Gas-fired generation remains a cornerstone of reliability for power producers nationwide — but the market is changing fast. Accelerating load growth, evolving emissions requirements, and shifting market signals are reshaping how gas plants are planned, built, and operated. Take a focused look at the gas generation landscape and its implications for public power utilities. Hear an EPC contractor’s perspective on what’s driving costs and development timelines, and what practical considerations utilities evaluating gas resources should weigh.

Data centers can be a great engine for economic growth in some areas, but their development can be detrimental in other communities. With a thoughtful and focused approach public power entities can utilize data centers as a catalyst for investments to reduce system constraints and increase resilience. Get an overview of the current state of the data center industry and how to assess if your customer is credible.

Get a practical roadmap for planning, deploying, and operating modern reciprocating engine (RICE) plants for public power. This session highlights why fast start engines provide flexible, dispatchable capacity and support peak reliability, black start capability, and microgrids for critical services. Presenters will compare technology and procurement decisions through a municipal lens, share key commissioning lessons and performance metrics, and show how data driven remote support can improve availability and reduce outages.

Light Up Navajo is a partnership between the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority and the American Public Power Association to bring electricity to families in the Navajo Nation for the very first time. Learn why the initiative matters to the communities it serves and for the utilities that participate, including the impact the program has had since it began. Get a sense of what the volunteer crews experience as they help extend power lines and what your utility needs to know if it wants to get involved. Hear firsthand experiences, logistical considerations, and steps to join this life‑changing effort to strengthen communities and improve quality of life across the Navajo Nation.

In challenging moments — whether navigating workforce pressures, rising customer expectations, or full-scale utility crises — communication is the backbone of effective leadership. In high‑stress situations, communicators and leaders often operate at the intersection of urgency, fear, and intense public scrutiny. Discuss the principles of strategic communication and crisis leadership to help you better cut through the noise, focus on the signals that truly matter, and guide your organization with clarity, confidence, and empathy.

Hear what’s happening in Congress this year on issues that impact public power and your utility, including tax and finance, permitting reform, supply chain challenges, and grid security. Discover how you can add your voice and show Congress the power and needs of your community. 

Extreme weather continues to challenge operational plans and technology roadmaps at utilities across the country. Hear from utility leaders from different regions in the U.S. about their experience with extreme events and how their storm and emergency operations plans support resilience for the utility and the communities they serve. Walk through the proven practices contained in storm operations plans and how response efforts are modernizing for rapid recovery and restoration. 

This session will be closed to the press.

Take a deeper dive into the outlook for various parts of the energy sector in the U.S., including natural gas supply-demand balances and pricing forecasts. Examine what these trends mean for power generation and resource planning, and whether projected load growth is real and how it could affect your capacity planning. Gain insights into key drivers shaping energy prices and reliability, including energy market impacts from the conflict in Iran, and what to expect in the coming years.