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Power Talks
Join us for our virtual Power Talk series. This series brings together energy leaders in practice and ideas with those who are interested in learning more about energy to share insights on policy and decision-making.
Spring 2026
Energy and Artificial Intelligence
March 26th, 2026 11 a.m. MT
- Amber Bieg, Principal Program Manager, Sustainability Operations, Micron Technology
- Kathy Araújo, Director, Energy Policy Institute, and Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems, Innovation and Policy, Boise State University
Digging in on Critical Minerals Mining: Permitting and Siting with Implications for Energy and Water
April 2nd, 2026 1:30 p.m. MT
- Cally Younger, Administrator, Office of Energy and Mineral Resources, Idaho
- Dale Kerner, Vice President, Permitting, Integra Resources
- McKinsey Lyon, Vice President of Public Relations, Perpetua Resources
- Josh Johnson, Central Idaho Director, Idaho Conservation League
- Ian Von Linden, Co-Founder, Terra Graphics International Foundation (TIFO)
Superhot: Geothermal Advances in 2026
May 1st, 2026 2 p.m. MT
- Travis McLing, Distinguished Staff Scientist, Idaho National Laboratory
- Jefferson W. Tester, David Croll Sesquicentennial Fellow and Professor, R.F. Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University
- Bryant Jones, Executive Director, Geothermal Rising
- Roy Mink, President, Mink GeoHydro
- Kathy Araújo, Director, Energy Policy Institute, and Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems, Innovation and Policy, Boise State University
Workshop: The Wildfire-Grid Playbook – Managing Risk from Electric Utility Operations to Liability
January 8th, 2026 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. MT
Panel 1: Utility Adaptations and Best Practices for Wildfire-Grid Risk: The discussion will explore practical strategies, regulatory challenges, and emerging technologies.
Panel 2: Insurance Liability Approaches for Wildfire-Grid Risk: The discussion will explore how evolving wildfire threats are reshaping utility liability structures, insurance frameworks, and infrastructure planning across high-risk regions in the U.S.
Confirmed Panelists
- Jeremy Keen, Researcher, Grid Planning and Analysis Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- Jonathan Fleming, Associate Director of Distribution Design and Grid Modernization, Electric Power Engineers
- Eric Macomber, Wildfire Legal Fellow, Stanford Law School
- Michael Wara, Senior Director of Policy, Sustainability Accelerator, Stanford University
- Rade Musulin, Principal, Finity Consulting
- Dan Nuñez, Senior Director, Filsinger Energy Partners
- Andrew Engler, CEO, Rock Rose Risk
Navigating the Currents: Water Rights and Hydropower, with a Focus on Idaho
January 16, 2026 11 a.m. MT
- Craig Chandler, Watermaster, Water District 1, Idaho.
Fall 2025
Energy Policy at the Federal Level
September 9th, 2025 12 p.m. MT
- Jeff Genzer, Counsel to the National Association of State Energy Officials; Shareholder, Former President and Former Chairman of Duncan, Weinberg, Genzer, & Pembroke, P.C. law office
- Kathy Araújo, Director, Energy Policy Institute, and Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems, Innovation and Policy, Boise State University
Policy and Industry Progress in the US for Geothermal Energy
October 3rd, 2025 1 p.m. MT
- Bryant Jones, Executive Director, Geothermal Rising
- Paul Thomsen, Vice President of Business Development, Ormat Technologies
- Kathy Araújo, Director, Energy Policy Institute, and Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems, Innovation and Policy, Boise State University
Special Science Focus: Snowpack Melt and Storage (Implications for Water/Hydropower)
October 8th, 2025 2 p.m. MT
- Jim McNamara, Professor, Geosciences, Boise State UniversityÂ
- Hans-Peter Marshall, Associate Professor, Geosciences, Boise State UniversityÂ
- Kathy Araújo, Director, Energy Policy Institute, and Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems, Innovation and Policy, Boise State University
What’s Next for Energy Policy? Storage and Technology Change in the U.S. Power Sector
October 24th, 2025 11 a.m. MT
- Neil Chatterjee, Chief of Governmental Affairs, Palmetto; former Chairman, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
- Jigar Shah, Co-Managing Partner, Multiplier; former Director, Loan Program Office, U.S. Department of Energy
- Kathy Araújo, Director, Energy Policy Institute, and Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems, Innovation and Policy, Boise State University
Megawatts to Microchips: Siting and Cost Realities for Electricity in the AI & Semiconductor Era
December 1st, 2025 12 p.m. MT
- Adam Richins, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Idaho Power
- Kris Raper, Vice President, Strategic Engagement & External Affairs, Western Electricity Coordinating Council
- Kathy Araújo, Director, Energy Policy Institute, and Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems, Innovation and Policy, Boise State University
U.S. Nuclear Energy at the Crossroads: Consolidated Storage, Reprocessing, Long Term Waste, and Fusion
December 11th, 2025 12 p.m. MT
- John Kotek, Vice President for Policy Development and Public Affairs, Nuclear Energy Institute
- Kathy Araújo, Director, Energy Policy Institute, and Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems, Innovation and Policy, Boise State University
