How the U.S. and Washington DC Region can increase energy reliability

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, DC, USA, October 17, 2017 / EINPresswire.com

EEI is conveniently located at the corner of 7th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue in northwest Washington, DC. They are located in the heart of Penn Quarter, only five blocks from the U.S. Capitol Building.

 

Research and applications at the national and regional levels are serving to strengthen the grid, bring environmental benefits, and protect communities from power outages making them more resilient.

Leaders in Energy and Resilient Virginia are teaming up on October 19, 2017 (5:30-8:30 PM) to bring together an exceptional group of national and regional speakers on microgrids and storage solutions that can significantly increase energy resiliency. The event, “Improving Resiliency through Microgrids and Battery Storage,” will take place at the Edison Electric Institute. Participants will have the opportunity to meet leaders who are considering and implementing microgrid and battery storage around the U.S. and in the Washington DC region.

Several speakers will provide a national perspective on the utility-microgrid interface and federal R&D programs. Especially in the wake of this year’s severe hurricanes, the utilization of microgrids plus battery storage is seen increasingly by governments and businesses as the wave of the future to help ensure energy reliability.

The event will feature two panels, focused on national perspectives and regional and market perspectives. Janine Finnell, Executive Director, Leaders in Energy will moderate the first panel on national perspectives. John Caldwell, Ph.D., Director of Economics, who heads the Microgrid Task Force at the Edison Electric Institute, will discuss the utility/microgrid interface. J.E. “Jack” Surash, P.E., Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, Energy & Sustainability, will highlight Army microgrid projects in the U.S. and region. Robert B. Hughes, Executive Director, Air Force Office of Energy Assurance, will provide the Air Force perspective on resiliency and the role of microgrids. Dan Ton, Program Manager, Smart Grid R&D, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), will present an overview of national research and development initiatives. The DOE recently awarded $32 million in research funds for “resilient distribution systems,” including $12 million for two microgrid projects.

Annette Osso, Managing Director, Resilient Virginia, will moderate the second panel on regional and market perspectives. Michael Yambrach, Capital Projects Manager, Montgomery County, will provide a regional example of innovation in the use of microgrids to increase resiliency in critical facilities, and in the development of “Microgrids-as-a-Service,” which is a public-private partnership approach to costs, construction and management of systems. Bracken Hendricks, CEO and Founder, Urban Ingenuity, LLC., will highlight his company’s work as the lead energy development partner in the design of a state-of-the-art district energy system and advanced microgrid at the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center and other projects in DC. Brendan Owens, Chief of Engineering, U.S. Green Building Council, will discuss Performance Excellence in Electricity Renewal (PEER), the first certification system for sustainable power systems such as microgrids.

Join businesses, university, and government representatives to learn more about the potential for microgrid utilization. Register HERE to attend “Improving Resilience through Microgrids and Battery Storage” on October 19.

Janine Finnell
Leaders in Energy
(703) 920-9627