Shows
People in Power – A NewsData PodcastMark Groves of the Northwest Lineman CollegeIn this episode of People in Power, we hear from Mark Groves, vice-president of program development and innovations at the Northwest Lineman College. Mark, also a member of the International Lineman Hall of Fame, discusses with California Energy Markets Editor Jason Fordney his background as a lineman; what he looks for in lineman candidates; the rewards and challenges of this work, including its physicality and effects on family life; what it’s like working storms; what you can learn from the old-timers; and nearly sinking a boat while on the job, while grizzled fisherman watch and place bets.
2025-09-1232 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastArne Olson of E3The latest episode of People in Power features a conversation with Arne Olson, a principal at Energy and Environmental Economics, or E3. This episode was recorded in front of a live audience on Aug. 22 at NewsData's 2025 Western Energy Summit in Boise, Idaho. CEM Managing Editor Jason Fordney and Associate and Southwest Editor Abigail Sawyer discussed a broad range of topics with Arne, including resource-adequacy concerns in the West; future loss of load; generation adequacy in the Northwest; Western markets versus Eastern RTOs; lithium-ion batteries; and other interesting items.
2025-09-0231 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastEDAM Update With Kathleen StaksThe latest episode of People in Power provides an up-to-the-minute update on the extended day-ahead market with Kathleen Staks, chair of the West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative Launch Committee. Staks and California Energy Market’s Jason Fordney and Abigail Sawyer discuss new governance structure for EDAM with the official joining of the market by Public Service Company of New Mexico; the status of legislation in California that would enable a new regional organization to govern the market; jitters among California lawmakers about influence by President Donald Trump if California gives up any decision-making power; and worries about the break-up of th...
2025-07-1144 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastCAISO Transmission Planner Neil MillarTransmission in the West is a huge topic nowadays, with many more lines and additional infrastructure needed to meet renewable-energy goals and maintain grid reliability in the face of significant load growth. This episode of People in Power features Neil Millar, vice president of transmission planning and infrastructure development at the California Independent System Operator, the man who guides CAISO’s multibillion-dollar annual planning process. Neil is also responsible for managing new generation interconnections across CAISO’s territory—a lot of responsibility, indeed. Check out this insightful interview on People in Power.
2025-05-1633 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastJim Robb, president and CEO of the North American Electric Reliability CorporationHear from the nation's top reliability official as he and California Energy Markets Editor Jason Fordney explore the topic of grid reliability. Generation retirements, load growth through data centers and electrification, and more frequent extreme weather are among the challenges facing grid planners and reliability officials. This episode digs deep into the issues, including the challenges of more inverter-based resources on the grid, gas-electric coordination, and how New York City almost lost its natural gas supply in what would have been a catastrophic event. Don't miss this one-on-one with an official who is on the front lines of the...
2025-04-2447 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastNewsData Reporter Roundtable!People in Power Episode 8: NewsData Reporter Roundtable! Looking to update your knowledge of emerging Western wholesale energy markets? This episode of People in Power features three experts on the topic, California Energy Markets Managing Editor Jason Fordney, Clearing Up Editor Steve Ernst and California Energy Markets Associate Editor and Southwest Editor Abigail Sawyer. They discuss both the California Independent System Operator’s extended day-ahead market and the competing proposal from the Southwest Power Pool, Markets+. You can hear about the latest dynamics around the markets, from solving the thorny governance issue to the effectiveness of the West-Wide Governance Pathways In...
2025-04-0236 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWill Abrams on Wildfire Survivor AdvocacyFor this episode of People in Power, California Energy Markets Editor Jason Fordney speaks with Will Abrams, a leading wildfire survivor advocate who discusses some disturbing developments around compensation for wildfire victims in California—a situation stretching back years and tied to the bankruptcy of Pacific Gas & Electric in 2020. These developments include wildfire victims not getting paid; Wall Street hedge funds, attorneys and others profiteering off the proceedings; and state legislation that is designed more to benefit utility shareholders than wildfire survivors. Abrams, who is a participant in legal proceedings related to wildfire survivor compensation, takes us through a se...
2025-01-2431 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastUnpunished Wrongdoing in Southern California?Jason Hunter, a former employee of Riverside Public Utilities, is still looking for answers regarding contracting activity he witnessed at the organization years ago. Bolstering his claims of wrongdoing is the fact that some of the individuals involved in the alleged activity are now serving prison sentences for later activities at Los Angeles Department of Water & Power. It’s a wild story complete with employee harassment; police harassment; Federal Bureau of Information raids on LADWP offices; and conflicts of interest, as well as shell companies, luxury cars and beachfront condos.Hunter alleges that after years of seeking th...
