Best NRECA Podcasts (2025)

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How Co-ops are Educating Their Members on Rooftop Solar 19:43

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10d ago19:43

19:43

Rooftop solar is gaining popularity with homeowners and businesses, leading to a surge in installations over the past decade. But the technology isn’t right for everyone, and electric co-ops are doing their part to help consumer-members make informed decisions and avoid misleading or inaccurate information from some third-party vendors. Hear from L…

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Co-ops Confront Growing Threat of Wildfires 26:47

2M ago26:47

26:47

Drier and hotter weather conditions are creating longer wildfire seasons in many parts of the country, and even regions not typically at risk of wildfires are vulnerable. In this episode, learn how electric co-ops are dealing with this growing threat and how a bill in Congress, the Fix Our Forests Act, could help with mitigation efforts. Hear from …

1
Co-ops Using Elective-Pay Credits to Meet ‘Unique Future Goals’ 19:02

2M ago19:02

19:02

After years of advocacy from NRECA, Congress passed legislation in 2022 that allows electric co-ops to access federal tax credits for certain energy projects, including renewable power facilities, through an elective-pay option. These incentives can slash costs for co-ops to build, own and operate eligible generation and energy storage projects. He…

1
Co-ops Confront Growing Threat of Third-Party Cyber Incidents 31:45

3M ago31:45

31:45

Cybersecurity incidents involving the systems and data of third-party vendors are on the rise for utilities in the U.S. It's a worrying trend that has directly impacted electric co-ops, and industry cyber professionals are working hard to counteract it. In this episode, NRECA's Carter Manucy discusses what co-ops are doing to enhance security and m…

1
Executive Actions Underscore Co-ops’ Reliability Message 17:31

4M ago17:31

17:31

East Kentucky Power Cooperative's Tony Campbell joined President Donald Trump for a White House ceremony on April 8 to sign four major actions to boost power reliability and affordability. Campbell’s invitation to speak at this event is a high-profile recognition of the role that co-ops have played in shaping the national conversation about grid re…

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Getting to Know New NRECA President Mike Partin 25:16

4M ago25:16

25:16

Earlier this month, Mike Partin was elected president of NRECA at the PowerXchange conference in Atlanta. Partin has been CEO of Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative in central Tennessee since 2015. He joined the co-op in 1998 and has represented Tennessee on the NRECA board of directors since 2019. Hear from Partin about his thoughts on leadershi…

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The Electric Co-op Policy Outlook in a Rapidly Changing Washington 26:51

5M ago26:51

26:51

The 2024 elections were pivotal for policies affecting electric co-ops. President Donald Trump’s victory and Republicans’ majorities in Congress could bring major changes to environmental rules, permitting requirements, funding programs and tax incentives that touch on co-ops’ daily operations. Hear from NRECA's Louis Finkel about what those change…

1
An Inside Look at NRECA’s PowerXchange and TechAdvantage 24:03

6M ago24:03

24:03

NRECA's annual gathering of members is a critical touchpoint for co-ops and a place to exchange ideas and stay connected. 2025 PowerXchange and TechAdvantage come amid a period of unprecedented disruption—soaring demand from data centers and other load drivers, shrinking supply caused by misguided federal and state policies, and increasing changes …

1
Inside the Palisades Nuclear Plant Recommissioning 24:28

8M ago24:28

24:28

The Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan was shut down in 2022 but is on a path to be repowered by late next year—an unprecedented project that wouldn't be possible without the involvement of the two Midwestern generation and transmission cooperatives that signed long-term agreements to purchase power from the plant. Hear from Wolverine Power Cooper…

1
Helene and Milton—Two Co-op Leaders Share Their Hurricane Stories 29:59

8M ago29:59

29:59

Electric co-ops in the Southeast grappled with unprecedented damage from back-to-back hurricanes this fall, with Helene and Milton making landfall just a couple of weeks apart. This month, we hear from the CEOs of two of the many electric cooperatives impacted by these storms to talk about their preparation, response and recovery: Matt Stanley of L…

1
Federal Funding Accelerates Energy Innovation Among Co-ops 31:22

9M ago31:22

31:22

Electric co-ops have always been energy innovation leaders, but a surge in public funding is taking that to the next level. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 includes billions for clean energy projects—including the New ERA program designed specifically for co-ops—and the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law funded a wide range of programs that ben…

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Balancing AI’s Benefits With Cybersecurity Risks 32:29

11M ago32:29

32:29

Artificial intelligence, with its remarkable ability to digest and analyze enormous amounts of data, has nearly limitless positive applications for utilities. But it could be used just as effectively as a malicious tool by hackers and scammers. Co-ops are moving cautiously with AI, finding ways to safely implement new, enhanced systems while margin…

