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                    <title><![CDATA[Edison Electric Institute Newsroom]]></title>
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                    <pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 17:40:59 +0200</pubDate>
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                        <title><![CDATA[Edison Electric Institute Newsroom]]></title>
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                        <title>EEI Data: Electric Companies to Invest $1.4T to Support Customers, Power Growth</title>
                        <link>https://www.electricperspectives.com/capital-expenditures-grid-investment/</link>
                        <guid>https://www.electricperspectives.com/capital-expenditures-grid-investment/</guid><pp:caseid>745166</pp:caseid><pp:summary><![CDATA[<p>“America’s electric companies work every day to get more steel in the ground and electrons on the grid, improving reliability for customers and ensuring the United States is home to the industries, technologies, and jobs of tomorrow,” said <strong>EEI President and CEO Drew Maloney</strong>.</p>]]></pp:summary><description><![CDATA[<p><img class="image_resized" style="aspect-ratio:800/auto;width:800px;" src="https://content.presspage.com/uploads/3004/516f111a-9ed1-4a61-b166-67d8fa010915/istock-1332858442-powerlines-transmission-tower.jpg?x=1753280813188" alt="iStock-1332858442_powerlines_transmission_tower" width="800" height="auto"></p><p>Investor-owned electric companies will invest $1.4 trillion through 2030 to strengthen America’s energy infrastructure, increase grid resilience, and ensure reliable and affordable service to their nearly 250 million customers, according to a new capital expenditures projection released by EEI.</p><p>The data, primarily compiled from EEI member company announcements and financial statements, also shows that the industry’s annual capital expenditures hit a record $204.1 billion last year—a 14th-consecutive year of record-high investment. In 2026, capital expenditures are projected to jump 17 percent to $238.8 billion and continue climbing for the foreseeable future.</p><p>“America’s electric companies work every day to get more steel in the ground and electrons on the grid, improving reliability for customers and ensuring the United States is home to the industries, technologies, and jobs of tomorrow,” said EEI President and CEO Drew Maloney. “The grid is the most important engine in America, and these investments show our industry’s commitment to powering the U.S. economy and the lives of our customers.”</p><p style="text-align:center;"><img class="image_resized" style="aspect-ratio:800/auto;width:800px;" src="https://content.presspage.com/uploads/3004/e907a6ce-e68e-4c97-8bac-a01785f1362c/capex26.jpg?x=1778963635848" alt="capex26" width="800" height="auto"></p><p>Independent studies, including recent analyses from <a href="https://www.eei.org/en/news/news/all/2026lbnlreport">Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory</a> and <a href="https://www.electricperspectives.com/podcast-new-analysis-finds-us-electricity-rates-largely-tracking-inflation/">Charles River Associates</a>, have found that rising energy demand can lower prices for customers by putting more electrons on the grid and spreading fixed costs across a broader base.</p><p>EEI maintains a running <a href="https://www.eei.org/-/media/Project/EEI/Documents/Issues%20and%20Policy/List%20of%20Large%20Customer%20Projects%20and%20Tariffs">snapshot</a> of $900 billion in data center and large-customer investments supported by member companies, representing more than 55 gigawatts of connected load. These investments are being supported with customers in mind, with tariffs and fair share agreements protecting American households from higher bills as a result of data centers. At the same time, these investments support reliability, resilience, and economic development opportunities in communities across the country.</p><p>The $1.4 trillion that investor-owned electric companies will invest in the grid between 2026 and 2030 is an increase from the previous projection of $1.1 trillion to be invested between 2025 and 2029. Rising energy demand driven by electrification, industrialization, the onshoring of manufacturing activity, and data centers and AI technologies are creating a need for new energy infrastructure of all kinds.</p><p>Review more of the industry’s latest financial statistics at <a href="http://eei.org/data">eei.org/data</a>.</p>]]></description><category><![CDATA[latest,eei,grid,infrastructure,maloney,Lessons of Leadership,leadershipperspectives,Leadership Perspectives,feature,features,soergel]]></category>
            <pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 17:05:51 +0200</pubDate>
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                        <title>EEI’s Drew Maloney Talks Grid Innovation, Affordability, Mutual Assistance on &#039;The Deciders&#039; Podcast</title>
                        <link>https://www.electricperspectives.com/maloney-deciders-grid-innovation/</link>
                        <guid>https://www.electricperspectives.com/maloney-deciders-grid-innovation/</guid><pp:caseid>756225</pp:caseid><pp:summary><![CDATA[<p><i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;text-align:center;">Maloney:&nbsp;“</span>75 percent of Americans get their electricity from us. There’s enormous growth, and we are there to meet that growth. That’s why we’re investing. We’re providing reliable and affordable energy.<span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;text-align:center;">”&nbsp;</span></i></p>]]></pp:summary><description><![CDATA[<p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/87gzFECHEok?si=EX1DqvBVT2Yxp4FH" width="100%" height="520" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><p><i>On a new episode of The Deciders&nbsp;podcast, EEI President and CEO Drew Maloney joined Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Brody Mullins and veteran D.C. strategist Lisa Camooso Miller to discuss rising electricity demand, responsible data center growth, grid innovation, and challenges facing customers in the PJM Interconnection market.</i></p><p><i>The following is edited for length and clarity:</i></p><p><strong>Brody Mullins (BM): Drew, your career has spanned Capitol Hill, the Treasury, private equity, and now the Edison Electric Institute. Tell us about your journey.</strong></p><p><span style="color:#4C4CE5;"><strong>Drew Maloney (DM):</strong></span> I grew up talking about political issues with my family. My mom worked on Capitol Hill. She was a staffer. My parents were introduced on a blind date by Senator Chris Dodd. I had an uncle that worked for Hubert Humphrey's campaign.</p><p>We always talked politics, and I knew, at some point, I wanted to get involved in politics. After college, I went down to Williamsburg, Va., and I ran a state senate campaign. It was the best experience that I had. You had to learn to make quick decisions, drive a message, and build a coalition at 22 years old.</p><p>From there, I came to Capitol Hill and got to work for some great members. Senator Roger Wicker, who was in the House at the time. Congressman Tom DeLay. What I really learned from them is how to put together coalitions.</p><p>Congressman DeLay was the Whip at the time, and he would often have Congressman John Murtha, a big Democrat at the time, and Congressman John Dingle in his office. They were trying to figure out how they could piece things together—how they could get things passed. Watching how they maneuvered and counted votes was instrumental in figuring out how to be an advocate here in Washington.</p><p>That had a natural progression toward advocacy. I was fortunate enough to go into the U.S. Treasury during the tax reform process, and then I worked in private-equity advocacy and am now here at EEI, which is the top trade association for electric utilities in the country.</p><p>It’s been a great ride. I’ve had great experience, and I love doing what I do.</p><p><strong>BM: You worked at the Treasury Department during the first Trump Administration, and you mentioned the tax reform bill. Tell us about that journey.</strong></p><p><span style="color:#4C4CE5;"><strong>DM:</strong> </span>Looking back at 2017, you had Speaker Paul Ryan, who had probably started to think about tax reform when he was in kindergarten. You had Representative Kevin Brady, and then you had the Senate and Senator Mitch McConnell.</p><p>For 30 years, we hadn't had tax reform. You had to go back to 1986 before there was major tax reform. There was a lot of work that went into the thought process around tax reform coming into 2016-17.</p><p>You finally had in the White House a willing partner, a businessman who had been elected who understood the importance of tax reform and the economic growth that it can provide. It was a fantastic time to be part of something that was very unique. It really was a great partnership to have between House, Senate, and the White House.</p><p><strong>Lisa Camooso Miller (LCM): Let’s talk more about your members, specifically, and what issues they’re focused on.</strong></p><p><span style="color:#4C4CE5;"><strong>DM:</strong></span> EEI represents 63 different utilities. We have members in every state around the country, and we provide energy to 250 million Americans—75 percent of Americans get their electricity from us. There’s enormous growth, and we are there to meet that growth. That’s why we’re investing. We’re providing reliable and affordable energy.</p><p>This is an inflection point right now for the industry.</p><p><strong>BM: Two of your biggest members recently announced a merger: NextEra Energy and Dominion Energy. Why is there consolidation in the industry right now?</strong></p><p><span style="color:#4C4CE5;"><strong>DM:</strong> </span>It's all about scale. In order to be able affordability and build out the grid to provide um a resilient system—a reliable system—you need as many resources as you can as you can capture. That’s one of the goals of the merger: You get that scale, and the beneficiary will ultimately be the customer. You can capture that and put downward pressure on rates over the long term.</p><p><strong>LCM: What would you say is the biggest misconception about the electric utilities?</strong></p><p><span style="color:#4C4CE5;"><strong>DM: </strong></span>The biggest misconception is that we really are innovators. If you think about the grid, it was first built about 150 years ago. It's probably the most critical economic and national security engine that we have, but it takes a lot of investment to maintain. That's why you see us investing more than a trillion dollars over the next four years in building out the grid.</p><p>What people don't see is all the innovation and technology behind the grid. We're constantly putting out new technologies that can determine whether the grid can handle more capacity so it can deliver more power to people's houses.</p><p>If you go into one of our control centers, it's like a starship inside. You can see your entire grid and know what's happening in one town versus another. If you have cold weather here and warmer weather there, you can keep moving things around to make the system as efficient as possible. You probably couldn't do that 20 years ago. It's an amazing amount of investment to make the system work better and be more resilient, more reliable for our customers</p><p>We are making the customer experience better by including information in bills that lets you figure out that it’s better to run your washer and dryer at night, or it’s better to plug in your car at night, charge your phone at night, because the electricity rate is cheaper when people are using less electricity.</p><p>One of the things that's really been critical over time is, now that we have more severe storms, whether it’s winter storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, or wildfires, we are developing these sensor technologies that can tell us when a tree is getting too close to a wire that may trigger a fire.</p><p>We can reroute systems when a line goes down so we can provide power and go around the downed line. There's so many of these technologies and so much innovation in our industry that people don't see every day.</p><p><strong>LCM: Affordability is one thing that both parties are talking about right now. What are some of the things your members are doing to address that particular issue?</strong></p><p><span style="color:#4C4CE5;"><strong>DM: </strong></span><span>I think the challenge&nbsp;right now is that&nbsp;we’re&nbsp;in this affordability debate where people are struggling—whether&nbsp;it’s&nbsp;groceries, food, health care, or energy prices. Every company is dealing with this and addressing it with their customers. We have programs that help customers who&nbsp;can’t&nbsp;pay their bills, that can stretch out payments. Every single company is wrestling with this issue.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>But I think what we have to do is keep reminding people of the value that we provide.&nbsp;If you think about your home, there are about 21 connected devices right now—your smartphones, your computers, your televisions—and on top of that, there are probably another 75 things that get plugged in… your hair dryer, your water heater, your electric toothbrush. All of this requires power. What our job during this&nbsp;time period&nbsp;is to remind people of that value—that for&nbsp;basically the&nbsp;cost of a box of cereal every day,&nbsp;all of&nbsp;those&nbsp;devices&nbsp;work. And that’s really an incredible feat.</span></p><p><strong>LCM: Tell us about Energy of Every Day. What’s the message? What’s the goal of the campaign?</strong></p><p><span style="color:#4C4CE5;"><strong>DM: </strong></span>We started this campaign about six months ago. The idea is to remind people of the value of what we provide. There's so much that happens in your daily life, from when you wake up to when you go to work to when you come home, that electricity drives.</p><p>You think about how transformational this has been over time. Thomas Edison builds his first power station in lower Manhattan to power Wall Street 150 years ago. Today, we have this enormous grid, this grid that's powering economic activity throughout the world. It's an amazing story, and that's what the Energy of Every Day campaign is telling. It's reminding them that everything they do in their lives is powered by us, and we do it as reliably and affordably as possible.</p><p><strong>BM: We’re coming up on EEI 2026. Tell us about it.</strong></p><p><span style="color:#4C4CE5;"><strong>DM: </strong></span><span>This is the leading conference for electricity leadership throughout the United States.