2024-10-3036 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastPeople in Power Podcast, Episode 1The effort to create a regional wholesale energy market in the West moved forward in 2023 when a group of state regulators from Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington advanced a proposal “for ensuring that the benefits of wholesale electricity markets are maximized for customers across the entire Western U.S.” This led to the creation of the West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative, driven by stakeholders across the West who realize the reliability and cost benefits that could be created with a wider wholesale market that includes California. In the inaugural episode of People in Power, NewsData’s Jason...
2024-10-0140 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastLocational Marginal Pricing Methods, With Kyri BakerIn the latest episode of NewsData’s Energy West podcast, California Energy Markets Editor Jason Fordney interviews Kyri Baker, an assistant professor at the University of Colorado, Boulder, about her research into the locational marginal pricing methods currently used by most independent system operators. During her research, Baker noticed that LMPs mimic the behavior of direct-current circuits, leading to her research paper published in late March. Tune in to Energy West for details on this entirely new way to understand wholesale energy pricing in ISOs!
2024-05-2421 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastCAISO CEO Elliot Mainzer Talks Markets, Reliability and Future of the West, Part 2In Part 2 of a wide-ranging interview with California Energy Markets Editor Jason Fordney, California Independent System Operator President and CEO Elliot Mainzer dives into his current priorities, including increased connectivity across the West, transmission planning that looks out 20 years, CAISO's pause of new interconnections to reduce queue clogging and the upcoming extended day-ahead market.
2024-03-2239 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastCAISO CEO Elliot Mainzer Talks Markets, Reliability and Future of the West, Part 1In the latest episode of the Energy West podcast, California Energy Markets Editor Jason Fordney speaks with Elliot Mainzer, president and CEO of the California Independent System Operator, in Part 1 of a wide-ranging interview about the California electricity grid, a wider Western day-ahead market, managing the huge influx of energy storage coming on to the CAISO grid, and CAISO's competition with Southwest Power Pool over a Western RTO. You won't want to miss this in-depth episode!
2024-03-0623 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – October 12, 2023In the latest episode of the Energy West podcast, Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about efforts to jumpstart transmission construction in the West, how the upcoming solar eclipse likely could effect the Western grid and how battery inverter faults could cause big problems for the grid.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at Newsdata’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets.Follow us on X/Twitter: @CUnewsdata, @CEMnewsdata, @dcatchpoleand @fordneyenergy.
2023-10-1227 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – October 5, 2023In the latest episode of the Energy West podcast, Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about the California Independent System Operator’s decision to delay the launch of its extended day-ahead market from 2025 to 2026, Xcel’s plans to invest $15 billion in its energy transition in Colorado and the need for more transmission in the West.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at Newsdata’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets.Follow us on X/Twitter: @CUnewsdata, @CEMnewsdata, @dcatchpole and @fordneyenergy.
2023-10-0519 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – September 28, 2023In the latest episode of the Energy West podcast, Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about an 11th hour push to form a day-ahead market in the West that includes California AND is independently governed. The initiative drew widespread support from potential participants–and lots of questions about legal feasibility. They also discuss an interview with Southwest Power Pool executive Bruce Rew about the market operator’s expansion of its comprehensive market into the Western Interconnection.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at Newsdata’s Clearing...
2023-09-2820 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – September 21, 2023In the latest episode of the Energy West podcast, Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about the western United States’ second comprehensive energy market, the future of offshore wind in the West, long-duration battery storage’s arrival, and more. Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at Newsdata’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets. Follow us on X/Twitter: @CUnewsdata, @CEMnewsdata, @dcatchpole and @fordneyenergy.
2023-09-2126 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – September 11, 2023In the latest Energy West podcast, California Energy Markets Editor Jason Fordney speaks with CEM Associate Editor Abigail Sawyer about the emerging Western wholesale energy market, a push by Western state regulators to move forward with a regional transmission organization, and a recent forum held in Las Vegas by the California Independent System Operator on its extended day-ahead market proposal.
2023-09-1228 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastEnd of an EraAfter more than 30 years at NewsData, publisher Mark Ohrenschall is retiring. Before he leaves, he talks with Jason Fordney, Abigail Sawyer and Dan Catchpole about his time at the company, journalism and the energy industry.
2023-08-1851 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – August 11, 2023In this week's episode of Energy West, California Energy Markets Editor Jason Fordney discusses a proposal by state regulators to increase storage levels at the controversial Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility in southern California; an update on how the California grid is holding up this summer; and a plan by the California Department of Water Resources that would keep natural gas-fired once-through-cooling power plants operating past their scheduled retirement dates.
2023-08-1117 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – August 3, 2023In this episode of Energy West, California Energy Markets Editor Jason Fordney gives a rundown of the latest energy news in the Golden State and beyond, including how wholesale cost to serve load in the California Independent System Operator doubled between 2020 and 2022; a request for rehearing from the California Community Choice Association of a state regulator decision to restrict CCA expansion because of resource-adequacy requirement failures; and a new rule from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission designed to address the severe backlog of interconnection requests from new generation resources across the U.S. Energy West is available at www...
