People in Power – A NewsData Podcast

Kelly Fukai on Her New Role as CEO of the Northwest Gas Association

In this episode of People in Power, Kelly Fukai talks about her new role as CEO of the Northwest Gas Association, the role of natural gas as a firm resource in an era of growing demand, and baseball!

Larry Bekkedahl on Retiring After 40 Years in Energy

Greg Mason, Associate Editor of Clearing Up, interviews Larry Bekkedahl, senior vice-president of advanced energy delivery at Portland General Electric, about his retirement from the energy industry after 40 years, his perspective on the region’s load projections, and his advice to grid operators on maintaining reliability.

Peter Ferrell of NEMA on Electrical Equipment Supply Chain Issues

In this episode of People in Power, Abigail Sawyer talks with Peter Ferrell, senior director of government relations for the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, about supply chain challenges and how they are affecting the buildout and modernization of the U.S. electric grid. From tariffs, trade and immigration policy to workforce shortages and natural disasters, supply chain concerns are contributing to numerous other challenges facing electric utilities as they work to improve and expand the complicated system that delivers power to a growing number of end users.

Sarah Edmonds and Rebecca Sexton of Western Power Pool on WRAP and WestTEC

Ayla Burnett and Abigail Sawyer chat with Sarah Edmonds and Rebecca Sexton of the Western Power Pool on their backgrounds and the paths that led them to be leaders in the Western energy world. They also discuss the inception of two groundbreaking initiatives: the Western Resource Adequacy Program and the Western Transmission Expansion Coalition.

Carrie Simpson of the Southwest Power Pool on RTO Expansion and Markets+

People in Power Episode 20: Abigail Sawyer talks with Carrie Simpson, vice president of markets for the Southwest Power Pool, about her experience in energy, which goes back to the early 2000s when she worked as an energy trader for Enron. Since then Carrie has been involved in power markets in both the Western and Eastern Interconnection. She is anticipating the expansion of SPP’s RTO—which will be the first organized wholesale market to operate in both interconnections—and also preparing for SPP’s day-ahead market offering, Markets+, which will begin serving entities in the Western Interconnection in October 2027.