How Safer, More Sustainable MV Power Cables Can Impact American Manufacturing
In this episode of T&D World Live, host Nikki Chandler welcomes Cody Davis, Director of Applications Engineering at Prysmian, for a timely and in-depth conversation about the evolving demands facing today’s utilities. Together, they explore the growing pressure to deliver more power than ever before—while also meeting sustainability goals and complying with BABA requirements that support U.S.-based manufacturing. Cody shares insights into how these expectations are reshaping infrastructure decisions and material innovation across the industry.
Throughout the discussion, Nikki and Cody take a closer look at one of the biggest shifts happening in utility power cables today: the move away from traditional lead-stabilized EPR insulation amid a global effort to eliminate lead from cable systems. Cody explains how this transition is narrowing long-standing material options at a time when energy demand is skyrocketing—driven in large part by hyperscale data centers—and why utilities must balance rapid capacity expansion with critical infrastructure modernization. He shares how Prysmian has invested decades in research and development to engineer lead-free EAM cables that match or exceed the aging performance, electrical stability, and flexibility of traditional EPR medium-voltage cables.
The conversation also highlights Prysmian’s SuperDri 100% lead-free EAM medium-voltage cables as a BABA-compliant solution for public utilities, along with the company’s continued investment in U.S. manufacturing facilities in DuQuoin, Illinois, and Indianapolis, Indiana. Together, they underscore Prysmian’s long-term commitment to delivering innovative, high-quality, and reliable energy and grid solutions to support North America’s accelerating growth.
Episode Guest: Cody Davis
Cody Davis is Director of Applications Engineering at Prysmian, responsible for engineering support for Prysmian’s North American low-voltage and medium-voltage power distribution cable and overhead transmission conductor. He has 15+ years experience at Prysmian and holds 10 patents related to wire and cable. Cody invented and lead the development of the groundbreaking E3X® coated overhead conductor. He chairs the IEEE Overhead Lines Subcommittee and the highly influential IEEE 738 standard on transmission line current carrying capacity.
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About the Author
Nikki Chandler
Group Editorial Director, Energy
Nikki is Market Content Director for the Endeavor Business Media Energy group, which includes T&D World, EnergyTech and Microgrid Knowledge media brands. She has 30 years of experience as an award-winning business-to-business editor, with 24 years of it covering the electric utility industry. She started out as an editorial intern with T&D World while finishing her degree, then joined Mobile Radio Technology and RF Design magazines. She returned to T&D World as an online editor in 2002, and took over as managing editor in 2017, then market content director in 2023. She has contributed to several publications over the past 30 years, including Waste Age, Wireless Review, Power Electronics Technology, and Arkansas Times. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a B.S. in journalism from the University of Kansas.