2023-08-0314 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – July 27, 2023In the latest episode of the Energy West podcast, Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about concerns that CAISO’s extended day-ahead market could short-circuit the Western Resource Adequacy Program, Energy Northwest and X-Energy’s plans to build 12 small modular nuclear reactors, CAISO’s new subscriber-funded model for new transmission lines, Bonneville Power Administration sizing up day-ahead market offerings from CAISO and the Southwest Power Pool, and more.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at Newsdata’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets.Follow...
2023-07-2731 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up - July 20, 2023In the latest episode of the Energy West podcast, Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about about the state of transmission planning in the West, California’s (good) battery boom, Bonneville Power Administration’s announcement of $2 billion in transmission system upgrades, fewer public safety power shut-offs in northern California, and more.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at Newsdata’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets.Follow us on Twitter: @CUnewsdata, @CEMnewsdata, @dcatchpole and @fordneyenergy.
2023-07-2030 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up - July 13, 2023In the latest episode of the Energy West podcast, Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about Western transmission’s problem of the commons, zero-emission trucking in California, limits to offshore wind’s economic benefits, and more.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at Newsdata’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets.Follow us on Twitter: @CUnewsdata, @CEMnewsdata, @dcatchpole and @fordneyenergy.
2023-07-1328 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – June 22, 2023In the latest Energy West podcast, California Energy Markets Editor Jason Fordney discusses how the workforce needed to implement California's clean-energy policies does not yet exist; new heavy-duty electric-truck charging infrastructure being built in the state; a California Public Advocates Office report drastically cutting estimates for electrification from previous numbers; and how PacifiCorp liability for Labor Day fires could top $87 million.
2023-06-2217 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up - June 15, 2023In the latest episode of the Energy West podcast, Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about state regulators talking utilities to task for vague decarbonization planning, worries about where California will get enough energy to meet its clean energy goals, high prices in Washington’s carbon emissions cap-and-invest program, and more.Register now for NewsData’s virtual conference “Western Resource Adequacy: Progress, Perils & Paths Forward” on June 22-23. More information at newsdata.com/conf.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at Newsdata’s Clearing Up...
2023-06-1529 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – June 8, 2023In the latest episode of the Energy West podcast, Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about the largest hydropower dam removal in history getting underway, Shasta County’s dismissing criminal charges against Pacific Gas & Electric after reaching a settlement, truckers’ concerns that California’s zero-emission requirements for long-haul trucking are coming on too fast, battery storage becoming a regular part of utilities’ resource acquisitions, and more.Register now for NewsData’s virtual conference “Western Resource Adequacy: Progress, Perils & Paths Forward” on June 22-23. More information at newsdata.com/conf.Read more about wha...
2023-06-0827 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up - June 1, 2023In the latest episode of the Energy West podcast, Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about obstacles to building offshore wind off California, interconnection delays across the country, Washington delaying new building codes in the wake of the 9th Circuit Court’s Berkeley decision, PacifiCorp booking a $120 million first quarter loss due to the 2020 Labor Day weekend wildfires, and more Register now for NewsData’s virtual conference “Western Resource Adequacy: Progress, Perils & Paths Forward” on June 22-23. More information at newsdata.com/conf. Read more about...
2023-06-0130 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up - May 25, 2023In the latest episode of the Energy West podcast, Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about growing summer reliability risks for the Western power grid, the latest push to make the California Independent System Operator into an independent organized market, a developer’s proposal to pair pumped storage with wind turbines off the Oregon coast, new metrics to assess the risk of capacity shortfalls in the Northwest, and moreRegister now for NewsData’s virtual conference “Western Resource Adequacy: Progress, Perils & Paths Forward” on June 22-23. More information at newsdata.com/conf.Rea...
2023-05-2531 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – May 18, 2023In the latest episode of the Energy West podcast, Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about expanding access to zero-emission vehicles beyond affluent drivers, sea lions decimating salmon populations, wildfires disrupting Canadian natural gas exports to the U.S., utilities’ balancing wildfire mitigation and power outages, and more.Register now for NewsData’s upcoming two-day virtual conference “Western Resource Adequacy: Progress, Perils & Paths Forward.” More information at newsdata.com/conf.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at Newsdata’s Clearing Up and California Energy Marke...
2023-05-1826 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – May 11, 2023In the latest episode of the Energy West podcast, Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about soaring demand forecast for the Northwest, California’s fights over net metering, Portland General Electric’s warning that it can’t meet Oregon’s 2040 zero-emission mandate, $10.5 billion of investments in California’s energy sector, CEM’s interview with world-renowned energy expert Vaclav Smil, and more.Register now for NewsData’s upcoming two-day virtual conference “Western Resource Adequacy: Progress, Perils & Paths Forward.” More information at newsdata.com/conf.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry i...
