CFC Solutions Cast
28 episodes - English - Latest episode: 9 days ago - ★★★★★ - 4 ratingsCFC's podcast is focused on highlighting financial and energy industry insights that matter most to the electric cooperative network.
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Episodes
Industry Insights: The Challenging Future of Electric Reliability
April 09, 2024 17:40 - 2 minutes - 2.58 MBListen to CFC’s Alisha Pinto for an update on the electric grid, areas for concern and what cooperatives can do to enhance reliability.
Industry Insights: Recent Surge in Bitcoin Prices May Impact Electric Cooperative Demand
March 22, 2024 19:26 - 1 minute - 1.54 MBCFC 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...
The Evolution of AI: What Questions Should Co-ops Be Asking?
February 27, 2024 17:26 - 16 minutes - 23.3 MBIn 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...
Revving Up: 2023 Trends Accelerate into 2024
January 16, 2024 15:16 - 12 minutes - 17.2 MBIn 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 lea...
Educating the Next Generation of Co-op CEOs—Top Tips for Developing Leadership Talent
December 18, 2023 15:46 - 30 minutes - 42.3 MBEducating the Next Generation of Co-op CEOs—Top Tips for Developing Leadership Talent In 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 ...
Discover How A Midwest Cooperative is Leading the Way in Beneficial Electrification
November 13, 2023 15:29 - 21 minutes - 29.8 MBIn 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...
A Game Changer: The Team Sport of Infrastructure Planning — Part 2
October 26, 2023 14:21 - 32 minutes - 44.9 MBA Game Changer: The Team Sport of Infrastructure Planning In 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-trad...
A Game Changer: The Team Sport of Infrastructure Planning — Part 1
September 29, 2023 15:14 - 41 minutes - 57.3 MBA 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 infrastr...
Building Trusting Relationships with Members and Employees Through Communications
September 08, 2023 12:58 - 26 minutes - 36.1 MBIn 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...
Leading by Example To Change a Cooperative’s Culture
August 22, 2023 15:05 - 15 minutes - 20.6 MBIn 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...
Discover How One Vermont Co-op Is Building a Virtual Power Plant
July 25, 2023 14:36 - 21 minutes - 29.7 MBIn 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 introduci...
North Carolina Co-op Uses AI To Improve Reliability, Safety
June 27, 2023 16:05 - 16 minutes - 22.8 MBIn 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 ...
A Journey from Contact Center Representative to Data Scientist
May 23, 2023 16:39 - 25 minutes - 34.4 MBIn 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 cou...
C&I Generator Loan Program Enhances Resilience
April 27, 2023 19:08 - 18 minutes - 24.8 MBIn 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 li...
How Cooperatives Can Prepare for Future EV Sales Growth
March 28, 2023 17:38 - 24 minutes - 33.4 MBIn 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 coop...
How Winter Storm Elliott Caused the Perfect Storm
February 28, 2023 19:04 - 14 minutes - 19.3 MBIn 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...
A Preview of the 2023 Economic and Energy Picture for Co-ops
December 13, 2022 18:00 - 19 minutes - 26.7 MBIn 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 ...
Microgrid, Battery Storage Help Mitigate Severe Weather
December 02, 2022 16:02 - 18 minutes - 17.1 MBIn 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 tornado...
Defending Electric Infrastructure from Wildfires
October 11, 2022 16:14 - 28 minutes - 39.4 MBIn 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 masticati...
Iowa Cooperative Uses Smart Grid Enablers To Achieve Fiber Network Rollout
April 26, 2022 16:50 - 31 minutes - 43.4 MBIn this episode of CFC Solutions Cast, we chat with Maquoketa Valley Electric Cooperative President and CEO Jeremy Richert and NRTC Vice President of Smart Grid, Advisory and Networks Joe Walsh as they discuss the importance of smart grid enablers when planning for smart grid applications. Maquoketa Valley, based in Anamosa, Iowa, has implemented multiple smart grid applications over the last 20 years including AMI metering, SCADA upgrades, system automation, data analytics, and th...
