USEA's Virtual Press Briefings

About USEA's Virtual Press Briefings

USEA's Virtual Press Briefing series features a panel of industry experts answering questions from energy journalists about the leading issues and cutting-edge energy topics of the day. The general audience can also submit questions. USEA President and CEO Mark W. Menezes delivers opening remarks for each briefing. The briefings are organized and moderated by Llewellyn King, producer and co-host of White House Chronicle on PBS. The Virtual Press Briefing series was launched in October 2020. It is a virtual reboot of the original Press Briefing series, which was conducted several years ago in

Publisher

U.S. Energy Association

Category

news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

22 Jan 2025

Latest episode

20 Aug 2025

Latest episodes

8 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   20 Aug 2025

   August 2025 Virtual Press Briefing: How Data Centers Are Inexorably Upending the Utilities

   Journalists Jennifer Hiller and Ken Silverstein interview energy experts Karen Ornelas and Bud Albright about how data centers are reshaping the electric utility industry.

2. 

   9 Jul 2025

   July Virtual Press Briefing: Natural Gas Is King Now, But Can It Rule?

   Industry experts Rudy Garza, Branko Milicevic, Austin Hastings, Michael Caravaggio, Dustin Meyer, and Diana Furchtgott-Roth discuss the rise of natural gas as a dominant energy source and its potential future challenges in this interview, including environmental concerns and infrastructure limitations.

3. 

   11 Jun 2025

   June Virtual Press Briefing: Is a New Golden Age for Nuclear Power Dawning?

   Industry experts James Schaefer, Scott Hunnewell, Cyril Draffin, Shanthi Muthiah, James Walker, Steve Chengelis, and Benton Arnett discuss the feasibility of President Trump's plan to quadruple nuclear power production by 2050 with reporters Matthew Daly, Jennifer Hiller, Tim Gardner, Matt Chester, William Freebairn, and Markham Hislop in this interview.

4. 

   7 May 2025

   May Virtual Press Briefing: New, Transformative Technologies Entering the Electric Utility Space

   The United States Energy Association will examine new, transformative technologies which are entering the electric utility space at its next virtual press briefing, set for Wednesday, May 7, at 11 a.m. EDT. The format for these briefings is well-established: A panel of experts is interviewed by a panel of senior reporters who cover energy. Ideally, reporters get information for a story they can write that day or bank for future stories. The May 7 briefing will look at a panoply of new technologies coming down the pike for utilities, including the incorporation of AI agents in many aspects of their operations, small modular reactors, fusion, new conductors, new low-head hydro, solutions to inertia problems, storage in all forms, and distributed energy applications and tools. These new technologies are being developed at a time when electricity is rising in importance and demand is increasing with AI data centers and new uses. As usual for this briefing series, Mark Menezes, USEA President and CEO, and a Deputy Secretary of Energy in the first Trump Administration, will be on hand to contribute his experience and deep knowledge of energy and electric utilities. Journalist and broadcaster Llewellyn King, who is well known in the energy and electric utility sectors, organizes and moderates the briefings. “This time round, we have an extraordinary lineup of experts and senior energy writers,” King said. On the experts panel: Ted Ko, Founder and Executive Director, EPDI Ron Schoff, Director of R&D, EPRI Jason Huang, CEO and Co-founder, TS Conductor Chris Ritter, Division Director, Scientific Computing and AI, Idaho National Laboratory Key Han, President and Chief Scientist, DD Motion Ravindra Vora, CEO, Transventure Energy LLC Kevin Wolf, CEO and Co-founder, Windharvest.com Bryan Spear, CEO, Technosylva Whit Irvin Jr., President and CEO, Q Hydrogen On the reporters panel: Peter Behr, Politico’s E&E News Vijay Vaitheeswaram, The Economist Matt Chester, Energy Central Adam Clayton Powell III, PBS Ken Silverstein, Forbes Evan Halper, The Washington Post

5. 

