The Electric Wire Customers First! Coalition

Wisconsin is taking action to access federal funding through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program which will help install EV fast charging stations along the state's major highway corridors. Our special guests for this episode include: Emma Heins of the Electrification Coalition and Kaleb Vander Wiele of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.


Links from Episode

Wisconsin Department of Transportation – Electrification

https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/multimodal/electrification.aspx

Interactive Map of Potential Charging Station Locations

https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/8405604ccc034f7c8c4e95e6776951a7#data_s=id%3AdataSource_7-189ad031f53-layer-11%3A17

Electrification Coalition

https://electrificationcoalition.org/



Key Moments



1:40 - Interview with Emma Heins begins

4:40 - WI legislation

8:00 - Additional aspects of legislation

11:15 - Why federal incentives for EVs?

13:00 - How will EV charging in WI change over the next year?

14:30 - Other policy actions needed on EVs?

17:40 - Emma's "All the Power" moment

19:57 - Interview with Kaleb Vander Wiele begins

25:00 - Changes in EV policies since 2017

28:10 - NEVI

30:30 - Charging Station Map (See map online: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/8405604ccc034f7c8c4e95e6776951a7#data_s=id%3AdataSource_7-189ad031f53-layer-11%3A17)

38:22 - Where do we go from here?

46:37 - Kaleb's "All the Power" moment

Chairperson Rebecca Valcq joins us to reflect on her five years leading the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin as she prepares for her final day at the agency on February 2, 2024. We discuss her proudest moments, biggest challenges, memorable cases, and much more. Lori Sakk, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Public Utility Institute, joins to co-host
this episode.

Chairperson Valcq discusses the following during our
conversation:


What’s been happening at the Public Service
Commission of Wisconsin since the last time we spoke (5:05)
Looking back at expectations for the job (7:00)
Proudest moments (9:22)
Biggest challenges (12:16)
Major cases (18:38)
Generic dockets (20:25)
Memorable episodes of the Electric Wire podcast
(25:15)
Memorable WPUI programs (28:00)
Sharing wisdom from experience (31:20)
Legacy (34:44)
All the Power moment (37:28)
What’s ahead (40:10)

Links from Episode:

Wisconsin  Public
Utility Institute (WPUI):

https://wpui.wisc.edu/

Upcoming Educational Programs from WPUI:

https://wpui.wisc.edu/programs/

Electric Wire, Episode 3 (Apple)

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/energy-innovation-with-wisconsin-energy-leaders/id1497322756?i=1000468353689

Electric Wire, Episode 3 (Spotify)

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6gpyBr1DZAFbYOq2rIc6Ja

The year-in-review roundtable is back with both new and
familiar faces to help us recap this year in Wisconsin energy news. We discuss the top stories, ideas, and developments in 2023, as well as making some predictions for the year ahead.

Our special guests include:

·      Kara Pennoyer, Chief of Staff to Public Service
Commission of Wisconsin Chairperson Rebecca Valcq

·      Matthew Spencer, Director of Government Relations,
Madison Gas and Electric

·      Carrie Templeton, Regulatory Relations and
Policy Manager, Alliant Energy

·      Andy Bochman, Senior Grid Strategist, Idaho
National Laboratory

 

Key Moments

03:25 - Top Energy Stories of the Year

07:10 – Top Sustainable Energy Developments of the Year

12:50 – Most Promising Energy Idea of the Year

18:30 – “Shock” of the Year

25:00 – Favorite Episode of the Electric Wire This Year

32:45 – Predictions (Reflecting Back & Looking Forward)

42:30 – “All the Power” Moments

2023 Reflection Clips

49:15 –Episode 37: Brent Ridge, CEO of Dairyland Power Cooperative,
discusses hydropower using mine storage

52:05 –Episode 38: Cindy Smith, Chief Legal Counsel at
Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, discusses public participation and
process at the PSCW

55:40 –Episode 33: Sen. Julian Bradley discusses an “all of
the above” approach to energy during his “All the Power” moment



