Grid Security & Reliability: Page 24


  • Industrial equipment (pipes, manometer/pressure gauge, levers, faucets, indicators) in a natural gas compressor station.
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    Cat Eye Perspective via Getty Images
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    Industrial control systems face more cyber risks than IT, expert testifies

    Most ICS technology was designed more than 20 years ago and built without cyber resilience, Idaho National Laboratory's Vergle Gipson said. 

    By David Jones • Sept. 19, 2022
  • Map of wildfire events
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    Permission granted by Technosylva
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    Sponsored by Technosylva

    Understanding potential consequence from asset ignited wildfires: it’s more than just ignition modeling

    Energy utilities across the United States are challenged with reducing wildfire risk and increasing their reliability as part of their on-going operations.

    By David Buckley, COO, Technosylva • Sept. 19, 2022
  • A downed power line is seen in front of a burned home. Explore the Trendline
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    Apu Gomes via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Grid Resiliency

    The risk from natural disasters like hurricanes, wildfires and heat waves is compounded by rising demand for power that threatens to put additional strain on the grid, as well as cyber and physical attacks on critical infrastructure.

    By Utility Dive staff
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    1001slide/iStock via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by Gridspertise

    Vegetation inspection, a challenge for utilities

    The “Preventing Outages and Enhancing the Resilience of the Electric Grid” program is set to reinforce and modernize the American electricity grid, making it more resilient against extreme weather events and other natural disasters.

    Sept. 15, 2022
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    Denis Tangney Jr via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Fixing California’s resource adequacy woes

    The real questions are what level of bulk reliability we want and whether we are willing to invest in the institutional change needed to support it, the author writes.

    By Fredrich Kahrl • Sept. 14, 2022
  • Windmills behind a field of solar panels.
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    Kevork Djansezian via Getty Images
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    Energy providers hit by North Korea-linked Lazarus exploiting Log4j VMware vulnerabilities

    Cisco Talos researchers observed the advanced persistent threat actor infiltrating networks during a six-month campaign.

    By Matt Kapko • Sept. 13, 2022
  • Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant
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    "Diablo Canyon Family Open House" by Tracey Adams is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    California planned to close down its last nuclear plant by 2025 and replace it with clean energy. What went wrong?

    Efforts to replace the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant faced multiple challenges, including disruptions to global supply chains.

    By Kavya Balaraman • Sept. 9, 2022
  • A view of the Los Angeles skyline in early morning haze.
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    Dan Zukowski/Utility Dive
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    California ISO narrowly avoids rolling outages as peak demand hits record 52 GW

    The grid operator issued an emergency energy alert around 5:15 pm Pacific time last night but ended it about three hours later with no load shed, it said.

    By Kavya Balaraman • Sept. 7, 2022
  • California state flag and state capitol building in Sacramento
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    DustyPixel via Getty Images
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    California legislature aims for 90% clean electricity by 2035 as part of sweeping climate package

    The legislature also approved SB 846, a bill to extend the life of the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant’s two units through the end of the decade, based on a Newsom administration proposal.

    By Kavya Balaraman • Sept. 2, 2022
  • Gavin Newsom
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    The image by Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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    California lawmakers vote to extend Diablo Canyon as heat wave forces governor to declare grid emergency

    Extending the life of the Diablo Canyon nuclear facility “will provide us with the capacity to de-risk” the power grid, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday.

    By Kavya Balaraman • Sept. 1, 2022
  • Aerial view of the Bay Bridge in San Francisco, California with skyline in background
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    Melpomenem via Getty Images
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    California nears vote on proposal to keep Diablo Canyon nuclear plant online as deadlines loom

    The final version of the Newsom administration’s proposal would provide the state with the option to extend the plant’s two units – originally scheduled to shut down in 2024 and 2025 – for another five years.

    By Kavya Balaraman • Aug. 31, 2022
  • A ship carrying liquefied natural gas.
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    Alexey Lesik via Getty Images
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    ISO New England floats ‘energy reserve’ to ensure grid reliability, access to LNG at Everett terminal

    Long-term regional plans call for reducing the need for imported LNG, but for now, the Everett terminal outside Boston remains key to New England energy adequacy.