1
In Small-Town Illinois, Cooperative Broadband Makes a World of Difference 25:04

12M ago25:04

25:04

Nestled along the upper Mississippi River and surrounded by farms and villages tucked into rolling hills, the town of Galena, Illinois, has charm to spare and regularly ranks among the country’s top small towns to visit. Now, with the coming of high-speed internet, Galena is seeing a surge not only in tourism but in new residents—and the driver beh…

1
Protecting Electric Cooperative Consumers From Scams 22:27

1y ago22:27

22:27

Scams that target electric utility consumers have been around for almost as long as the industry itself, with criminals using the latest technologies over the years to defraud victims. Electric co-ops have a unique advantage in combating scams, being locally owned, community focused and eager to share information with one another. Learn more from M…

1
All Eyes on the 2024 Hurricane Season 26:00

1y ago26:00

26:00

The 2024 hurricane season could be especially challenging for electric co-ops and their members. NOAA is predicting above-normal Atlantic hurricane activity with up to 25 named storms—a record high for its May forecast. Learn more from Matt Rosencrans, lead hurricane outlook forecaster with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, and hear from Jeff Davis…

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Immediate, Irreparable Harm: The Impacts of EPA's Power Plant Rule 26:53

1y ago26:53

26:53

The EPA recently finalized its new rule to aggressively cut carbon dioxide emissions from power plants—a sweeping move that NRECA CEO Jim Matheson called “unlawful, unrealistic and unachievable." Critics across the industry have decried the regulation as a threat to reliability at a time when an already-stressed grid faces soaring demand. Hear from…

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In the Blink of an Eye—Devastating Incident Becomes Teaching Tool 27:51

1+ y ago27:51

27:51

In 2021, Branden Bauer was working at United Electric in Pennsylvania as a journeyman lineman with nearly 10 years of experience. During a system improvement project, he made contact with a live conductor that he'd mistakenly thought was a neutral and suffered devastating injuries. Hear from Branden and his wife, Caitlin, about how he's made a miss…

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Lower Snake River Dams Deal Threatens Reliability in Northwest 28:32

1+ y ago28:32

28:32

A long-simmering dispute over the Lower Snake River dams burst onto the headlines in November with news of a backroom deal between the Biden administration and plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the Bonneville Power Administration and other agencies that manage the dams. The deal has raised fears about the possibility of breaching the dams and comprom…

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Lessons in Succession Planning From a Small Co-op 28:34

1+ y ago28:34

28:34

The electric utility industry is in the midst of a “skills and people shortage,” brought on by a steady stream of senior leaders reaching retirement age, a marked increase in non-retirement turnover and an evolution toward more advanced technologies that’s making it more difficult to find qualified employees. Electric co-ops are responding with cre…

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What the AI Revolution Means for Electric Co-ops 24:46

1+ y ago24:46

24:46

Artificial intelligence is poised to have a rapidly expanding impact on many facets of our lives—and the power industry is at the tip of the spear. How are electric co-ops already using AI, and how will it shape and change the way we approach operations, member services and our workplace culture in the years to come? Hear from Mike Walsh, a futuris…

1
ACCESS Project Delivers Benefits of Solar to Co-ops’ Lower-Income Members 26:28

1+ y ago26:28

26:28

The Achieving Cooperative Community Equitable Solar Sources (ACCESS) project, a three-year, Department of Energy-funded effort in which electric co-ops have worked on innovative ways to bring the benefits of solar power to their low- and moderate-income members, is winding down at the end of the year. Learn more about ACCESS from Lisa Slaughter, NR…

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Middle-Mile Muddle 23:51

1+ y ago23:51

23:51

A key piece of the broadband puzzle is the “middle mile,” which connects local networks to the broader web—a particularly critical facet for rural areas. Many electric co-ops in the broadband space are finding it difficult to access reliable, affordable third-party middle-mile networks, and some are starting to take matters into their own hands. Le…

1
Proactive Safety: Commitment to Zero Contacts and Virtual Reality Training 23:09

1+ y ago23:09

23:09

The Commitment to Zero Contacts program, a joint effort of NRECA, Federated Rural Electric Insurance Exchange and statewide co-op associations to eliminate injuries and deaths caused by accidental electrical contacts, hit its five-year mark earlier this year. Phase 2 of the program includes a VR training kit that’s being rolled out to statewide ass…

1
‘We Don’t Want This to Happen to Another Cooperative’: Lessons Learned From a Cyberattack 25:29

2y ago25:29

25:29

In November 2021, Delta-Montrose Electric Association was hit with a ransomware attack that quickly spread through the co-op’s network and took over key systems like phone and email, customer information and meter data management. It took months of work to re-create and restore DMEA’s network, build new cyber protections and get back to a new norma…

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EPA's Proposed Power Plant Rule Threatens Reliability 20:59