2023-05-1124 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up - May 4, 2023In the latest episode of the Energy West podcast, Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about California’s proposed zero-emission trucking mandate, anger over service connection delays, Washington state lawmakers want utilities to plan more for the future, and more.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at Newsdata’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets.Follow us on Twitter: @CUnewsdata, @CEMnewsdata, @dcatchpole and @fordneyenergy.
2023-05-0424 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up - April 28, 2023Listen in as Dan Catchpole and Jason Fordney discuss highlights from the energy industry on the northwest and west coast. This episode was recorded on April 24.
2023-04-2827 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up - April 20, 2023In the latest episode of the Energy West podcast, Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about California utilities’ push for flat rates, a federal greenlight for the TransWest Express transmission line from Wyoming to Nevada, doing more with less in the Northwest, a lawsuit to shut down Diablo Canyon nuclear plant, and more.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at Newsdata’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets.Follow us on Twitter: @CUnewsdata, @CEMnewsdata, @dcatchpole and @fordneyenergy.
2023-04-2031 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – April 13, 2023In the latest episode of the Energy West podcast, Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about record high curtailments in California, utilities’ roadmaps for acquiring huge amounts of renewables, storage and even nuclear generation, renewable hydrogen developments, and more.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at Newsdata’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets.Follow us on Twitter: @CUnewsdata, @CEMnewsdata, @dcatchpole and @fordneyenergy.
2023-04-1332 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – April 6, 2023In this week's episode of Energy West, California Energy Markets Editor Jason Fordney breaks down the latest energy news in the region, including concerns among analysts about natural gas storage levels in the West, especially on the Pacific Gas & Electric system; daunting challenges facing the Western Interconnection as described by the Western Electricity Coordinating Council; and a report from the California Independent System Operator's Department of Market Monitoring showing that natural gas and energy prices in CAISO more than doubled in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared with the same period in the prior year.
2023-04-0611 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – March 30, 2023In the latest episode of the Energy West podcast, Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about PacifiCorp’s new proposal for a 500-kV, 143-mile transmission line in Wyoming, why there isn’t more geothermal generation in the West, plans for new natural gas peaking plants in Nevada, state lawmakers’ efforts to stop cities from adopting local energy policies, and more.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at Newsdata’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets.Follow us on Twitter: @CUnewsdata, @CEMnewsdata, @dcatchpole and @fordn...
2023-03-3025 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up - March 23, 2023In the latest episode of the Energy West podcast, Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about a second organized comprehensive energy market in the West, California’s investigation into high natural gas prices, opposition to a proposed natural gas pipeline expansion in the Northwest and more.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at Newsdata’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets.Follow us on Twitter: @CUnewsdata, @CEMnewsdata, @dcatchpole and @fordneyenergy.
2023-03-2327 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – March 15, 2023In the latest episode of the Energy West podcast, Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about the California Independent System Operator’s latest look at expanding its footprint, Southwest Power Pool’s announcement that Markets+ is moving into development early, big rate increase requests from two SoCal utilities, Puget Sound Energy’s push to shut down its natural gas business and more.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at NewsData’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets.Follow us on Twitter: @CUnewsdata, @CEMnewsdata, @dcatchpole...
2023-03-1523 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – March 3, 2023Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about transportation electrification challenges facing the West, the California Public Utilities Commission’s call to add 15 GW of new generation by 2027, a fight over a natural gas ban in Eugene, Ore., and more.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at Newsdata’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets.Follow us on Twitter: @CUnewsdata, @CEMnewsdata, @dcatchpole and @fordneyenergy.
2023-03-0321 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – February 23, 2023In the latest Energy West podcast, California Energy Markets Editor Jason Fordney shares more details about the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners' Winter Policy Summit in Washington, D.C., and his conversation with fellow attendee and former Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Richard Glick. Jason also discusses FERC's approval of the Western Resource Adequacy Program; California Energy Commission funding for electric vehicles and chargers; and new wildfire-related legal action against a pair of California utilities.
2023-02-2315 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – February 16, 2023Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole talks with California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney at the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ Winter 2023 policy summit, where Energy Sec. Jennifer Granholm extolled renewable energy’s role in energy security. Dan and Jason also discuss the evolving role of energy efficiency, California’s soaring natural gas prices, a California lawmaker’s push to create a regional energy market, and Eugene, Ore.’s ban on natural gas in new residential construction.
2023-02-1624 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – February 10, 2023Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about the risk that solar inverters can trip generation offline, potential news laws in Oregon to spur transportation electrification, new rules for California’s extended day-ahead market, a new partner for a proposed new intertie between the America’s eastern and western grids, and the massive workload facing state regulators.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at Newsdata’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets.Follow us on Twitter: @CUnewsdata, @CEMnewsdata, @dcatchpole and @fordneyenergy.