Links to Previous, Highlighted Episodes

Electric Wire, Episode 40: Tours at MGE EV Fast Charging
Hub and O’Brien Solar Fields

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tours-at-mge-ev-fast-charging-hub-and-obrien-solar-fields/id1497322756?i=1000630813364

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVK0103DDaE&t=1114s

Electric Wire, Episode 41 - MEUW Celebrates with Public
Power on Parade at the State Capitol

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meuw-celebrates-with-public-power-on-parade-at-the/id1497322756?i=1000633242021

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIL9Qi_Z4FY

Electric Wire, Episode 38 - Cindy Smith discusses
participation and process at the PSCW

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cindy-smith-discusses-public-participation-and/id1497322756?i=1000622954015

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS6PQZLEpOQ

Electric Wire, Ep. 39 - Marcus Hawkins discusses his role
leading the Organization of MISO States

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marcus-hawkins-discusses-his-role-leading-the/id1497322756?i=1000626358105

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqYCUp7_dTM&t=468s

Electric Wire, Episode 27 - The Reality of Retail Choice
with Laurel Peltier

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-reality-of-retail-choice-with-laurel-peltier/id1497322756?i=1000578685568

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6fD7EMD_BY&t=164s

Electric Wire, Episode 25 - Nuclear Power, Reliability
& Global Weirding

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclear-power-reliability-global-weirding-with-andy/id1497322756?i=1000567542737

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpcEMypyy8o&t=32s

For more detailed analysis of PSCW rate proceedings this
year, you can check out content from our friends at the Citizens Utility Board
of Wisconsin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLwz3hEZvK8

Wisconsin’s state-wide energy efficiency program, Focus on Energy, helps electric customers achieve cost-savings through
energy conservation measures. Our guests on this episode discuss more about the program, why it was created, what’s in it for customers, costs and benefits, the program’s four-year planning process, and more. We are joined by Lisa Stefanik,
Managing Director, Focus on Energy, and Jolene Sheil, Portfolio Manager for Focus on Energy, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. Matthew Spencer, Director of Government Relations, Madison Gas and Electric, and Board Member for the Statewide
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Administration (SEERA), co-hosts.

Key Moments

4:43 – What is the Focus on Energy
program?

5:50 – When, how, and why was Focus on
Energy created?

7:15 – More on the roles of the program’s
administrator, APTIM; the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin; and, the Statewide
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Administration

9:55 – How is Focus on Energy funded and
what is the relationship between the state’s electric utilities and Focus on Energy?

14:35 – What does Focus on Energy do for
Wisconsin’s electric customers?

17:30 – How does the program reach out to
customers about available offerings?

18:48 – How are decisions made about what
energy efficiency programs to offer?

22:50 – What are the costs and benefits
of the program?

23:40 – More on the benefits of the
program (bill savings, grid improvements, environmental, and economic benefits)

29:10 – What are the top performing
programs? (Industrial projects; discussion of LED lightbulbs)

39:00 – Related federal funding from the Inflation
Reduction Act

43:50 – The Quadrennial Planning Process

48:30 – Renewable energy funding

50:29 – Issues that arose during COVID-19
pandemic

Links from Episode

Focus on Energyhttps://focusonenergy.com/

Focus on Energy Success Stories

https://focusonenergy.com/success-stories-1

Online Home Assessment Tool Walkthroughhttps://focusonenergy.com/home-assessment

Focus on Energy Annual Reportshttps://focusonenergy.com/evaluation-reports/categories/annual-reports

Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
https://psc.wi.gov/Pages/Home.aspx

APTIM (Focus on Energy Program Administrator)
https://www.aptim.com/

As the Municipal Electric Utilities of Wisconsin, or MEUW, celebrated its 95th birthday on October 18, 2023, the organization brought municipal utility leaders from across the state to the State Capitol to share the benefits of public power in their communities. The celebration culminated with a parade around the Capitol Square, with 81 utility bucket trucks showing their public power pride.

