Knapp Named CEO of Scenic Rivers
Scenic Rivers Energy Cooperative (SREC) has announced Jason Knapp will serve as chief executive officer effective May 1, 2026. Knapp succeeds Steve Lucas, who is retiring after 16 years of dedicated service to the cooperative.
According to the co-op board, Knapp has been an integral part of SREC for 20 years, most recently serving as the director of operations.
“We are pleased to have Jason step into the role of CEO,” said Sandra Davidson, chairperson of the board of directors. “His deep understanding of our operations and unwavering dedication to our cooperative values make him the ideal leader to guide Scenic Rivers Energy Cooperative moving forward.”
Henke Joins WECA as Compliance Specialist
Christina Henke of Eau Claire has joined the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association (WECA) to fill the position of compliance specialist. Henke will work with Ben Bella, who serves as director of compliance services.
A lifelong Wisconsin resident, Henke brings more than two decades of experience in compliance, safety, and technical education to the WECA team. With an extensive background in fire and emergency services, combined with field experience in the power and gas industry, she has built a career centered on keeping people safe and helping organizations navigate compliance through education and collaboration.
Henke’s first day was April 13.
Ice Storm Causes Multi-Day Outages
Back-to-back ice storms hit the Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative territory hard in early April, leaving thousands of members without power for days. The constant crushing falls of trees, limbs, and poles meant crews had to repair the same lines repeatedly.
The co-op had help restoring power from Barron, Clark, Chippewa Valley, Price, and Taylor Electric Cooperatives. Once Adams-Columbia Electric Cooperative had power restored to their members from the storm, they also sent crews to assist Central Wisconsin. The crews worked through the Easter holiday.
General Manager and CEO Lila Shower called it “the craziest and worst outage CWEC has had in the last 25 years.”
MISO Partially Reverses Transmission Line Awards
In an unprecedented move, the Midcontinent Independent Systems Operator (MISO) reversed course and awarded American Transmission Company (ATC) the substation portion of the WISE (Wisconsin Southeast) transmission project, a 125-mile 345-kW line. MISO had originally awarded the project to Chicago-based Viridon, a newly formed developer financed by Blackstone Energy Partners.
In the competitive bidding process, Viridon’s $350 million bid was just over half what MISO estimated the cost of the project would be.
In March, MISO reversed course and awarded the building of the substations in the WISE project to ATC, citing concerns that Viridon’s timeline was “unachievable.”
Mazo to Serve as DPC’s Chief Risk Officer
Dairyland Power Cooperative announced in April that Gary Mazo will join the team to serve as vice president and chief risk officer.
Mazo has nearly 30 years of utility industry experience in commodity risk management, financial hedging strategy, and enterprise governance. In his role as chief risk officer, Mazo will lead Dairyland’s enterprise risk management program to ensure risks are identified and managed across power supply, transmission, cybersecurity, safety, finance, and compliance operations.
Mazo comes to Dairyland from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), where he served in positions including vice president-fuels.
Mazo holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and an MBA from Emory University.
Energy Program Accepting Applications
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin has announced it is now accepting applications for the Energy Innovation Grant Program, which supports energy projects related to energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy storage, energy planning, and more. Round 6 of the EIGP opened on April 1, 2026, with a total budget of $10 million.
Electric cooperatives are eligible to apply, along with municipalities, universities, schools, hospitals, tribes, municipal utilities, and nonprofits.
The deadline to apply is June 30, 2026.
PSC Approves CPCN for Transmission Project
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) has unanimously approved the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) for Dairyland’s 345 kV Alma-Blair Transmission Project.
Dairyland proposed two route options, and the PSC selected the southern route for the project, spanning approximately 33 miles between the Alma Substation near the Mississippi River and the Tremval Substation near Blair. The 345-kV transmission line will follow an existing transmission line corridor.
DPC wins CIO 100 Award
Dairyland Power Cooperative has again been recognized as a national leader in IT innovation and enterprise excellence.
Foundry’s CIO has named DPC a 2026 CIO 100 Award Winner. Dairyland Vice President & Chief Information Officer Nate Melby will accept the award on Dairyland’s behalf in August at the CIO 100 Symposium & Awards.