About us
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.
We support (1) an efficient, safe, and high-performing North America freight and passenger rail operations and related supply chains; and (2) an integrated, resilient, secure and economical electric transmission grid. RGC Looks to its members and an array of industry participants for its policy direction and financial support.
Founded in 2025, RGC is headqurtered in Washington DC. RGC's members come together at the intersection of these two network industries that operate in multiple states and provinces across the US and Canada. RGC sponsors and activists began their work in the now-defunct Rail Electrification Coalition 2019-2024.
Approach To Change
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 believes that it should facilitate commercial transactions where possible if its members request, or do not object to, its involvement.
Our Mission
The RGC is dedicated to helping railroads and electric power industry participants develop a fair knowledge base, technology and legal tools, and appropriate strategies that produce positive changes in public policy, public support, and a constructive business environment.. 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 also exploring expansion and upgrade of systems, fleets, fuels, including sustained market share, commercial advantage, and opportunities for growth and improved asset utilization. THESE DEVELOPMENTS SUGGEST THAT THE PERIOD 2025-2045 WILL WITNESS HISTORIC TRANSFORMATIONS IN THESE INDUSTRIES AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO ONE ANOTHER. RGC will help guide and interpret those developments.
Current leadership
James (Jim) Hoecker, J.D., Ph.D
Founder and RGC Counsel.& Executive Director. Former Commissioner and Chair, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Veteran energy attorney (Husch Blackwell, LLP,; & Hoecker Energy Law & Policy); Founder & Executive Director, WIRES (nonprofit electric transmission advocacy) and Rail Electrification Coalition, with NEMA.
DIRECTORS/ADVISORS
Jay Caspary
Electric transmission and power operations and market expert. Principal, TransGrid Advisors, LLC. Former Director, regional and interregional planning and tariff services, Southwest Power Pool. Senior Policy Advisor to the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Electricity, Grid Deployment Office. Elwood (Elgie) Holstein
Federal energy policy expert. Former Chief of Staff to US Secretary of Energy Pena; former Senior Legislative Counsel, US Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works; Environmental Defense Fund.
Nicolas Little PE
Veteran railroad expert and educator. Ret. Dir. Michigan State University Center for Railway Research and Education, MSU Broad College of Business (Supply Chain & Executive Development); British Railway.
Will Maus
Rail industry analyst and educator. Experience includes Progressive Railroading, OnTrackNorth America. Former Director, Strategic Initiatives for Strategic Rail Finance; project manager, Nevada State Rail Plan 2021.
Karin Stamy J.D.
Rail industry legal expert specializing in contracts and linear infrastructure. Former General Counsel, North Carolina Railroad. Former Chief Legal Officer for VELCO. Founder, Power and Rail, LLC. Senior Deputy General Counsel, Norfolk Southern Corporation.
Tracy Warren
Policy communications and advocacy expert. Principal Advisor, Cirrus Communications; Senior communications strategist; NRECA; and ACORE's Macro Grid Initiative.
Brian Yanity
Rail modernization advocate and expert. Vice President (South), Rail Passenger Association of California and Nevada.
