Journal of Science Policy & Governance
​Volume 19, Issue 01 | November 01, 2021

Policy Memo: Establishing Modern Grid Resilience in the Southeast United States

Ashna Aggarwal (1,3), Clincy Cheung (2,3), Bineh Ndefru (2,3)
  1. University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, Los Angeles, CA
  2. University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Los Angeles, CA
  3. University of California, Los Angeles, Science Policy Group, Los Angeles, CA

Corresponding author: aaggarwal01@ucla.edu
Keywords: electric grid; grid modernization; climate resilience; distributed energy; climate change; Louisiana; Southeast United States​

Executive Summary

​The electric grid plays a crucial role in the functioning of American households, schools, businesses, and health facilities, as well as national security. Action is needed to address the vulnerability of the grid to natural disasters, which are increasing in frequency and intensity due to climate change. States that are particularly under threat include those in the Southeast, such as Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida, where hurricanes and severe storms can be especially destructive. States in this region also typically rely on natural gas as a primary source of energy, which upholds a centralized grid structure that is more susceptible to widespread power outages than a distributed structure. Power outages, which disproportionately impact low-income communities, can be detrimental to health and safety during a natural disaster by severing access to communication and necessary medical equipment. Using Louisiana as a case study, we recommend one policy through which the state can transition to a more distributed structure; the Louisiana Public Service Commission should revise the 2019 legislation that financially disincentivizes customers to install solar panels, and instead expand the benefits for these customers. This change will increase the proliferation of solar energy, which can serve as power sources in a distributed grid. Solar panels, coupled with battery storage, can reduce the likelihood of power outages during extreme weather events. Expanding the use of renewable energy in Louisiana could encourage other states in the region to also make this shift, serving as a model for stronger climate adaptation across the country.

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Background header image courtesy of Pok Rie from Pexels
Ashna Aggarwal is a Ph.D. candidate in Geophysics and Space Physics at the University of California, Los Angeles, studying the evolution of planetary scale fluid dynamics on Earth and other planets. She uses computational simulations to model phenomena such as jet flows and vortices in the atmosphere. She is particularly interested in policy issues pertaining to energy and the environment, and their intersection with environmental justice. She plans to pursue a career in climate policy and advocacy.

Clincy Cheung is a Ph.D. candidate in Materials Science and Engineering at UCLA. He is also concurrently on an internship at Northrop Grumman in Redondo Beach, CA researching integration of GaN-based mm-wave electronic materials. Clincy is interested in technologies that make public infrastructure and private industry more efficient, studying policy papers and investing in public equities in his leisure time to further his interests.

Bineh Ndefru is a Ph.D. Student in Materials Science and Engineering at UCLA. She is a part of the Institute for Risk Sciences studying technology approaches to building sustainable, reliable, and resilient next-generation energy systems. Bineh is interested in problems at the interface of technology and society and wishes to pursue a career developing science-informed policy solutions that effectively address social issues.

Acknowledgements
We thank members of The Science Policy Group at UCLA for support and feedback throughout the preparation of this manuscript.

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