The Smart Grid
We expect electricity at the flip of a switch. But the electric power grid–marvel of the early 1900s–limped into the twenty-first century overworked, underdeveloped, and headed for a meltdown. What is a “smart grid,” and how will it affect our national competitiveness, our state’s economic viability, and your utility rates? Why is a smart grid central to President Obama’s stimulus plan? Join national and statewide experts—leading figures in current strategy discussions—as they answer your questions about this vitally important energy infrastructure.
Featuring: Anjan Bose, Ph.D.
Dr. Anjan Bose has over thirty-five years of experience in industry and academia, as an engineer, educator and administrator. He is well known as a technical leader in the power grid control industry, a researcher in electric power engineering, an educator in engineering, and an administrator in higher education. Dr. Bose is a Member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and has served on several NAE/NRC Committees. He is a Fellow of the IEEE and is active in several international professional societies. He was the recipient of the Outstanding Power Engineering Educator Award (1994), the Third Millenium Medal (2000) and the Herman Halperin Electric Transmission and Distribution Award (2006), from the IEEE. He has been recognized as a distinguished alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (2005) and the College of Engineering at Iowa State University (1993). At Washington State University, Dr. Bose holds the endowed Distinguished Professorship in Power Engineering, and is the Site Director of the NSF sponsored Power System Engineering Research Center.
Featuring: Mark Sidran
Mark Sidran is the former chair of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, a board he was appointed to in 2001. The UTC protects consumers by ensuring that utility and transportation services are fairly priced, available, reliable and safe. Governor Gregoire named him chair of the commission in 2005 and he retired from the board in early 2009. Before coming to the commission, Mr. Sidran practiced law for nearly 30 years, including 10 years as a deputy prosecutor and several years in private practice with an emphasis on civil litigation. Between 1990 and 2001 he was elected to three terms as Seattle City Attorney. Mr. Sidran is a graduate of Harvard University and the University of Washington Law School.
Featuring: Randy Berry
Randy Berry has over 20 years of experience in the design, delivery and support of advanced technology solutions used by the electric industry for the reliable operation of the grid, including competitive electricity market systems. Since 1987 he has worked been with AREVA T&D where he has worked with software development, system integration, project management and product marketing.
In his present role as Managing Director for AREVA Automation T&D, Mr. Berry is responsible for the sales, delivery and support of network management solutions in North America.
Mr. Berry graduated from Michigan Technological University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science.
Featuring: Jeffery E. Dagle
Jeffery E. Dagle joined PNNL in 1989 with B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering from Washington State University in 1989 and 1994, respectively. Mr. Dagle currently manages several projects in the areas of transmission reliability and control system security for the DOE Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, Department of Homeland Security, and other clients.
Mr. Dagle is a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Washington. Significant career highlights include receiving the 2001 Tri-City Engineer of the Year award by the Washington Society of Professional Engineers, leading the data requests and management task for the August 14, 2003, Northeast Blackout Investigation Task Force, briefing President George Bush and Secretary Samuel Bodman on electric power grid research initiatives underway at Battelle in March 2005, supporting the DOE Infrastructure Security and Energy Restoration Division with on-site assessments in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina in fall 2005, and recipient of two patents, a Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) Award in 2007, and an R&D 100 Award in 2008 for the Grid Friendly™ Appliance Controller technology.