2y ago20:59

20:59

The EPA’s proposed power plant rule is set to go into effect in the spring of 2024. This sweeping set of new restrictions on emissions from new and existing power generation facilities is being criticized by many in the industry for setting unrealistic timelines, relying on untested technologies and threatening the affordability and reliability of …

1
Along Those Lines: Filling the Rural Housing Gap 31:14

2y ago31:14

31:14

A pandemic-era trend has many Americans relocating from urban areas to smaller cities and towns, but they're facing a growing shortage of available, affordable housing. What’s causing this unprecedented housing gap, and what are rural leaders, including electric co-ops, doing to fix it? Hear from Alex Horowitz, project director of the Housing Polic…

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Raising the Alarm on Grid Reliability 31:52

2y ago31:52

31:52

The reliability of America's electric grid is no longer a guarantee amid government regulations forcing the disorderly closure of always-on power plants in favor of renewables and demand exceeding supply during critical times in several regions of the country. What have electric co-ops been doing to raise the alarm and offer solutions? Hear from NR…

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Getting to Know NRECA President Tony Anderson 26:10

2y ago26:10

26:10

Tony Anderson, general manager of Cherryland Electric Cooperative in Michigan, recently kicked off his two-year term as NRECA president. He’s a familiar figure in the electric cooperative program, with a career that has included working at five co-ops in five states and a high-profile charitable campaign that involved running a marathon in every st…

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Powering Electric School Buses in Rural America 20:52

2+ y ago20:52

20:52

Electric school buses are becoming a more common sight in rural school districts, thanks in part to new federal funding created by the bipartisan infrastructure law. For electric co-ops that serve these districts, what are the opportunities and challenges posed by this new demand for electricity? Hear from NRECA's Stephanie Crawford, Bradley Cherry…

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The Next Generation of Electric Co-op Leaders 19:31

2+ y ago19:31

19:31

Over the last 50 years, the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour has sent over 75,000 rural teenagers to Washington, D.C., for the “trip of a lifetime,” where they meet with their elected officials and build relationships. Through the Youth Tour and Youth Leadership Council, NRECA works to cultivate our next generation of co-op leaders. Learn more in th…

1
How Direct-Pay Incentives Will Change the Game for Co-ops 20:53

2+ y ago20:53

20:53

Electric co-ops saw a major victory last year with the inclusion of direct-pay incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act. The law gives co-ops and other tax-exempt entities the ability to receive reimbursements from the government for deploying new energy technologies, putting them on a playing field with for-profit providers. How does this change …

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What It Takes for Co-ops to Enter the Broadband Space 23:24

2+ y ago23:24

23:24

More than 200 electric co-ops have already built or started work to offer broadband either on their own or in a partnership, and that number will only grow with billions in funding on the way to help close the digital divide. But what does it take for a co-op to create and run a broadband business? Hear from Craig Eccher, former CEO of Tri-County R…

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Co-ops Explore 'Tremendous Potential' of Small Modular Nuclear Reactors 22:55

2+ y ago22:55

22:55

Small modular reactors and their smaller cousins, microreactors, are getting plenty of buzz as an important potential source of carbon-free power amid the energy transition. Are they capable of delivering on their many promises from a technological and financial standpoint, and how long will it take until we could realistically expect these devices…

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Co-ops Navigate Historic Influx of Infrastructure Funds 26:25

2+ y ago26:25

26:25

The $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law passed in late 2021 offers an unprecedented opportunity for electric co-ops to add services and improve their systems, but it also presents a challenge in terms of navigating the complicated and time-consuming process of applying for federal grants. Hear from NRECA’s Lauren Khair on the association’s …

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What Does an Electric Co-op Look Like to a Hacker? 26:38

3y ago26:38

26:38

Cybersecurity Awareness Month edition: What do an electric cooperative’s internal and operational networks look like to a hacker, and what can co-ops do to tighten their defenses? Hear from Ryan Newlon, NRECA’s cybersecurity solutions principal, and Bryan Hatton, a cybersecurity researcher at the Idaho National Laboratory whose work includes “white…

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How Co-ops Are Meeting Evolving Member Expectations 22:45

3y ago22:45

22:45

The advent of more engaged and empowered consumer-members is driving broad changes in the way electric co-ops do business and how they communicate about the services they offer. Hear from two co-op leaders who work closely with the co-ops in their states to help them keep up with member expectations: Nelle Hotchkiss of North Carolina’s Electric Coo…

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'Perfect Storm' of Supply Shortages—The Causes and the Co-op Response 24:04

3y ago24:04

24:04

The ongoing global supply chain crisis has spurred double-digit inflation, frustrated companies and consumers and driven the U.S. economy to the brink of recession. Electric co-ops are feeling the brunt of the impact, facing unprecedented challenges in procuring key grid components like transformers, conductor and power poles. How are co-ops leadin…