   16 Apr 2025

   April Virtual Press Briefing: New Rules, Old Trajectories

   The tumult produced by President Trump’s global tariffs has added a new urgency to the United States Energy Association’s next virtual press briefing. The briefing, which is set for Wednesday, April 16 at 11 a.m. EDT, will examine the utility industry under the rubric of “New Challenges, Old Trajectories.” It will be broadcast live on Zoom and is free and open to the public, but registration is required. This briefing, part of a monthly series, will be especially critical because of the impact on the electrical supply chain of the Trump tariffs. This could outweigh the administration’s easing of environmental regulations and its coolness to the trajectory of carbon reduction that utilities have been following. There is also the question of electricity imports which are so important to New England and other states along the northern border. At least one Canadian province, Ontario, has talked about cutting off electricity imports even if electricity is exempted from the tariffs. Particularly at stake is bulk electrical equipment, including transformers and turbines which are imported. Supply chains were already stressed as the industry looks to build new generation, improve and upgrade transmission, and meet rapidly increasing demand. Aluminum from Canada is of concern because it is vital in transmission expansion and upgrading. Some utilities are wondering if they will get the government funds they obtained through the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Rural electric cooperatives are concerned about whether they will get their approved low-interest loans and grants from the Agriculture Department under its rural electrification program. The tumult produced by the tariff war has serious consequences for the utilities as well as their customers. There will be a banquet of subjects about which senior journalists will be questioning an expert at the briefing. At times of uncertainty, every bite of knowledge is vital. On the expert panel: Markham Hislop, CEO, Energi Media, Canada David Naylor, President, Rayburn Electric Cooperative Jan Vrins, Partner, Clarum Advisors Kevin Brancato, Senior Vice President of Product Strategy, TechnoMile Jason Rodriguez, CEO and Co-Founder, Zpryme and Froliq Karl Moor, Chief Executive Officer, Powerscape Global On the reporters panel: Jennifer Hiller, The Wall Street Journal Herman Trabish, Utility Dive Ken Silverstein, Forbes, Peter Behr, Politico’s E&E News Matt Chester, Energy Central Adam Clayton Powell III, PBS

6. 

   5 Mar 2025

   March Virtual Press Briefing: Energy and Environment: The Trump Challenge

   Lee Zeldin, new Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, has said, “It’s important for us urgently to do everything in our power to make sure Americans have the cleanest air, land, and water. That’s something that keeps me up at night." Environmentalists and many in the energy sector believe the Trump administration is doing just the opposite. It has taken aim at a raft of laws and regulations which protect the environment, including the National Environmental Policy Act, bulwark of a vast structure of environmental laws and protections since it was signed into law by President Nixon in 1970. There is alarm in the utility industry about the administration’s antipathy to wind generation. Its enthusiasm for coal alarms clean air advocates who see it as a step backward. There also is alarm about the future of transitional funding guaranteed during the Biden administration, under the Inflation Reduction Act, to enhance clean energy and finance transition from polluting fuels to green ones. That funding is frozen and the Department of Government Efficiency operatives have slashed employment in the Department of Energy’s loan office. What now? The rural electric cooperatives are worried about $9 billion in financing they were to get from the Department of Agriculture for rural electrification projects. Lesser laws like the Endangered Species Act, it is feared by their defenders, may be repealed or circumvented. The United States Energy Association at its next virtual press briefing, set for March 5, at 11 a.m. EST, will examine what to expect from the Trump administration in its reshaping of environmental policy, and the nature and scope of the legal opposition. Court challenges have already been filed and many more are expected. As usual, a panel of experts will be questioned by a panel of senior journalists who cover energy and the environment. Journalist Llewellyn King organizes and moderates the press briefings, which are broadcast live on Zoom and last an hour. Mark Menezes gives welcoming remarks and is on hand to share his deep knowledge as president and CEO of USEA and as a former deputy secretary of energy. The Experts: Andrew Wheeler, former Administrator, EPA Tom Falcone, President & CEO, Large Public Power Council Karl Moor, Chief Executive Officer, Powerscape Global Diana Furchtgott-Roth, Director, Center for Energy, Climate and Environment, The Heritage Foundation Derek Murrow, Senior Director, Federal Power, Climate and Energy, NRDC Brad Molotsky, Partner, Duane Morris The Reporters: Jennifer Hiller, The Wall Street Journal Markham Hislop, Energi (Canada) Evan Halper, The Washington Post Adam Clayton Powell III, PBS Matt Chester, Energy Central Ken Silverstein, Forbes Peter Behr, E&E News

7. 

