VX News is the editorial voice of the annual VerdeXchange Conference, featuring in-depth interviews with industry leaders and policymakers driving innovation in clean energy, water, transportation, and climate policy.
Inside CAISO’s Expansion: President Mainzer on Markets, Governance, and the Western Grid
In this conversation with VX News, Elliot Mainzer, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), discusses efforts to build a more integrated Western power system through the Western Energy Imbalance Market (WEIM) and the forthcoming Extended Day-Ahead Market (EDAM). By leveraging regional connectivity and resource diversity, the model is improving reliability and lowering costs while preserving state-level control.
The Extended Day-Ahead Market Goes Live: EDF’s Michael Colvin
Building on past VX coverage of Western grid integration and governance reform, including the Pathways Initiative and California’s legislative efforts to enable a regional market, we reconnected with Michael Colvin, Director of the California Energy Program at Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), to assess where things stand today and what comes next. In conversation, Colvin outlines the launch of the Extended Day-Ahead Market for Western Energy, the role of independent governance in enabling multi-state participation, and the broader infrastructure challenges shaping the energy transition.