2023-02-1020 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up - February 1, 2023Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about the latest twist in the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant saga, PacifiCorp delaying its exit from the Colstrip coal power plant, $124 million for electrification in California, what keeps PacifiCorp’s sustainability director up at night, and more. Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at Newsdata’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets. Follow us on Twitter: @CUnewsdata, @CEMnewsdata, @dcatchpole and @fordneyenergy.
2023-02-0121 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – January 26, 2023Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about California’s call for thousands of megawatts of new generation, the coal-fired Colstrip power plant’s new lease on life, what it is going to take to keep the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant open and the latest legal challenge to Washington’s new carbon emission cap-and-invest program.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at Newsdata’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets.Follow us on Twitter: @CUnewsdata, @CEMnewsdata, @dcatchpole and @fordneyenergy.
2023-01-2623 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – January 20, 2023Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about NorthWestern Energy buying more coal-fired generation, customers responding to time-of-use rates in California, PacifiCorp and Idaho Power converting a power plant from coal to natural gas, California slashing funding for decarbonization programs, and more.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at Newsdata’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets.Follow us on Twitter: @CUnewsdata, @CEMnewsdata, @dcatchpole and @fordneyenergy.
2023-01-2129 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastTop 10 Energy Stories from California and the Southwest in 2022Jason Fordney, editor of California Energy Markets, runs through the top 10 energy stories from California and and the Southwest in 2022. He is joined by a very special co-host, Marielle Fordney.
2023-01-0613 min
The EditorsSpecial Episode: What's Going on in California? A Conversation with Jason Fordney [502]Sponsor:ClearPath Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
2022-12-2133 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastHappy Holidays!NewsData’s Energy West is taking off for the holidays. Dan Catchpole and Jason Fordney will be back in the New Year to fill you in on the latest in the energy industry in the West. Until then, stay up to date with the latest reporting from Clearing Up and California Energy Markets at Newsdata.com. And this Friday, Dec. 23, make sure to check out NewsData’s annual energy Christmas Carols! (Can’t wait that long? Pass the time with our 2021 carols.)
2022-12-2000 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – December 14, 2022Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about a flurry of news about creating organized energy markets in the West: PacifiCorp joins CAISO’s extended day-ahead market, CAISO releases its final day-ahead market proposal and 11 utilities join the Western Resource Adequacy Program.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at Newsdata’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets. Follow us on Twitter: @CUnewsdata, @CEMnewsdata, @dcatchpole and @fordneyenergy.
2022-12-1526 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – December 9, 2022Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about what’s going on in the energy industry in the West.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at NewsData’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets.Follow us on Twitter: @CUnewsdata, @CEMnewsdata, @dcatchpole and @fordneyenergy.
2022-12-0919 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – November 30, 2022Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about what’s going on in the energy industry in the West.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at NewsData’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets.Follow us on Twitter: @CUnewsdata, @CEMnewsdata, @dcatchpole and @fordneyenergy.
2022-11-3023 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – November 17, 2022Jason Fordney reports this week's news from NARUC in New Orleans, Louisiana.
2022-11-1711 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastTaming the Wild Western Power GridUnlike the rest of North America, the West’s power grid outside California is a patchwork of utility fiefdoms generating, wheeling and distributing electricity. Centralized electricity markets dominate the rest of the continent.There is widespread consensus in the energy industry that the West needs greater coordination if it’s going to decarbonize and keep the lights on in millions of homes from New Mexico to British Columbia. Two organizations—the Southwest Power Pool and the California ISO—are pushing competing proposals to create a day-ahead and real-time market in the West.NewsData’s Abigail Sawyer, Ja...
2022-11-1454 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – November 9, 2022Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about income and racial disparities in the home solar market, volatility concerns of some BPA customers, Salt River Project adding more grid storage, the uncertain fate of NW Natural’s renewable hydrogen pilot project, and more.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at Newsdata’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets.Follow us on Twitter: @CUnewsdata, @CEMnewsdata, @dcatchpole and @fordneyenergy.
2022-11-0912 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – November 3, 2022Listen in as Dan Catchpole and Jason Fordney discuss highlights from the energy industry on the northwest and west coast.
2022-11-0320 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – October 26, 2022Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about California studying expanding its energy market, rising CAISO prices, wind power off the West Coast, EV battery makers, demand response’s increasing importance in the Northwest, and more.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at NewsData’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets.Follow us on Twitter: @CUnewsdata, @CEMnewsdata, @dcatchpole and @fordneyenergy.
