Environmental Engineering Reference
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This expansion of possibilities requires the simultaneous consideration of multiple
political, economic, technical, social, and cultural perspectives (Stephens et al
2008
). One
of our goals in this topic has been to bring these multiple perspectives into conversation
by juxtaposing them against one another. Multiple different interactions among societal
actors are required for electricity system change, and new opportunities for collaborative
engagement to define these changes are emerging. We recognize that not everyone has
the interest or time to participate and engage in smart grid development. We know,
however, that our communities and the organizations where we work will increasingly be
required to invest time and other resources in energy system change, and greater levels of
awareness, knowledge, engagement, and participation support deliberate decision making
and informed design.
When considering any complex system change such as smart grid, it is clear that no
individual or organization, regardless of access to intensive data sets or sophisticated
models, can reliably predict specific future outcomes, especially second or third-order
changes.Intoday'srapidlychanging,complex,andinterconnectedworld,buildingcapacity
to adapt and respond to inevitable future changes is becoming the most valuable asset.
Based on our analysis, these are the attributes of smart grid - enhanced capacities for
flexibility and resilience while maintaining system reliability - that are the most intriguing
and important.
The practical message of this topic is that broadening smart grid discussions will
advance collaborative thinking on the social implications of electricity system change.
As electricity plays an increasingly critical role in our lives, incorporating the social
dimensions of energy system transitions into system design and implementation has
become a crucial step to addressing societal needs.
One important part of broadening conversations about energy system change involves
expanding energy education beyond engineering and technical perspectives (Brummitt et
separationrestrictlearningaboutenergy.Inmanyplaces,energy-relatedcoursesarelimited
to the engineering curriculum, and social and cultural impacts of energy system change are
not integrated. But every individual, every community, and every organization is impacted
by energy system change, so an expansion of energy education could enhance engagement
and broaden energy conversations.
Current electricity system practices and strategies have been codified in our institutions
and laws, but these practices are not necessarily the strategies that will enable us to most
effectively create the energy systems we need for the future. We are in the midst of a
systemwideneedtoreprioritizeourstrategiesandourapproachestoplanningandoperating
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