Episode 889

889: Why Co-ops and Public Utilities Are Winning the Load Growth Race

Published on: 6th January, 2026

The energy grid is facing a challenge unlike anything we’ve seen before.

Think about this: one Virginia co-op has over 20 GW of demand in its queue. That’s more than the energy demand of New York City. As electrification and data center expansion accelerate, public power and electric co-ops are on the front lines of solving this surge.

Electric cooperatives and public utilities are facing a wave of electrification, data center load, and manufacturing demand that rivals the size of major cities. That’s what major power providers are up against — but they’re not backing down.

This Tactical Tuesday episode is your front-row seat to a high-stakes, high-impact conversation hosted by Sheri Givens, CEO of SEPA. She’s joined by two utility leaders tackling today’s fastest-growing energy challenges while maintaining reliability, affordability, and equity.

They deliver on active solutions - from smart customer programs to creative tariff structures and innovative infrastructure partnerships.

Expect to learn:

🔹 How utilities are planning for multi-gigawatt load growth

🔹 What it takes to avoid blackouts during grid stress events

🔹 How equity-driven programs are supporting underserved communities

🔹 Why customer relationships are the new frontier in grid reliability

If you’re in clean energy, this is the episode that explains how the game is changing - and how leaders are rising to meet the moment.

Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast?

Hit us up - team@suncast.me with your feedback & recommendations.

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.

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Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.

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You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

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About the Podcast

SunCast
Your resource for developing a clean energy or climate tech career
Nico Johnson takes you into conversations with those at the forefront of Renewable Energy.

SunCast gives an inside look into what is happening in renewable energy. From conversations with the biggest Solar Panel manufacturers in the world to the small startups creating the future of renewable energy, such as carbon capture and battery technology breakthroughs.

SunCast is dedicated to providing the knowledge, research, tools and expert guidance you need to understand, grow and be ahead of the curve in the fastest-growing markets in the world.

Featuring over 800 conversations, Nico has interviewed people from Tesla, SolarCity, Trina Solar, Meyer Burger, Conergy, SunEdison, Energy Vault and even the US Government... to name a few. Covering topics such as Solar Power, Wind Energy, Batteries, Electric Vehicles, Carbon Capture, Finance, Hydrogen, and more.

You can watch SunCast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SunCastMedia

...or view the full archive of SunCast episodes here: https://www.suncast.media/media/podcast