WVMA Annual Meeting & Winter Convention

Hosted by WGA Chair and Hawaiʻi Governor Josh Green, the meeting includes a discussion of Pacific prosperity and U.S. regional security, including how states, territories, and the federal government can identify and mitigate emerging risks, strengthen regional resilience, and advance shared security and prosperity. A panel on energy infrastructure examines how states, developers, and local leaders can align large projects with growing electricity demand while supporting local economies and delivering lasting benefits to host communities. Other agenda topics include workplace substance misuse, mental health, and worker safety under the Health Beyond Healthcare initiative; and tourism policies and educational campaigns that help communities honor their homelands and heritage while supporting sustainable economic development.

The Ohio Oil & Gas Association’s principal business meeting covers current issues impacting Ohio’s oil and gas industry through business sessions, breakout sessions, and a trade show. Agenda topics include the Debrosse Memorial Report on 2026 oil and gas activity in Ohio; an Ohio Natural Energy Institute program update; a Division of Oil and Gas Resources Management regulatory update; a Federal Political Perspective; and a State Legislative Leadership Discussion. The program also lists an Ohio Geological Society session and legal continuing-education sessions. Several session titles and breakout presentations remain TBD. The program includes the Oilfield Patriot Award ceremony and the Thomas E Stewart Legacy Award presentation.

Public power utility leaders meet with experts in technology, energy, and policy. Attendance is limited to facilitate productive dialogue. Sessions address shifts in the global energy landscape, including the energy transition, energy security, geopolitical and economic competition, and investment in energy infrastructure, renewable technologies, nuclear power, and fossil fuels. Other discussions examine reliability and affordability amid growing demand, rising costs, regulatory pressures, and customer expectations; resource adequacy, infrastructure investment, workforce challenges, supply-chain constraints, and emerging technologies; and leadership through outages, cyber incidents, severe weather, safety emergencies, and public scrutiny. The program also explores AI and other emerging technologies, including their utility applications and questions around governance, cybersecurity, workforce impacts, and risk management. Additional topics include evaluating and integrating significant new loads, generation and infrastructure investments, contracts and rate protections, aligning economic development with the public power mission, and workforce development, succession planning, leadership training, and knowledge transfer.

The conference combines superintendent and engineer meetings for presentations on new technology, standards, and industry regulations, alongside a joint product show featuring solutions from digital tools to bucket trucks. Agenda topics include automation, leadership, field testing for metering accuracy and hidden losses, AI tools for engineering and operations, advanced distribution operations and faster restoration, and relay testing. A group-led roundtable covers artificial intelligence in electric cooperatives, contractor requirements, dispatching, employee retention, right-of-way and line-extension policies, pole loading and guying, BESS, data center loads, electronic breakers, safety, equipment, and automation. Additional listed issues include ODOT projects, ground-grid and relay advancements, vegetation and asset management using LiDAR and drone mapping, protection engineering, utility construction coordination and constructability, and independent construction oversight and QA/QC. The business meeting includes the election of 2027 officers and new business.

NARUC’s capstone meeting includes a year-end summary from NARUC President Ann Rendahl, topics across utility sectors, and installation of the organization’s new president and officers. The program covers utility affordability, customer assistance, ratemaking, large-load growth, data centers, demand response, and flexible load; transmission capacity, advanced transmission technologies, permitting reform, and infrastructure investment; coal-plant options, nuclear energy, natural gas, and pipeline safety; and grid resilience, distributed energy resources, virtual power plants, battery storage, and community microgrids. Other sessions address AI-enabled extreme-weather preparedness, cybersecurity in water and wastewater systems, operational technology for gas and water leak detection, telecommunications network transitions, utility data and customer service infrastructure, water infrastructure investment, federal-state energy regulation, and regulatory impacts of proposed permitting legislation. A workshop examines methods for evaluating advanced transmission technologies, including dynamic line ratings, advanced power flow controls, and advanced conductors. The agenda also includes committee business meetings and general sessions on utility infrastructure resilience and community-based resilience investments. Some meetings are closed to nonmembers or restricted to invitees.

WEI’s largest event includes general sessions with industry leaders and keynote speakers, plus breakout programming across Asset Management, Damage Prevention, Electric Distribution, Electric Substation, Electric Transmission, Grid of the Future, Grid Resilience, Low Carbon Fuels, Natural Gas Emergency Response + Restoration, Natural Gas Integrity Management, Natural Gas Operational Excellence, Operational Leadership, Safety + Health, Safety Management Systems, and Workforce Development. The program is open to anyone in the energy industry.

The conference and reception offers an opportunity to learn about innovations in advanced energy and recent policy developments. The program includes main-stage panels, breakout panels with expert panelists, and presentations from energy experts. It brings together leaders in Michigan’s advanced energy industry, utility executives, policymakers, and regulators.

The conference theme is “Going Critical: Creating a Durable Nuclear Resurgence.” Plenary discussions address how technology, finance, and public policy can sustain nuclear energy momentum, and how public confidence, domestic supply chains, workforce development, investment, and state leadership can support deployment at scale. John Wagner, Laboratory Director at INL, is a featured speaker; the opening plenary also includes U.S. NRC Commissioners Douglas Weaver and Bradley Crowell. The technical program features expert-led presentations and peer-reviewed research on advanced reactors, fuel cycle and waste management, reactor physics, fusion, AI and machine learning, materials science, instrumentation and controls, criticality safety, and robotics. Named session topics include nuclear energy markets, financing and economics; hybrid and integrated energy systems; maritime and data center applications; nuclear safeguards; cybersecurity; molten salt reactor fuels and materials; and advanced/additive manufacturing. Panels address uranium mining remediation, environmental review, digital twins, advanced reactor fuel supply and fabrication, and nuclear deployment pathways.

The program covers electricity demand from data onshoring and options for expanding grid generation and infrastructure; agrivoltaics combining cattle grazing with solar; and collaborative, technology-neutral ways to meet Tennessee’s demand for reliable, affordable power. A panel on the Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus focuses on research, industry collaboration, technology development, and resource recovery across the nuclear lifecycle. Power Moves discussions highlight advanced-energy projects, technologies, and investments, including work by Centrus Energy, Kairos Power, and Type One Energy. Power Pitches are grouped around the future of energy, nuclear materials, advanced materials, and manufacturing. The event also presents the Thomas B. Ballard Advanced Energy Leadership Award and includes a featured address on energy innovation and U.S. energy security.