   12 Feb 2025

   February Virtual Press Briefing: Understanding the Trump Energy Agenda

   The Trump administration has made energy one of its cornerstone policies, hoping to produce "energy dominance." While Christopher Wright, the new energy secretary, has won plaudits from the energy world, details of how the president’s energy agenda will unfold are still sketchy. What is known and what can be expected will be examined at the next United States Energy Association virtual press briefing, which is set for Wednesday, Feb. 12, at 11 a.m. EST. As usual, a panel of senior reporters who cover energy will question a panel of experts, this time on the president's energy plans. At these briefings, the questions are spontaneous as are follow-ups. Expert panelists are invited to interject their views, if these aren’t triggered by a question from a reporter. Mark Menezes, president and CEO of the USEA, and deputy secretary of energy in the first Trump administration, will be on hand to share his knowledge. The briefings are organized and moderated by journalist Llewellyn King and are conducted live on Zoom. They last a little over an hour, and recordings and transcripts are available afterwards on both the USEA and Energy Central websites. Briefings are free and open to the press and the public, but registration is required. Experts Panel Linda Willard, Energy Practice, Dentons Dan Brouillette, former Secretary, US Department of Energy Bob Deans, Director of Strategic Engagement, Natural Resources Defense Council Shon Hiatt, Director of the Business Energy Transition Initiative, University of Southern California Spencer Pederson, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, National Electrical Manufacturers Association Alex Beehler, Former Assistant Army Secretary for Energy and the Environment Scott Segal, Co-chair of the Policy Resolution Group, Bracewell LLP Reporters Panel Jennifer Hiller, The Wall Street Journal Evan Halper, The Washington Post Peter Behr, Politico’s E&E News Ken Silverstein, Forbes Matt Chester, Energy Central Adam Clayton Powell III, PBS

8. 

   22 Jan 2025

   January Virtual Press Briefing: Rough Road Ahead for Electric Utilities in 2025

   While electric utilities and consumers will be cruising comfortably in the middle and distant future with new transmission, new generation, AI management, DER and new technologies, particularly nuclear, in the form of small modular reactors and maturing fusion, their immediate future is a road filled with potholes. This promises to be a year when the utilities will be stressed as never before with rising demand, worsening weather, and no quick fixes. It will be yet another year for utilities to tighten their seatbelts and make do with what they have. Consider: The United States Energy Information Administration predicts that electricity demand will reach new highs this summer. This increase is driven by several factors including the rise in data centers, the switch to electric transportation, and the change from fossil fuels to electricity in manufacturing. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation, in its long-term forecast, is pessimistic. NERC predicts that over half of the country could face electricity shortfalls this summer due to rising demand and fossil fuel retirements. Long-range weather forecasters are predicting a hotter than usual summer despite a decline in El Niño. NERC says this could lead to a 15- percent summer demand rise over the next decade. It also warns of an 18-percent increase in winter demand over the decade. To examine these challenges, the United States Energy Association will hold its first of the year virtual press briefing on Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 11 a.m. EST. As usual, a panel of senior reporters who cover energy for national and trade outlets will question a panel of experts. Reporters will have a story they can write that day and information they can bank for future use. Also as usual, the briefing on Zoom is open to the press and the public — and some questions from the public will be taken via the chat function. Journalist Llewellyn King has organized and will moderate the briefing. Mark Menezes, USEA President and CEO, will be on hand to welcome participants, review the mission of the USEA, and lend his expertise as a former deputy secretary of energy to the discussion. Participation is free but registration is required. The Experts: Jim Robb, President and CEO, North American Electric Reliability Corporation Elliot Mainzer, President and CEO, California ISO Sacha Fontaine, Principal Utility Consultant and AI expert, SAS Duane Highley, CEO, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association Karen Wayland, CEO, GridWise Alliance John Howes, Principal, Redland Energy Ted Vatnsdal, executive director strategy and risk management, MISO Maria Pope, president and CEO, Portland General Electric; Chair, EEI The Reporters: Jennifer Hiller, The Wall Street Journal Edward Saltzberg, Security and Sustainability Forum Peter Behr, Politico’s E&E News Markham Hislop, Energi (Canada) Matt Chester, Energy Central Ken Silverstein, Forbes

Who has been a guest on USEA's Virtual Press Briefings

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Karen Ornelas
• Bud Albright
• Rudy Garza
• Branko Milicevic
• Austin Hastings

Podcast Authority Score: 16 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

32

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

Contact USEA's Virtual Press Briefings

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.