    By Aug. 31, 2022
  • Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant
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    "Diablo Canyon Family Open House" by Tracey Adams is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Clashes brew over Diablo Canyon extension plan as 40% of expected renewables fail to come online

    The debate around the future of Diablo Canyon comes as California faces a combination of threats to grid reliability, including the planned retirement of a suite of natural gas plants and projected increases in electricity demand. 

    By Kavya Balaraman • Aug. 29, 2022
  • Wind Turbines in Sunset
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    yangphoto via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by Esri

    Sustainability requires new thinking

    GIS is not just about making maps, but uncovering secrets buried in data that improve sustainability.

    Aug. 29, 2022
  • Florida Power & Light drone takes off at airfield.
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    Permission granted by Florida Power & Light
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    Florida Power & Light unveils plane-sized drone for post-storm inspections

    The drone can travel into storm-force winds and should be operational this year, according to the utility.

    By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 19, 2022
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    Getty
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    DOE to support development of ‘next-generation cyber tools’ to protect grid

    The agency announced $45 million will be available for up to 15 “next-generation” cybersecurity research, development and demonstration projects.

    By Aug. 18, 2022
  • Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant
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    "Diablo Canyon Family Open House" by Tracey Adams is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    California unveils proposal to keep Diablo Canyon nuclear plant open with $1.4B loan to PG&E

    The draft legislative language would direct regulators to keep the plant’s two units online through 2029 and 2030 while also exploring the option to operate Diablo Canyon until 2035. 

    By Kavya Balaraman • Aug. 16, 2022
  • A gas insulated substation.
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    Permission granted by LaBella Associates
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    Sponsored by LaBella Associates

    A different look at GIS substation technology

    GIS is proving to be an attractive solution outside of urban environments for its reliability, reduced maintenance, and smaller environmental impact.

    Aug. 15, 2022
  • A panoramic view of Waikiki and Diamond Head from Tantalus lookout in the Puu Ualakaa State Park, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii.
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    zhuzhu via Getty Images
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    Hawaiian Electric braces for bill increases amid high oil prices, coal plant retirement

    At the same time, the company sees a lot of potential upside from the Inflation Reduction Act, executives said during an earnings call Monday. 

    By Kavya Balaraman • Aug. 8, 2022
  • Powerline in desert with purple sunset background
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    Permission granted by RS Technologies
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    Sponsored by RS Technologies

    How “grid hardening” will be redefined

    Increasingly extreme weather events are forcing utilities to find new ways to ensure resiliency.

    Aug. 8, 2022
  • Photograph of pipeline construction project.
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    JZ Hunt via Getty Images
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    Luxembourg energy supplier Encevo hit by ransomware attack

    The group behind the attack threatened to leak more than 150 gigabytes of sensitive data on Monday.

    By Matt Kapko • Aug. 2, 2022
  • Conceptual image of a modern battery energy storage system with wind turbines and solar panel power plants in background. 3d rendering
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    Petmal via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by Yes Energy

    Energy storage is changing the grid. Here’s how to navigate the new dynamics.

    To continue providing reliable, affordable electric service, utilities and other power providers need robust electricity market data to understand many aspects of storage systems.

    Aug. 1, 2022
  • Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant
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    "Diablo Canyon Family Open House" by Tracey Adams is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    ‘The clock is ticking’: PG&E exploring possibility of keeping Diablo Canyo open to boost reliability: CEO

    State regulators in 2018 approved a settlement to close the plant, but some experts are now questioning whether it should be shut down.

    By Kavya Balaraman • July 29, 2022
  • Three pathways for hackers to crash the US power grid
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    Adeline Kon/Utility Dive
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    Deep Dive

    Biden executive order on power system cybersecurity leaves critical operations vulnerable, experts say

    From mysterious electronics in Chinese transformers to sensors without password protections, analysts see growing vulnerabilities in U.S. power system operations.

    By July 25, 2022
  • Row of computer monitors and keyboards on a table with different data and graphs on the screens
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    Stock Photo

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    Sponsored by PXiSE Energy Solutions

    Is 2-second control of your assets fast enough?

    The power industry relies on SCADA systems, which are typically slower than inverter-based assets.

    July 25, 2022
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    Courtesy of Colonial Pipeline Company
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    TSA revises cybersecurity requirements for oil and gas pipelines

    The agency released performance-based requirements after extensive industry debate following the May 2021 Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack.

    By David Jones • July 22, 2022