About the Rail-Grid Collaborative

THE RAIL-GRID COLLABORATIVE (RGC) is a non-profit organization founded to promote and enable technical collaboration, joint action, research and mutual goal setting to modernize both rail and electric transmission, pillars of a competitive U.S. economy.

RGC targets the respective and shared need for GROWTH and SUSTAINABILITY of North America's two most critical infrastructure networks. RGC believes that industrial policy, technology change and greater operational flexibility and profitability will be driven by enhanced collaboration, joint action and partnerships between and within these industry networks and with policymakers at all levels of government, including bi-national interactions. The convergent transportation and electricity industries will constitute a new industrial ecosystem. 

RGC invites any person or organization to join the RGC as we

• EXPLORE the latest developments in railway and electric technology, infrastructure, and public policy
• TRACK emerging cross-sector solutions, industry news, and insights 
• DRIVE policy and commercial changes that will shape the integration of rail transportation and the evolving electric grid
• CONSULT AND CONFER with participants and experts in both market segments though our workshops and advocacy

The RGC is dedicated to helping railroads and electric power mutually develop knowledge and strategies that produce.  While electric system owners, operators, investors and planners are readying the system for a monumental surge in energy demand and deployment of new or updated infrastructure, freight and passenger transport operators and stakeholders are exploring expansion and upgrade of systems, fleets, fuels, including sustained market share, commercial advantage, and opportunities for growth and improved asset utilization.  

James (Jim) Hoecker 

Founder and RGC Counsel;  Former Commissioner and Chair, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Veteran energy attorney (Husch Blackwell, LLP, Hoecker Energy Law & Policy). 

Jim is a veteran energy advocate, public policy maker, author and speaker, and organizational innovator. Jim’s 40-year career is dedicated to helping industry and policy makers achieve commercial success consistent with timely and responsible business innovation.

Karin Starmy

General Counsel, North Carolina Railroad

Karin has over 25 years of experience in the railroad industry in positions as varied as lawyer, trainmaster, and safety director. She is currently the General Counsel for the North Carolina Railroad. She has also been the chief legal officer for a power transmission company and had a two-decade career at a major Class I railroad.

Brian Yannity

Vice President, Rail Passenger Association of California and Nevada

Brian is an electrical engineer with 20 years of professional experience in the clean energy, electric power, industrial electrical construction, and rail transportation industries. He has direct experience working with both electric utilities and battery-electric locomotives, and is also Vice President-South of the Rail Passenger Passenger Association of California and Nevada. 

Will Maus

Will has extensive experience with shortline railroad issues, and has been involved with rail electrification since producing a webinar on electric infrastructure funding possibilities for Progressive Railroading in 2016.

Jay Caspary

Principal, TransGrid Advisors, LLC and Electric Transmission Expert

Jay is the Principal at TransGrid Advisors, LLC where he leverages his 45 years of experience in grid operations, planning and markets to support clients and partners. Jay's career began at a vertically integrated utility which deregulated and became a founding member of MISO. Jay spent almost 2 decades leading Southwest Power Pool's regional and interregional planning, tariff services and demonstrating the value of new approaches to improve grid design and operations. Jay was a senior policy advisor on grid modernization at DOE's Office of Electricity, and later rejoined DOE as a Senior Consultant as it stood up the Grid Deployment Office and its Transmission Facilitation Program. 

Tracy Warren

Principal Advisor, Cirrus Communications

Senior communications strategist and advisor with a proven career record in leading advocacy communication initiatives, directing public awareness campaigns, and driving government affairs and corporate communication strategies in the clean energy sector. Tracy spent more than a decade at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and led the Macro Grid Initiative a the American Council on Renewable Energy.