This article is part of ISEN's series highlighting alumni in sustainability and energy. MORE PROFILES
Determining the future of energy
“I can guarantee you that in 20 years, our lives will look very different with respect to the way we use and think about energy. There’s absolutely no doubt about that,” says John Rosales. As an energy regulator for the state of Illinois, he should know.
“By that time, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a home that does not employ roof top solar. Wind turbines, which are currently placed somewhat sporadically, will be much more prominent. Homes will be equipped with battery storage systems. Customers will regularly produce and sell their own energy. The entire power grid will be so much different,” he says.
Rosales, who graduated from Northwestern’s School of Education and Social Policy in 1982, has been serving as a Commissioner at the Illinois Commerce Commission since early 2015. Along with a panel of four other Commissioners, he is responsible for regulating public utilities throughout the state, including telecommunications, water, sewer, natural gas, and electricity. The Commission is a quasi-judicial body with the responsibility of administering and enforcing laws and priorities established by the state legislature, including ensuring the adequate, efficient, reliable, safe, and least-cost public utility services for customers.
“As Commissioners, we have to weigh in on some tough decisions,” Rosales says. “Will our energy future be built on coal or zero-emission resources? Do we prioritize cost effectiveness or environmental impacts? Or can we achieve both at the same time? These are the types of issues we evaluate.”
While the Commerce Commission makes decisions and provides guidance on the utility issues, it does not work in a vacuum. During deliberations, Commissioners typically review filings from a variety of stakeholders—everyone from utility companies and consumer advocates to environmental organizations and energy developers. As regulators, Rosales and his fellow Commissioners must consider these competing interests and legal arguments before issuing a new policy.
“I can guarantee you that in 20 years, our lives will look very different with respect to the way we use and think about energy. There’s absolutely no doubt about that.” — John Rosales (SESP '82), Commissioner at the Illinois Commerce Commission
While the work can be challenging at times, Rosales is proud of the progress being made in Illinois. He points to two recent public policy developments in the state—the NextGrid Illinois initiative and Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA). Initiated by the Commerce Commission in late 2017, NextGrid is a consumer-focused study that encourages discussion and captures a wide array of perspectives from interested stakeholders of diverse backgrounds and industries, including the public, to identify critical issues facing Illinois’ electric utility industry in the coming decade and beyond. NextGrid is examining the use of new technologies to improve the state’s electricity grid while minimizing energy costs to consumers. FEJA, a law passed by the Illinois General Assembly in late 2016, takes some of the most significant steps to address energy policy in the state’s history, setting the stage for substantial growth in renewable energy and energy efficiency.
“In Illinois, we’re pushing the envelope in a number of ways that I’m very proud of,” he says. FEJA, along with 2011’s Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act (EIMA) that opened the door to smart grid technology in Illinois, have paved the way for more conversation about grid modernization in the state. “The NextGrid study is bringing together the best and brightest from around Illinois and the country to explore what the utility of the future may look like and what the potential impact on consumers could be.”
Rosales says his time at Northwestern continues to guide him in his career since graduating some 36 years ago:
“Northwestern was immensely helpful in providing me with a background in public policy. I learned how to do research and extend myself to think outside the box. That’s especially appropriate now as we move into this new construct where energy as we see it today is going to change so dramatically in the next few years. If you’re not prepared to think outside the box you’re going to be left behind.”
And to those recent graduates aspiring to enter the world of public policy making, Rosales shares insights from his own journey.
“Be sure to listen. Educate yourself on other people’s perspectives and ask for advice. It’s really paramount to being a good public official.”
This article is part of ISEN's series highlighting alumni in sustainability and energy. MORE PROFILES