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Introducing NRECA Broadband 25:45

3y ago25:45

25:45

More than 200 electric cooperatives already provide broadband, and co-ops' role in this space is poised to become more prominent amid new government funding and an unprecedented resolve in the wake of the pandemic to close the digital divide. NRECA Broadband, a new service tier launched this summer, will leverage NRECA’s expertise, influence and re…

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Co-ops Play Leading Role in Community Revitalization 24:51

3y ago24:51

24:51

As many rural areas have suffered population loss and stagnating economic growth, electric co-ops have stepped up to try to reverse this trend through broad community development efforts. Hear from Touchstone Energy® Cooperative Executive Director Jana Adams, Erica Shehane of Lynches River Electric Cooperative in South Carolina and Dan Boysel of Co…

1
‘Super-Power’: The Impact of Hydroelectric Dams 26:35

3y ago26:35

26:35

Hydropower plants are marvels of engineering that have helped bring development and prosperity to the regions they serve. But they're also in the crosshairs of interest groups that say they should be closed because of their environmental impacts and others who want to sell the facilities to private industry. Learn more from three hydropower experts…

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Utility Drones 101 26:54

3+ y ago26:54

26:54

Electric cooperatives, whose rugged territories and unique operational needs are ideally suited to the capabilities of drones, are leading the way as unmanned aircraft take on a heightened role in the utility industry. Hear from NRECA's Stan McHann and Sangre de Cristo Electric Association's Bill Hovanec about how co-ops are pushing the limits of d…

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How Co-ops Foster a Strong Workplace Culture in Changing Times 24:04

3+ y ago24:04

24:04

Workplaces had already been changing rapidly before COVID-19 hit, but the pace of change has accelerated to an unprecedented level since then. For co-ops, advances in technology, more interest in remote work, surging retirements and evolving member expectations have made it essential for managers to ensure that their workplace culture fosters learn…

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What's In Store for NRECA International in 2022? 21:51

3+ y ago21:51

21:51

The mission of NRECA International is to bring the insights, experience and expertise of America’s electric cooperatives to the world. But the impacts of the pandemic have complicated that mission, curtailing global electrification efforts and curbing travel. How is NRECA International overcoming these challenges and continuing to adapt? Hear from …

1
EV Uptake in Rural America 26:33

3+ y ago26:33

26:33

Electric vehicle sales are skyrocketing in the U.S. as Americans embrace these highly efficient, fun-to-drive machines and more car manufacturers commit to releasing all-electric models. But EV popularity has largely been centered on urban and suburban areas and slower to catch on in rural America. What are the reasons for this dynamic, and what ar…

1
How Electric Co-ops Are Navigating the Energy Transition 34:05

3+ y ago34:05

34:05

As changes in policy, energy markets and consumer expectations drive major changes in how utilities generate and deliver electricity, the industry faces one of its most challenging times. Co-ops have been adding wind and solar to their generation portfolios, but how does the acceleration of the energy transition affect the ability to provide reliab…

1
'You're Here to Take Care of a Community': Veterans Thrive in Co-op Jobs 21:42

3+ y ago21:42

21:42

As co-ops face workforce challenges due to retirements and changes in the industry’s key technologies, military veterans rotating out of active duty and into civilian life bring training and expertise that's often ideally suited to co-ops’ needs. Hear from three veterans who served their country and now focus their skills on their communities as co…

1
Amid Rise in EVs, New Cybersecurity Considerations Emerge 16:22

4y ago16:22

16:22

With the influx of electric vehicles into the U.S. market, utilities—including electric cooperatives—and other interests are working to build EV infrastructure that can keep pace with the expected demand, and this growing web of connected charging stations will create a host of new cybersecurity vulnerabilities. To learn more about what those vulne…

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How Can Electric Co-ops Avoid Becoming Victims of Ransomware? 24:30

4y ago24:30

24:30

First in a two-part series for Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Ransomware became a household word earlier this year when the Colonial Pipeline, a major fuel delivery source on the East Coast, was shut down for several days after hackers attacked the company’s billing system. These highly disruptive and costly network intrusions are on the rise in th…

1
Storm Recovery -- Working With FEMA To Rebuild Stronger After a Disaster 24:45

4y ago24:45

24:45

Typically, when a state is hit with a natural disaster and the power grid is impacted, utilities will work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to rebuild to where the grid was before the event. Lately though, electric co-ops have been working to secure federal reimbursements for restorations that go further to harden their system and creat…

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Understanding Essence, a Co-op-Created Cyber-Defense System 21:56

4y ago21:56

21:56

As utilities have deployed new connected technologies to monitor the grid, the need for strong cybersecurity on the operations technology side has grown exponentially. NRECA worked with co-ops and other partners to develop the Essence tool, which began as an innovative way to quickly identify anomalies on downline systems and evolved to become a ro…