On Wednesday, September 30, Positive Current convened utility communicators, trade association leaders, and congressional energy staff to The Riggs in Washington for a morning built around one question: how does this industry tell the story of energy growth?

The timing matters. After years of flat electricity demand, utilities are planning new generation, new transmission, and the workforce to build and run it. That buildout puts people to work: line workers, electricians, technicians, engineers, and the construction crews behind every new project. Most of the public still hears about energy through outages and political fights. The room came together to talk about telling the rest of it.

Amos Snead speaks at a podium in front of a Positive Current backdrop as guests listen from their tables
Positive Current President Amos Snead opens the morning.

The Energy Conversation Washington Isn't Having

Former FERC Chairman Willie Phillips, now a Partner at Holland & Knight and Board Chair of Future Force, opened the program in conversation with Patrice Jones Hunter, National Policy and Advocacy Director at Con Edison, on where demand is headed and what the public is not hearing about it.

From Backlash to Buy-In

Frank Maisano of Bracewell moderated a panel with Rob Hatley, Group Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Communications at Entergy, and Emily Schillinger, Chief Communications Officer at the Edison Electric Institute, on how utilities have brought communities along as data centers, and the jobs that come with them, arrive.

Frank Maisano, Emily Schillinger, and Rob Hatley seated on stage, seen from behind the audience
Frank Maisano, Emily Schillinger, and Rob Hatley on the panel.

When the Story Turns

Brody Mullins, Co-founder of 535 News, joined Amos Snead for a conversation on what happens when a company loses control of its story, and how some of them get it back.

Brody Mullins and Amos Snead in conversation on stage with guests seated in the foreground
Brody Mullins and Amos Snead.
Guests seated at tables listen to the program
Utility, trade association, and Hill energy leaders in the room.

Get Involved

Positive Current is independent energy media covering the buildout of America's power system and the people doing the work. We report how the grid works and who is getting hired. No paywall.

Thank you to every speaker and guest who gave us their morning.