Advertise on podcast: Alternative Power Plays

In this special edition of “Alternative Power Plays” marking fifty-plus episodes, Buchanan’s John Povilaitis and Alan Seltzer are joined by Brattle’s Metin Celebi and Frank Graves for a wide-ranging retrospective and forward-looking discussion of the energy industry. The episode begins with the hosts reflecting on the podcast’s evolution since launching in 2021, from its original focus on combined heat and power (or CHP) to its broader conversations on hydrogen, nuclear energy, electrification, grid capacity, and political and international issues. The four then take a trip down memory lane to revisit standout episodes and highlight guests that prompted insightful, impactful and important conversations. They also examine past predictions that failed to pan out. Looking ahead, the hosts analyze several emerging issues and challenges facing the energy sector, including data centers, affordability, grid-enhancing technologies and climate change – topics of discussion that very well may appear in the next 50 episodes! To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer To learn more about Metin Celebi, visit https://www.brattle.com/experts/metin-celebi/ To learn more about Frank Graves, visit https://www.brattle.com/experts/frank-c-graves/

In this second part of a two-episode conversation, Todd Snitchler, president and CEO of the Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA), returns with hosts John Povilaitis and Alan Seltzer. The trio takes a closer look at EPSA’s Competitive Power Principles and specifically the organization’s commitment to evolving the resource mix. Snitchler outlines how EPSA members have long owned diverse fleets and warns against states that have “bet the farm” on a single resource type. Instead, Snitchler argues, a diverse mix of sources – from natural gas and renewables to battery storage and nuclear – is key to continued supply reliability and price competitiveness.  On nuclear, Snitchler notes that EPSA’s members own the largest nuclear fleets in the country, and he spotlights a number of recent project successes, including Constellation’s Crane Clean Energy Center and Vistra’s deal with Meta. He also discusses the bipartisan support for nuclear projects at the federal level, including funding announcements by the U.S. Department of Energy. Povilaitis and Seltzer shift the conversation to a discussion on “speed to connectivity,” to which Snitchler highlights how efforts by Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania are leading the way in eliminating barriers to infrastructure development and accelerating the build-out of increased power generation. The episode closes with a focus on climate concerns, as Snitchler describes how competitive markets have driven significant emissions reductions by retiring older, higher-emitting units and encouraging the deployment of newer, more efficient and lower-emitting plants. To learn more about EPSA, visit https://epsa.org/ To learn more about Todd Snitchler, visit https://epsa.org/about-epsa/our-staff/snitchler/ To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer

In this first part of a two-episode conversation, hosts John Povilaitis and Alan Seltzer are joined by Todd Snitchler, president and CEO of the Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA), the national trade association representing America’s competitive power suppliers. EPSA’s members own roughly 225,000 MW of competitive generating capacity – spanning natural gas, nuclear, geothermal, coal, wind, solar, hydro and battery storage – in markets ranging from the West Coast to Texas and the Northeast.  Snitchler is a self-described “recovering lawyer, politician and regulator” whose career spans service in the Ohio House of Representatives and as chair of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and the Ohio Power Siting Board. A lawyer by trade, he has also represented independent power producers on utility regulation, reliability and infrastructure development.  Across a wide-ranging conversation, Povilaitis, Seltzer and Snitchler unpack how competitive wholesale power markets work, contrast restructured markets with vertically integrated utility models and demystify regional transmission organizations. The trio also notes how the rapid growth of data centers has complicated load forecasting and outlines the measures states and utilities are implementing to mitigate these challenges. To learn more about EPSA, visit https://epsa.org/ To learn more about Todd Snitchler, visit https://epsa.org/about-epsa/our-staff/snitchler/ To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer

The energy industry can be doing all the right things, but what is that good effort worth publicly if no one knows about it? Or worse, if they have the wrong perception of reality? Without controlling the narrative, public and private sentiment can get out of hand fairly quickly. And that's why firms like Echo Communications exist. On this episode of Alternative Power Plays, Buchanan's John Povilaitis welcomes Chris Moyer, President of Echo Communications Advisors. Chris has nearly 20 years of experience advising U.S. Senators, presidential campaigns, and advocacy organizations on how to influence public narratives and policy outcomes. That includes helping shape legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act and securing billions in clean energy funding. During the conversation, Chris shares some of the risks and opportunities that energy companies face in the year (and years) ahead, what type of messaging can resonate in our hyper polarized world, and what changes those in Washington, D.C., should make to the narrative on renewables. To learn more about Echo Communications, visit: https://echocomms.com/ To learn more about Chris Moyer, visit: https://echocomms.com/staff/chris-moyer/ To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis

