San Diego Journal of Climate & Energy Law
Abstract
Following the blackout of the electric grid in the 1965 it was hypothesized that large central generation would lead to continued reliability problems. More recently, following Hurricane Sandy, there have been additional criticisms of the risks that large centralized electric systems face in terms of system restoration following catastrophic storms. Together these concerns have led some in the electric industry to conclude that bigger is not always better. In 2007, with the passage of the Energy Independence and Security Act, Congress initiated policy support for a smarter more distributed grid. Since then, utilities have begun to experiment with more distributed, micro-scale projects that allow sections of the grid to “island” and serve customers locally during catastrophic power outages. This paper examines three very different approaches to explore the benefits of distributed energy technologies as well as the public policies necessary to promote their vibrant future.
Recommended Citation
Samantha Ruiz, Katie R. Thomas & Kevin B. Jones,
Promoting Clean Reliable Energy Through Smart Technologies and Policies: Lessons from Three Distributed Energy Case Studies,
6
San Diego J. Climate & Energy L.
39
(2015)
Available at:
https://digital.sandiego.edu/jcel/vol6/iss1/3