Public Utility Commissions 101: Understanding Utility Regulation & How It Fits Into Your Data Center Fight
As data centers place growing demands on our electric grid, many of the biggest decisions about who pays for new infrastructure, how much energy is needed, where new transmission lines are built, and how utilities plan for future growth happen before state Public Utility Commissions (PUCs). Yet for many community advocates, the utility regulatory process can feel confusing, technical, and out of reach.
In this webinar, Tanya Paslawski, Founder and Principal of Elevated Engagement and Executive Director of the Community Energy Engagement Network, will demystify the role of Public Utility Commissions and explain how data center development is increasingly shaping utility decisions.
Tanya will walk through where communities can engage in the process, the types of utility proceedings that matter most, and practical strategies for becoming more effective advocates. Whether you're just beginning to explore utility regulation or looking to strengthen your engagement, you'll leave with a better understanding of where critical decisions are made, and how your community can have a voice.
Speaker Bio:
Tanya Paslawski is the founder and principal of Elevated Engagement and serves as Executive Director of the Community Energy Engagement Network.
She is an attorney and energy industry veteran with over 25 years of experience in utility regulatory policy analysis, development, and advocacy, serving in a variety of leadership roles in the public and private sectors. She is a trainer, facilitator, and organizer focused on supporting community advocacy and influence in utility regulatory decision-making.
Tanya serves as a director on the boards of We Want Green, Too, Southside Community Kitchen, and the Institute for Energy Innovation. She has a law degree from Michigan State University College of Law with a concentration in environmental and natural resource law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Oakland University. She is licensed to practice law in Michigan and is a Certified Diversity Professional.