Future Proofing the NY Grid – Part 1

Just about everyone is aware of the rapid rise in our electric bills over the past few years. Some want to blame the “Green New Deal” and renewable energy projects, but the real causes involve a combination of an aging grid, extreme weather, rising inflation and equipment shortages, distorted utility business models, rising natural gas prices for peak load generation, and the addition of massive new energy demand from AI hyperscale data centers. Complicated, right? And all of those pressures may only get worse without serious intervention and redesign of how we provide electricity to our homes, schools, and local businesses. Our first step needs to be widespread public understanding and engagement with the realities of our electric grid system. If we want policymakers to act on our behalf, we need to be informed enough to resist any false solutions or distorted framing that may circulate to our detriment. Join us at noon on Wednesday, June 17 to hear from our expert panelists as we try to sort through the current issues that are creating reliability issues for our NY grid, and what we can do now to help those at risk while preventing energy burdens from rising even higher. Our first panelist is Kevin Lanahan, Senior Vice President for External Affairs and Corporate Communications from the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO). Kevin has 25 years of experience in the energy industry and is very familiar with grid operations. NYISO operates New York’s high-voltage transmission system, manages the state’s competitive wholesale electricity markets, and conducts comprehensive power system planning. Kevin will walk us through the basics of how the grid operates and the factors mentioned above that are impacting both cost and reliability of our electric system. Our next speaker will be Laurie Wheelock, the Executive Director and General Counsel of the Public Utility Law Project (PULP). PULP is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization advocating for universal service, affordability, and customer protections for New York State utility consumers since 1981. Their organization’s mission is to educate the public about its legal rights as utility consumers; engage in research and advocacy; and provide legal representation for low-income utility consumers in electric, natural gas, telephone, and other utility related matters. PULP has been involved in the many rate cases before the PSC (Public Service Commission), advocating to protect consumers from the rapidly escalating electric delivery rates that our investor-owned utilities have imposed. There is also a Q&A session for these two people who have been working the NY electric system from two very different vantage points for many years. The Finger Lakes Forecast webinar series brings together regional experts, policymakers, and community leaders to explore how climate change is shaping our region and what we can do to prepare. Originally launched in 2022, the series creates space for meaningful conversations about resilience, adaptation, and community action. For more information and resources, visit our event page: https://sustainablefingerlakes.org/20... 0:00 Introductions Kevin Lanahan 3:39 Laurie Wheelock 30:45 Q&A 56:00 Next steps 1:13:12