Co-ops Focus on Innovation

Lightning eMotors CEO Tim Reeser shares how his company is electrifying small buses and passenger vans during lunch at the CREA Energy Innovations Summit.

Changes in the electric industry, new technologies, beneficial electrification and more were the focus of the CREA Energy Innovations Summit, Monday, October 11. About 300 electric co-op directors, managers/CEOs and staff members gathered with other representatives from the electric industry to talk about the innovations that will affect the electric industry in the future.

The day opened with Tri-State Generation and Transmission CEO Duane Highley and Xcel Energy President Alice Jackson talking about how the industry is coping with change. Luncheon speaker Tim Reeser, CEO of Lightning eMotors in Loveland, shared how his company is electrifying small buses, passenger vans and other medium-duty vehicles.

The day also included panel discussions focused on energy storage, hydrogen as vehicle fuel, carbon capture usage and storage, distributed generation, beneficial electrification and more.

CREA, the trade association for Colorado’s 22 electric distribution co-ops, and its power supply co-op have presented the summit each year since 2010. Peruse this year’s Summit lectures at crea.coop.