After a century of incremental change, the utility industry is undergoing a massive transition from centralized, fossil energy sources to distributed, renewable energy sources. Many utilities have clean energy goals, often driven or supported by public utility mandates designed to accelerate this transition. So, what now? Is this transition a question of meeting regulatory requirements for clean energy, or is there more to this? How will this transition impact asset management practices? How does a utility make decisions around large, grid-scale renewables that require building more transmission infrastructure versus deploying localized energy sources? Where is the balance between these alternatives?
At some point, each utility must make critical decisions for its network area and plan accordingly. With so many challenges and uncertainties, are there ways to avoid repeating energy transition mistakes and instead accelerate planning and actions to keep up with the pace of change?
This session will explore these and other questions to provide insights and guidelines for utility leaders amid this transition.
Panelists
Emily Banks: Technical Writer, Electricity Transition Hub
Phil McKay: Director, Electricity Transition Hub and
Shawn Adderly, Senior Manager, Transmission, PG&E
Mike Smith: Principal, Utility 2030 Collaborative (Moderator)
Leave a comment