Killing People with a Bad Electrical Grid - Meredith Angwin: Author of Shorting the Grid

Empathy Media Lab

“People die when you can't get the grid operating.”

Meredith Angwin, Author, Shorting the Grid

Shorting the Grid, The Hidden Fragility of Our Electric Grid is an exposé of the insider-ruled practices of the “deregulated” areas of the United States electric grid. The grid in these areas is managed by a regional transmission organization (RTO). Within these organizations, no group is responsible or accountable for grid reliability. The RTO areas have higher retail electricity prices, no way for ordinary citizens to influence decisions, and a more fragile grid. Using the rules and history of the New England grid as an example, the book shows how RTO areas are moving steadily to a future of “rolling blackouts” where the grid operator deliberately cuts power to one section of the grid after another. To by the book, visit www.meredithangwin.com

Book Reviews

“An eye-opening exposé of our grid’s vulnerabilities. The “deregulated” grid is highly political, secretive, overly complex, and unable to meet public needs like reliability, affordability, and low pollution. If you take for granted that the lights go on when you flip a switch, this book may blow your mind. ”

— Joshua S. Goldstein, author of A Bright Future: How Some Countries Have Solved Climate Change and the Rest Can Follow

“Reading Angwin’s book is like chatting with an expert who helps you understand the underlying engineering, finances, and policies creating the risks. Her narrative moves back and forth between insightful overviews and specific examples. The book covers many grid attributes, suggesting realistic conclusions without ideological advocacy.”

— Dr. Robert Hargraves, Author of Thorium, Energy Cheaper than Coal and co-founder of ThorCon Power

About Meredith Angwin

As a working chemist, Meredith Angwin headed projects that lowered pollution and increased reliability on the electric grid. Her work included pollution control for nitrogen oxides in gas-fired combustion turbines and corrosion control in geothermal and nuclear systems. She was one of the first women to be a project manager at the Electric Power Research Institute where she led projects in renewable and nuclear energy.

In the past ten years, she began to study and take part in grid oversight and governance. For four years, she served on the Coordinating Committee for the Consumer Liaison Group associated with ISO-NE, her local grid operator. She teaches courses and presents workshops on the electric grid.

She is also an advocate for nuclear energy. Her previous major book was Campaigning for Clean Air: Strategies for Pro-Nuclear Advocacy. Meredith has been a featured speaker at several nuclear events, including being keynote for the worldwide Nuclear Science Week in 2018.

Additional Information

During the interview, the following platforms were mentioned that will help better inform the public. Sign up for free information to increase your awareness about energy, power, and the grid.

• Grid Brief - www.gridbrief.com
• Utility Dive - www.utilitydive.com
• DeCouple Media - www.decouplemedia.org

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