&nbsp;We're&nbsp;going to have leaders of our companies in Las Vegas, along with leaders of tech companies, our partnerships, and government officials. It's a great opportunity to highlight some of these innovative technologies that we're using that are making the grid more reliable, safer, and keeping costs down—it's really the place to be if you're in electricity.</span></p><p><strong>BM: There's a feeling that AI and data centers are really going to drive up demand for electricity and therefore increase customer bills. Is that true?</strong></p><p><span style="color:#4C4CE5;"><strong>DM:</strong> </span>It's not. A group called E3 put out a study that highlights the fact that data centers are not driving up costs. It's another one of these inflection points in the U.S. that, if you do this right, d<span>ata centers can actually put downward pressure on rates.</span></p><p>There have been 23 states that have these large load agreements right now. If you look at those states and what happens after these data centers have been announced, you've had rate freezes in Alabama and Georgia. You've had cost reductions in Louisiana, Indiana, and Michigan. All of these states announcing these future data centers are going to see some downward pressure on their rate.</p><p><strong>BM: And is that because the companies are paying back into the system? Where does the downward pressure come from?</strong></p><p><span style="color:#4C4CE5;"><strong>DM:</strong> </span>It's like if you have a bus, and the bus costs $100. If you have 10 people on that bus, it's $10 a person. But if you add 10 more people on that bus, it's suddenly $5 a person. The grid is a fixed-cost system. When you add a large payer on that system, it helps drive cost down for everyone on the system. It also allows for more investment so the system becomes more reliable over time.</p><p><strong>LCM: You mentioned AI data centers. That’s a hot topic. What about these discussions do you think is misleading?</strong></p><p><span style="color:#4C4CE5;"><strong>DM:</strong> </span>If you take a step back on data centers, we currently have over 4,000 data centers in the U.S. already operating. So much of our daily life involves data centers that we don’t see—online shopping, posting memes on the internet, online banking, health records.</p><p>All these activities happen in AI data centers. I think it’s overcoming that natural aversion to data centers. What we have to do is talk about the benefits to customers and dispel the myths that electricity rates are going up because of data centers — because they’re not.</p><p><strong>LCM: Who is paying for the new infrastructure to build and maintain the data centers?</strong></p><p><span style="color:#4C4CE5;"><strong>DM:</strong></span><strong> </strong>The data center companies are paying for it. It’s pure and simple. They’re bringing their own power by paying for that. They’re paying for the interconnection. They’re paying for the grid upgrades. That’s why you see most of this regulated at the state level.</p><p>You’ve seen these 23 states and another handful of states pending these large-load agreements which require these data centers to pay their fair share. There’s no free ride that they’re getting. That’s a big myth. You also can’t engage early enough. I think one of the challenges we’re seeing is you have to be transparent about what you’re doing as an AI data center in a community, and you have to engage early.</p><p><span>We've&nbsp;had a history of more than 100 years in most of these communities providing power. We know what it takes to have that customer relationship</span>, and they need to do that as well. They can partner with us in a lot of cases.</p><p><strong>BM: Does permitting reform have a chance of passing this year?</strong></p><p><span style="color:#4C4CE5;"><strong>DM:</strong></span> It’s the one issue Congress can actually work on that can affect the affordability debate. <span>It takes up to a decade or longer to build transmission lines or generation facilities because of the permitting process</span>. You’ve got to get multiple permits from multiple agencies. The agencies don’t talk to each other. This is an opportunity to fix that.</p><p>And the cost of that delay can be up to 25 percent of a project. If Congress wants to do something about affordability with electricity prices, this is a great first step.</p><p>I’m really optimistic. I’ve been here about 30 years. I have never seen an effort so focused on trying to get permitting reform done. The number of groups, the resources being put into this, the bipartisan energy trying to get this done—I’m optimistic.</p><p>Whether it gets done between now and November or now and December, I don’t know. But I feel like now is the time to do it. There’s a lot of interest on both sides of the aisle and a recognition that we do have to do something.</p><p>It’s been too long and these regulations have become too burdensome.</p><p><strong>LCM: When you think about regulators and how they plan for short-term and long-term, how do regulators and electric utilities balance investment in long-term infrastructure versus near-term need?</strong></p><p><span style="color:#4C4CE5;"><strong>DM: </strong></span>The good news with the utility industry is we plan over a 30- to 50-year process.</p><p>We build power plants, transmission lines, distribution systems meant to last 30 to 50 years.</p><p>That means we can spread the cost out over that amount of time, which is really better for the customer over the long term.</p><p><strong>BM: Charles River Associates recently did a study on your industry. What did they conclude?</strong></p><p><span style="color:#4C4CE5;"><strong>DM:</strong> </span>They highlighted the fact that data centers are not driving cost for customers.</p><p>They also highlighted that about 34 states have kept their average electricity rates below the national average. The whole debate on electricity cost is different region by region. The Southeast has maintained lower rates. California has had higher rates largely because of wildfire mitigation. They’ve had to bury lines and do more to protect wires against fires. That costs money and is ultimately borne by the customer.</p><p>In PJM and the New England area, there’s just a lack of generation. It’s a deregulated market, and in a high-growth time period when you can’t control the generation build, the customer is suffering in those marketplaces.</p><p><strong>BM: You mentioned deregulation. It sounds like after 20 years they’ve learned some things in the Northeast. Talk about that.</strong></p><p><span style="color:#4C4CE5;"><strong>DM:</strong> </span>I think the problem is the deregulated market in PJM is broken, and customers are paying the price. <span>The power generators—which can be 50 percent or more of your bill in these markets—are unregulated. </span>That has to get fixed. The states have no real control over them, but they have control over us.</p><p>The people getting utility bills get them from us, but more than half of the bill in PJM is not imposed by us. <span>Everyone—including the White House—has acknowledged that the PJM market is not working and that it&nbsp;has to&nbsp;get fixed. We need more steel in the ground. We&nbsp;don't&nbsp;really care who builds it.&nbsp;We'll&nbsp;build it. They&nbsp;can&nbsp;build&nbsp;it. But somebody needs to start building.</span></p><p>If nobody’s building, the generators are going to keep making more money and customers are going to keep paying.</p><p><strong>BM: For my entire life Republicans have said deregulation is good and leads to lower prices. Now you’re saying, in this particular case, deregulation is bad and led to higher prices.</strong></p><p><span style="color:#4C4CE5;"><strong>DM:</strong></span> I think this is a unique time period. We’re in a very high-growth period. You need a lot of planning, and in this deregulated marketplace it’s tough to match those up.</p><p>The generators will say they’re not getting a big enough price to build more. If you think about our obligation to serve, we have to provide power to everybody. That’s why it’s historically been a regulated business. You want everybody treated equally across the system.</p><p>If you leave it to a totally deregulated model, everybody flocks to urban areas and rural areas get left behind, because it costs more money to string a wire to fewer people. It’s a model that has worked for 150 years, and we’re very proud of it and committed to our customers.</p><p><strong>LCM: You mentioned storm response earlier. Talk about that process and where you’re seeing the greatest impact.</strong></p><p><span style="color:#4C4CE5;"><strong>DM:</strong></span><strong> </strong>My first experience with a storm at EEI was Winter Storm Fern, which was a huge ice storm that started in Texas and worked its way across the Mid-Atlantic and ended up here with “snowcrete.”</p><p>It was a significant event that ended up having about a million homes out of power on Day 1. Ninety percent of those homes were back up within days.</p><p><span>What people don't understand about our industry is we have this huge mutual assistance program. </span>Days before the storm, we get on calls with our government partners in Washington, in states and localities, and all of our other utilities in unaffected states. We mobilized 65,000 line workers from 44 states, working 24/7 in really tough conditions. If there's a line down in a particular county, we know and we send the crew out there. It’s an enormous collective effort where everybody shares.</p><p>Not only do they share line workers and personnel, but they share equipment. If you need a transformer in Alabama and there’s one sitting in Idaho, we’ll get it down there. It’s an amazing collective effort to keep the lights on.</p><p><strong>LCM: It’s amazing. They’re these unsung heroes that nobody realizes. They’re traveling often from three or four states over to come in and get the line back up and running.</strong></p><p><strong>BM: You worked in the first Trump Administration. You worked in the transition going into his second term putting many officials in place. How would you describe your work with the Administration?</strong></p><p><span style="color:#4C4CE5;"><strong>DM: </strong></span>We’ve worked very well with the Trump Administration on energy policy issues and find the working relationship to be good. Like a lot of things, you play the long game with any Administration.</p><p>We maintain a good working relationship. There are things we don’t always agree on, but, nonetheless, we keep pursuing what we want to do, which is provide more reliable and affordable power.</p><p><strong>BM: What decision from the past year are you most proud of?</strong></p><p><span style="color:#4C4CE5;"><strong>DM: </strong></span>Hiring a great team. We had a great team at EEI. We built an even stronger team and integrated that team to really deliver the results in this modern-day advocacy environment. That’s been my proudest moment.</p><p><strong>BM: What’s one thing you’d like to do over?</strong></p><p><span style="color:#4C4CE5;"><strong>DM:</strong></span> If you look back at the year, I was so focused on dealing with everything inside EEI.</p><p>I really want to spend next year going out in the field, visiting plant facilities, going to more operations, seeing the line workers and how they actually repair lines. That’s my next-year goal: to get out there and do more in the field and get out of the Washington bubble.</p><p><strong>BM: What’s something people in Washington are not thinking about but should be?</strong></p><p><span style="color:#4C4CE5;"><strong>DM:</strong></span> I think right now it’s a time period where you don’t have to swat at every fly.</p><p>You have to be very calculated in what you’re going to do and you have to play a longer game. Don’t get caught up in the emotion. There’s going to be a negative tweet by somebody. There’s going to be an op-ed you don’t like. There’s going to be a quote in a story you don’t like. But don’t overreact.</p><p>You have to have a long game. You have to stay focused and don’t get knocked off it. Most Americans are not paying attention to all the little tweets, op-eds, comments, and papers.</p><p>Stay focused on your long game.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>]]></description><category><![CDATA[Leadership Perspectives,leadershipperspectives,Lessons of Leadership,data center,latest,maloney,pjm,grid,demand,investment,affordability,reliability,generation,permitting,infrastructure,soergel,feature,features]]></category>
            <pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 16:03:13 +0200</pubDate>
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                        <title>EEI’s Drew Maloney Discusses Demand Growth, PJM Strain, and Grid Investment Needs</title>
                        <link>https://www.electricperspectives.com/eeis-drew-maloney-discusses-demand-growth-pjm-strain-and-grid-investment-needs/</link>
