, Alliant Energy

· Andy Bochman, Senior Grid Strategist, Idaho National Laboratory

Key Moments

03:25 - Top Energy Stories of the Year

07:10 – Top Sustainable Energy Developments of the Year

12:50 – Most Promising Energy Idea of the Year

18:30 – “Shock” of the Year

25:00 – Favorite Episode of the Electric Wire This Year

32:45 – Predictions (Reflecting Back & Looking Forward)

42:30 – “All the Power” Moments

2023 Reflection Clips

49:15 –Episode 37: Brent Ridge, CEO of Dairyland Power Cooperative, discusses hydropower using mine storage

52:05 –Episode 38: Cindy Smith, Chief Legal Counsel at Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, discusses public participation and process at the PSCW

55:40 –Episode 33: Sen. Julian Bradley discusses an “all of the above” approach to energy during his “All the Power” moment

Links to Previous, Highlighted Episodes

Electric Wire, Episode 40: Tours at MGE EV Fast Charging Hub and O’Brien Solar Fields

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tours-at-mge-ev-fast-charging-hub-and-obrien-solar-fields/id1497322756?i=1000630813364

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVK0103DDaE&t=1114s

Electric Wire, Episode 41 - MEUW Celebrates with Public Power on Parade at the State Capitol

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meuw-celebrates-with-public-power-on-parade-at-the/id1497322756?i=1000633242021

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIL9Qi_Z4FY

Electric Wire, Episode 38 - Cindy Smith discusses participation and process at the PSCW

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cindy-smith-discusses-public-participation-and/id1497322756?i=1000622954015

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS6PQZLEpOQ

Electric Wire, Ep. 39 - Marcus Hawkins discusses his role leading the Organization of MISO States

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marcus-hawkins-discusses-his-role-leading-the/id1497322756?i=1000626358105

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqYCUp7_dTM&t=468s

Electric Wire, Episode 27 - The Reality of Retail Choice with Laurel Peltier

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-reality-of-retail-choice-with-laurel-peltier/id1497322756?i=1000578685568

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6fD7EMD_BY&t=164s

Electric Wire, Episode 25 - Nuclear Power, Reliability & Global Weirding

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclear-power-reliability-global-weirding-with-andy/id1497322756?i=1000567542737

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpcEMypyy8o&t=32s

For more detailed analysis of PSCW rate proceedings this year, you can check out content from our friends at the Citizens Utility Board of Wisconsin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLwz3hEZvK8

All About Focus On Energy, Wisconsin's Statewide Energy Efficiency Program Nov 30, 2023

Show notes

Wisconsin’s state-wide energy efficiency program, Focus on Energy, helps electric customers achieve cost-savings through energy conservation measures. Our guests on this episode discuss more about the program, why it was created, what’s in it for customers, costs and benefits, the program’s four-year planning process, and more. We are joined by Lisa Stefanik, Managing Director, Focus on Energy, and Jolene Sheil, Portfolio Manager for Focus on Energy, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. Matthew Spencer, Director of Government Relations, Madison Gas and Electric, and Board Member for the Statewide Energy Efficiency and Renewable Administration (SEERA), co-hosts.

Key Moments

4:43 – What is the Focus on Energy program?

5:50 – When, how, and why was Focus on Energy created?

7:15 – More on the roles of the program’s administrator, APTIM; the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin; and, the Statewide Energy Efficiency and Renewable Administration

9:55 – How is Focus on Energy funded and what is the relationship between the state’s electric utilities and Focus on Energy?

14:35 – What does Focus on Energy do for Wisconsin’s electric customers?

17:30 – How does the program reach out to customers about available offerings?

18:48 – How are decisions made about what energy efficiency programs to offer?

22:50 – What are the costs and benefits of the program?

23:40 – More on the benefits of the program (bill savings, grid improvements, environmental, and economic benefits)

29:10 – What are the top performing programs? (Industrial projects; discussion of LED lightbulbs)

39:00 – Related federal funding from the Inflation Reduction Act

43:50 – The Quadrennial Planning Process

48:30 – Renewable energy funding

50:29 – Issues that arose during COVID-19 pandemic

Links from Episode