The US Electric Power System Infrastructure and Its Vulnerabilities

  Please join us Friday when our first speaker for the New Year will be our own Ted Marston. Ted will base his talk on a paper he did for the National Academy of Engineering this summer about the US electric power system infrastructure and its vulnerabilities. The US power infrastructure is one of the largest and most critical infrastructures in the world. The country’s financial well-being, public health, and national security depend on it to be a reliable source of electricity to industries, commercial entities, residential facilities, government, and military organizations. Considering the complexity and age of most of the equipment in the US power infrastructure, the lifetime reliability is extraordinary—and it has improved in the last ten years. Future system reliability may be challenged, however, by the effects of climate change, increasing supplies of renewable energy, and potential cyberattacks. Ted’s talk will expand upon the current high voltage transmission system, the effect of these factors, his conclusions, and his thoughts for next steps.

  Upon retirement from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) as its Chief Technology Officer, Ted established Marston Consulting in June of 2006. This firm is dedicated to the innovation, development, demonstration and deployment of new technology to address two key issues facing developed and developing countries in the 21st century: energy independence and management of global climate change. His clients include venture capitalists, commercial and energy companies, R&D organizations, and U.S. and international national laboratories.

  Previously, as CTO of EPRI, he directed multi-hundred million dollar, international science and technology programs to improve the generation, transmission, distribution and utilization of electricity and reduce the associated environmental risks. Earlier, he led a large international program to develop utility requirements for advanced nuclear reactors, design certification for advanced light water reactors, first-of-a-kind engineering and siting of nuclear reactors. In addition to his nuclear experience, he developed international, independent, fossil-fueled power generation projects. Ted has over 30 years of global experience in the assessment and management of risk in a broad range of industrial facilities, including nuclear and conventional power plants, refineries, chemical plants, railroads, and defense facilities.

  Ted received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1972 and is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.