National Summit on Smart Grid and Climate Change to be held in Washington, DC

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Association for Demand Response & Smart Grid (ADS) announced today that a National Summit will be held in Washington DC on December 2-3 that will explore how smart grid options can be used to address climate resiliency as well as climate change mitigation. Using smart grid technology and practices in actions pursuant to the EPA Clean Energy Plan will be examined. Another focal point will be how smart grid can help increase resiliency in the face of events like Superstorm Sandy.

The Summit is being supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), and other organizations. It will be a first-of-its-kind event to bring together the smart grid/demand response and environmental/climate change communities to discuss the topic and learn from each other about the developing nexus between smart grid and how climate change is addressed.

"The Summit will aim to 'connect the dots' between smart grid and climate change, and establish an understanding that smart grid can be an essential part of any climate action planning," said Dan Delurey, Executive Director of ADS. "Whether in response to government emissions restrictions, like EPA's 111(d), or in preparation for various climate change events and scenarios, like Sandy, smart grid and demand response should be a part of the discussion. People have been asking for a venue to discuss this issue and to identify actions to support integration and coordination, and with the Summit we are trying to respond to that need."

The Summit will feature roundtable sessions with top business and government leaders, who will discuss these issues with each other and with the audience. It will also include in-depth breakout sessions in two tracks: smart grid for climate mitigation and smart grid for climate adaptation. Workshops on specific issues and topics are also expected.

More information about the Summit can be found at www.smartgridclimatechange.org.

SOURCE Association for Demand Response & Smart Grid (ADS)