Perspective

“Since the column's inception in November 2022, we have witnessed vast geopolitical shifts, a global realignment of energy priorities, and a rise in pragmatic regional goals. There have been ambitious goals set, complex challenges grappled with, and practical considerations made. What has become increasingly clear is that the clean energy transition will be multifaceted and rooted in local context.”

“Regulatory frameworks around AI and cybersecurity will mature, requiring ongoing assessments and updates to cybersecurity strategies to help AI systems remain secure and trustworthy.”

“Perhaps the most critical issue on review will be whether the FCC properly reclassified Broadband Internet Access Service (BIAS) as a telecommunications service, because the FCC has much more limited authority to regulate information services.”

“In the past ten years, we’ve deployed over 200 MW at more than 150 microgrid sites across the greater Houston community and even before Beryl hit, the Network Operations Center was ready to support local utilities in keeping the lights on as they worked to restore power.”

“We asked, ‘How much are you willing to absorb on your utility bill to support achieving net zero?’ They said 9% per year. We backed 9% into investment needed over time, and that 2050 net-zero goalpost gets moved to 2085, illustrating the tension between net zero by 2050 and customer affordability.”

“Our primary goal was continuity for our customers as we went live. Going from a twenty-plus-year-old system to a modern system, requires moving data. That typically requires taking systems offline, which would’ve impacted customers.”

“Market-driven innovation must happen at the edge of the grid. A feat achieved by FERC Order No. 1920, which was unveiled in early May. The first objective of FERC Order No. 1920 is to improve the planning process by adding long-term term planning to existing processes.”

“Instituting a robust Integrated Distribution System Planning process is a critical step in advancing more comprehensive planning processes that include a holistic assessment of resource requirements and grid modernization strategies across multiple jurisdictions and parts of the electric system.”

“We designed, tested, and deployed new settings with greater sensitivity and faster response times to minimize the likelihood of a sustained ignition when a fault occurred. The solution was quickly deployed and operationalized across our high-fire-threat district.”

“We have identified which system structures and components could be impacted by climate change. We’ve gone a step further to assess them against the design margins to understand what we need to focus on and plan for in the next 30 or more years. The product is a first-of-a-kind assessment that could be used for any nuclear power plant.”