                        <guid>https://www.electricperspectives.com/eeis-drew-maloney-discusses-demand-growth-pjm-strain-and-grid-investment-needs/</guid><pp:caseid>745712</pp:caseid><pp:summary><![CDATA[<p><i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;text-align:center;">Maloney:&nbsp;“In the last two years,&nbsp;we’ve&nbsp;seen demand growth double, and it will likely continue.&nbsp;At the end of the&nbsp;day,&nbsp;we need more generation and more steel in the ground.”</span></i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;text-align:center;">&nbsp;</span></p>]]></pp:summary><description><![CDATA[<p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/83FhfBJT2Rw?si=awg8WZAnpwb57CPD" width="100%" height="560" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><p style="margin-left:0px;text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-left:0px;text-align:left;"><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">In a new interview on&nbsp;The Energy Gang podcast,&nbsp;<strong>EEI President and CEO Drew Maloney</strong>&nbsp;discussed&nbsp;rising electricity demand and the need for new generation,&nbsp;permitting&nbsp;reform, and responsible data center growth.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-left:0px;text-align:left;"><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">Listen&nbsp;to&nbsp;full&nbsp;episode&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83FhfBJT2Rw&list=PLZWRyTnQg6RsMl1tUqU8_SY0BCqZJfz5L&index=1&t=121s" target="_blank"><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;"><u>here</u></span></a><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-left:0px;text-align:left;"><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;"><strong>Managing Data Center Growth Responsibly:</strong>&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-left:48px;text-align:left;"><i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">“The goal is clear: we don’t want existing ratepayers to bear the burden of new data centers,”</span></i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">&nbsp;<strong>Maloney</strong>&nbsp;said.&nbsp;</span><i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">“When it’s done right, these investments can actually put downward pressure on rates.”</span></i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-left:0px;text-align:left;"><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">He pointed to&nbsp;the increasing number of&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.eei.org/-/media/Project/EEI/Documents/Issues%20and%20Policy/List%20of%20Large%20Customer%20Projects%20and%20Tariffs" target="_blank"><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;"><u>large-load agreements</u></span></a><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">&nbsp;and&nbsp;the White House’s&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.eei.org/en/news/news/all/americas-electric-companies-partner-to-protect-local-families" target="_blank"><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;"><u>Ratepayer Protection Pledge</u></span></a><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">, designed to ensure data centers and other large customers pay their fair share and help reduce costs for local families and businesses.<strong>&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-left:0px;text-align:left;"><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;"><strong>Historic Electricity Demand and Grid Investment:</strong>&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-left:48px;text-align:left;"><i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">“When you look back at America’s history, the transformational infrastructure investments were railroads, the interstate highway system, and the electric grid,”&nbsp;</span></i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;"><strong>Maloney&nbsp;</strong>said.</span><i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">&nbsp;“Today, we are once again investing in the most critical engine of our economy—the electric grid.”</span></i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-left:48px;text-align:left;"><i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">“In the last two years, we’ve seen demand growth double, and it will likely continue,”&nbsp;</span></i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">he added.&nbsp;</span><i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">“At the end of the day we need more generation and more steel in the ground.”</span></i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-left:0px;text-align:left;"><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;"><strong>Affordability and Reliability:</strong>&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-left:48px;text-align:left;"><i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">“Americans are feeling cost pressures across the board—food, health care, housing, and energy,”&nbsp;</span></i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;"><strong>Maloney</strong>&nbsp;said.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-left:0px;text-align:left;"><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">He noted that electricity prices vary by region, but&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.eei.org/news/news/all/new-analysis-finds-us-electricity-rates-have-remained-stable-in-a-majority-of-states" target="_blank"><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;"><u>data&nbsp;show</u></span></a><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">&nbsp;about 34 states have kept rates below&nbsp;average&nbsp;over the past five years.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-left:48px;text-align:left;"><i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">“When Americans flip a light switch, turn on their heat or air conditioning, or plug in their phones, they expect it to work,”&nbsp;</span></i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">he said</span><i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">. “That’s our commitment—to deliver reliable and affordable power every day.”</span></i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-left:0px;text-align:left;"><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;"><strong>PJM and the Need for New Generation:</strong>&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-left:0px;text-align:left;"><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;"><strong>Maloney&nbsp;</strong>also addressed ongoing challenges in&nbsp;the&nbsp;PJM&nbsp;Interconnection region, highlighting concerns about rising costs and a lack of new&nbsp;generation&nbsp;in the region.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-left:48px;text-align:left;"><i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">“There’s bipartisan frustration—from FERC, the White House, and governors—because this is not sustainable,”</span></i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">&nbsp;he&nbsp;said.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-left:0px;text-align:left;"><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;"><strong>Permitting Reform and Building Infrastructure Faster:</strong>&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-left:48px;text-align:left;"><i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">“We’re seeing momentum around solutions, including permitting reform, which is critical to getting projects built on time and at lower cost,”</span></i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">&nbsp;<strong>Maloney&nbsp;</strong>said.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-left:48px;text-align:left;"><i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">“It can take a decade or longer to build transmission in the United States,”&nbsp;</span></i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">he added.</span><i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">&nbsp;“That delay can increase project costs significantly—and those costs are ultimately borne by customers.”</span></i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-left:0px;text-align:left;"><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;"><strong>Convening Energy and Technology Leaders at EEI 2026 in Las Vegas&nbsp;(June 2-4):</strong>&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-left:48px;text-align:left;"><i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">“At&nbsp;</span></i><a href="https://eeievents.cventevents.com/event/EEI2026/summary" target="_blank"><i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;"><u>EEI 2026</u></span></i></a><i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">&nbsp;in Las Vegas, we’ll bring together one of the largest gatherings of electricity experts and thought leaders,”&nbsp;</span></i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;"><strong>Maloney</strong>&nbsp;said.&nbsp;</span><i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">“We’re looking forward to hearing from leaders across the energy and technology sectors as we work together to power America’s future.”</span></i><span style="margin:0px;padding:0px;">&nbsp;</span></p>]]></description><category><![CDATA[Leadership Perspectives,leadershipperspectives,Lessons of Leadership,data center,q22026,latest,maloney,politico,pjm,grid,demand,investment,affordability,reliability,generation,permitting,infrastructure,slattery]]></category>
            <pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 16:06:20 +0200</pubDate>
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                        <title>EEI&#039;s Drew Maloney: America Needs Permitting Reform &#039;As Soon as Possible&#039;</title>
                        <link>https://www.electricperspectives.com/drew-maloney-grid-customers-affordability-data-centers/</link>
                        <guid>https://www.electricperspectives.com/drew-maloney-grid-customers-affordability-data-centers/</guid><pp:caseid>735657</pp:caseid><pp:summary><![CDATA[<p><span>“The grid is the most important engine in America. If the grid doesn't work, America doesn't work. And it requires investment," EEI President and CEO Drew Maloney said during an interview with the </span><i><span>Washington Examiner</span></i><span>.</span></p>]]></pp:summary><description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align:center;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nRDHO02VVxs?si=NdsyOPaReV44cv6V" width="100%" height="400" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><p>In a new, wide-ranging, on-camera interview with the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRDHO02VVxs"><i>Washington Examiner</i></a>, EEI President and CEO Drew Maloney called on Congress to streamline <a href="https://www.eei.org/News/news/All/drew-maloney-talks-permitting-reform-lower-energy-bills-and-american-energy-innovation" target="_blank">siting and permitting processes</a>, which he said would “go right at the affordability issue” for customers.</p><p>“In order for us to maintain our global competitiveness, we have to be able to build generation and transmission faster than we do today,” Maloney said. “The cost imposed by permitting delays and litigation puts too much on the customer. We need [reform], and we need it as soon as possible.”</p><p>Maloney estimates red tape adds up to 25 percent to the cost of building new energy infrastructure. It also inhibits America’s global competitiveness, he said, noting that “China can build a power plant in one to two years, and it takes us more than a decade.”</p><p>Maloney also discussed the findings of a <a href="https://www.electricperspectives.com/data-centers-rates-customers/">new study</a> from Charles River Associates, which analyzed historical government data and found that electricity rates have <a href="https://www.electricperspectives.com/podcast-new-analysis-finds-us-electricity-rates-largely-tracking-inflation/">tracked at or below inflation</a> in 34 states during the past five years. It also found that data centers have not been a driver of rate increases in states outside of the PJM Interconnection in the Mid-Atlantic.</p><p>“Data centers really aren't driving the cost. There’s a lot of long-term planning that you see in some states—you've got it in Georgia and Louisiana, Mississippi—where they can save billions of dollars for customers over the time of the investment in the data center,” Maloney said.</p><p>Among other topics discussed:</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>On lowering costs for customers:</strong></p><p><i><span>“Electric companies every day are working with their customers to identify more efficiencies in the system, whether it's grid-enhancing technologies that lower costs, software development that can ensure power is well balanced in the system.”</span></i></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><span><strong>On partnerships with data centers:</strong></span></p><p><i><span>“What these large load agreements are trying to do is protect customers. They're requiring the data centers to fund their interconnection, fund upgrades to the grid, and ultimately benefit the customer. If you look at a lot of the recent announcements that we've seen, the benefits to customers, the benefits to the local tax base are in the billions of dollars. Over the long term, this is a win-win for the communities, for the electric companies, for the customers, because we're going to get a more resilient grid.”</span></i></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><span><strong>On permitting reform prospects:</strong></span></p><p><i><span>“I think now is the time. There is a recognition that, in order for us to maintain our global competitiveness, we have to be able to build generation and transmission faster than we do today. It's the only way to address the real affordability problem, because the cost imposed by permitting delays and litigation puts too much on the customer.”</span></i></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>On the industry’s commitment to resilience:</strong></p><p><i>“The grid is the most important engine in America. If the grid doesn't work, America doesn't work. And it requires investment. That's why you're going to see America's electric companies invest more than $1 trillion during the next four years—to make sure that the grid is reliable and as affordable as possible every single day.”</i></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>On response to Winter Storm Fern:</strong></p><p><i>“You saw 65,000 lineworkers come from around the country to go down to the Southeast to work through two inches of ice to try to get wires back up and running, cut trees down, and work through the night to make sure that people had power back at their houses. That’s what we do in this industry. We pitch in. We ensure that the grid—which is the economic and, I would argue, national security backbone of the country—is always up and running.”</i></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>On electricity rate stability:</strong></p><p><i>“What most people don't understand about electricity rates is they are really set at the state level. You have to look at the state averages, and there are some states—on the West Coast, especially California, and also New England and New York—that have disproportionately skewed the national average.”</i></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><span><strong>On the importance of an all-of-the-above energy approach:</strong></span></p><p><i><span>"We need all of the above. You look at a state like Iowa—a large percentage of their power comes from wind. Texas has a good mix of wind and solar. You see during a storm like Fern, where we became very reliant on fossil fuel as sort of base load—you need that, too. We need more nuclear. We need it all. We support it all, and, as we say, we need as many electrons on the grid as possible right now."</span></i></p>]]></description><category><![CDATA[Lessons of Leadership,leadershipperspectives,Leadership Perspectives,maloney,feature,features,eei,data center,innovation,latest,q12026]]></category>
            <pubDate>Fri, 06 Feb 2026 22:00:20 +0100</pubDate>
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                        <title>Why Permitting Reform Matters for America’s Energy Future</title>
                        <link>https://www.electricperspectives.com/permitting-reform-maloney-tanner/</link>