Grid expansion is a challenge. On this, almost everyone can agree. But what will it take to expand electric grid capacity and what barriers need to be broken to advance transmission siting and permitting? On this episode of Alternative Power Plays Christina Hayes, Executive Director at Americans for a Clean Energy Grid (ACEG) and Cici Vu, Director of Energy and Climate Equity at DNV Energy Insights USA, join hosts Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis for a conversation on ACEG’s Report addressing the important issue of public acceptance of new electric infrastructure projects. ACEG is a non-profit public interest advocacy coalition focused on the need to expand, integrate and modernize the North American high-voltage electric grid. Christina has 20 years of experience as a regulatory energy attorney, including a decade at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. She previously served as Vice President for Federal Regulatory Affairs at Berkshire Hathaway Energy. At ACEG, Christina has been a leading advocate for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or FERC’s landmark rule reforming regional transmission planning, Order No. 1920. Cici works to design strategies that address complex environmental and social challenges, with an emphasis on infrastructure, policy, and community-centered planning. She is a co-author of a report came out in January of this year and is called “The PACE of Trust: A Framework by Community Voices for Advancing Transmission.” To learn more about ACEG, visit: https://www.cleanenergygrid.org/ To learn more about Christina Hayes, visit: https://cleanenergygrid.org/team/christina-hayes/ To learn more about Cici Vu, visit: https://www.iesna.com/speaker/cici-vu/ To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis

Much of the world is seeking to find new ways of cleaning up electricity supplies, reducing emissions, and cutting climate pollution from buildings, transportation and more. On this episode of Alternative Power Plays, hosts Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis talk with two leaders from Energy Innovation, a non-partisan energy and climate policy think tank, about their latest report examining energy parks as a solution to some of these challenges. Energy parks are essentially large-scale microgrids that integrate multiple renewable energy source-and-storage solutions like batteries, and co-locate with electricity consumers such as factories or data centers, all of which is connected to the grid at a single point. And while these energy parks sound good in theory, there are a number of regulatory hurdles that need to be overcome to bring them to life. Eric Gimon, a Senior Fellow at Energy Innovation, and Michelle Solomon Manager in the Electricity Program at Energy Innovation, talk about why energy parks may be the solution to some of our energy hurdles. During the discussion, they share insights into how energy parks work, why they make sense (and for whom they make sense), and what the future looks like for them. To learn more about Energy Innovation, visit: https://energyinnovation.org/ To learn more about Michelle Solomon, visit: https://energyinnovation.org/bio/michelle-solomon/ To learn more about Eric Gimon, visit: https://energyinnovation.org/bio/eric-gimon-2/ To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis

For decades, Pennsylvania has served as a key energy battleground and, in some ways, a harbinger for the challenges the energy industry will face years down the line. On this episode of Alternative Power Plays, Buchanan’s Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis are joined by Andy Tubbs, President and CEO of the Energy Association of Pennsylvania, or EAP for short. EAP is a trade association that represents and promotes the interests of regulated electric and natural gas distribution companies operating in Pennsylvania. Tubbs has extensive background in the regulation of utilities, policy and strategy, legislative affairs, and utility operations. He spearheads EAP’s initiatives to advocate for the energy industry and strengthen collaboration among policymakers, regulators and utility providers. During the discussion, the trio discuss the challenges facing Pennsylvania’s jurisdictional electric and gas utilities, whether new electric utility legislation is needed, what the future of solar could look like in the Commonwealth, and much more. To learn more about EAP, visit: https://www.energypa.org/ To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis

The presence of coal in the U.S.’s energy mix has obviously changed dramatically over the past 15-20 years. From the continued growth of natural gas to the expansion of renewables to the increased focus on nuclear energy, coal has fallen quite a bit since its peak usage in the mid-2000s. On this episode of Alternative Power Plays, Buchanan’s Alan Seltzer is joined by Fran Taglia, President of Weir International, an independent consultancy that provides mining, geology and energy related services throughout the United States and internationally. Fran has two decades of technical, operational analysis and business management experience in the financial, product development and production industries. During the episode, Seltzer and Taglia talk about the changing role of coal as an energy source and key drivers impacting its future. How much does the political landscape impact this resource? Is a true coal resurgence really happening? What untapped opportunities are there for this industry? To learn more about Weir International, visit: http://www.weirintl.com/ To learn more about Fran Taglia, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fran-taglia-4b355841 To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer ⁠

The passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill on July 4th, 2025, coupled with an Executive Order (EO) issued by President Trump on July 7th, have shined a light on certain key requirements impacting eligibility for various renewable tax credits that have existed for a number of years, but which have likely been under most people’s radar. The requirements are known as the “Beginning of Construction” or “BOC” requirements.   On this episode of Alternative Power Plays, Buchanan’s Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis welcome Ed Hild, a principal in Buchanan's government relations practice, and Carl Staiger, a shareholder the firm’s tax section with a specific focus on energy-related projects. The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) accelerated the phase-out or termination of tax credits available for most commercial renewable energy projects. As many in the industry know, maintaining eligibility for tax credits has been an important issue for as long as renewable energy tax credits have existed, as the economic viability of many projects have been tied to these credits. During their conversation, the group explores what the changes made in the OBBB and the potential impact of the Executive Order mean for wind and solar developers with a focus on BOC. To learn more about Ed Hild, visit: https://www.bipc.com/edward-hild To learn more about Carl Staiger, visit: https://www.bipc.com/carl-staiger To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis

On this episode of Alternative Power Plays, Buchanan’s Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis welcome Stephen McCloskey, Residential Energy Efficiency Analyst at Cape Light Compact. Cape Light Compact is an energy services organization operated by the 21 towns on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Dukes County in Massachusetts. In his role, McCloskey helps with the administration of its energy efficiency programs for single-family residential customers. During their conversation, the trio take a deep dive into Cape Light Compact’s energy efficiency programs, specifically the Cape and Vineyard Electrification Offering, or C-V-E-O, and how they’re working to decarbonize the communities they serve. They discuss the unique challenges and opportunities with decarbonization at a smaller scale, the process for customers to adopt greener energy options and how Cape Light is making a difference not just in New England but is actually setting an example for communities well beyond the Northeast. To learn more about Cape Light Compact, visit: https://www.capelightcompact.org To learn more about Stephen McCloskey, visit: https://www.capelightcompact.org/staff/stephen-mccloskey/ To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis

The wholesale electricity market has changed plenty in recent years, and if future projects are any indication, more change is on the way in the decade-plus ahead. On this episode of Alternative Power Plays, Buchanan’s Alan Seltzer and Brattle’s Metin Celebi welcome colleague Andrew Levitt, a Senior Consultant at Brattle. Levitt is an expert in wholesale electricity policy, focused on evolving system needs. He’s an expert in market design for emerging resources and has worked with utilities, regional transmission organizations (RTOs), and regulators. During the discussion, the three get into the weeds on an American Clean Power-commissioned report Brattle published that provides a roadmap for RTOs on energy storage market design. Conventional market design is very limiting for new technologies, specifically batteries, and the report focuses on why the RTOs of PJM, MISO and NYISO are strong candidates for reform. They also talk about why California Independent System Operator (CISO) and Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) remain leading examples of battery storage deployment and what has made them successful. Finally, Levitt ends the conversation with insights on what changes need to be made to other RTOs to make energy storage deployment possible. To learn more about Brattle, visit: https://www.brattle.com/ To learn more about Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, visit: www.bipc.com To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer⁠ To learn more about Metin Celebi, visit: ⁠ https://www.brattle.com/experts/metin-celebi/

On this episode of Alternative Power Plays, Buchanan’s Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis welcome Jon Gordon, Director at Advanced Energy United. Advanced Energy United (AEU) is an industry association and advocacy group that represents the full range of advanced energy technologies and services, both grid-scale and distributed. In his role, Jon leads AEU’s work to increase wholesale electricity market access for advanced energy technologies, including related transmission expansion. The conversation centers around PJM, the regional transmission organization (RTO) that coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity in 13 states and Washington, D.C. In February, AEU published a report examining the results of PJM’s capacity auction for 2025-2026, which saw prices surge to $14.7 billion, an increase of $12.5 billion from the previous auction. The three discuss the results of that report and how it will impact customers, what’s driving high prices, what additional reforms and remediation are needed to improve interconnection, and more. On a previous episode of Alternative Power Plays, Seltzer and Povilaitis sat down with Gordon’s colleague, Ryan Gallentine, Managing Director of Advanced Energy United where they discussed what policies Gallentine is focused on to help move electric vehicle adoption forward. To hear that conversation, visit: https://share.transistor.fm/s/f8e6940d.  To learn more about Advanced Energy United, visit: https://advancedenergyunited.org/   To learn more about Jon Gordon, visit: https://advancedenergyunited.org/about/team/jon-gordon To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer  To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis

