The Great Plains Institute is excited to announce a one-day workshop to be held in Austin, Texas on December 11, 2017. “Powering the Plains and Beyond: Energy Policy in America’s Heartland” will bring together experts, state officials, and stakeholders from across the Plains and beyond to explore energy developments and trends in the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) region.
Multiple perspectives will be featured in discussing ongoing challenges within the region on a variety of topics included wind development and the proposed expansion of the SPP footprint in Colorado. A diverse group of speakers and panelists will be featured, including
- Lanny Nickell, Vice President for Engineering, Southwest Power Pool
- Ted Thomas, Chairman, Arkansas Public Service Commission
- Steve Stoll, Commissioner, Missouri Public Service Commission
- Jeff Ackermann, Chairman, Colorado Public Service Commission
- Jenny McIvor, Vice Presidents of Environmental, MidAmerican Energy Company
- Rob Gramlich, Founder and President, Grid Strategies, LLC
- Jennifer Gardner, Staff Attorney, Western Resources Advocates
- Steve Beuning, Director of Market Operations, Xcel Energy
- Vanessa Tutos, Director of Government Affairs, EDP Renewables
SPP operates as the regional transmission organization (RTO) to the central region of the United States. Spanning from Texas to North Dakota, SPP ensures a reliable supply of power to fourteen states and a population of over 18 million people.