                        <guid>https://www.electricperspectives.com/permitting-reform-maloney-tanner/</guid><pp:caseid>727457</pp:caseid><description><![CDATA[<p><i><span>As electric companies work to build the transmission lines and infrastructure needed for reliable energy future, they face complex and often lengthy approval processes. EEI President and CEO Drew Maloney and ITC Holdings Corp. President Krista Tanner joined the </span></i><span>Electric Perspectives</span><i><span> podcast to discuss permitting reform and how electric companies are meeting rising energy demand while maintaining grid resilience.</span></i></p>]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://www.electricperspectives.com/podcast" target="_blank"><img class="image_resized" style="aspect-ratio:800/auto;width:800px;" src="https://content.presspage.com/uploads/3004/87b8259b-75fc-4583-9f28-2650379001ed/undefined.jpg?x=1762362877537" alt="undefined" width="800" height="auto"></a></p><p><i><span>As electric companies work to build the transmission lines and infrastructure needed for reliable energy future, they face complex and often lengthy approval processes. Reforming these processes is essential for electric companies to deliver reliable energy while keeping bills as low as possible for customers.</span></i></p><p><i><span>EEI President and CEO Drew Maloney and ITC Holdings Corp. President Krista Tanner joined the </span></i><span>Electric Perspectives</span><i><span> podcast to discuss permitting reform and how electric companies are meeting rising energy demand while maintaining grid resilience.&nbsp;</span></i></p><p><i>Following is an abbreviated transcript, lightly edited for length and clarity. To listen to the full episode and catch up with other recent interviews, visit </i><a href="https://www.electricperspectives.com/podcast"><i>electricperspectives.com/podcast</i></a><i>.</i></p><p><iframe style="width:100%;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-permitting-reform-matters-for-americas-energy-future/id1556912920?i=1000735406251" height="175" allow="autoplay *; encrypted-media *; fullscreen *; clipboard-write" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><i><span><strong>Electric Perspectives</strong></span></i><span><strong> (</strong></span><i><span><strong>EP</strong></span></i><span><strong>):</strong></span></span><span><strong> Drew, what is your perspective on permitting reform? How do delays in permitting processes impact projects and increase costs for customers?</strong></span></p><p><span style="color:#E64C4C;"><span><strong>Drew Maloney (DM):</strong></span></span><span> There's an incredible amount of demand for new energy that we need to meet as quickly as possible, and we need less red tape from Washington and the freedom to build the infrastructure needed to meet this demand.</span></p><p><span>It can take 6 to 12 years just to get new transmission and generation projects to market. In China, it takes 1 to 3 years. The amount of time these projects take hurts customers and hurts reliability. That's why we're leaning in and supporting permitting reform here.</span></p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><i><strong>EP</strong></i><strong>:</strong></span><strong> </strong><span><strong>Krista, what’s your perspective on the permitting challenges that companies are facing today?</strong></span></p><p><span style="color:#41b370;"><span><strong>Krista Tanner (KT)</strong>:</span></span><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><span> </span></span><span>I couldn't agree more with Drew. We're at a critical time in our country's history. We are in a global race for energy security, AI innovation, and economic development. It takes way too long to build in this country. We had a transmission project take almost 13 years to complete, and that's unacceptable. Drew mentioned China, where they can build by decree. I'm not suggesting we do that. We don't do that in this country. Still, we absolutely can modernize our processes and get this built much faster.</span></p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><i><span><strong>EP</strong></span></i><span><strong>:</strong></span></span><span><strong> Is the transmission project that you’re referring to the Cardinal-Hickory Creek Transmission Line?</strong></span></p><p><span style="color:#41b370;"><span><strong>KT:</strong></span></span><span> Yes. The Cardinal-Hickory Creek project was approved by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) in 2011. It was one of MISO's multi-value projects, which are very aptly named, because they provide economic, reliability, and resilience value. They were groundbreaking at the time.</span></p><p><span>This project ranged from Dubuque, Iowa to Madison, Wis. It was complex, because we needed approvals from two states and the federal government. It traversed the Upper Mississippi Wildlife Refuge and the Mississippi River.</span></p><p><span>We had to get 33 permits from 15 different agencies. Some were federal, which required National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) reviews. The NEPA process took seven years. We had 29 public engagement opportunities, and those consisted of public information meetings, open houses, and comment periods. We built a very responsible project that spanned more than 90 percent existing rights of way. It was an environmentally responsible way to build a project, and we received approvals because of the way we went about this.</span></p><p><span>That's when the litigation began. The project was subject to five different lawsuits and four different injunctions. It extended the process even longer. We ultimately prevailed, but it took 13 years, which is way too long. And, while this process dragged on, customers didn’t benefit and were deprived of low-cost energy and a resilient grid.</span></p><p><span>There were landowners involved in litigation early in the process. By the end, though, it was environmental groups that were not impacted by or were not adjacent to the refuge. They were using the federal process as a way to stop the project.</span></p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><i><strong>EP</strong></i><strong>:</strong></span><strong> </strong><span><strong>Drew, you recently wrote a letter to Congressional leadership advocating for permitting reform. What are you advocating for, and why is now the time for Congress to act on this issue?</strong></span></p><p><span style="color:#E64C4C;"><span><strong>DM:</strong></span></span><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><span><strong> </strong></span></span><span>Krista’s story highlights the challenge that we're facing in America. A project like hers took 13 years, and many other projects throughout the country are having the same results. That is unacceptable today. We will never be able to meet the needs of our customers if this continues.</span></p><p><span>That's why we sent our letter to Congress, and we called out for several items. One is to streamline NEPA to ensure we don't have this endless litigation.</span></p><p><span>Two, we need to strengthen and extend the nationwide permitting under the Clean Water Act Section 404, which already is working. We need to codify that and expedite state water quality certifications under the Clean Water Act.</span></p><p><span>Three, we need to right-size the National Historic Preservation Act, so you can properly balance preservation goals and the deployment of new energy infrastructure.</span></p><p><span>And, we need to fully fund the U.S. National Laboratories as we work with them to develop new and emerging technologies that provide value across the grid.</span></p><p><span>The “why now” is very simple: These basic reforms will do several things. They will keep costs to customers as low as possible, they will increase reliability, and they will support the building of new generation and transmission infrastructure that we need to power manufacturing activity, expand small businesses, and develop the technologies that are so critical to the United States.</span></p><p><span>If you think about a project that was supposed to be completed in 3 years and it takes 13 years, your whole supply chain costs are going to go up. The fact that customers aren't going to receive the benefits for 10 more years means additional costs to them. People don't appreciate how much the delays and litigation impact customers, who get stuck with paying the price for all of this over the long haul.</span></p><p><span>We are thrilled to know that Secretary Wright actually concurred with the overarching recommendations that we put forward. He has committed to developing an energy workforce strategy that enables effective workforce planning and supports the development of a highly skilled workforce. We're excited to see what comes out of that and we're expecting it to be published this fall.</span></p><p><span style="color:#41b370;"><span><strong>KT:</strong></span></span><span> It’s also very expensive to mobilize and then demobilize crews. And, when you're building a transmission line in sensitive areas, sometimes you can only build during certain times of the year because of environmental habitats. If you get an injunction and then it gets lifted, you still might have to wait months and months before you can start. The issue really compounds upon itself.</span></p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><i><strong>EP</strong></i><strong>:</strong></span><strong> </strong><span><strong>From ITC’s perspective, what opportunities do you see to enhance, improve, or streamline the process?</strong></span></p><p><span style="color:#41b370;"><strong>KT:</strong></span> <span>At a high level, we need guardrails around what needs to be reviewed in the NEPA process. Projects that don't cross federal lands are a good place to start. We can narrow the scope of what's reviewed and how we conduct those reviews.</span></p><p><span>We would also advocate for a “super venue,” or a court that's specialized and understands these processes and can review cases quickly and raise the standard for injunction. Cardinal-Hickory Creek was enjoined four times, yet we ultimately prevailed on the merits. It should not have been stopped at those junctures.</span></p><p><span>I want to be clear: No one's advocating for the absence of a judicial review. Everyone deserves their day in court. We want to do this the right way. We want to do right by the environment and the communities that we serve. We can do that and modernize and streamline our current system.</span></p><p><span style="color:#4d99e6;"><i><strong>EP</strong></i><strong>:</strong></span><strong> </strong><span><strong>Drew, in thinking about permitting reform, how important is it to approach members of Congress and their staff with solutions, not just with problems?</strong></span></p><p><span style="color:#E64C4C;"><strong>DM</strong>: </span><span>You don't win in Washington without solutions. Our members understand that the most critical thing we can do is provide affordable and reliable power to our customers.</span></p><p><span>Not only are we working closely with the Administration and with policymakers in state governments and the federal government on permitting reform—we're working on mutual assistance programs, cybersecurity issues, and supply chain challenges. We are offering solutions to all these issues in order to improve the customer experience.</span></p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><i><strong>EP</strong></i><strong>:</strong></span><strong> </strong><span><strong>Krista, how do you approach community engagement around a major infrastructure project?</strong></span></p><p><span style="color:#41b370;"><strong>KT:</strong></span> <span>We try to go above and beyond, and we try to engage stakeholders very early in the process to make sure that the route we're selecting has minimal impact. We engage landowners, we engage environmental groups to avoid environmentally sensitive areas, and we engage community leaders, because they're going to hear about the project from their constituents. We don't want them to be surprised.</span></p><p><span>We also engage our employees and our organized labor friends who are building the projects, because they live and work in these communities, and they're really the trusted resources that their neighbors are going to consult. We try to bring everyone—from employees, to our landowners, to community leaders—on board.</span></p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><i><strong>EP</strong></i><strong>:</strong></span><strong> </strong><span><strong>I imagine these projects also have more direct community impacts, in addition to the grid reliability and affordability benefits?</strong></span></p><p><span style="color:#41b370;"><strong>KT:</strong> </span><span>Absolutely. There’s economic development, property taxes, and so many great stories about individuals.</span></p><p><span>I recently heard a story about a local diner in Montfort, Wis. Like a lot of restaurants post-pandemic, it was slow coming back. But, because of the infusion of the workers who were working on the Cardinal-Hickory Creek line, the diner went from a very slow lunch period to only serving one menu item a day because they couldn't handle the crowd. To go from wondering if your business is going to make it to having so much work that you almost can't handle it is a really great story.</span></p><p><span>We sometimes forget about the real people and communities who are impacted by this influx of work. The workers may be temporary in some cases, but then you still have a resilient, reliable grid that's going to enable economic development and new projects in your community.</span></p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><i><strong>EP</strong></i><strong>:</strong></span> <span><strong>Drew, how do you think about workforce development as you’re engaging here in Washington?</strong></span></p><p><span style="color:#E64C4C;"><span><strong>DM:</strong></span></span><span> Our industry supports more than 7 million jobs. During the next decade, it's expected that we're going to have to add 30 million new energy workers to our communities. We have partnered with the Center for Energy Workforce Development to raise awareness of this need for skilled workers.</span></p><p><span>We're working with high schools and colleges to develop curriculums, to educate people, and to highlight the needs that we're going to have. We’ll need everything from lineworkers, to cybersecurity experts, to people who can implement AI technologies, to accountants. We are focused on meeting that need and letting everyone know that our industry provides rewarding and well-paying jobs.</span></p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><i><strong>EP</strong></i><strong>: </strong></span><span><strong>Are you all optimistic about where we are as an industry and the progress that you’re seeing?</strong></span></p><p><span style="color:#E64C4C;"><span><strong>DM:</strong></span></span> <span>I am. We are at a very unique inflection point. We are poised to win the AI race, to bring back more manufacturing jobs to the United States, and to maintain affordability for our customers.</span></p><p><span>There’s recognition that we must reform our permitting processes, and we’ve seen bipartisan support building on Capitol Hill to address these issues. I'm very optimistic that at some point during the next 12 months, we are going to see progress and hopefully a bill gets passed and makes it to the president's desk.</span></p><p><span style="color:#4abf7a;"><strong>KT: </strong></span><span>I agree. This is just too important to get wrong, and we're at a critical time in our history. We've got to win the AI race. We've got to reshore more manufacturing activity. We've got to support all these American jobs, and we can't do it without permitting reform.</span></p><p><span>I think our leaders know that. As tough as some bipartisan agreements can be, I'm confident that our leaders will rise to the occasion.</span></p>]]></content:encoded><category><![CDATA[latest,podcast,grid,infrastructure,workforce,maloney,Leadership Perspectives,leadershipperspectives,Lessons of Leadership,eei,q42025,permitting]]></category>