What exactly is needed to prepare the electrical grid for load growth expected to come from electric vehicle adoption? What role does the clean energy industry play? On this episode of Alternative Power Plays, Buchanan’s Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis sat down with Ryan Gallentine, Managing Director of Advanced Energy United. Advanced Energy United is a national industry association representing businesses that provide the full range of advanced energy and transportation solutions. Gallentine leads the organization’s transportation portfolio, where he’s focused on designing political strategies and campaigns to promote electric vehicle adoption and infrastructure modernization. In this episode, Gallentine shares what policies he’s focused on at Advanced Energy United to help move electric vehicle adoption forward. He talks about which states in the U.S. are progressive when it comes to EV adoption and infrastructure, and which still have a ways to go. He talks about grid capacity, risks and future goals, and why an all-of-the-above approach makes sense. On a previous episode of the podcast, Britta Gross, Director of Transportation at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), discussed these same issues from the point of view of utilities. Gallentine’s perspective comes from that of public and private companies in the clean energy industry. To hear our conversation with Gross, listen here: https://share.transistor.fm/s/824932f7. To learn more about Advanced Energy United, visit: https://advancedenergyunited.org/ To learn more about Ryan Gallentine, visit: https://advancedenergyunited.org/about/team/ryan-gallentine To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis

Clean hydrogen may be the future of renewable energy to some, but substantial upfront costs are a hindrance to truly enabling the industry to flourish. The First Public Hydrogen Authority (FPH2) and CEO Jason Caudle are working to change that. On this episode of Alternative Power Plays, Buchanan’s John Povilaitis and Alan Seltzer talk with Caudle about FPH2 and the future of hydrogen energy. Prior to FPH2, Caudle spent the entirety of his career in local government, working for the city of Lancaster, California, for about 17 years including leading the city’s energy department. During the episode, Caudle discuses why Lancaster, PA, was the right place for a hydrogen energy program, his expected timing for bringing this type of renewable energy to life more broadly, what steps need to be taken to enable a more renewable future, and how to expand this energy beyond more green-energy-focused states like California.  To learn more about First Public H2, visit: https://www.firstpublich2.com/ To learn more about Jason Caudle, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-caudle-b594742a   To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer ⁠ To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis

For some time, marketing hydrogen in an affordable way has been a challenge to say the least. One company, Grimes Carbon Tech, says that assertion is untrue and they have the technology to prove it. On this episode of Alternative Power Plays, Buchanan’s Alan Seltzer and John Povilaitis welcome Joseph Maceda, founder of Grimes Carbontech, and Haydn Palliser, Principal at green energy transition advisory firm Pivotal 180 and Grimes Carbontech advisor, to talk about their company and its hopeful technology. Grimes Carbontech was founded in 2022 and offers scalable technology that uses low-temperature waste heat to produce hydrogen in a liquid solution. The company says their technology is 80% cheaper than the electrolysis method and doesn’t come with the need for pipelines or electrical grid infrastructure, enabling the firm to market hydrogen at the site of its use and convert carbon to sustainable fuel while also capturing and recycling carbon profitably. Grimes Carbontech calls it “Caustic Aqueous-Phase Electrochemical Reforming" or "CAPER.” During the episode, Joseph and Haydn talk about the ins and outs of their technology, how it works, why it’s so valuable and what the future for this technology looks like. While the company is in its early stages, the future looks quite promising and our guests are thrilled about what its true potential could look like. To learn more about Grimes Carbon Tech visit: https://grimescarbontech.com/ To learn more about Joseph Maceda and Haydn Palliser, visit: https://grimescarbontech.com/about-us To learn more about Alan Seltzer, visit: https://www.bipc.com/alan-seltzer⁠ To learn more about John Povilaitis, visit: ⁠https://www.bipc.com/john-povilaitis