Each year, Energy Central proudly recognizes the Top Voices across our six networks. These individuals have gone above and beyond in sharing their expertise, insights, and thought leadership with our community, delivering high-value content and sparking meaningful discussions about the future of energy. In a year full of challenges and opportunities, their contributions have shaped the conversation around the most pressing topics in the energy sector.
We asked each of our 2024 Top Voices honorees three important questions this year:
- What was the most significant trend in the energy and utility sector in 2024 and how do you think it changed or impacted the industry?
- What do you anticipate will be the story to watch in 2025?
- What’s a recommendation you have for our Energy Central community—an article, podcast episode, book, video, etc.—that’s elevated the way you think about our industry?
Keep reading to hear from the Top Voices in the EnergyBiz Network (and stay tuned all week as these Top Voices get published in each of the six networks—we’ll update this article with links to all Top Voices as they go live).
By the way: Want to be a Top Voice for 2025? Now’s the time to start sparking conversation on Energy Central.
Mark Gabriel
Company: United Power Rural Electric Cooperative
Title: President and CEO
Energy Central Member since 2021
Key Community Contribution: We may have it all wrong
Mark’s POV: Questions one and two are the mirror images of each other. The biggest trend in 2024 has been the announcement of massive plans for building new transmission. The story in 2025 will be the failure to permit or build any amount of transmission in a reasonable period of time. Cancellations will abound.
In 2024, by my rough estimate, 35,000 miles of transmission has been announced totaling nearly $35 billion dollars. This is in the face of a total of 4,000 miles from 2019-2024 including only 53 miles of bulk electric system build in 2023 totaling $4 billion. Even assuming permitting is sped up (which is doubtful) and money is unlimited (which it may be) the trades to build such lines do not exist and supply chain limitations will prevent this from happening. This is in the face of 80 gigawatts of plant closures and 80 new gigawatts needed to meet electrification demand. A 160 GW deficit will exist by 2028 if not sooner.
The story will be the need to focus on hyper-localization and Grid Enhancing Technologies as well as reconductoring.
