Power Plays

CoBank
  • 5.0 (8)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY

Welcome to Power Plays, a podcast series dedicated to the U.S. power and energy sector. Hosted by Teri Viswanath, lead energy economist with CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange division, Power Plays connects you with top energy and environmental innovators, policy makers and rural electric cooperative executives for timely insights and in-depth market analysis.

  1. FEB 25

    How Electric Co-ops Can Flex with Credit Headwinds

    Electric co-ops are grappling with rising costs, but members are in no mood for rate hikes. Load growth can help, but it’s not without risks. In this episode of the Power Plays podcast, S&P Global’s David Bodek and CoBank credit leader Rob Galena take a hard look at the landscape and map out co-op financial flexibility.

    28 min

  2. JAN 28

    How to Recruit Board Members Who are Plugged In

    Relevance, tech awareness and closer ties to changing communities — those are some of the key qualities to seek out in co-op board member recruits. In this episode of Power Plays, Richard Fagerlin and Dr. Keri Jacobs, the hosts of Build Better Boards podcast, advise co-ops to polish their recruitment strategy and clearly frame their value proposition to attract volunteers.

    23 min

  3. 12/17/2025

    A Tactical Guide to Battery Energy Storage

    Battery storage is the Swiss Army knife of the grid—it can balance demand and supply and support ancillary services. As the electric industry looks for any and all supply solutions, batteries are an important resource in the grid toolbox. This episode of Power Plays brings together battery deployment insights from a manufacturer, battery storage researcher, G&T executive and large developer.

    26 min

  4. 11/19/2025

    The Energy Balancing Act — Co-ops, Data Centers and the New Grid Equation

    America’s electric cooperatives are executing a stunning balancing act protecting existing customers, maintaining reliability and serving a surge of large loads driven by data centers. Hear how they are pulling it off in this Power Plays episode. Leaders from Umatilla Electric, Rappahannock Electric, Tri-State Generation & Transmission and NextEra Energy Resources share their candid stories of innovation, risk management and community impact.

    25 min

  5. 10/22/2025

    Beyond the Bucket: A Focus on Mental Health in Linework

    Powerline workers’ safety extends far beyond electrocution and falls. In this episode of Power Plays, safety experts Johnie Hendrix and Chad Johnson talk through the importance of supporting crews so they are emotionally and mentally healthy and prepared, on and off the line.

    19 min

  6. 09/24/2025

    The CEO Learning Curve

    Leading an electric co-op mean faster decisions, a positive work culture and reliable service. In this episode of Power Plays, CEOs Tom Howard and Katherine Domingue share what comes with the top role, and point to the importance of safety, trust and communication. Hear how they’ve led through crises and their advice for future leaders.

    19 min

  7. 08/27/2025

    How Much is Your Co-op’s Broadband Worth—And What Comes Next?

    After building out broadband, electric cooperatives’ next step is to assess it value – and maybe sell or divest, if an opportunity presents itself. As market dynamics shift and operational demands evolve, this episode of Power Plays offer advice to co-ops weighing financial returns against mission alignment and long-term sustainability.

    17 min

  8. 07/30/2025

    How to Build a Power Plant (Quickly)

    The cost and time to build a new power plant has increased dramatically. Essential equipment lead times are long, and technical labor is scarce. In this episode of Power Plays, Gavin McCollam with Basin Electric shares how his North Dakota G&T cooperative is addressing reliability, meeting project timelines and building new generation for the next generation.

    21 min
See All (68)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Welcome to Power Plays, a podcast series dedicated to the U.S. power and energy sector. Hosted by Teri Viswanath, lead energy economist with CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange division, Power Plays connects you with top energy and environmental innovators, policy makers and rural electric cooperative executives for timely insights and in-depth market analysis.

Information

  • Creator
    CoBank
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    68
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © CoBank
  • Show Website
    Power Plays

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