Smart Grid Electricity System Planning and Climate Disruptions: A Review of Climate and Energy Discourse Post-Superstorm Sandy
by Jennie Stephens, Andrea M. Feldpausch-Parker, Tarla Rai Peterson, Elizabeth J. Wilson
This research examines how Superstorm Sandy affected utilities, particularly in relation to states’ policies on climate change and smart grids. The study was conducted in part through 22 focus groups, involving participants from utility providers, research agencies, regulators, and environmental organizations in New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont. The researchers concluded that New York and Massachusetts generally favored climate adaptation, while Vermont focused mainly on climate mitigation. This may indicate that extreme weather will shift the discussion around smart grids, as climate adaptation strategies become more prevalent.