Power Plays

Midyear is the right time for a reality check — fromstrengthening the grid to managing the impacts of inflation, global uncertaintyand evolving regulations, electric cooperatives are actively adapting to a hostof challenges. This episode of Power Plays examines six emerging issuesthat will influence discussions and strategic decisions throughout 2026.

From autonomous drones to smart grid sensors, startups are bringing new tools to rural electric co-ops to strengthen reliability, boost resilience and control costs. In this episode of Power Plays, hear the standout innovations from NRECA’s Startup Alley competition, including ideas from HomeBoost and Pitch Aeronautics.

When a massive new data center load shows up in a local community, who benefits? Who pays? And what safeguards matter most? This episode of Power Plays breaks down the real tradeoffs — rates, reliability, water, noise and emissions — and the “yes-if” strategy one co-op is using to protect members and capture the economic upside. 

America’s new grid constraint is not gas supply, but the turbines that convert it to power—largely sold out until the early 2030s. On this episode of  Power Plays , gas turbine expert Tom Freeman explores workarounds like aeroderivatives, adapted from jet engines.

Electric co-ops are grappling with rising costs, but members are in no mood for rate hikes. Load growth can help, but it’s not without risks. In this episode of the Power Plays podcast, S&P Global’s David Bodek and CoBank credit leader Rob Galena take a hard look at the landscape and map out co-op financial flexibility.

Relevance, tech awareness and closer ties to changing communities — those are some of the key qualities to seek out in co-op board member recruits. In this episode of Power Plays, Richard Fagerlin and Dr. Keri Jacobs, the hosts of Build Better Boards podcast, advise co-ops to polish their recruitment strategy and clearly frame their value proposition to attract volunteers.

Battery storage is the Swiss Army knife of the grid—it can balance demand and supply and support ancillary services. As the electric industry looks for any and all supply solutions, batteries are an important resource in the grid toolbox. This episode of Power Plays brings together battery deployment insights from a manufacturer, battery storage researcher, G&T executive and large developer. 

America’s electric cooperatives are executing a stunning balancing act protecting existing customers, maintaining reliability and serving a surge of large loads driven by data centers. Hear how they are pulling it off in this Power Plays episode. Leaders from Umatilla Electric, Rappahannock Electric, Tri-State Generation & Transmission and NextEra Energy Resources share their candid stories of...

Powerline workers’ safety extends far beyond electrocution and falls. In this episode of Power Plays, safety experts Johnie Hendrix and Chad Johnson talk through the importance of supporting crews so they are emotionally and mentally healthy and prepared, on and off the line.

Leading an electric co-op mean faster decisions, a positive work culture and reliable service. In this episode of Power Plays, CEOs Tom Howard and Katherine Domingue share what comes with the top role, and point to the importance of safety, trust and communication. Hear how they’ve led through crises and their advice for future leaders. 

After building out broadband, electric cooperatives’ next step is to assess it value – and maybe sell or divest, if an opportunity presents itself. As market dynamics shift and operational demands evolve, this episode of Power Plays offer advice to co-ops weighing financial returns against mission alignment and long-term sustainability.

  The cost and time to build a new power plant has increased dramatically. Essential equipment lead times are long, and technical labor is scarce. In this episode of Power Plays, Gavin McCollam with Basin Electric shares how his North Dakota G&T cooperative is addressing reliability, meeting project timelines and building new generation for the next generation.

Since Winter Storm Uri left Texans in the dark four years ago, electric cooperatives and their members have actively pursued ways to harden the grid and increase community resiliency. In this episode of Power Plays, Will Nichols with Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative describes how its pilot project uses battery storage and other controllable devices to provide dispatchable generation.

The largest grid operator in the U.S., PJM, has more than 3,000 active projects in its interconnection queue, more than four other ISOs combined. And it used to be easy to build in Texas, but ERCOT is facing the same challenges as other regions. Spearmint Energy’s Andrew Waranch and Gina Wolf examine the nuances of building ISO supply in this episode of Power Plays. 

Why exactly is the middle of the U.S. running out of power? In this episode of Power Plays, Spearmint Energy’s Andrew Waranch and Gina Wolf examine building new supply with MISO and SPP. In these two regions, new generation project queues are lengthy and community opposition is high. We look at what it will take to build back a safe reserve of supply for consumers. 

The popularity of solar panels and EVs shows DERs are here to stay, and proactive utilities are integrating them into their portfolios. In this episode of Power Plays, leaders with San Isabel Electric and Tri-State share how they are tapping into their co-op roots by connecting members with reputable contractors and offering on-bill financing and dynamic member education.

Electric co-ops are preparing for their toughest planning cycle yet as large loads threaten to overwhelm the system. In this episode of Power Plays, energy expert Kush Patel, a senior partner with E3, shares what lessons utilities should take away from Virginia’s rapid expansion of data centers. 

Need fresh ideas to boost your co-op broadband business? Ozarks Electric and United Electric share practical advice in this episode of Power Plays, explaining how data analytics drive their strategies to retain broadband customers and increase fiber business profitability. 

As rate case filings grow, utility commissioners are pressured to keep electricity affordable — while they meet demand growth and maintain reliability. Are they striking the right balance? In this year-end episode of Power Plays, Lillian Federico and Steve Piper from S&P Global look at the structural rise in utility costs and whether an increasingly fragmented industry is agile enough to meet...

Electricity demand is growing, weather events are worsening, and variable renewables make up a larger share of supply. The grid needs flexible generating resources. But with a years-out supply chain, where do we turn? Two manufacturers of flexible generating technology – Wärtsilä and Mainspring Energy – outline innovation and options for co-ops in this episode of Power Plays.

From providing vital safety and education programs to speaking with one voice, the statewide associations representing electric co-ops strengthen and unify members and their communities. This episode of Power Plays celebrates National Cooperative Month with association CEOs from Minnesota, Missouri and Arizona who share how they’re shaping electricity in their states. 

As Amazon has set consumers’ expectations and COVID changed workers’ expectations, running an electric co-op demands nimble leadership and innovation. In this episode of Power Plays, two authors of a new Rural Electric Management Development Council white paper share how they’ve taken charge of their co-ops’ destinies. 

We’ve all seen scary headlines portraying an overwhelmed electric grid on the brink of collapse. But there is optimism and opportunity. Offering up specific solutions, Larry Bekkedahl with Portland General Electric and Jeff Smith with EPRI explain in this episode of Power Plays how to the industry can meet the challenge.

Consumers in different regions of the U.S. are paying vastly different prices for natural gas — the consequence of notoriously slow pipeline projects. In this episode of Power Plays, Bethel King and Dr. Robert Brooks, principal researchers at RBAC, explain the primary regional drivers that will influence the price you’ll pay for natural gas. 

When the largest commercial real estate company in the world says power is the No. 1 priority for data center operators — and they’re coming to rural America — we’re all ears. Pat Lynch, CBRE’s global head of data center solutions, joins CoBank’s Chris Shaffner and Jackie Bove on this episode of Power Plays to discuss planning, financing, credit, and the related balancing act for electric distribu...