SunCast
SunCast
Nico Johnson
889: Why Co-ops and Public Utilities Are Winning the Load Growth Race
30 minutes Posted Jan 6, 2026 at 1:00 pm.
Introduction: The Energy Transition & Load Growth
Sacramento’s Shift: Moving from Flat Demand to Vertical Growth
Virginia’s Data Center Explosion: Managing 20+ Gigawatts
Creating a "Growth Division" for Large-Scale Interconnection
Grid Reliability: Long-Range Planning & Excess Capacity
Customer Partnerships: Shifting Load During Peak Heat Waves
Smart Solutions: Storage, Microgrids & Distributed Energy
Equity & Affordability in the Clean Energy Transition
Financing the Future: New Tariffs for Large Power Users
Bill Burden vs. Rates: Protecting Low-Income Customers
Key Takeaways: Trust as a Grid Asset
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Show notes

The energy grid is facing a challenge unlike anything we’ve seen before.

Think about this: one Virginia co-op has over 20 GW of demand in its queue. That’s more than the energy demand of New York City. As electrification and data center expansion accelerate, public power and electric co-ops are on the front lines of solving this surge.

Electric cooperatives and public utilities are facing a wave of electrification, data center load, and manufacturing demand that rivals the size of major cities. That’s what major power providers are up against — but they’re not backing down.

This Tactical Tuesday episode is your front-row seat to a high-stakes, high-impact conversation hosted by Sheri Givens, CEO of SEPA. She’s joined by two utility leaders tackling today’s fastest-growing energy challenges while maintaining reliability, affordability, and equity.

They deliver on active solutions - from smart customer programs to creative tariff structures and innovative infrastructure partnerships.

Expect to learn:

🔹 How utilities are planning for multi-gigawatt load growth

🔹 What it takes to avoid blackouts during grid stress events

🔹 How equity-driven programs are supporting underserved communities

🔹 Why customer relationships are the new frontier in grid reliability

If you’re in clean energy, this is the episode that explains how the game is changing - and how leaders are rising to meet the moment.

Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast?

Hit us up - [email protected] with your feedback & recommendations.

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Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus