Many Americans had not thought much about “energy independence” until the Arab Oil embargo of 1973 caused significant increases in gasoline prices and shortages in supply. Long lines at gas stations were a “wake up call” to people who suddenly had to plan family trips ...

Combine two popular fuzzy concepts, the “smart grid” and “sustainability,” and you may find a pathway to human progress that is flexible, adaptable, and inspirational for technological innovation and evolving consumption patterns. Many of the complex networks at the ...

Electric power delivery throughout the United States was designated by the National Academy of Engineering as the leading engineering development of the 20th century. Since electricity was first delivered to private citizens in the late 19th century, the value of reliable electric power to our ...

Meeting the nation’s future needs for low-carbon electricity in a secure, reliable, and environmentally friendly way will require integrating large, low-carbon, central-station generation with local energy networks, electric transportation, and smart grids. To realize this integration, ...

In the aftermath of the tragic events of 9/11, I became responsible for research and development (R&D) on infrastructure security at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). At first, I was faced with many reports and files claiming either that “we were bullet proof” or ...

The United States is served by an extraordinarily complex and effective electric system. The three major parts of the system—generation, transmission, and distribution—work together to bring reliable and affordable electricity to virtually everyone in America, thus providing a ...

Renewable energy resources, which are becoming integrated into electric power systems around the world, connect to existing transmission grids at a range of voltage levels. The changes brought about by these new power sources are certain to have a significant impact on system performance and ...