The 2014 event, "Natural Disasters: The Power of Nature and its Challenge to Energy Security," was held on September 19, 2014: 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. in 113 IST building (Cybortorium). The 2014 event focused on natural disasters and how those events affect the energy sector as well as their customers and the public in general.
2014 Speakers
The event was moderated by Jenni Evans, professor of meteorology and acting director of the Penn State Institutes of Energy and the Environment and the introduction will be by William Easterling, dean of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.
Patricia Hoffman Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability
Assistant Secretary Hoffman discussed her perspective on vulnerabilities of the nation’s energy delivery system to severe natural hazards, efforts to improve reliability and resiliency to these hazards, and the role of smart grid technologies in these efforts.
Jeffrey Mock,Meteorologist, Dominion Virginia Power
Mr. Mock discussed Dominion Virginia Power’s planning, response and restoration process for severe natural events, the role of the Dominion Weather Center in that process and examples of notable Dominion system events.
Gregory J. Sosson, P.E.P.E., Senior Project Manager, Fukushima Improvement Project, PSEG Nuclear LLC
Mr. Sosson discussed the impact of natural hazards on commercial nuclear energy and include the analysis being conducted and actions that industry is taking based on the earthquake and tsunami at Fukushima and other postulated events.
