Watch CFC Vice President Jan Ahlen for insights on data center growth and how artificial intelligence may drive significant power demand.

Listen to CFC’s Alisha Pinto for an update on the electric grid, areas for concern and what cooperatives can do to enhance reliability.

CFC has launched the first episode of a new videocast series—CFC Solutions Cast: Industry Insights—which will focus on bite sized pieces of industry news and how it may impact electric cooperatives. The bi-weekly videocast will feature CFC’s industry team, who will highlight the most important and relevant topics electric cooperatives are facing today and in the future.Join Chris Whittle for an update on the volatility of crypocurrency and possible impacts to electric cooperatives.

In this episode of CFC Solutions Cast, CFC Director of Utility Research & Policy Brian Sloboda connects the dots on artificial intelligence (AI) and important business questions cooperatives should consider asking during implementation of new AI technology. He highlights cooperative use cases and potential ways to integrate AI into business processes and systems.  Listen to the latest episode of CFC Solutions Cast to discover the most important questions electric cooperatives need to be asking about AI integration. To view the 2024 Economic and Industry Trends visit https://interactive.nrucfc.coop/economic-and-industry-trends-2024/ Share your cooperative story, contact: Christine Petchenick: christine.petchenick@nrucfc.coopBrian Sloboda: brian.sloboda@nrucfc.coopOutline00:00 Intro00:57 What Is AI?05:31 Building Infrastructure for AI07:00 AI and the Workforce12:13 Member Engagement Strategy

In this episode of CFC Solutions Cast, we count down the top three Solutions Cast episodes of 2023 and discover which of those trends are accelerating into 2024. CFC Vice President of Utility Research & Policy Jan Ahlen discusses the key electric utility sector trends in store this year, ranging from opportunities for using artificial intelligence to recent headlines challenging the growth of electric vehicle sales and more.Listen to the latest episode of CFC Solutions Cast to learn about the most important energy and technology trends facing the electric cooperative network.See the 2024 Trends Report: https://interactive.nrucfc.coop/economic-and-industry-trends-2024/p/1Outline1:18        3rd Most Downloaded of 2023: Discover How One Vermont Co-op Is Building a Virtual Power Plant2:45       2nd Most Downloaded of 2023: North Carolina Co-op Uses AI to Improve Reliability, Safety4:41        Most Downloaded of 2023: How Cooperatives Can Prepare for Future EV Sales Growth6:48       Small Modular Reactors in 2023 and Beyond8:45       Restarting the Palisades Plant and the Future of the Nuclear Industry9:48       Trends Report 2023: Which Trends Were the Most Impactful?

Educating the Next Generation of Co-op CEOs—Top Tips for Developing Leadership TalentIn this episode of CFC Solutions Cast, we speak with NRECA Executive and Staff Education Director Gary Pfann about what he’s learned during his more than 25 years of training cooperative executives. Pfann shares his expertise on building the next generation of cooperative leaders who are ready to meet the challenges of the future.Pfann discusses retirement trends electric cooperatives will face in the next decade, including retirements of executive staff, the importance of passing along institutional knowledge and the need for building internal development paths and CEO succession plans. Listen to the latest episode of CFC Solutions Cast to hear what challenges cooperatives face as a record number of CEO retirements lie ahead.Outline:00:49   Retirement Trends04:31    Passing Along Institutional Knowledge07:39    Technology and Future Leadership09:32    Executive Leadership Demographics and Pathways15:47     Leading Across Generational Differences22:03    Developing a Shared Vision25:03    Building a Succession Plan27:21     Top Three Tips

In this episode of CFC Solutions Cast, we speak with Hoosier Energy Member Solutions Manager Blake Kleaving and Emerging Energy Resources Senior Manager Ryan Henderson about what sets beneficial electrification apart from electrification.Hoosier Energy is a generation and transmission cooperative serving more than 760,000 consumers through 18-member electric cooperatives across a 15,000-square-mile area in Indiana.Learn more about Hoosier Energy’s approach to building beneficial electrification programs including member education and engagement, tapping the Inflation Reduction Act and exploring virtual power plants.

A Game Changer: The Team Sport of Infrastructure PlanningIn the second half of this two-part episode, we speak with Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association Director of Operations Lee Nordby and Director of Engineering Curt Cordt to discuss the dynamic field of electric utility infrastructure planning and the transformative changes happening in the industry. The Wright-Hennepin team has a unique approach to infrastructure planning—considering it a team sport. This non-traditional approach recognizes the importance of infrastructure investments beyond conventional elements, encompassing technology, marketing, beneficial electrification and more. Nordby and Cordt discuss developing and shifting work plans and technology plans to meet the changing needs of their cooperative membership. Wright-Hennepin serves approximately 59,000 members in western Hennepin County, Minnesota. The cooperative is a mix of suburban and traditional cooperative areas that are experiencing high growth demands and increased electrification of the transportation sector.  Learn how Wright-Hennepin are bringing their A-game on investments to meet a growing territory population and an increase in energy demand.Outline:00:56 Operations and Technology in the Strategic Vision01:55 What Does Long-Term Planning Mean for Operations and Technology?06:43 How Does Changing Technology Affect Planning?10:51 Choosing the Right Technology to Go With the Strategic Vision13:12 Building a Robust Generation Program14:24 Training, Talent and Relationship Building20:06 Hiring Third Parties21:13 Keeping the Board Informed22:06 Handling the Unexpected25:05 Working the Plan26:22 How to Handle an Outdated Plan28:54 Top Three Tips

