Camilo Serna, senior vice president at North American Electric Reliability Corporation, followed with a presentation on grid reliability, emphasizing the need for baseload generation and addressing the concerns posed by changing weather patterns and cyber threats. He noted that energy assurance standards are vital to maintaining a reliable grid and stressed the importance of battery storage to ensure grid stability. 

Nancy Johnson of the North Dakota Soybean Growers Association then took the stage to discuss the growing synergy between agriculture and energy. She highlighted the role of soybean crushing facilities in propelling biofuels forward in the upper Midwest. She also touched on the Inflation Reduction Act, which provides tax credits to encourage biofuel production. The conversation pointed to the potential for advanced biofuels to play a pivotal role in the region's energy future. 

Josh Stanislowski from the Energy & Environmental Research Center rounded out the morning with a discussion on the expanding role of carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technologies. He discussed the Midwest’s continued research and development of Carbon Capture capabilities has the potential to transform the regions energy industry by reducing emissions and supporting the expansion of production.

The second panel of the morning, Future of Traditional Fuels, brought together Karl Fennessey (ConocoPhillips), Todd Sailer (Minnkota Power Cooperative) and Danette Welsh (ONEOK) to explore the evolving role of traditional fuels—natural gas, coal and oil—in the energy landscape. Moderated by Brian Kalk (Energy & Environmental Research Center), the panel discussed the challenges and opportunities facing the sector, including rising market demand, workforce shortages and shifting state and federal policies. They examined how the industry is adapting, focusing on workforce solutions like training and automation, as well as the impact of regulatory changes. Panelists also shared insights into how innovation is helping traditional fuels meet future energy needs while balancing sustainability goals.