May 20, 2025
WRA’s partnership with the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation underscores the belief that technical and policy expertise, combined with community engagement, can drive lasting change in the electricity sector.
A Historic Investment
The foundation’s funding decisions aren’t just about reducing emissions, they’re about ensuring that everyone, including Tribal communities who have been historically left out of energy planning, reaps the rewards of the clean energy transformation. “We partner with organizations that are strategically positioned to accelerate clean energy deployment and ensure that the benefits of the clean energy transition reach all communities,” says Blair Beasley, Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation’s managing director of Environment.
Through a transformative $3 million grant, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation has enabled us to expand our efforts to build coordinated Western energy markets over the next two years. This funding is driven by a shared vision: to create clean, affordable, and reliable electricity across the Western U.S.
“We are proud to support WRA and its work to deliver clean, reliable, affordable electricity across the Western U.S.,” says Beasley.
Advancing Regional Electricity Markets
Regional electricity markets offer the most efficient, effective ways to meet the increasing demand for reliable, affordable, and clean energy while significantly reducing carbon emissions in the West.
By controlling the flow of energy throughout the transmission grid, these centralized entities integrate a broader mix of clean energy technologies and provide tangible economic benefits — increasing efficiencies and enabling the export of renewable power that might otherwise be reduced or wasted. Well-designed regional electricity markets establish transparent, independent, and fair oversight among all power operators and stakeholders through defined rules, operational standards, and greenhouse gas emissions reporting.
As new regional electricity markets are being established, we have the opportunity to design systems that not only lower electricity bills and build community resilience, but also provide a voice to consumers in clean energy decision making. WRA is actively engaged in market development, contributing expertise and policy insights to help design and implement markets that are both effective and more inclusive.
By increasing the resilience of the grid, saving customers money, and ensuring more renewable energy is available to communities around the clock, regional electricity markets are vital to our clean energy future.
The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation is particularly interested in exploring how regional electricity markets can support clean energy deployment and bring tangible benefits, such as cost savings, to participating states. WRA is actively working on market development and expansion, including addressing the challenges related to governance, reducing inefficiencies that arise between multiple markets, and ensuring broader stakeholder participation.
The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation’s confidence in our work is more than financial support, it's a catalyst. It allows us to move faster, think bigger, and bring more people to the table so the West can lead the nation in building a resilient, clean energy future.
Enhancing Tribal Engagement
To bring the benefits of the clean energy transition to communities throughout the West, including Tribal communities, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation’s funding also enhances WRA’s capacity to engage with Western Tribes and Tribal utility authorities. The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation’s Core Value to Include Everyone aligns with WRA’s endeavors to make energy planning forums accessible — allowing Tribal values and priorities to be heard and integrated into a decision-making process that respects Tribal rights as sovereign entities.
With this support, WRA plans to provide technical workshops, deepening our collaboration and reducing barriers to Tribal engagement in energy market development and expansion efforts. “Market expansion and grid centralization present distinct opportunities and challenges for sovereign Tribal governments and Tribal utility authorities,” says Vijay Satyal, WRA deputy director of markets and transmission. “We are focused on expanding educational outreach opportunities and sustaining relationships between key Western Tribes, Tribal utility authorities, and WRA.”
A Future Driven by Collaboration
In a dynamic and ever-evolving energy landscape — with shifting local, state, and federal policy priorities; growing electricity demand; and the pressing challenges of climate change — the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation believes WRA is well-positioned to meet the moment.