A Game Changer: The Team Sport of Infrastructure Planning In part one of this two-part episode, we speak with Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association CEO Tim Sullivan and CFO Brian Swanson to discuss the dynamic field of electric utility infrastructure planning and the transformative changes happening in the industry. Sullivan has a unique approach to infrastructure planning—considering it a team sport. This non-traditional approach recognizes the importance of infrastructure investments beyond conventional elements, encompassing technology, marketing, beneficial electrification and more. Sullivan and Swanson touch on the rapid pace of change in infrastructure planning due to technological advancements and the importance of adapting to these changes. Wright-Hennepin serves approximately 59,000 members in western Hennepin County, Minnesota. The cooperative is a mix of suburban and traditional cooperative areas that are experiencing high growth demands and increased electrification of the transportation sector. Learn how Sullivan and his team are bringing their A-game on investments to meet a growing territory population and an increase in energy demand.Outline:05:13 Infrastructure Planning Strategy12:40 Developing a Long-range Financial Plan14:42 Financial Planning and the Board of Directors18:20 Making a Strategic Shift to the Infrastructure Plan22:50 Energy Transition and Electric Vehicle Strategies29:10 Keeping Members Informed32:53 Calling Balls and Strikes on Undergrounding Lines34:29 Infrastructure Planning with a Focus on Labor37:23 Top Tips for Co-op Leaders Developing an Infrastructure Plan

In this episode of CFC Solutions Cast, we speak with Coweta-Fayette EMC Vice President of Communications Chellie Phillips about communicating effectively with cooperative members and employees. Phillips discusses the importance of developing trusting relationships with colleagues and executive staff—including tips for building bridges and opening lines of communication. Phillips discusses the importance of developing a strong cooperative culture and the impact the next generation of cooperative employees can bring. Based in Palmetto, Georgia, Coweta-Fayette EMC serves 90,000 members.  Learn more about the importance of communication in professional development and ways to build trust through communication.

In this episode of CFC Solutions Cast, we speak with Southside Electric Cooperative CEO Jason Loehr about his transition from CFO to CEO. Loehr discusses his team philosophy and how he leads by example to develop culture and talent.  Southside Electric Cooperative is a distribution cooperative located in south central Virginia. They serve a rural area of approximately 13,000 square miles with about 60,000 accounts, 48,000 members and 8,000 miles of line.Discover tips executive leadership can use to enhance a cooperative’s culture and develop talent.

In this episode of CFC Solutions Cast, we speak with Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) Innovation and Technology Leader Cyril Brunner and CFC Vice President of Utility Research & Policy Jan Ahlen about the future impact virtual power plants (VPPs) may have on the electric cooperative network. A VPP is a network of distributed energy resources, such as smart thermostats and batteries, that are operated by a common, centralized control system.  Brunner explains how VEC is introducing VPP programs to its membership and the potential impact he sees for the cooperative’s future. Brunner and Ahlen also discuss the broader implications VPPs could bring to utilities, including improving affordability and reliability as well as increasing member engagement.VEC is a distribution cooperative located in Johnson, Vermont, providing energy services to over 33,000 members in 75 communities.Listen to learn how VPPs could be changing the future of utility programs.

In this episode of CFC Solutions Cast, we speak with Jeff Allen, vice president of operations, and Clayton Jones, vegetation management supervisor, from Jones-Onslow Electric Membership Corporation (JOEMC). They discuss their use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies for vegetation management and how the application is enhancing their vegetation management program.  JOEMC is a distribution cooperative located in North Carolina serving more than 81,000 meters with a service territory that stretches across six counties from beach communities to agricultural areas.  Allen and Jones share how the new program is helping to improve the reliability and safety of the electric grid while directing cooperative resources to the right locations at the right time.  Listen to learn how electric cooperatives can use data analytics to learn more about their vegetation management programs.

In this episode of CFC Solutions Cast, we speak with Eugene Hamrick, director of enterprise analytics and innovation for Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC) and BrilliT, about the growing need for electric cooperatives to consider adding data scientist skills and how his cooperative manages talent acquisition of data professionals.REC is one of Virginia’s largest distribution electric cooperatives with more than 174,000 connections and 17,000 miles of power lines across 22 counties stretching from the West Virginia border to the Chesapeake Bay. Hamrick shares how he grew his career at REC, which started in the contact center, moved to a solutions architect role after earning several data science certifications, helped create a formal data analytics department and how—through his role at BrilliT—is helping other cooperatives do the same. Listen to learn how electric cooperatives can turn data analytics into actionable insights for engineering operations and member services.