            <pubDate>Wed, 05 Nov 2025 16:35:00 +0100</pubDate>
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                        <title>Podcast Highlights: Industry Leaders on Building America’s Workforce</title>
                        <link>https://www.electricperspectives.com/podcast-careers-in-energy-week-cewd-firstenergy/</link>
                        <guid>https://www.electricperspectives.com/podcast-careers-in-energy-week-cewd-firstenergy/</guid><pp:caseid>725639</pp:caseid><pp:summary><![CDATA[<p>The electric power industry is a key economic driver for the United States, accounting for 1 in 20 American jobs and 5 percent of U.S. GDP. <strong>FirstEnergy Pennsylvania President</strong> <strong>John Hawkins</strong> and <strong>Centers for Energy Workforce Development Executive Director Missy Henriksen</strong> share their thoughts on attracting, retaining, and developing a skilled energy workforce.</p>]]></pp:summary><description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://www.electricperspectives.com/podcast" target="_blank"><img class="image_resized" style="aspect-ratio:800/auto;width:800px;" src="https://content.presspage.com/uploads/3004/041b7530-ee65-49f5-b4ac-7e997c2213ed/ciewgraphics.jpg?x=1760966086430" alt="CIEW graphics" width="800" height="auto"></a></p><p><i>The electric power industry is a key economic driver for the United States, accounting for 1 in 20 American jobs and 5 percent of U.S. GDP. Workforce development is a top priority for electric companies as they expand and strengthen the grid and power the jobs and industries of the future.</i></p><p><i>FirstEnergy Pennsylvania President John Hawkins and Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD) Executive Director Missy Henriksen recently joined an episode of the Electric Perspectives podcast to share their thoughts on attracting, retaining, and developing a skilled energy workforce. The episode was hosted by EEI President and CEO Drew Maloney.</i></p><p><i>Following is an abbreviated transcript, lightly edited for length and clarity. To listen to the full episode and catch up with other recent interviews, visit </i><a href="https://www.electricperspectives.com/podcast"><i>electricperspectives.com/podcast</i></a><i>.</i></p><p><iframe style="height:300px;" title="Building America's Energy Workforce" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?from=embed&i=jnu8u-199b2fb-pb&square=1&share=1&download=1&fonts=Arial&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=auto&rtl=0&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=2baf9e&size=300" width="100%" height="300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><span><strong>Drew Maloney (DM):</strong></span></span><span><strong> Missy, can you give us a snapshot of the current energy workforce and the role that it plays in supporting our economy?</strong></span></p><p><span style="color:#E64C4C;"><span><strong>Missy Henriksen (MH):</strong></span></span><span> </span>Absolutely. The U.S. Energy and Employment report that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently published found that there were 8.5 million people working directly in energy jobs in 2024.</p><p>We often talk about the electric power industry being 5 percent of the GDP—the first 5 percent, of course, because nothing works without energy. That holds true on the human capital side, as well. We account for 5 percent of the jobs in this country, keeping the lights on and keeping things moving for the nation.</p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><strong>DM:</strong></span><strong> John, you lead one of the largest electric companies in Pennsylvania. What does a highly skilled workforce mean for ensuring reliability and serving your customers?</strong></p><p><span style="color:#4abf7a;"><span><strong>John Hawkins (JH)</strong>:</span></span><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><span> </span></span>Our communities rely on a resilient and reliable electric grid, so we have to have a workforce that has advanced skills and expertise to deliver on those expectations—especially during this period of rapid industry transformation.</p><p>At FirstEnergy, we serve 6 million-plus customers in six states. We're investing $28 billion across our footprint through 2029. In Pennsylvania, that includes $15 billion in infrastructure enhancements, people, processes, and facilities—and the key word there is “people.”</p><p>We have to have a highly skilled workforce to complete this work safely and efficiently, allowing us to meet those expectations of our customers and communities.</p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><span><strong>DM:</strong></span></span><span><strong> Missy, let me turn back to you. CEWD regularly publishes reports about the energy workforce. What trends are you seeing, and what do they mean for the next generation of energy professionals?</strong></span></p><p><span style="color:#E64C4C;"><span><strong>MH:</strong></span></span><span> </span>We’re really seeing employers looking at their hiring practices with a great deal of innovation as they think about workforce development differently. It’s no longer, “Hey, HR, we need to hire some people,” but it’s an increasing commitment to the long game and attracting talent.</p><p>We’re seeing companies work together more closely in these efforts so that a rising tide will lift all boats. We're seeing, increasingly, a commitment to sector solutions and working together on major workforce opportunities and challenges, instead of every company looking at moving mountains on their own.</p><p>About 50 percent of the workforce is expected to retire in the next 5 to 10 years, which is evoking a need to focus on knowledge transfer and making sure we've got a strong talent pipeline to follow those exiting the workforce.</p><p>We're also seeing major conversation around the increasing reliance on digital skills and what that means for pre-employment training and upskilling the existing workforce. These are just some of the conversations driving significant industry action.</p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><strong>DM:</strong></span><strong> You also were the former chair of the 21st Century Energy Workforce Advisory Board (EWAB), helping to shape the future energy workforce from the federal level. Can you share more about your work with EWAB and how you worked with DOE on workforce development strategies?</strong></p><p><span style="color:#E64C4C;"><span><strong>MH:</strong></span></span><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><span><strong> </strong></span></span>Absolutely. EWAB was formed under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to advise the U.S. Secretary of Energy on developing a skilled energy workforce to meet current and future labor needs.</p><p>We were thrilled to be called on early in the current Administration’s transition to support Energy Secretary Chris Wright and his team with recommendations to develop and implement workforce strategy. We worked really closely with the Office of Energy Jobs within DOE, and they were tremendous thought and action partners in our work.</p><p>Our recommendations to Secretary Wright included providing significant support to scale pathways for well-paying, high-quality energy jobs. We focused on new ways to get people into energy roles, including through career and technical education, apprenticeships, and other earn-and-learn models.</p><p>The Administration is focusing a lot of emphasis on the importance of registered apprenticeship programs, so we're also making recommendations on the importance of increasing awareness and excitement around energy careers—for career-ready adults and for students.</p><p>Also, our recommendations focused on positioning DOE as a leader for innovative, effective, non-siloed solutions to support the development of the workforce as a sector. I think DOE is really making the commitment that they're not just focusing on the technology side of the industry—but, certainly, the people side, as well.</p><p><span>We are thrilled to know that Secretary Wright actually concurred with the overarching recommendations that we put forward. He has committed to developing an energy workforce strategy that enables effective workforce planning and supports the development of a highly skilled workforce. We're excited to see what comes out of that and we're expecting it to be published this fall.</span></p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><strong>DM:</strong></span><strong> John, coming back to you, FirstEnergy has been recognized for its workforce development and apprenticeship programs, including your Power Systems Institute. Can you tell us how these programs work and what makes them successful?</strong></p><p><span style="color:#4abf7a;"><strong>JH</strong>:</span> At FirstEnergy, we are growing and investing in our team, which we know to be the heart of operating a modern grid. We have more than 11,500 FirstEnergy employees dedicated to safety, reliability, and operational excellence.</p><p>Through our Power Systems Institute, we've trained nearly 2,600 line and substation workers. This model was unpaid, because we were paying for workers’ education to understand the theory part of the equation. During the summer, enrollees would get paid on-the-job training.</p><p>What we found with that model is that it was challenging for some who had families. So, in 2023, we transitioned to a paid apprenticeship model, more in-step with today's competitive labor market. Now, candidates are hired at the onset of the apprenticeship program, so that makes it more accessible to a lot more individuals.</p><p>We’re also targeting our hiring to keep workers in areas where they want to be, which helps minimize turnover. We have a lot of opportunities here. Our apprentices can obtain a college degree with financial assistance that we provide. We are working to get our program certified by the Department of Labor, which will make it nationally recognized and increase the appeal to candidates. It will also allow us to access funding and incentives and build union confidence, which is really critical to a successful program.</p><p><span style="color:#4d99e6;"><strong>DM:</strong></span><strong> Missy, CEWD supports programs across the country that help companies replicate successful workforce models like what John’s describing at FirstEnergy. What guidance would you give to electric companies that are working on building their own workforce pipelines?</strong></p><p><span style="color:#E64C4C;"><strong>MH</strong>: </span>The first answer would be to call John and his team. You all are doing some incredible work up there. I really appreciate hearing more about the focus you've put on apprenticeships and now DOL-registered apprenticeship programs. I think that will be a game changer as we move forward in the industry.</p><p>I also can't stress enough the importance of partnerships. There's a lot of work to be done—a lot of opportunities for the industry to attract a highly skilled energy workforce—that is best done through partnerships.</p><p>Community outreach and engagement is important, because workforce development is a long game. The more we build effective partnerships—effective relationships with community-based organizations, community colleges, technical schools, workforce boards, and workforce systems and communities—those efforts will go a long way in making sure that there's fruit on those trees as we get down the road.</p><p>The other thing that is a game changer for workforce development is the introduction of the new Energy and Natural Resources Career Cluster, which is providing the first opportunity the industry has had in 25 years to more easily get energy curriculum into classrooms.</p><p>As companies are preparing for their future workforce strategies, perhaps putting the fine print on what they'll be doing in 2026, I can't stress enough the importance of the opportunities that are being enabled by that Career Cluster.</p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><strong>DM:</strong></span><strong> John, is there any advice you would give to your energy company colleagues out there on how to pursue programs like this?</strong></p><p><span style="color:#4abf7a;"><strong>JH</strong>:</span> I think Missy and I are reading from the same playbook. One of the keys to making this possible is the partnerships, and one of our industry’s most important partnerships is with our partners in organized labor.</p><p>When we set out on developing our new apprenticeship program, we engaged and partnered with both our International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and Utility Workers Union of America partners. The entire way, they were part of building a curriculum, the evaluation process, the interviews to ensure that together we are aligned on the candidates who will lead us forward. These aren't just jobs. These are careers, and we felt this wouldn't have been possible without our union partners. We're extremely grateful for their partnership.</p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><strong>DM:</strong></span><strong> John, as we look to the future, new technologies are creating new kinds of energy jobs. What are some of the emerging opportunities that you’re seeing?</strong></p><p><span style="color:#4abf7a;"><strong>JH</strong>: </span>Technology really has the potential to reduce manual and hazardous tasks, so we can allow folks to focus on high-value activities, especially with a focus on improving safety and job satisfaction. Using drones, for example, has been impactful, helping us with aerial inspections during storms or during day-to-day work.</p><p>When you think about our service territory in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, we’ve got mountains. Drones help speed our bias for action when we have events, and we're using some AI-driven advanced analytics when it comes to vegetation.</p><p>We have a lot of poles, we have a lot of wires, and we also have a lot of trees. We know how impactful trees can be to our electric service quality, so we have an advanced vegetation analytics tool that we've designed to predict and reduce tree-related outages before they occur. Through machine learning and taking internal data; external data on soil, weather, outage records, and geographical topography; and aerial photos, we can identify problematic trees so to minimize outages and manage our crews more effectively.</p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><strong>DM: </strong></span><strong>For each of you, what do you believe will make the biggest impact on strengthening America's energy workforce in the next several years?</strong></p><p><span style="color:#4abf7a;"><strong>JH</strong>: </span>Two words: Act now. It takes four to five years to develop a certified lineworker. Based on the level of demand growth we're seeing, we can't waste another moment in ensuring that we're prepared to deliver on the needs of our customers and communities.</p><p>And, it's not just lineworkers. There are a lot of important positions to fill in this space. As we're thinking about the future, we need to consider how we can best be positioned to lead on technology and AI.</p><p><span style="color:#E64C4C;"><strong>MH</strong>:</span> Prioritizing workforce development is a Page One issue. You also need to engage not just on your own, but through sector strategies—working with others at the state and national level. And, get involved with the Energy and Natural Resources Career Cluster. Just make sure, as John said, to act now. Make workforce development a priority.</p>]]></description><category><![CDATA[latest,podcast,grid,infrastructure,workforce,maloney,Leadership Perspectives,leadershipperspectives,Lessons of Leadership,eei,q42025,eoy25,eoy]]></category>
