The Perfect Power System: What Is It and Why Is It Important?

On April 26, 2006, the Environmental and Energy Study Institute held a Congressional briefing co-sponsored by the Northeast-Midwest Congressional and Senate Coalitions that discussed the perfect power system. Katrina served as a reminder that without electricity many aspects of life come to a screeching halt. Reliable and affordable electricity continues to be a key factor that will determine the future of the U.S. economy. Unfortunately, the electricity grid and generators that we rely on are antiquated, vulnerable to disruptions, and inadequate to power future needs reliably. This briefing provided an overview of how we got to where we are, the options that we have, and the consequences of the choices we will make. Speakers included:

Lisa Marks, Legislative Director, Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition

Richard Munson, author of From Edison to Enron:The Business of Power and What It Means for the Future of Electricity

Kurt Yeager, Chairman of the World Energy Council’s study on Energy and Climate Change and Past-President of the Electric Power Research Institute