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NERC's Jim Robb Testifies at Senate Energy and Natural Resources March 11 Hearing

Rachel Sherrard's picture
Rachel Sherrard 173
Communications Professional North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)

I am an experienced corporate executive; the majority of my career being spent in the electric utility sector both in the US and the UK. A communications professional by trade, my thirst for...

  • Member since 2007
  • 3 items added with 1,256 views
  • Mar 15, 2021
  • 543 views

Jim Robb, president and CEO at the North American Reliability Corporation (NERC), testified on March 11 at the Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee hearing. The hearing examined the reliability, resiliency, and affordability of electric service in the United States amid the changing energy mix and extreme weather events.

A recording of the hearing is available HERE and Robb’s testimony is HERE.

 

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Matt Chester's picture
Matt Chester on Mar 15, 2021

Thanks for sharing, Rachel! What would you say were the main takeaway points from Jim's presentation that he was trying to convey to our Congressional leaders? 

Rachel Sherrard's picture
Rachel Sherrard on Mar 15, 2021

Jim Robb’s testimony focused on some major trends that are fundamentally transforming the bulk power system.

  • The system is decarbonizing rapidly and this evolution is altering the operational characteristics of the grid.
  • The grid is becoming more distributed.
  • The system is becoming increasingly digitized through smart meters and digital control systems.
  • Extreme weather has stressed this emerging electricity system in new and different ways.

Robb concluded his testimony by leaving the Committee with four main points to consider:

  • More investment in transmission and gas infrastructure is required to improve the resilience of the electric grid.
  • The regulatory structure and oversight of natural gas supply for electric generation needs to be rethought..
  • The electric and natural gas systems must be better prepared for extreme weather conditions.
  • Investment in energy storage/alternative technologies needs to be supported as a viable alternative to natural gas for balancing variable resources. 

Readers may access the full testimony on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee website https://www.energy.senate.gov/services/files/EB1D7E02-BC93-4DFF-A6A9-002341DA34CF

Rachel Sherrard's picture
Thank Rachel for the Post!
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