Spring & Summer 2025
Engaging Communities when Siting and Permitting Energy Facilities
February 21st, 2025 11am MT
- Larry Susskind, Professor at MIT, Co-founder, Harvard Program on Negotiation, Founder, Consensus Building Institute
- Moderator: Dr. Kathy Araújo, Director, Energy Policy Institute, and Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems, Innovation and Policy, Boise State University
The Nuclear Waste Policy Act & Other Rules for Siting Used Nuclear Fuel
April 25th, 2025 1pm MT
- Temple Stoellinger, Associate Dean and Assoc Professor, Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources/University of Wyoming College of Law
- Moderator: Dr. Kathy Araújo, Director, Energy Policy Institute, and Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems, Innovation and Policy, Boise State University
Day Ahead Markets for Power – Implications for Idaho (regular Power Talk series)
June 4th, 2025 1pm MT
- Kathy Anderson, Senior Manager, Transmission and Markets, Idaho Power
- Bear Prairie, General Manager of Idaho Falls Power and Idaho Falls Fiber
- Ben Otto, Energy Consultant, NW Energy Coalition
- Moderator: Dr. Stephanie Lenhart, Senior Research Associate and Associate Research Professor
Decision-making on Nuclear Security and Energy after the Bombings of Iranian Nuclear Facilities: A Fireside Chat with Secretary Ernest J. Moniz
July 11th, 2025 9:30am MT
- Secretary Ernest J. Moniz, Former U.S. Secretary of Energy; Co-Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the Nuclear Threat Initiative
- Dr. Kathy Araújo, Director, Energy Policy Institute, and Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems, Innovation and Policy, Boise State University
Fall 2024 – Special Focus on Permitting and Siting
Decision-making and Engagement for Used Nuclear Fuel/Nuclear Waste
October 4th, 2024 12pm MT
- Dr. Thomas Webler, founding member and Senior Research Fellow, Social and Environmental Research Institute
- Moderator: Dr. Kathy Araújo, Director, Energy Policy Institute, and Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems, Innovation and Policy, Boise State University
Views from Former Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairs on Permitting and Siting for Temporary Storage of Used Nuclear Fuel
December 9th, 2024 1pm MT
- Allison Macfarlane, Professor and Director of the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, University of British Columbia; and former Chair of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- Richard Meserve, President Emeritus of the Carnegie Institution for Science; and former Chair of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission; Senior counsel in the Washington, D.C., office of Covington and Burling, LLP
- Moderator: Dr. Kathy Araújo, Director, Energy Policy Institute, and Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems, Innovation and Policy, Boise State University
Spring 2024
U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap
January 12th, 2024 11:30am MT
- Dr. Sunita Satyapal, Director for the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office
- Moderator: Dr. Kathy Araújo, Director, Energy Policy Institute, and Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems, Innovation and Policy
Critical Minerals Mining, Energy and Public Lands: Policy and Recommendations
February 29th, 1pm MT
- Steven Feldgus, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management, U.S. Department of the Interior
- Moderator: Dr. Kathy Araújo, Director, Energy Policy Institute, and Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems, Innovation and Policy
Competitiveness, Sustainability and Energy: A View from Industry in a Fireside Chat
March 14th, 11am MT
Power Talk Host Kathy Araújo, Director of the Energy Policy Institute and Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems, Innovation, and Policy will be joined in a fireside chat by Chad Holliday, former Chairman of Royal Dutch Shell plc, former Chairman of the Board for Bank of America and former Chairman and CEO of DuPont.
Evolving Electricity Developments and the West: Energy Security, Market Change and Policy
March 28th, 12pm MT
- Stephanie Lenhart, Senior Research Associate and Associate Research Professor, CAES Energy Policy Institute and Boise State University
- Moderator: Dr. Kathy Araújo, Director, Energy Policy Institute, and Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems, Innovation and Policy
Idaho’s Energy Programming: Highlights and Discussion with the Office of Energy and Mineral Resources
April 4th, 11am MT
- Emily Her, Energy Program Manager at the Idaho Office of Energy and Mineral Resources (OEMR)Â
- Moderator: Dr. Kathy Araújo, Director, Energy Policy Institute, and Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems, Innovation and Policy
Idaho’s Competitiveness, Regional Energy Role and Industry-University Partnerships
June 13th, 12:30pm MT
- Latisha Hill, Chief Customer Officer and Vice President of Community Relations, Avista
- Adam Richins, Chief Operating Officer, Idaho Power
- Bryant Jones, Executive Director, Geothermal Rising
- Phil Reppert, Director, Idaho University Collaborations and Director, Center for Advanced Energy Studies, Idaho National Laboratory
- Moderator: Dr. Kathy Araújo, Director, Energy Policy Institute, and Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems, Innovation and Policy