Perspective

Conversation with PwC’s US Energy, Utilities & Mining Consulting Leader about a new report on the road to cleaner energy.

“Resilience is increasingly top of mind – despite the growing frequency and severity of extreme weather events and fires – but it is cybersecurity, rather than physical security and grid hardening, where utility industry participants see the greatest risk currently.”

“We are singularly focused on efforts to commercialize an advanced reactor technology. Singular means we are only developing one technology, which is a fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactor.”

“When we look at deep decarbonization, it’s going to take at least a couple decades. We have to be careful that the decisions we’re making for short-term gains aren’t making it more difficult for us in the future.”

Fourteen Guidehouse experts hit their buzzers and answer our questions: Hector Artze, Dan Bradley, Michelle Fay, Lisa Frantzis, Nicole Reed Fry, Ben Grunfeld, Derek Jones, Robyn Link, Chris Luras, Macky McCleary, David O’Brien, Molly Podolefsky, Danielle Vitoff, and Ted Walker.

“The secret that not everyone knows is, for many of these critical minerals, the U.S. has them here domestically. They can be found in different sources across the country. But can they be recovered in a way that’s environmentally friendly and can compete on cost?“

Utilities in the present aim to be fleet of foot. For them, nimble is a common buzzword. Fail fast is another.

The goal of the grid is to provide the necessary power capacity that links generators to loads, to maintain reliability under normal and stressed conditions, in a way that minimizes both capital and operational costs and maintains low costs to consumers.

“There are issues such as whether there are poles igniting or a thick smoke that could cause arcing. We also rely on what our power company’s first responders are telling us about the facilities in that area.”

“Working collaboratively has broad benefits. It can help utilities genuinely understand the needs of the communities they serve, so they can make more effective investments and act as partners in building more equitable, just communities.”