Large Public Power Utility CEOs Convene in New York to Tackle Surging Electricity Demand
LPPC members outline $140 billion investment and 58 GW of new generation to meet growth.
New York, N.Y. – October 2, 2025 – The Large Public Power Council (LPPC) brought CEOs and financial leaders together in New York City this week to confront the defining challenge of our industry: unprecedented growth in electricity demand from artificial intelligence, data centers, electrification, and economic growth.
“America’s growth runs straight through the power grid,” said Tom Falcone, President of LPPC. “We face the sharpest rise in electricity demand in a generation. Public power utilities aren’t waiting on the sidelines. We’re putting real money into real projects to ensure communities get reliable, affordable energy when they need it.”
Over the next ten years, LPPC members plan to add 58 gigawatts of new generation and invest $140 billion infrastructure – one of the largest capital buildouts ever undertaken by public power utilities. Discussions at LPPC’s Financial Conference zeroed in on financing, permitting, supply chain, new “clean, firm” technologies, and resiliency, and how to keep rates affordable for customers while executing projects at scale.
“The LPPC Financial Conference fostered vital conversations between public power leaders and the financial sector, at a time when this collaboration is needed more than ever,” said Jackie Flowers, LPPC Chair and Director, Tacoma Public Utilities. “Public power has played an important role in America’s history, and we will continue to be a reliable, proactive partner in America’s economic story.”
"Rising demand for energy is not a hurdle but a powerful opportunity to fuel America’s economic growth,” added Javier Fernandez, LPPC Vice Chair and President and CEO, Omaha Public Power District. “The discussions at the LPPC Financial Conference underscored a clear message: public power leaders are stepping up with determination and resilience. My own utility, for example, Omaha Public Power District, will be doubling its capacity by 2030. We are ready to navigate and lead through this time of transition.”
About the Large Public Power Council (LPPC):
LPPC represents 29 of the nation's largest not-for-profit public power utilities, serving over 30.5 million Americans in 23 states and territories. Together, LPPC members own more than 80,000 megawatts of generation capacity and over 40,000 circuit miles of high-voltage transmission lines. Learn more: www.lppc.org