2022-10-2615 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – October 19, 2022Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about updated load-management standards by the California Energy Commission, the Northwest falling short of its six-year energy efficiency target, how much millionaires in California should pay for new electric vehicle chargers and wildfire mitigation, the huge amount of solar power that FERC expects to be built by 2025, and more.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at Newsdata’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets.Follow us on Twitter: @CUnewsdata, @CEMnewsdata, @dcatchpole and @fordneyenergy.
2022-10-1918 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – October 12, 2022Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about Southwest Power Pool’s vision for an RTO in the West, intrigue and in-fighting in Arizona’s Salt River Project, a growing rift between Northwest public power utilities and the White House, environmentalists’ objections to hydrogen fuel development, and a push in the Northwest to ban sales of gas-powered cars. They also discuss the tragic death of industry leader Therese Hampton.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at Newsdata’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets.Follow...
2022-10-1215 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – October 3, 2022Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about: expediting utility undergrounding,Jason's response to opinion columns in the LA Times about whether or not rural California towns that were destroyed by wildfires should be rebuilt,Southwest Power Pool's draft service offering,and electric transportation news.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at NewsData’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets.Follow us on Twitter: @CUnewsdata, @CEMnewsdata, @dcatchpole and @fordneyenergy.
2022-10-0636 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – September 26, 2022Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney discuss expanding the Southwest Power Pool’s regional transmission organization into the West, California’s ambitious plan to install 250,000 EV chargers, the reliability of hydropower in the West during droughts, and more.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at Newsdata’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets.Follow us on Twitter: @CUnewsdata, @CEMnewsdata, @dcatchpole and @fordneyenergy.
2022-09-2928 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – September 19, 2022Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about how the Northwest helped California keep the lights on during its early September heat wave–and more.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at Newsdata’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets.Follow us on Twitter: @CUnewsdata, @CEMnewsdata, @dcatchpole and @fordneyenergy.
2022-09-2318 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – September 12, 2022Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about one of the worst wildfire weekends in the West this year.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at Newsdata’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets.Follow us on Twitter: @CUnewsdata, @CEMnewsdata, @dcatchpole and @fordneyenergy.
2022-09-1517 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – August 29, 2022Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about two top Washington elected officials say they’re in no rush to breach the four lower Snake River dams, California is one (big) step closer to requiring all new cars are zero-emission by 2035, Western AGs join to oppose natural gas pipeline expansion, and more.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at Newsdata’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets.Follow us on Twitter: @CUnewsdata, @CEMnewsdata, @dcatchpole and @fordneyenergy.
2022-09-0131 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – August 25, 2022Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about California ISO’s latest market proposal, a major step forward for the West’s new surplus capacity sharing program, a much quieter wildfire season, NW Natural’s hydrogen project to reduce carbon emissions, and more.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at Newsdata’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets.Follow us on Twitter: @CUnewsdata and @CEMnewsdata.
2022-08-2520 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – August 19, 2022Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about California’s huge offshore wind goals, upgrading transmission lines to reach clean energy goals, lawmakers pushing CAISO to expand into a regional market and more.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at Newsdata’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets.Follow us on Twitter: @CUnewsdata and @CEMnewsdata.
2022-08-1921 min
Public Power UndergroundSeason 4 Finale: Listener MailbagPaul Dockery, Jason Fordney, Abigail Sawyer, and Dan Catchpole field listener submitted questions from all types of energy enthusiasts. Plus, we have a Bluey Inspired intermission game with the Honorable Katie Mapes, Matt Schroettnig, and Jon Hart.03:12 - Dan Campbell wonders about the DER value proposition for Public Power13:24 - Dr. Kyri Baker pitches an airline idea for electric utilities27:13 - Travis Kavulla has a contracting question34:46 - Mary Wienke wants to know how we think about new technology developmentBen Serrurier’s work on A Fair Green Deal for th...
2022-08-051h 33People in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – August 4, 2022Listen in as Jason Fordney and Abigail Sawyer discuss highlights from the energy industry in the northwest and west coast. This episode was recorded on August 1.
2022-08-0419 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – July 28, 2022Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about the state and federal regulators’ increasing focus on the critical need for more transmission lines, the West’s increasing momentum toward organized markets, California’s $7 million push to electrify trucking, why Oregon is the “Saudi Arabi of offshore wind,” and more.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at Newsdata’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets.Follow us on Twitter: @CUnewsdata and @CEMnewsdata.
2022-07-2824 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – July 21, 2022In the latest episode of NewsData's Energy West podcast, California Energy Markets Editor Jason Fordney and Clearing Up Associate Editor Dan Catchpole discuss happenings at the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners' Summer Policy Summit in San Diego this week, a new study from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that says breaching the Lower Snake River dams is necessary to protect salmon populations, comments from a top federal energy regulator on transmission development, and more!
