Workshop examines how California’s energy sector can adapt to climate change
The California Energy Commission and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will hold a joint public workshop Aug. 29 to examine the impact of climate change on California’s natural gas and electrical systems.
The Energy Commission, CPUC and other stakeholders will discuss how utilities are responding to climate change, and what tools and scientific information are available to help utilities adapt.
The workshop is one of a series being held to develop the 2017 Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR), expected to be released in February 2018. Energy Commission Chair Robert B. Weisenmiller and CPUC Commissioner Liane M. Randolph will lead the workshop, which begins at 10 a.m. at the Energy Commission.
The IEPR is published every two years by the Energy Commission and an update is published in alternate years. The reports assess energy issues and provide policy recommendations. The 2017 report builds on efforts detailed in the previous two IEPRs to weave climate change considerations into the business practices of key organizations.
Research examining regional climate vulnerabilities to critical energy infrastructure will be highlighted during the workshop. The research, funded by the Energy Commission and done in partnership with the utilities, helps identify the highest priority adaptation measures for critical assets.
The workshop will also focus on the impact of climate on disadvantaged communities and vulnerable populations such as prolonged and more frequent heat waves and a lack of access to cooling centers. Input from these communities is being sought to help the state and utilities develop adaptation strategies to address those issues.
Cal-Adapt 2.0, a public online tool to help local governments and others visualize projected climate impacts in their regions and develop strategies to deal with them, will also be discussed. The tool was developed with Energy Commission funds.
Details on the workshop can be found at the Energy Commission’s calendar page.
