FERC

Episode 20 (Glick 2: A Change Is Gonna Come… No Really, Like Now)

Episode 20 (Glick 2: A Change Is Gonna Come… No Really, Like Now)

In which we take a second crack at recently appointed FERC Chairman Rich Glick as he settles into his new role, and he is very clear in setting his agenda: changes are coming – and some are already here. Less than three months into his leadership, Glick’s FERC has already announced more than a dozen major changes and initiatives, some of which touch on hot-button issues – like system reliability and resource adequacy in relation to climate change – and others that focus squarely on them, such as creating a new senior-level commission position to address environmental justice and opening an Office of Public Participation.

From PJM’s minimum offer-price rule (MOPR) to the standards for evaluating proposals for natural-gas pipelines to how power generators are compensated and whether capacity markets are essential, the chairman goes on to lay out his vision and plans going forward, as well as expected timelines. We also discuss his beloved New York Mets, his abysmal record in picking this year’s March Madness winners and his expectations on energy-related legislation coming out of Congress this session. Shorter than many of our episodes, let’s just call this one “highly concentrated” and well worth the time!

Episode 19 (What Really Happened in Texas?)

Episode 19 (What Really Happened in Texas?)

In which we dig into the causes of the Texas power outages in February 2021 and their potential consequences by sitting down with perhaps the one person in the world best equipped to discuss the situation: Pat Wood, who’s served as the top utility regulator both at FERC and the one state FERC doesn’t oversee, Texas. If you’re wondering what the likelihood is that Texas gets a capacity market, FERC oversight, a change in the pace of its power-generation transition or additional direct-current (DC) ties to neighboring grids, Pat’s got an answer.
But it’s also the one-year anniversary of the global pandemic, St. Patrick’s Day, Oscar’s nominees were announced – and don’t forget the return of March Madness! All receive their due attention, not to mention discussion of final requests, Cuban cigars, the famous Gruene Hall, BBQ, Mother Nature and the heartiness of azaleas.
There’s so much here, that (for the first time ever) we couldn’t keep it all to a single hour… Apparently everything is bigger in Texas – even podcasts!
PROGRAM NOTE:
The Business Insider podcast discussed during the episode can be found here: https://www.businessinsider.com/brought-to-you-by-podcast-btyb-enron-mail.

Episode 18 (Capacity-Market Deep Dive)

Episode 18 (Capacity-Market Deep Dive)

In which Glen and Rory dig deep to break down PJM’s capacity construct: where it’s been, where it’s going, how it compares to other regional grids and the major forces at play in shaping its future.
But that’s not all! (It never is.) TB12 and the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip make appearances in the conversation as Glen coins the phrase “that warm barn of regulation” and presages the devastating blackouts in Texas that would occur just hours after recording the episode. What should become of the MOPR? Are PJM and its member states still invested in competitive markets? What’s the deal with monopsony market-power? Can state statutes play nice with market forces? How does the new-look FERC impact all of this? Does New Jersey’s new market-design idea have legs? No questions barred and all things considered, it’s a discussion about electricity supply and system reliability that you don’t want to miss!

Episode 17 (The Right Manu for the Job)

Episode 17 (The Right Manu for the Job)

In which we probe deep into the mind of Manu Asthana one year into his tenure as PJM’s president and CEO, and he proves to be up to the task – both in the interview and the job. Ranging from the MOPR, the ORDC, the NJBPU’s state-agreement approach on analyzing offshore wind and a word salad of other industry jargon to the pandemic and social-justice movements, we explore our guest’s perspectives on a wide variety of topics – and consistently return to themes of unity and equality that might be exactly the kind of leadership PJM needs right now.