2022-07-2125 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – July 14, 2022Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about the eye-popping cost estimate of replacing the four federally-owned dams on the lower Snake River dam, California state agencies’ newfound ability to procure generation, cost projections for Washington’s carbon cap and invest program, and more.California’s sweeping energy legislation to boost the grid’s capacity–even if it includes fossil fuel resources, the latest assessment of taking down the lower Snake River dams, possibly keeping the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant longer than previously planned, and more.Read more...
2022-07-1417 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – July 8, 2022Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about California’s sweeping energy legislation to boost the grid’s capacity–even if it includes fossil fuel resources, the latest assessment of taking down the lower Snake River dams, possibly keeping the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant longer than previously planned, and more. Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at Newsdata’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets.
2022-07-0823 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – June 30, 2022Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about the increasingly volatile conditions in the West’s wholesale markets, resource adequacy plans in California, BPA’s outlook for secondary sales, and more. Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at Newsdata’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets.
2022-06-3013 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – June 24, 2022Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about the calls for more oversight of Pacific Gas & Electric, bold predictions for the future of wind energy, more money for Bonneville Power Administration’s salmon mitigation programs, tech giants’ turn toward renewable energy, and more.Read more about what’s happening in the power industry in the West at Newsdata’s Clearing Up and California Energy Markets.
2022-06-2422 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – June 14, 2022In the latest episode of Energy West, California Energy Markets Editor Jason Fordney and Associate Editor Abigail Sawyer dive into the California Air Resources Board's latest zero-emission vehicle proposal, $18 million in grants awarded by the California Energy Commission, mixed reactions to the Inslee-Murray lower Snake River dams report, a Norwegian battery maker's plans to open a factory in Washington state, and more!
2022-06-1721 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up – June 8, 2022Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about the Southwest Power Pool’s governance straw proposal for Markets+, consternation over FERC’s refund order, and more.Learn more about regional market conditions and near-term market outlooks at the 6th Annual Pacific Northwest Wholesale Power Markets Conference. The June 23-24 virtual event—co-presented by NewsData and CJB Energy Economics—will feature leading energy officials from around the Northwest and beyond.
2022-06-0811 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up — June 2, 2022Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about Dan’s scoop that the Bonneville Power Administration is considering joining an informal group exploring regional market structures in the West, the hidden risk of sleeping cybersecurity intrusions, how state energy policies in California are falling short of long-term emissions goals, Newsdata’s 40th anniversary, Jason’s bands and more.Learn more about regional market conditions and near-term market outlooks at the 6th Annual Pacific Northwest Wholesale Power Markets Conference. The June 23-24 virtual event—co-presented by NewsData and CJB Energy Economics—will featu...
2022-06-0224 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up — May 25, 2022Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about the elevated risk of blackouts and other loss of load across the West this summer, possible progress on the Columbia River Treaty, CPUC’s approval of SoCal Edison storage projects and more.Learn more about regional market conditions and near-term market outlooks at the 6th Annual Pacific Northwest Wholesale Power Markets Conference. The June 23-24 virtual event—co-presented by NewsData and CJB Energy Economics—will feature leading energy officials from around the Northwest and beyond.
2022-05-2520 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up — May 18, 2022This week, Clearing Up’s Dan Catchpole and CEM’s Jason Fordney talk about concerns about the energy system this summer in California, regulators pinning California blackouts on climate change, greenlights for PacifiCorp’s Energy Gateway transmission project and more.Newsdata and CJB Energy Economics are hosting the 6th annual Pacific Northwest Wholesale Power Markets Conference, June 23 and 24. The conference covers the latest on current energy market conditions and near-term market outlooks around the West. Find more information at Newsdata.com.Follow Newsdata’s publications on Twitter: Clearing Up and CEM.Read more of Newsd...
2022-05-1816 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up — May 12, 2022This week, Clearing Up’s Dan Catchpole and CEM’s Jason Fordney talk about Western state regulators’ wariness about FERC changing federal rules for transmission planning and cost allocation, development of small modular nuclear reactors, the Bonneville Power Administration joining the Western Energy Imbalance Market and much more. Newsdata and CJB Energy Economics are hosting the 6th annual Pacific Northwest Wholesale Power Markets Conference, June 23 and 24. The conference covers the latest on current energy market conditions and near-term market outlooks around the West. Find more information at Newsdata.com.Follow Newsdata’s publications on Twitter: Clearing...
2022-05-1220 min
Public Power UndergroundMore Wealth, Better Living, and Greater HappinessBen Serrurier, Jason Fordney, Arin Guillory, and Paul Dockery talk about the latest in public power, public-power-adjacent news and exciting acronyms, including BPA in the EIM, CREPC-WIRAB, all-things Tx, NuScale IPO, and another WSJ article!04:07 - a new merch idea coming from the FDR speech Ben quotes in the cold open08:19 - Arin Reports14:21 - BPA joined the EIM on May 3rdBPA press releaseCAISO press release20:28 - Committee on Regional Electric Power Cooperation // Western Interconnection Regional Advisory Body (CREPC-WIRAB)Ben’s live tweet of the eventCREPC WIRAB agendaJason Fordney’s ar...