Electric Cooperative Leaders Share EV Program Implementation Experiences, Member Feedback
March 29, 2022 13:40 - 26 minutes - 36.2 MBIn this episode of CFC Solutions Cast, we chat with Roanoke Electric Cooperative CEO Marshall Cherry and Cobb Electric Membership Corporation Vice President of Power Supply, Rates and DER Strategy Tim Jarrell as they discuss their rollout of electric vehicle (EV) charging programs, member adoption and how member feedback is driving improvements. Roanoke, based in northeast North Carolina, has the lowest population density in the state and recently implemented a strategic vision,...
Minnesota Co-op Nears Completion of Ambitious Smart Grid Load Management System
February 28, 2022 17:27 - 22 minutes - 30.4 MBMinnesota-based Dakota Electric Association is implementing an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) meter data management (MDM) and load management system, including all the integration and internal processes to use the data. The cooperative is in the final stages of exchanging 120,000 meters and about halfway done with replacing 50,000 load control devices. Dakota kicked off the MDM project in 2013 by identifying its technology needs and developing a vision of what success looke...
PART 2: Alaska Co-op Goes Big with 46.5 MW Battery Energy Storage System
February 01, 2022 13:45 - 18 minutes - 25.5 MBAlaska-based Homer Electric Association recently completed the construction and initial testing of a 46.5 megawatt battery energy storage system (BESS) located at its Soldotna Generation and Substation facility. The BESS is made up of 37 battery units capable of delivering 93 megawatt-hours over a two-hour period and was built to increase grid stability, electric power reliability and system efficiency. Due to the area’s unique geography, HEA has one 15 kilovolt transmission line t...
PART 1: Alaska Co-op Goes Big with 46.5 MW Battery Energy Storage System
February 01, 2022 13:44 - 16 minutes - 22.8 MBAlaska-based Homer Electric Association recently completed the construction and initial testing of a 46.5 megawatt battery energy storage system (BESS) located at its Soldotna Generation and Substation facility. The BESS is made up of 37 battery units capable of delivering 93 megawatt-hours over a two-hour period and was built to increase grid stability, electric power reliability and system efficiency. Due to the area’s unique geography, HEA has one 115 kilovolt transmission line ...
Indiana Co-op Accelerates Battery Storage Project To Beat the Peak
November 29, 2021 16:08 - 24 minutes - 33.8 MBNortheastern Rural Electric Membership Corporation (NREMC) is speeding up its plans to deploy three additional batteries to be operational by the end of May 2022—almost a year ahead of schedule—due to the successful operation of its first two batteries that came on-line in July 2021. In August, NREMC charged its two batteries, 6 MW and 7 MW, with off-peak power and then successfully shaved its peak power needs with 100 percent of the batteries’ capacity. The cooperative saved $1.6 ...
Are Rising Prices Temporary or Are They Here to Stay?
October 18, 2021 14:29 - 25 minutes - 35.5 MBInflation is currently the talk of the financial news networks with ominous headlines and warnings about what’s to come. The rise in prices causes everyone to pay more for goods and services, including electric cooperatives for their operations. With the economy growing at just under 7 percent and supply imbalances creating bottlenecks, economists are wondering where inflation is headed near term. The Federal Reserve thinks the demand shock of the economy reopening earlier this ...
The Changing Landscape of Rate Design
September 01, 2021 13:57 - 18 minutes - 25.3 MBThe evolving rate design landscape is being driven by new technologies, providing electric cooperatives with access to more data and insights as they adapt to changing consumer-member behaviors and needs. Learn how smart meter data are playing an important role in the process, what factors are behind today’s rate design and what these changes could mean for electric cooperatives. · How can technology investments affect rate design decisions? · What is causing ...
Why Electric Cooperatives Should Tell Their Story
September 01, 2021 13:06 - 20 minutes - 18.5 MBElectric cooperatives have a great story to tell about the cooperative business model, self-governance and their mission to provide reliable and affordable essential services to rural America. Whether intended, or not, cooperatives are well positioned to align their efforts with consumer-member and investor ESG (environmental, social and governance) expectations. Learn how ESG principles are driving investor views and why electric cooperative leaders may want to take note for th...