Episode 14 (What Would Cheryl Do?: The Game Show)

Episode 14 (What Would Cheryl Do?: The Game Show)

In which we pressure Cheryl LaFleur, the former-FERC commissioner and current distinguished visiting fellow at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy, for hot takes on her fields of expertise – specifically the ones where her beloved New England Patriots are playing. Hustling as efficiently as a Tom Brady two-minute drill, we also go deep into the nuances of carbon pricing, how annoying fellow former-FERC Commissioner Rob Powelson was, the importance of not imputing bad intent from colleagues, maintaining FERC/state relationships, ensuring someone is responsible for and authorized to maintain reliability (we’re looking at you, California…), the ongoing transition to the grid of the future, being put in “the odd position of trying to explain climate skepticism” and the idyllic atmosphere for a dirty vodka martini. Don’t miss a minute!

Episode 13 (One Hill of an Interview!)

Episode 13 (One Hill of an Interview!)

In which we sit down with Calpine President/CEO Thad Hill for our first “executive interview” and end up picking his brain about everything from insights from leading the company back to private ownership in 2018 to how Vice President Biden can earn cred for his campaign’s environmental platform to whether the Ivy League or the SEC has the most insufferable fans. Oh yeah, there’s also carbon pricing, capacity markets, what’s gone wrong (and right) in California, which Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is currently on his nightstand and our requisite (but brief) ruminations on sports. It’s worth a listen during your one-hour workout.

Episode 12 (How to Handle a Scandal: A Utility Commissioner’s Guide)

Episode 12 (How to Handle a Scandal: A Utility Commissioner’s Guide)

In which we task Todd Snitchler, President/CEO of the Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA), with leveraging his experiences as both a state legislator and utility-commission chairman in Ohio to help us break down the FirstEnergy and ComEd nuclear-subsidy legislation scandals, offer unsolicited advice to state officials across the board and ponder whether the way things are will ever change. The responses may surprise you… We go on to discuss EPSA’s role as the vanguard of competition in electricity markets, Todd’s roots in the Twin Tiers of Pennsylvania and New York, a comparison of dive bars in capital cities and the best golf course for somewhat-middling skills.

Episode 11 (New Jersey Brand Recognition)

Episode 11 (New Jersey Brand Recognition)

In which we ask Stefanie Brand, the the Director for the New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel, to not only defend her adopted state but also hold it accountable, which – as the state’s consumer advocate, she of course does with aplomb. FRR, MOPR, ZECs… they’re all here – as is the Taylor Ham/Pork Roll controversy, why everyone dumps on NJ, whether Central Jersey exists, love for New York, Pennsylvania, Jacob DeGrom and Michelle Obama, living as a Mets fan, the Jersey Shore Sound and feeling like an underdog, Eagles vs. Giants, Phillies vs. Mets (and why that’s even the question)… all-Jersey all the time on this episode. Check it while you’re chilling down the shore.

Episode 20 (Glick 2: A Change Is Gonna Come… No Really, Like Now)

Episode 10 (Primetime Glick! FERC-Style)

In which we spend quality time with the lone Democrat at FERC, Commissioner Richard Glick, who delves deep into his relationship with the three Republicans on the Commission, how he approaches the fraught dynamics of maintaining personal relationships with coworkers with whom he’s ideologically opposed, his thoughts on minimum offer-price rules (MOPRs), his preference for a national carbon price, why the social cost of carbon should be included in judging the value of proposed pipeline projects, why sports fanaticism is the workplace is a good thing and, finally, the many contributions of the late, great George Carlin.

Episode 9 (The NOPR, the MOPR and some guy named Harper: A Chat with the Chairman)

Episode 9 (The NOPR, the MOPR and some guy named Harper: A Chat with the Chairman)

In which we go toe to toe with the man himself, FERC Chairman Neil Chatterjee. Actually, it’s quite cordial because, as the Chairman makes clear from the jump, he likes his reputation as a “people person” and works very hard to maintain it. Also: What it was like behind the scenes during the tumultuous beginning of his tenure, if he takes any of the criticism and accusations of politicizing the office personally, why he doesn’t consider it work, when the University of Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball team will win the NCAA National Championship again, who Bryce Harper is and where he goes to listen to the GT Power Hour.

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