2022-05-121h 15People in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up - April 28, 2022Listen in as Dan Catchpole and Jason Fordney discuss highlights from the energy industry on the northwest and west coast. This episode was recorded on April 26.
2022-04-2816 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up - April 4, 2022Listen in as Dan Catchpole and Jason Fordney discuss highlights from the energy industry on the northwest and west coast. This episode was recorded on April 4.
2022-04-0730 min
Public Power Undergroundfinding the opportunitiesTherese Hampton, Jason Fordney, Crystal Ball, and Paul Dockery talk about the latest in public power and public-power-adjacent news, including Blue Wolf Capital, minimum pool elevation for power generation at Glen Canyon Dam, FERC’s take on ROE, innovation at Douglas County PUD, a new President and CEO at WPP, and two new members of WMEG!06:45 - Arin Reports with Crystal Reporting13:29 - Blue Wolf Capital is pursuing the restart of the Intalco aluminum smelter Larry Brown opinion piece in The Seattle TimesScott Simms rebuttal in The Seattle Times18:47 - Glen Canyon Dam approaching min...
2022-03-311h 03People in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up — March 25, 2022Listen in as Dan Catchpole and Jason Fordney discuss highlights from the energy industry on the northwest and west coast. This episode was recorded on March 25.
2022-03-2814 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up — March 21, 2022Listen in as Dan Catchpole and Jason Fordney discuss highlights from the energy industry on the northwest and west coast. This episode was recorded on March 21.
2022-03-2522 min
Public Power UndergroundBringing HopeAhlmahz Negash, Dan Catchpole, Karen Heim, and Paul Dockery talk about the latest in public power and public-power-adjacent news, plus a preview of an upcoming interview with Northwest Natural’s Chris Kroeker about the future of hydrogen!06:48 - Arin Reports with Karen Reporting12:13 - Ukraine and the European Union to urgently link electric grids (which successfully occurred after recording)19:13 - Columbia REA let’s employees bring dogs to work22:44 - Spring 2022 Energy Justice Speaker Series26:50 - Jason Fordney’s article debriefing Arne Olson’s presentation at the February 25th NewsData and CJB Energy Economic...
2022-03-1756 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up — March 14, 2022Listen in as Dan Catchpole and Jason Fordney discuss highlights from the energy industry on the northwest and west coast. This episode was recorded on March 14.
2022-03-1516 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up — March 4, 2022Listen in as Dan Catchpole and Jason Fordney discuss highlights from February 28 through March 4 in the energy industry on the west coast and northwest.
2022-03-0926 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up — Feb. 28, 2022Listen in as Dan Catchpole and Jason Fordney discuss highlights from February 19-28 in the energy industry on the west coast and northwest.
2022-03-0230 min
Public Power UndergroundMarket Enthusiasts, like us!Russ Mantifel, Jason Fordney, Paul Dockery, and Ludgie Gelin talk about the latest in public power and public-power-adjacent news, plus a preview of an upcoming interview with PGP’s Mary Wiencke!08:08 - Arin Reports with Paul Reporting14:20 - Roundtable on rural broadband at Mason PUD #3 plus other broadband news21:38 - CAISO adopts Phase 1 of Resource Sufficiency test rule changes30:24 - The Wall Street Journal’s long-form article on the grid’s reliability44:30 - the cost of going underground51:05 - 2021 Power Plan in pre-publication, final form58:50 - Matt and Paul talk to PGP’s...
2022-02-241h 22People in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up — Feb. 18, 2022Listen in as Dan Catchpole and Jason Fordney discuss highlights from February 11-18 in the energy industry on the west coast and northwest.
2022-02-2121 minPeople in Power – A NewsData PodcastWeekly Wrap Up — Feb. 7, 2022Listen in as Dan Catchpole and Jason Fordney discuss highlights from February 1-7 in the energy industry on the west coast and northwest.
2022-02-1417 min
Public Power UndergroundDistributed Demand Resource Response!It’s season 3, episode 8 - Distributed Demand Resource Response Week! for Public Power Underground. Underground regulars (Karen Heim, Arin Guillory, Ludgie Gelin, and Paul Dockery) are joined by our Podcast Ambassador from California Energy Markets, Jason Fordney this week. The episode includes conversations with Tacoma Power’s Ahlmahz Negash grant funding for microgrids and distributed resources, and PNUCC’s Shauna McReynolds and Tomás Morrisey about Demand Response and Distributed Generation in the Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s draft 2021 Power Plan.05:18 - Arin Reports08:46 - The Arizona Corporation Commission is clashing with Arizona Public Service13:13 - Ahlmahz...
2021-11-111h 08