            <pubDate>Mon, 20 Oct 2025 15:41:29 +0200</pubDate>
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                        <title>Leading a Proactive, Nimble, Impactful Association: Q&amp;A With EEI President and CEO Drew Maloney</title>
                        <link>https://www.electricperspectives.com/podcast-drew-maloney-eei/</link>
                        <guid>https://www.electricperspectives.com/podcast-drew-maloney-eei/</guid><pp:caseid>722485</pp:caseid><description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://www.electricperspectives.com/podcast" target="_blank"><img class="image_resized" style="aspect-ratio:800/auto;width:800px;" src="https://content.presspage.com/uploads/3004/b189830b-5532-4183-a7ab-7e040b9b2ec5/ep-podcast-email-promo-728x300.jpg?x=1758205708057" alt="EP_Podcast_Email_Promo_728x300" width="800" height="auto"></a></p><p><i><img class="image_resized image-style-align-left" style="aspect-ratio:300/auto;width:342px;" src="https://content.presspage.com/uploads/3004/3bd90889-ac00-42b7-9108-9bc3c1834bc2/800_drew_maloney_energy_talk.png?x=1758136319878" alt="Drew_Maloney_Energy_Talk" width="300" height="auto"></i></p><p><i>This summer, EEI welcomed Drew Maloney as its new president and CEO. Maloney has spent the past 30 years at the cross-section of politics and policy.</i></p><p><i>He previously served as president and CEO of the American Investment Council (AIC), where he built a reputation for effective industry advocacy and strategic leadership. Prior to that, he was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Legislative Affairs.</i></p><p><i>Maloney appeared on the </i><a href="https://www.electricperspectives.com/podcast" target="_blank">Electric Perspectives</a><i> podcast to discuss <span>his priorities for EEI; the electric power industry’s commitment to providing reliable, affordable energy for customers nationwide; and how the industry is strengthening America’s energy dominance.</span></i></p><p><iframe style="width:100%;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/driving-energy-policy-discussions-in-washington/id1556912920?i=1000727884629" height="175" allow="autoplay *; encrypted-media *; fullscreen *; clipboard-write" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><i><span><strong>Electric Perspectives</strong></span></i><span><strong> (</strong></span><i><span><strong>EP</strong></span></i><span><strong>):</strong></span></span><span><strong> During your first few months in your role, what are your first impressions of the work underway at EEI and with its member companies?</strong></span></p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><span><strong>Drew Maloney (DM):</strong></span></span><span> </span>This is a tremendous time to be involved in the electric power industry. I have been impressed with the amount of work underway, and the commitment to energy policy, here at EEI.</p><p>Member engagement is one of the unique values that EEI has, and members are really engaged in policy discussion.</p><p>An example of the commitment our members have to the customers they serve is the annual EEI Emergency Response Awards. What some of these members have done for disaster relief in their communities is just amazing. In a matter of days, they've rebuilt millions and billions of dollars of infrastructure that was impacted by storms, wildfires, or extreme weather. This kind of response—and this type of commitment to communities—really stands out for our members.</p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><i><span><strong>EP</strong></span></i><span><strong>: </strong></span></span><span><strong>What led you to EEI, and how will you leverage your background and expertise as EEI and its members engage in policy discussions?</strong></span></p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><span><strong>DM</strong>: </span></span>When I started my young career as a staffer on Capitol Hill, energy was one of the first areas with which I was involved. I was working for a lawmaker from Mississippi, and I distinctly remember Southern Company and Entergy coming into our offices to educate me on energy policy.</p><p><span>Ever since, I've had a fondness for energy. I later ended up working for an oil and gas company and am now leading EEI. This is the culmination of my policy background—understanding how Washington works and how to navigate that to achieve outcomes that help our members serve their customers in a reliable, affordable way.</span></p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><i><span><strong>EP</strong></span></i><span><strong>:</strong></span></span><span><strong> What insights can you share about cutting through the noise in Washington and working with our partners on Capitol Hill?</strong></span></p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><span><strong>DM:</strong></span></span><span> </span>Washington has become a very noisy place. It requires you to stay focused on what your message is and to repeat your message, because so many other people are out there with their own messages.</p><p>A lot of people make the mistake of being too complicated in their messaging. You really need to focus on your one pager.&nbsp;</p><p>The other thing to remember is that you have to build champions to achieve the legislative outcomes that you want in Washington, and those champions aren't always built in Washington. EEI’s secret sauce is that we build those champions in every community across America. That's how you are ultimately successful in advancing policy goals.</p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><i><span><strong>EP</strong></span></i><span><strong>:</strong></span></span><span><strong> Things also change quickly in Washington. How are you making sure EEI is ready to engage and to create opportunities for changing the conversation?</strong></span></p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><span><strong>DM: </strong></span></span>I've given a lot of thought to what makes a trade association successful. In today's very complex and noisy environment, you have to be very proactive, very nimble, and very impactful. That's the culture that I want to build out at EEI.</p><p>We have to be ahead of the curve. In the current construct, you could have state policies, federal policies, or engagement on Capitol Hill switching on a dime. As an organization, you have to be able to act quickly.</p><p>You also need to create a “surround sound” supporting your advocacy. It used to be that you just had a team of lobbyists that would advocate on your behalf. Today, you not only need that team of lobbyists—you need support from third-party advocates. You need partners out there who are supporting you.</p><p>You have other trade associations working with you. You have a social media plan. You have research. You have all these other items out there that complement what you’re doing. You have to make sure they’re all working in concert to deliver the message and deliver the value and the advocacy that you need.</p><p>You have to be a results-oriented organization. That’s exactly what I intend EEI to be. I can already see, as we’re responding to different needs with the Administration, how we’re being proactive and how we’re being nimble. That’s how you get the impact that you want here in Washington.</p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><i><span><strong>EP</strong></span></i><span><strong>: </strong></span></span><span><strong>Earlier this summer, you attended the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit, which was hosted by Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA). What did you think of the event? How were attendees thinking about the role that electric companies play in these conversations?</strong></span></p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><span><strong>DM:</strong> </span></span>We are at a unique moment in time, with unprecedented growth in the energy sector. You have the reshoring of manufacturing that's requiring more energy. You have AI and innovation requiring more energy. You're seeing electrification—whether that involves cars or homes—raising demand for energy.</p><p>We have a critical role to play, and we are playing that critical role to meet demand. What that event allowed us to do is highlight the investments we're making and show the partnerships we're forging in the private sector to deliver power in a reliable and responsible way.</p><p><span style="color:#4d99e6;"><i><span><strong>EP</strong></span></i><span><strong>:</strong></span></span><span><strong> Earlier this summer, you attended the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit, which was hosted by Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA). What did you think of the event? How were attendees thinking about the role that electric companies play in these conversations?</strong></span></p><p><span style="color:#4d99e6;"><span><strong>DM:</strong></span></span><span> </span>We are at a unique moment in time, with unprecedented growth in the energy sector. You have the reshoring of manufacturing that's requiring more energy. You have AI and innovation requiring more energy. You're seeing electrification—whether that involves cars or homes—raising demand for energy.</p><p>We have a critical role to play, and we are playing that critical role to meet demand. What that event allowed us to do is highlight the investments we're making and show the partnerships we're forging in the private sector to deliver power in a reliable and responsible way.</p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><i><span><strong>EP</strong></span></i><span><strong>:</strong></span></span><span><strong> Was it encouraging to see participation from President Donald Trump?</strong></span></p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><span><strong>DM:</strong></span></span><span> Yes, and there was an incredible turnout. We also had Gov. Josh Shapiro, the Democratic governor of Pennsylvania. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) was there. It really showed a bipartisan breadth of support for innovation and for energy. We also had several of our Pennsylvania members in attendance talking about the investments and commitments they're making to drive innovation and economic activity.</span></p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><i><span><strong>EP</strong></span></i><span><strong>:</strong></span></span><span><strong> EEI recently published its annual Financial Review, which detailed the industry’s financial performance during the past year. What are your key takeaways from the report?</strong></span></p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><span><strong>DM:</strong></span></span><span> </span>What stood out to me is the scale of investment planned in the years ahead. We’re projected to invest more than $1.1 trillion into energy infrastructure across America during the next five years. And, I actually think that number could be conservative.</p><p>That demonstrates that we are a partner for local communities. We're a partner for the government. We are working with a spectrum of stakeholders to meet energy demand in our communities while prioritizing affordability for customers, for small businesses, for farmers, all while meeting our nation’s growth and innovation needs.</p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><i><span><strong>EP</strong></span></i><span><strong>:</strong></span></span><span><strong> Earlier, you mentioned the importance of strategic communication and storytelling in Washington. How did you think about these priorities at AIC, and what do you think can be applied to your work at EEI?</strong></span></p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><span><strong>DM:</strong></span></span><span> </span>A great example of an opportunity for EEI would be the Emergency Response Awards, highlighting what our member companies have done in their communities to respond to natural disasters—or partnerships that we have with different groups that enhance or demonstrate our customer solutions.</p><p>Every industry is challenged with getting their story out, especially in Washington, where everyone is trying to tell their own story. You just can't tell your story often enough, and that’s what we’re going to focus on.</p><p>I want to improve our storytelling. I want to tell our stories more often. I want to be louder about it. I want to make sure that the stories we're telling are being told in the communities that our members serve. Then, we need to translate those stories in Washington, because these are great stories. We're great community partners, and we need to be better about highlighting our stories.