Critical Infrastructure: Energy & Transportation
Critical Infrastructure: Energy & Transportation
What Can Local Decision Makers Do?
Built Environment Track
Due to an increased frequency of extreme events associated with climate change, communities are experiencing increased interruption in the systems supporting their lighting, heating, cooling, and transportation needs. Those more vulnerable low-income communities, the elderly, young children, the sick, and the disabled are facing greater risks. The electric and natural gas grids are critical pieces of the built environment, yet they are not under the control of local decision makers. While the grid can’t be controlled locally, communities can prepare themselves through establishing microgrids, decentralizing power generation, creating duplication, and preparing for off-the-grid operations. Transportation systems must remain operational during extreme events to allow emergency response, move people to safety, and transport essential goods.
This session covered:
Vulnerabilities of power and transportation systems and their hierarchy of importance
The best way communities can engage with utilities to increase the resiliency of their power systems
Practitioners’ recommendations about design for preparedness that should be incorporated into planning
Participants gained a deeper understanding of how to mitigate the vulnerabilities of their local electrical supply, the benefits and implementation of alternatives such as microgrids, and how to best prepare to ensure transportation systems remain operational during extreme events to allow emergency response, move people to safety, and transport essential goods.
Moderator: Chris Lotspeich, Director of Sustainability, Celtic Energy
Speakers/Panelists:
Susanne DesRoches, Deputy Director for Policy Infrastructure, Mayor’s Office of Recovery and Resiliency, NYC
John Murach, Manager, Energy Efficient Programs, Baltimore Gas & Electric
