Southwest Power Pool, Amperon, and Paul Lau Honored for Pioneering Contributions to Grid Modernization
Grid Forward, a member-based non-profit organization promoting grid modernization, announced the winners of the 2026 Grid Innovator of the Year Awards during its Annual Member Meeting on June 30. This year’s honorees, Southwest Power Pool, Amperon, and SMUD CEO Paul Lau, were recognized for their leadership and impactful contributions in driving electric grid innovation.
“Grid Forward is proud to recognize leaders who are actively shaping the future of our energy systems,” said Bryce Yonker, Grid Forward CEO and executive director. “From SPP’s forward-looking market design and Amperon’s mission-critical forecasting to Paul Lau’s decades of transformative utility leadership, each honoree is making a lasting impact in advancing a more resilient and modern electric grid.”
Each year, Grid Forward presents the Grid Innovator Awards to honor exceptional leadership and commitment to advancing electric grid modernization across the western U.S. and Canada. Winners are selected by a panel of prior Grid Innovation Award winners. The awards recognize innovation across three categories: grid operator, solution provider, and individual lifetime achievement.
Grid Innovator Award Winner, Grid Operator: SPP
SPP has shown extraordinary leadership this year in advancing market design and enabling the next generation of grid flexibility. Through initiatives like the CPP, CHILLS and HILLS tariff frameworks, SPP has established a clear and forward-looking approach to integrating new generation and large, flexible loads while supporting reliability and economic growth across its footprint. Coupled with its innovative use of advanced technologies—including AI-enabled interconnection studies developed with partners like Hitachi and NVIDIA that aim to reduce analysis timelines by up to 80%—SPP continues to set a benchmark for faster, more efficient grid expansion.
Key SPP staff, from left to right: Mike Riley, Derek Wingfield, Carrie Simpson, Antoine Lucas, Jason Davis, Justin Hinton, Casey Cathey, Charles Locke, Jennifer Swierczek, Seth Mayfield, Meredith Powell, Russell Carey, Caroline Chapman, Steve Davis, Steve White, David Kelley, Lanny Nickell, and Sunny Raheem.
“SPP is grateful to Grid Forward for this award, which recognizes the dedication of our staff and stakeholders to building a more flexible, reliable and future-ready grid,” said Lanny Nickell, President and CEO. “Through initiatives like CPP, CHILLS, HILLGA and HILLS, we’re charting a clear path to more quickly integrate new generation, firm and flexible loads, and transmission infrastructure. We thank our innovative partners Hitachi, NVIDIA and Electric Power Engineers, whose advanced technologies are bringing speed and efficiency to our grid planning efforts. Like Grid Forward, we remain committed to powering progress in a rapidly changing energy landscape.”
The other finalists in this category were SRP and Trico Electric Co-Op.
Grid Innovator Award Winner, Solution Providers: Amperon
Amperon was honored for helping utilities, retailers, grid operators, and energy market participants plan with greater confidence through its standout AI-powered forecasting platform. By turning complex grid, weather, and market signals into clearer demand, renewables, and price forecasts, Amperon equips the industry to navigate an increasingly dynamic and volatile energy landscape.
Amperon CEO Sean Kelly
“Amperon is honored to receive Grid Forward’s Grid Innovator Award and to be recognized alongside leaders who are pushing the industry toward a more modern, reliable, and affordable grid,” said Sean Kelly, CEO of Amperon. “Forecasting has become mission-critical as utilities and grid operators navigate load growth, extreme weather, market volatility, and the rapid adoption of new technologies. We’re grateful to Grid Forward for its leadership in accelerating grid innovation.”
The other finalists in this category were Clean Power Research and Heimdall Power.
Grid Innovator Award Winner, Individual Lifetime Achievement: Paul Lau
Paul Lau is this year’s individual recipient in recognition of his nearly 45-year career at SMUD, where he championed grid modernization, clean energy innovation, and a culture of forward-thinking leadership. As CEO, he led the development of SMUD’s nation-leading 2030 Zero Carbon Plan, proving that ambitious decarbonization can go hand-in-hand with affordability and reliability. Through his pioneering work in DER integration, grid analytics, and customer-driven innovation, Paul has helped shape the future of the electric utility sector.
SMUD CEO Paul Lau
“I’m honored to be recognized by Grid Forward as this year’s Grid Innovator. I want to thank Grid Forward for the important work you’re doing to advocate for innovation in our industry,” said Paul Lau. “At SMUD, our 2030 Zero Carbon Plan is helping lay the groundwork for the grid of the future. Over the nearly 45 years that I’ve served at SMUD, I’ve had the honor of working alongside extraordinary employees whose dedication, talent and passion have shaped SMUD into the nationally recognized leader it is today.”
The other finalists in this category were Steve Nadel and Senator Lisa Murkowski.