</p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><i><span><strong>EP</strong></span></i><span><strong>: </strong></span></span><strong>For many years, EEI’s tagline has been Power by Association<sup>SM</sup>. What does that concept mean to you as you think about delivering value to EEI’s members?</strong></p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><span><strong>DM:</strong> </span></span>EEI’s CEO engagement is unique. Our member companies want to see their message and their policy successful here in Washington. What EEI's mantra<span>—</span>“Power by Association”<i><span>—</span></i>means is that we can accomplish a lot more by working together. When the most successful companies in Washington can come together with one single voice, they are so much more effective.&nbsp;</p><p>As a former government worker, having worked on Capitol Hill and in a previous Administration, I would go to trade associations when I wanted to get a view on energy or financial services. They represent the collective voice, and it's easier for a policymaker to go one-stop shopping as opposed to piecing together the views of different member companies.</p><p>When we as EEI come in, we bring member companies, and we bring one unified voice. That is a real value add that we have at EEI.</p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><i><span><strong>EP</strong></span></i><span><strong>:</strong></span></span><span><strong> Switching gears, you serve as Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Meridian International Center. You and your wife established the Klein-Maloney Fellowship for Women in the Sciences at your alma mater, Randolph-Macon College. What more can you share about your philanthropic work and life outside of EEI?</strong></span></p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><span><strong>DM:</strong></span></span><span> </span>My wife and I met in college. She's a very accomplished scientist at Johns Hopkins University. She studies women's health, and she noticed a need for more women going into scientific fields. We decided to create a fellowship at our alma mater, encouraging women to perform research projects during the summer that we fund.</p><p>It's very exciting for her and for me, as well. We're the parents of two daughters, so we're committed to making sure that they have a path forward in life. We thought it was important to give back, because our college was instrumental in our lives.</p><p>The Meridian International Center’s global diplomacy work also is very important. While most of our activities at EEI are focused on domestic markets, what happens overseas and the trends that you see internationally are important and ultimately influence what happens in the United States.</p><p>I have always been interested in that sort of work, and it helps make me a better advocate who has a better grasp on what's happening in other regions of the world that may influence what we do here at home.</p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><i><span><strong>EP</strong></span></i><span><strong>:</strong></span></span><span><strong> </strong></span><strong>During EEI 2025 in New Orleans, you mentioned that your first job was a sheep and poultry farm worker. Did you learn any lessons in that role that still guide you today?</strong></p><p><span style="color:#4D99E6;"><span><strong>DM:</strong> </span></span>You have to get up early to finish your chores on a farm. I'm glad that, today, I don't have the same chores that I did when I was a young 4-H and FFA member. But, that sort of work does teach you responsibility early on.</p><p>I grew up in a rural part of Virginia, and I've lived in Washington, D.C., for most of my adult life. I appreciate having that perspective, understanding the challenges faced by people on a farm where I grew up. I have a better understanding of what and how to communicate with different audiences, because I feel like I've lived in different places.</p><p>I really do treasure growing up on a farm, raising sheep, going to the county fair. It was a lot of fun, and I wish my kids had that same opportunity.</p>]]></description><pp:quotes><pp:quote>
                    <pp:quotename><![CDATA[EEI President and CEO Drew Maloney]]></pp:quotename>
                    <pp:quotetext><![CDATA[We are at a unique moment in time, with unprecedented growth in the energy sector.]]></pp:quotetext>
                </pp:quote></pp:quotes><category><![CDATA[latest,podcast,grid,infrastructure,workforce,q32025,maloney,Leadership Perspectives,leadershipperspectives,Lessons of Leadership,eei,feature,features]]></category>
            <pubDate>Mon, 22 Sep 2025 15:48:00 +0200</pubDate>
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                        <title>EEI’s Drew Maloney: Permitting Reform to ‘Unleash America’s Electric Companies’</title>
                        <link>https://www.electricperspectives.com/siting-permitting-reform-maloney/</link>
                        <guid>https://www.electricperspectives.com/siting-permitting-reform-maloney/</guid><pp:caseid>722178</pp:caseid><pp:summary><![CDATA[<p><span>EEI President and CEO Drew Maloney is calling for reform to siting and permitting processes that “can stop projects in their tracks or add years to deployment timelines.”</span></p>]]></pp:summary><description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align:center;"><img class="image_resized" style="aspect-ratio:800/auto;width:800px;" src="https://content.presspage.com/uploads/3004/0c9d5382-be5c-4b27-9172-0d8d94226580/adobestock_1522081641.jpeg?x=1758044407992" alt="AdobeStock_1522081641" width="800" height="auto"></p><p><span>EEI President and CEO Drew Maloney on Tuesday wrote to Congressional leaders urging them to advance siting and permitting legislation that would “help end needless litigation, ensure reliability at the lowest cost, and fuel economic growth.”</span></p><p><span>“Electric companies are focused on building new generation and transmission projects quickly and without unnecessary delays and costs,” said Maloney. “Current siting and permitting processes—and the protracted litigation they often entail—can stop projects in their tracks or add years to deployment timelines, saddling customers with needless costs and slowing economic growth.”</span></p><p><span>Speaking on behalf of America’s investor-owned electric companies, which serve more than 250 million Americans, support more than 7 million jobs across the country, and plan to invest </span><a href="https://www.electricperspectives.com/eei-financial-review-record-grid-investments/"><span>more than $1.1 trillion</span></a><span> during the next five years to power economic prosperity, Maloney </span><a href="https://www.eei.org/News/news/All/eei-letter-to-congress-on-permitting-reform" target="_blank"><span>called on Congress</span></a><span> to:</span></p><ul><li><span><strong>Streamline the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)</strong> to ensure speed and certainty for NEPA reviews and set reasonable bounds for legal challenges. Passing the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act introduced by U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Rep. Jared Goldman (D-ME) is a necessary first step.</span></li><li><span><strong>Strengthen and extend nationwide permitting</strong></span><i><span><strong> </strong></span></i><span>under Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404/Rivers and Harbors Act Section 10. Codify and expand this already working permit program.</span></li><li><span><strong>Speed up and focus state water quality certifications</strong> under CWA Section 401. Center these certifications on direct discharges and establish appropriate timelines for state action.</span></li><li><span><strong>Right-size the scope of the National Historic Preservation Act</strong> Section 106 to both ensure historic preservation and the ability to grow and deploy new infrastructure.</span></li></ul><p><span>Permitting reform is slated to be a key topic on Capitol Hill in the months ahead, with a U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Environment Subcommittee hearing on permitting reform under the Clean Air Act scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.</span></p><p><span>Reform would “unleash America’s electric companies,” Maloney wrote, voicing support for “bipartisan, common-sense reforms to achieve energy dominance, win the AI race, and allow electric companies to meet increasing energy demand reliably and affordably.”</span></p><p><span>Scroll down to read Maloney’s full letter to lawmakers.</span></p>]]></description><category><![CDATA[latest,maloney,Leadership Perspectives,leadershipperspectives,Lessons of Leadership,permitting,congress,eei,feature,features,soergel]]></category>
            <pubDate>Tue, 16 Sep 2025 20:45:45 +0200</pubDate>
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                        <title>EEI Financial Review: Electric Companies to Invest More Than $1.1 Trillion to Power Economic, Energy Security</title>
                        <link>https://www.electricperspectives.com/eei-financial-review-record-grid-investments/</link>
                        <guid>https://www.electricperspectives.com/eei-financial-review-record-grid-investments/</guid><pp:caseid>715192</pp:caseid><pp:summary><![CDATA[<p><span>“As always, we remain committed to keeping customer bills as low as possible as we work to deliver the reliable, secure electricity that is enabling innovation and enhancing the energy leadership of the United States," said EEI President and CEO Drew Maloney.</span></p>]]></pp:summary><description><![CDATA[<p><img class="image_resized" style="aspect-ratio:800/auto;width:800px;" src="https://content.presspage.com/uploads/3004/516f111a-9ed1-4a61-b166-67d8fa010915/istock-1332858442-powerlines-transmission-tower.jpg?x=1753280813188" alt="iStock-1332858442_powerlines_transmission_tower" width="800" height="auto"></p><p dir="ltr"><span>EEI on Wednesday published its </span><a href="https://www.eei.org/-/media/Project/EEI/Documents/Issues-and-Policy/Finance-And-Tax/Financial_Review/FinancialReview_2024.pdf" target="_blank"><span>2024 Financial Review</span></a><span>, a wide-ranging report showcasing investor-owned electric companies’ strong financial footing.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>EEI member companies invested a record $178.2 billion last year to make the energy grid smarter, stronger, more dynamic, and more secure, according to the report. This was the 13th-consecutive year of record capital investment for EEI member companies, with more than $30 billion allocated to adaptation, hardening, and resilience projects to strengthen the nation’s transmission and distribution infrastructure for all customers.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>“Importantly, EEI member companies are projected to make similar investments of more than $1.1 trillion between 2025 and 2029, creating millions of jobs and supporting local economies across the country,” EEI President and CEO Drew Maloney said in a </span><a href="https://www.eei.org/News/news/All/eei-releases-2024-financial-review" target="_blank"><span>statement</span></a><span>. “As always, we remain committed to keeping customer bills as low as possible as we work to deliver the reliable, secure electricity that is enabling innovation and enhancing the energy leadership of the United States.”</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>EEI member companies are continuing to invest to support growing electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence and data center expansion, industrialization and the reshoring of manufacturing activity, and the electrification of the broader economy. The sector is the most capital-intensive in the U.S. economy, and these investments support local jobs, empower communities, and drive economic development.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>The report also showed that the industry’s average credit rating at the parent company level remained at BBB+ for the 11th-consecutive year, having increased from BBB in 2014, among other financial metrics.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>The electric power industry accounts for at least 5 percent of U.S. GDP and supports more than 7 million jobs across the country. Its financial health is critical to unlocking the capital necessary to build new critical energy infrastructure of all kinds.</span></p><p dir="ltr"><span>Visit </span><a href="https://www.eei.org/-/media/Project/EEI/Documents/Issues-and-Policy/Finance-And-Tax/Financial_Review/FinancialReview_2024.pdf">eei.org</a><span> to read through the report.</span></p>]]></description><category><![CDATA[latest,eei,grid,infrastructure,maloney,Lessons of Leadership,leadershipperspectives,Leadership Perspectives,feature,features,soergel,q32025]]></category>
            <pubDate>Thu, 24 Jul 2025 21:57:29 +0200</pubDate>
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                        <title>EEI Member Companies Helping to Drive $90 Billion in AI, Energy Investments in Pennsylvania</title>
                        <link>https://www.electricperspectives.com/pennsylvania-energy-innovation-summit-ai-maloney/</link>