This podcast episode features several short interviews conducted on-site during MEUW’s day at the Capitol; a quick look at some of the communities represented in the public power bucket truck parade; and, the episode concludes with a sit-down interview with Richard Heinemann, a long-time energy attorney at Boardman Clark representing municipal utilities. **Energy nerds will not want to miss the long-form interview with Richard Heinemann starting at 15:30!**

Episode Special Guests

• Tim Heinrich, President and CEO, Municipal Electric Utilities of Wisconsin
• Jill Weiss, Utilities Director, Stoughton Utilities
• George Morrissey, Director of Public Works, Cuba City
• Richard Heinemann, Attorney, Boardman & Clark LLP

Links from Episode

October 2023 Issue of Live Lines Newsletter (MEUW Celebrates 95th Anniversary)
https://www.meuw.org//Files/Live%20Lines/2023%20October%20Live%20Lines.pdf

Map of Municipal Electric Utilities in Wisconsin
https://www.meuw.org/map

Electric Wire, Episode 29 - Rooted in Community: Municipal Electric Utilities of Wisconsin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00s1H5MNYN0&t=592s

Key Moments

1:35 – Interview with Tim Heinrich (MEUW) begins
6:19 – Interview with Jill Weiss (Stoughton Utilities) begins
9:00 – Public Power on Parade at the Capitol (about 3 mins 30 seconds)
12:48 -- Interview with George Morrissey (Cuba City) begins
15:30 – Interview with Richard Heinemann (Boardman Clark) begins
19:00 – Founding of municipal utilities/service territories
23:30 – Regulatory issues specific to municipal utilities
30:00 – “Pancaking”(or, stacking) of transmission rates
32:36 – Municipal utility regulation at the local level
36:15 – What is a joint action agency?
41:26 – How are municipal utilities funded?
43:25 – Is it possible to become a public power community today?
48:58 – Richard’s “All the Power” answer

On today’s episode, we are bringing listeners along for two recent, in-person tours hosted by CFC for our members. Our first stop was at Madison Gas and Electric’s fast-charging hub for electric vehicles in downtown Madison, Wisconsin. The fast-charging hub features sixteen fast-charging stalls, including eight Tesla Superchargers.

Our next tour stop was at Madison Gas and Electric’s O’Brien Solar Fields just south of Madison in Fitchburg, Wisconsin. The 22-MW O'Brien Solar Fields delivers locally-generated solar energy to large energy users.

The episode features subject matter experts from Madison Gas & Electric guiding our tours, including:

• Erinn Monroe-Nye – Energy Services and Policy Manager
• John Armstrong – Renewable Engineering Manager
• Mark Lydon – Senior Account Manager
• Jeanne Burns-Frank – Environmental and Sustainability Program Manager

Key Moments from the Episode Include:
2:00 – Erinn Details EV Fast Charging Hub
7:34 – Lessons learned during operation of EV Fast Charging Hub
9:20 – Question about managing cars parked at hub
10:19 – Erinn’s “All the Power” Moment (Paving the way for more fast chargers)
11:00 – O’Brien Solar Tour Begins
14:20 – Mark discusses MGE customers receiving power from project
16:28 – Project Development and Leasing with John
18:30 – Jeanne discusses vegetation mix and ideal native plants for solar sites
27:40 – Process of converting sunlight to electricity on site
29:40 – Winter considerations at solar site
31:40 – Land use and benefits to the land
32:41 – John’s “All the Power” Moment (MISO Queue)
33:44 – Mark’s “All the Power” Moment (Energy jargon)
34:55 – Jeanne’s “All the Power” Moment (Energy storage)

Find more information about the EV fast charging hub and O’Brien Solar Fields at the Madison Gas & Electric website:


EV Charging Hub:
https://www.mge.com/newsroom/news-rel...
MG&E Solar Projects:
https://www.mge.com/our-environment/g...