Energy Central Jigar Shah's message for utilities? Take the lead—or take the blame
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Oct 13, 2025 
Jigar Shah, a serial clean-energy entrepreneur and former director of the U.S. Department of Energy Loan Programs Office, shares his wealth of knowledge about the energy sector. He emphasizes the urgent need for utilities to improve efficiency and adapt to rising demand to prevent significant rate hikes. Jigar advocates for utilizing batteries and virtual power plants as key solutions. He believes that utilities must take initiative now, or they risk being blamed for inaction. His insights on funding and energy innovation offer a roadmap for shaping the future.
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LPO Rewrote Rules To Restart Reactors
- The LPO helped restart Palisades and navigate unprecedented NRC rule changes to turn reactors back on.
- Jigar Shah recounts coaching industry players through novel regulatory and restart challenges at nuclear plants.
LPO Clarity Affects Market Momentum
- The LPO had a surge of applications and staffing under Shah, but current leadership is still finding footing and communicating strategy.
- Jigar Shah warns uncertainty at the LPO slows market clarity and deal closings.
Demand Is A T&D Problem
- The U.S. faces a T&D bottleneck, not a generation shortfall, because transmission and distribution are underutilized and overloaded differently.
- Jigar Shah argues we should get more out of existing infrastructure instead of only building new generation.