                        <guid>https://www.electricperspectives.com/pennsylvania-energy-innovation-summit-ai-maloney/</guid><pp:caseid>714374</pp:caseid><pp:summary><![CDATA[<p><span>"These types of investments highlight the commitment of America’s electric companies to delivering the reliable, affordable electricity that makes innovation possible,” said EEI President and CEO Drew Maloney.</span></p>]]></pp:summary><description><![CDATA[<p><img class="image_resized" style="aspect-ratio:800/auto;width:800px;" src="https://content.presspage.com/uploads/3004/1dff0546-7b40-4334-876f-7f0204da931b/adobestock-1323816842.jpeg?x=1752757428586" alt="AdobeStock_1323816842" width="800" height="auto"></p><p><span>EEI President and CEO Drew Maloney and CEOs from four EEI member companies convened with industry, government, and technology leaders at the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit in Pittsburgh, where it was announced that the Commonwealth will see an influx of more than $90 billion in artificial intelligence (AI) and energy infrastructure investments in the coming years.</span></p><p><span>Maloney joined President Donald J. Trump, U.S. Senator Dave McCormick, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, and other senior officials at the event, which emphasized the essential role electricity plays in powering the nation’s economy and advancing technologies like AI.</span></p><p><span>“We applaud Senator McCormick for convening today’s event with President Trump and for shining a bright light on the critical role electricity plays in powering innovation and driving economic growth,” said Maloney. “The more than $90 billion in new investments announced today will help fund energy infrastructure projects, connect data centers as quickly as they are built, and create thousands of jobs. These types of investments highlight the commitment of America’s electric companies to delivering the reliable, affordable electricity that makes innovation possible.”</span></p><p><span>During the summit, EEI member company PPL Corporation announced the formation of a </span><a href="https://news.pplweb.com/2025-07-15-PPL-Corporation-and-Blackstone-Infrastructure-create-joint-venture-to-build-natural-gas-generation-in-Pennsylvania-in-support-of-data-center-development"><span>joint venture</span></a><span> with Blackstone Infrastructure to build, own, and operate new natural gas-based, combined-cycle generation stations to power data centers under long-term energy services agreements with regulated-like risk profiles that do not expose the companies to merchant energy and capacity price volatility.</span></p><p><span>“We are committed to developing creative solutions to some of the most pressing challenges we face in today’s changing energy landscape. And in Blackstone Infrastructure, we’ve found a tremendous partner and long-term energy infrastructure investor that not only has deep expertise in data center development and power generation but also shares our passion to deliver America’s AI dominance and to help address resource adequacy concerns within PJM,” PPL President and CEO Vincent Sorgi said in a </span><a href="https://news.pplweb.com/2025-07-15-PPL-Corporation-and-Blackstone-Infrastructure-create-joint-venture-to-build-natural-gas-generation-in-Pennsylvania-in-support-of-data-center-development"><span>statement</span></a><span>.</span></p><p><span>As the hometown electric company, Duquesne Light </span><a href="https://newsroom.duquesnelight.com/planning-the-future-of-ai-and-energy-in-western-pennsylvania"><span>thanked</span></a><span> the organizers of the summit and emphasized the company’s economic impact in Pittsburgh and throughout western Pennsylvania.</span></p><p><span>Five EEI member companies—Duquesne Light, FirstEnergy Corporation, PECO, PPL Electric Utilities, and UGI Utilities—collectively serve more than 5.9 million customers in Pennsylvania. Their investments in grid infrastructure in Pennsylvania are projected to more than double during the next four years to meet customer demand, boosting economic development and job growth in local communities.</span></p><p><span>Although future projections vary, experts agree that Pennsylvania’s and America’s appetite for electricity is only moving in one direction: up. Nationally, EEI member companies are projected to make more than $202 billion in grid investments this year alone.</span></p><p><span>“Through 2029, FirstEnergy is investing more than $28 billion in capital systemwide to modernize local distribution systems and strengthen the transmission network. In Pennsylvania, that includes spending $15 billion in the infrastructure enhancements, people, processes, and facilities needed to deliver safe, reliable power,” FirstEnergy Corporation Board Chair, President, and CEO Brian X. Tierney said in a </span><a href="https://www.firstenergycorp.com/newsroom/news_articles/fe-board-chair-and-ceo-bxt-participates-in-pa-energy-innovation-summit.html"><span>statement</span></a><span>. “This year alone, more than 40 new journey-level hires and apprentices will join our Pennsylvania team in well-paying, meaningful careers with long-term growth opportunity.”</span></p><p><span>Additionally:</span></p><ul><li><span>Duquesne Light plans to invest $2.7 billion during the next five years to upgrade the safety, reliability, and resilience of its service and grid infrastructure.</span></li><li><span>PECO is investing approximately $9.3 billion during the next five years across its electric and natural gas systems to complete targeted system enhancements and corrective maintenance, invest in new equipment, inspect equipment, and perform enhanced tree trimming and other vegetation management.&nbsp;</span></li><li><span>PPL Electric Utilities, PPL’s regulated utility subsidiary in Pennsylvania, has made more than $13 billion in grid investments since 2013 and plans to invest nearly $7 billion more through 2028.</span></li><li><span>Between the company’s 2023 and 2025 fiscal years, capital expenditures for UGI Utilities are projected to reach nearly $1.4 billion.</span></li></ul><p><span>These investments allow electric companies to meet new and rising demand from data centers and AI technologies, industrialization and the reshoring of manufacturing activity, and the electrification of the transportation sector, among other drivers.&nbsp;Just last month, </span><a href="https://www.peco.com/news/news-releases/2025-06-09"><span>PECO</span></a><span> committed to partnering with Amazon Web Services to support data center development in southeastern Pennsylvania.</span></p><p><span>Investor-owned electric companies also are increasingly embracing AI-enabled tools to power their operations, drive efficiency, and keep customer bills as low as possible. FirstEnergy is among several EEI member companies to use AI technology to inform its </span><a href="https://www.firstenergycorp.com/newsroom/news_articles/fe-deploys-tech-to-predict-and-reduce-tree-related-outages.html" target="_blank"><span>vegetation management strategy</span></a><span> to help prevent wildfires and mitigate storm damage. </span><a href="https://newsroom.duquesnelight.com/planning-the-future-of-ai-and-energy-in-western-pennsylvania" target="_blank"><span>Duquesne Light</span></a><span> last year announced it would install an AI-powered system to help make </span><a href="https://newsroom.duquesnelight.com/duquesne-light-company-to-implement-new-system-to-improve-underground-cable-safety"><span>underground grid maintenance</span></a><span> safer and more efficient.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>This trend of electric company AI adoption extends well beyond Pennsylvania’s borders. Last month at EEI 2025, Southern California Edison was awarded the </span><a href="https://www.eei.org/en/news/news/all/eei-announces-2025-domestic-edison-award-winner" target="_blank"><span>97th Edison Award</span></a><span> for its Advanced Waveform Anomaly Recognition system, which uses advanced sensors and AI models to detect faults and reduce the number and length of outages within SCE’s service territory.&nbsp;Learn more about the project and catch up on highlights from EEI’s annual thought leadership forum at </span><a href="https://www.electricperspectives.com/eei-meeting-highlights"><span>eei.org/2025</span></a><span>.</span></p>]]></description><category><![CDATA[innovation,latest,technology,ai,maloney,ppl,firstenergy,duquesne light,peco,exelon,ugi,features,feature,soergel,q32025]]></category>
            <pubDate>Thu, 17 Jul 2025 19:09:35 +0200</pubDate>
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                        <title>Saluting Our Nation’s Lineworkers</title>
                        <link>https://www.electricperspectives.com/national-lineworker-appreciation-day-eei-ibew-neca/</link>
                        <guid>https://www.electricperspectives.com/national-lineworker-appreciation-day-eei-ibew-neca/</guid><pp:caseid>713780</pp:caseid><pp:summary><![CDATA[<p>EEI, IBEW, NECA, and Pepco Holdings joined industry and labor leaders on Capitol Hill to commemorate National Lineworker Appreciation Day.</p>]]></pp:summary><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://content.presspage.com/uploads/3004/1b43a801-f7ce-41aa-bf7d-006e18331ce3/1920_img-0528.jpg?10000"><p><span>On July 9, industry and labor leaders and representatives gathered at the Rayburn House Office Building to honor the brave men and women who help maintain America’s energy grid and power our nation. The Lineworker Appreciation Day Reception, held ahead of the annual National Lineworker Appreciation Day on July 10, celebrated workers’ commitment to service and dedication to their communities.</span></p><p><span>Representatives from the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), and Pepco Holdings thanked the more than 150 members of Congress who cosponsored resolutions honoring lineworkers. The resolution was championed by U.S. Representatives Linda Sánchez (D-CA), Rob Bresnahan (R-PA), Donald Norcross (D-NJ), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and by U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV).</span></p><p><span>Those at the event also saluted lineworkers across the country, including those in attendance from Pepco (members of IBEW Local #1900) and Entergy (members of IBEW Local #2286).</span></p><p style="margin-left:0in;"><span>“These brave men and women are the face of our industry. They are essential to keeping the lights on for the customers and the communities we proudly serve,” said </span><a href="https://www.electricperspectives.com/eei-welcomes-drew-maloney-as-new-president-and-ceo/" target="_blank"><span><strong>EEI President and CEO Drew Maloney</strong></span></a><span>. “They're the first responders who head towards danger when others are moving away and work around the clock to restore power.”</span></p><p style="margin-left:0in;"><span>Maloney also commended lineworkers for their role in helping advance EEI member companies’ collective vision for a safe, reliable, and secure energy future.</span></p><p style="margin-left:0in;"><span><strong>IBEW Utility Director Drew Stover</strong> recounted the life of Henry Miller, a union organizer, lineworker, and the first president of the IBEW, who died on July 10, 1896, while restoring power in Washington, D.C. National Lineworker Appreciation Day is observed on July 10 to honor his legacy.</span></p><p style="margin-left:0in;"><span>“He would be proud that there has been so much progress—not just in safety conditions, but in the IBEW’s partnership with management and with elected officials to bring about those changes,” Stover said. “You all meet every challenge and literally power America.”</span></p><p style="margin-left:0in;"><span><strong>NECA CEO David Long</strong> thanked EEI and the IBEW for their partnership and emphasized efforts to improve worker safety. “We’ve been able to reduce accidents and deaths on the job, and we’ll continue to have an impact, because we want to make sure that each one of you goes home every day,” he said.</span></p><p style="margin-left:0in;"><span><strong>Pepco Holdings President and CEO Tyler Anthony</strong> thanked IBEW Local #1900 leaders for their partnership on workforce development programs, as well as the lineworkers in attendance for working long days and in challenging conditions to ensure reliability during recent storms and a severe heatwave. “These lineworkers put their skills to work every day, and they are committed to maintaining and improving critical grid infrastructure,” he said.</span></p><p><span>Be sure to </span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23thankalineworker&origin=TYPEAHEAD_HISTORY&searchId=8e2c94d9-0ca9-4165-a532-707b04ae273e&sid=0)o&spellCorrectionEnabled=true" target="_blank"><span>#ThankALineworker</span></a><span> today and every day for their unwavering dedication.</span></p>]]></description><category><![CDATA[ibew,maloney,tyler anthony,pepco,lineworker,phillips,exelon,latest,features,feature,Leadership Perspectives,leadershipperspectives,Lessons of Leadership,q32025]]></category>
            <pubDate>Thu, 10 Jul 2025 22:39:00 +0200</pubDate>
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                <pp:imageOriginal>https://content.presspage.com/uploads/3004/b35b3eda-c8ff-4925-88fa-48d619550786/img-0528.jpg?21231</pp:imageOriginal><pp:imageTitle><![CDATA[EEI President and CEO Drew Maloney praised lineworkers as &amp;quot;the first responders who head towards danger when others are moving away.&amp;quot;]]></pp:imageTitle></item><item>
                        <title>EEI Welcomes Drew Maloney as New President and CEO</title>
                        <link>https://www.electricperspectives.com/eei-welcomes-drew-maloney-as-new-president-and-ceo/</link>
                        <guid>https://www.electricperspectives.com/eei-welcomes-drew-maloney-as-new-president-and-ceo/</guid><pp:caseid>712781</pp:caseid><pp:summary><![CDATA[<p>“As AI transforms our industries, manufacturers return to our shores, and daily life becomes more electrified, the strength and resilience of America's energy grid is more critical than ever,” said Maloney.</p>]]></pp:summary><description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align:center;"><img class="image_resized" style="aspect-ratio:800/auto;width:800px;" src="https://content.presspage.com/uploads/3004/eb52e9b7-acd2-42d8-a250-a4089e8ee3d1/drew-maloney-energy-talk.png?x=1751378512227" alt="Drew_Maloney_Energy_Talk" width="800" height="auto"></p><p>Drew Maloney started today as the new president and CEO of the Edison Electric Institute (EEI).</p><p><span style="text-align:start;">Maloney joins EEI from the American Investment Council (AIC), where he served as President and CEO since 2018, building a reputation for effective industry advocacy and strategic leadership, including efforts to promote investment in American energy production and critical infrastructure.</span></p><p><span style="text-align:start;">Prior to leading AIC, Maloney was unanimously confirmed by the Senate to serve as the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Legislative Affairs, where he worked on issues including tax policy and energy infrastructure investment policy.</span></p><p><span style="text-align:start;">“As AI transforms our industries, manufacturers return to our shores, and daily life becomes more electrified, the strength and resilience of America’s energy grid is more critical than ever,” said Maloney when he was announced as EEI's incoming leader earlier this year.</span></p><p><span style="text-align:start;">“EEI’s member companies make up an innovative and dynamic industry, and I am excited to work with them to lay out and execute policies to support critical infrastructure investment, accelerate the deployment of domestic energy sources, and keep energy affordable and reliable for customers. I am confident that, working with the Trump Administration and Congress, we will advance and strengthen American energy independence, national security, economic prosperity, and global leadership.”</span></p><p>Read his full bio <a href="https://www.eei.org/-/media/Project/EEI/Documents/About/Leadership/Maloney.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>]]></description><category><![CDATA[maloney,eei,feature,features,Leadership Perspectives,leadershipperspectives,Lessons of Leadership]]></category>
            <pubDate>Tue, 01 Jul 2025 16:02:39 +0200</pubDate>
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