In this episode of CFC Solutions Cast, we speak with Cherryland Electric Cooperative (CEC) Engineering & Operations Manager Frank Siepker about a generator loan program that enhances resilience and supports business continuity for commercial and industrial (C&I) member-owners. Based in Grawn, Michigan, CEC faces challenges from derecho wind bursts, thunderstorms and other extreme weather events. The cooperative leverages the generator loan program to help C&I members keep the lights on during extended power outages and provides public services to the community, such as food, shelter and other forms of assistance. Siepker discusses how the generator loan program came about, what the lending requirements are and why the cooperative recently decided to shift away from its role as an authorized reseller of Generac generators to focus on providing C&I members with generator planning and loans.  Tune in to hear the critical insights CEC shares about implementing a commercial backup power system loan program that reduces vulnerabilities to the effects of extreme weather and ensures reliability for C&I member-owners.

In this episode of CFC Solutions Cast, we speak with Oglethorpe Power Corporation Director of Emerging Technologies Alan Shedd about the continued growth of electric vehicle (EV) adoption, creating a national EV charging network and how electric cooperatives can get ahead of the EV adoption curve. Shedd explains why cooperative leaders should not panic, yet, about growing EV sales, and instead focus on where 80% of EV charging will take place—at home. He describes three steps cooperatives can take to prepare their systems: get educated about the effects of EVs charging at home, collect data to understand how many EVs are on their system and get experience with EVs. Listen to the latest episode of CFC Solutions Cast to hear how electric cooperatives can prepare for the future growth of EV sales.

In this episode of CFC Solutions Cast, we speak with CFC Senior Energy Industry Analyst Roman Siegert about the lessons learned from the unprecedented load curtailments and power outages in North Carolina, Tennessee, Maine and Pennsylvania caused by Winter Storm Elliott. Siegert discusses how Winter Storm Elliott caused the perfect storm for the electric grid during the holidays and how extreme weather events will require energy providers to collaborate more to share resources and export and import electricity from each other in order to keep the lights on. Listen to the latest episode of CFC Solutions Cast to hear what the electric industry needs to be better prepared for the next major winter storm.

In this episode of CFC Solutions Cast, we speak with CFC Vice President of Economic Research John Suter and CFC Vice President of Utility Research and Policy Jan Ahlen about economic, energy and technology expectations for 2023.  Suter and Ahlen provide insights to supply chain, job market and interest rate trends that remain top-of-mind for electric cooperative leaders as the country continues to transition to a cleaner generation mix and begins to see increased electric vehicle penetration. They will discuss supply chain issues and volatility affecting equipment orders, the influence of labor shortages and price pressure on infrastructure projects, predictions for the energy landscape and generation considerations, and interest rates and their impact on capital investment financing.  Listen to the latest episode of CFC Solutions Cast for a preview of the economic and energy trends forecast for 2023.

In this episode of CFC Solutions Cast, we speak with Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association (PVREA) President and CEO Jeff Wadsworth, PVREA Energy Resources Specialist Tony Francone and PVREA Engineer Jeremy Eldridge about a new microgrid and battery storage system.Based in Fort Collins, Colorado, PVREA uses the microgrid and battery storage system to enhance resilience for the Red Feather Lakes community, which faces frequent challenges from wildfires, winter storms and tornadoes.Wadsworth, Francone and Eldridge discuss how the microgrid and battery storage project came about and the components involved, including an 8-kilowatt photovoltaic system, a 130-kW propane generator and a 140-kW/446-kWh Tesla Powerpack battery. The trio also discuss lessons learned from implementing the project and how it fits in with PVREA’s commitment to the seventh cooperative principle, “Concern for Community.” Tune in to hear the critical insights PVREA shares about implementing an effective microgrid and battery storage system to reduce vulnerabilities to the effects of extreme weather and ensure reliability for member-owners.

In the first episode of the second season of CFC Solutions Cast, we chat with Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative (PSREC) General Manager Bob Marshall and PSREC Engineering and Operations Manager Jason Harston about protecting poles and other parts of utility infrastructure from the devastating effects of wildfires.PSREC, based in Portola, California, has enhanced its approach to wildfire mitigation in recent years by implementing a number of new measures, including mastication, fire-resistant mesh and flame retardant. Marshall and Harston discuss how PSREC leverages these different tools, as well as their experience with gaining support from the board, and how members feel about the cooperative’s wildfire mitigation measures. The duo also discuss lessons learned and its approach to managing liability risk.Tune in to hear the critical insights PSREC shares about implementing effective wildfire mitigation measures to protect cooperative members and utility infrastructure.