Community Engagement
The following is a transcript of the July 7, 2025, episode of Public Power Now. Learn more about subscribing to Public Power Now at Publicpower.org/Podcasts. Some quotes may have been edited for clarity. Paul Ciampoli Welcome to the latest episode of Public Power Now. I'm Paul Ciampoli, APPA News
Community Engagement
In a recent interview with APPA, Tim Haines, general manager of California public power utility Alameda Municipal Power, details the utility’s community engagement efforts and discusses the steps the utility has taken to achieve 100% clean energy since 2020.
Transmission
The Midcontinent ISO on July 30 announced that Republic Transmission LLC will lead development of the Reid Extra High Voltage–Indiana/Kentucky State Line 345-kV Competitive Transmission Project.
Reliability
Iowa public power utility Algona Municipal Utilities has received a $2 million Grid Resilience Grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) for an Electric Grid Resiliency Project.
Bills and Rates
Workshops and other outreach is underway to inform Grant PUD customers about a new rate strategy intended to ensure “core customers” –- residential, agriculture and small and medium-sized businesses –- receive the lowest rates possible for their electricity, while industrial rates remain competitive with the region, Grant PUD commissioners heard at their July 22 meeting.
Generation
The Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory and artificial intelligence company Atomic Canyon signed a memorandum of understanding to streamline the licensing process for nuclear power plants with artificial intelligence for license application reviews.
Bonds and Financing
The New York Power Authority has officially brought prepay electricity bonds to the state for the first time -- unlocking 10% savings for customers on renewable power purchase agreements.
Reliability
Arizona public power utility Salt River Project and the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM) extended their commitment to partner on strategic forest thinning projects through 2030.
Distributed Energy Resources
Texas public power utility CPS Energy has issued a request for proposals to acquire up to 400 megawatts of wind energy through one or more power purchase agreements.
Generation
Constellation and GridBeyond are collaborating to use GridBeyond’s artificial intelligence-powered predictive analytics platform to help business customers in the PJM Interconnection cut costs by reducing energy use during peak periods, the companies said on July 31.