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Index conference highlights workforce crisis as dr. Anthony Gagliardo outlines critical industry inflection point. April 23, 2026 Speaking to industry leaders at a recent Index AR Solutions conference, Anthony W. Gagliardo, Ed.D. delivered a sobering message: the greatest threat to America's energy future is not technology - it is workforce readiness. Drawing on decades of executive leadership in aerospace, aviation, nuclear energy and enterprise workforce transformation, Gagliardo framed the industry's moment as a true crossroads where aging infrastructure, exponential technological change and a looming workforce crisis converge. Gagliardo formerly served as Vice President of Nuclear, Technical & Enterprise Learning at Xcel Energy and has held senior leadership roles at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other major national institutions, where he has led transformative workforce modernization initiatives. "Historic trends indicate that many of today's companies will not survive today's rate of exponential change, and likely won't be in business in 15 to 20 years," Gagliardo said. "It's not a failure to innovate. It's an inability to support and adapt to change." Infrastructure at a Crossroads Gagliardo described an energy system under mounting strain. Much of the nation's transmission infrastructure dates back to the 1950s and 1960s, even as electricity demand is now rising for the first time in decades. Utilities are being asked to expand capacity, modernize grids and maintain near-perfect reliability simultaneously. Electricity demand growth is accelerating, fueled in part by energy-intensive data centers, electrification and industrial reshoring. "This is not optional," Gagliardo said as he underscored the need for maintaining a well-trained, high performing workforce. "It must be taught, practiced and renewed - one leader, one crew and one shift at a time." The Talent Gap: A Strategic Risk According to Brookings, the U.S. will need to hire 32 million new workers just in infrastructure and other construction-related occupations over the next decade. At the same time, global surveys show the vast majority of companies across multiple industries struggling to find skilled talent. Within utilities, nearly six in ten employees have less than 10 years of experience, creating a compressed experience curve and widening knowledge proficiency gaps that must be addressed. "Rather than a cyclical hiring issue, this is a long-term structural talent shortage," said Gagliardo. Gagliardo noted that this challenge mirrors workforce transitions he has helped lead in aviation and aerospace, including his work developing NASA JPL's Future Workforce Destination 2025 Roadmap and transforming technical training systems for the FAA's geographically dispersed workforce. A New Model for Learning Instead of relying solely on traditional classroom instruction or institutional memory, Gagliardo outlined a modern approach to workforce development built on adaptive curriculum pathways, immersive simulation, proficiency verification and learning integrated directly into workflow. He challenged leaders to rethink how people gain experience, arguing that immersive, multimodal tools can accelerate proficiency, reduce safety risks and improve operational outcomes. "The talent shortages we are facing require significant investment in human resources," Gagliardo explained. "The multi-modal learning tools being developed and deployed by companies like Index AR Solutions are going to be key to how we solve these acute workforce challenges." Gagliardo suggested the companies that make the right investments get to a place where they develop a capability, a workforce and a proficiency, and then have the ability to replicate it - ultimately reducing unit cost. Turning Risk into Opportunity Another benefit of investing in workforce development offerings from Index AR Solutions is that utility executives are not continually competing for limited operations and maintenance (O&M) funding. Instead, they can rely on more stable capital allocations, enabling them to strategically scale their workforce and invest in critical infrastructure. This approach benefits energy customers by enabling greater performance and service of their rate-based infrastructure investment. Utilities also have significant opportunities to identify and leverage new funding streams that enhance operational performance, workforce safety and system reliability Gagliardo encouraged organizations to evaluate whether their employee knowledge and proficiency strategies align with capital growth demands, resilience planning and rapidly changing technologies. "We are approaching a huge opportunity," Gagliardo said. "And it's through the use of cognitive science and experiential learning techniques being brought to life by companies like Index AR Solutions that companies will reimagine the way they train and skill." Click here to learn more about how Index AR solutions helps organizations create multi-modal training curriculum roadmaps.

Colorado regulators overrule Elbert County, approve Xcel Energy Power Pathway power lines. The power lines will get electricity from near Pueblo to the Denver area through a part of Colorado that is not serviced by Xcel. ELBERT COUNTY, Colo. - Xcel Energy will be able to build power lines through a part of the state that does not receive energy from Xcel. Colorado's Public Utilities Commission this week overruled Elbert County commissioners and approved Xcel Energy's application to build 140-foot transmission lines through the county as part of a statewide Power Pathway project designed to move electricity from near Pueblo to the Denver metro area. The decision grants Xcel authority to construct the power lines along a stretch of Highway 86, even though Elbert County had denied the company's permits. "Clearly no one takes this job to make these sorts of decisions," said PUC Commissioner Megan Gilman. The Power Pathway project already holds a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity from the commission. PUC commission counsel Ruth Harper said in the hearing that blocking the segment would carry consequences beyond Elbert County. "[PUC] Staff concludes that preventing Segment 5 [the Elbert County part] from moving forward would make electricity dirtier, less reliable and more expensive for customers across the state," Harper said. Commissioner Eric Blank said the record supported the statewide case for the line. "The state needs this specific transmission line to maintain reliability and resource adequacy in a timely and affordable way," Blank said. Elbert County and landowners had pushed for an eastern route away from residents and Highway 86. The PUC rejected that alternative, with PUC staff noting that eastern routes would place infrastructure in areas with fewer roads and limited emergency response access. Fire risk was a central concern raised by residents, landowners and fire protection districts. Xcel told the PUC it would commit to giving local emergency managers and fire districts access to its AI camera system that detects wildfire smoke. In submitting the application to Elbert County, Xcel had not obtained signed coordination forms from all fire districts. Harper said the absence of those signatures was "complicated, but not grounds for denial," noting that Xcel cannot compel local fire districts to sign. "It's certainly my sincere hope that the company and the fire districts will be able to work together moving forward to really complete and move that coordination forward," Gilman said. The commission also took pointed note of Xcel's conduct during the permitting process. Xcel had filed eminent domain lawsuits against more than a dozen landowners even before receiving approval for the lines, a move Commissioner Tom Plant addressed directly. "I think people were rightly upset about that, and that to me really just seems wrong. I don't know the legal basis," Plant said. "I'm not a lawyer, and I'm sure that folks could argue why that's the case, but it just does seem like that's wrong and disrespectful to the people of the community." In overturning the denial, the PUC also ordered Xcel to pay a $2.5 million impact fee that the county could have issued had it approved the permits. "As this project goes forward, I do hope the company treats the community with the respect and the understanding that they deserve," Plant said. "And generosity," Blank added. Elbert County is awaiting the written decision, expected next week, before commenting on next steps, including a possible appeal. Xcel said it was waiting for the written decision to address the impact fee. El Paso County also denied Xcel permits for a separate segment of the same project. The PUC is expected to rule on that case later this month, with staff recommending the same outcome as in Elbert County.