Jan. 22, 2001
TO: Editors, news directorsFROM: UW-Madison University Communications, (608) 262-3571
UW-MADISON EXPERTS: THEY'VE GOT THE POWER
University of Wisconsin-Madison energy, power experts available for comment
Madison, WI, Jan. 22 - The California power crisis and related energy issues have ramifications far beyond California's borders, and the complexity of these issues leaves many policymakers and consumers bewildered.
To help you sort out the current problems and their ramifications for your readers and viewers, here are some University of Wisconsin-Madison experts who can offer information and viewpoints on a range of energy topics:
* OUTAGE EXPERTS: Two UW-Madison engineering professors helped write a recent U.S. Department of Energy study on electric reliability in the United States. Fernando Alvarado and Christopher DeMarco from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering were among the 15 experts who investigated power failures that occurred in regions throughout the U.S. including Chicago. The goal of the study was to discover any common threads in those outages that can help inform a national effort for blackout prevention.CONTACT: Fernando Alvarado, (608) 262-8900, [email protected];Christopher DeMarco, (608) 262-5546, [email protected] see the full report: http://tis.eh.doe.gov/post/
* ENERGY SYSTEMS: Robert Lasseter, electrical and computer engineer, specializes in studying the use of distributed generation to enhance the reliability of the electrical power system and improve the quality of power seen by the user. He recently explained distributed generation concepts to a national audience on NPR's Science Friday.CONTACT: Robert Lasseter, (608) 262-0186, [email protected]
* REGULATORY BACKGROUND: Susan Stratton is director of the Wisconsin Public Utility Institute, a program of the School of Business that seeks to advance understanding of public policy issues in the electricity, gas and telecommunications industries. The Institute had an overview session on California deregulation last fall. Stratton can offer background based on her 15 years of regulatory experience and five years of consulting experience in the energy sector. Stratton served on the Wisconsin Electric Restructuring Advisory Committee. Contact: Susan Stratton, (608) 263-4180, [email protected]
* POLICY INSIGHTS: Assistant faculty associate Richard J. Shaten, coordinator of the Energy Analysis and Policy Program in the Institute for Environmental Studies, has an interdisciplinary Ph.D. with an emphasis in energy studies and teaches courses in "Energy Resources, Economics, Policy and the Environment."CONTACT: Richard J. Shaten, (608) 265-0521, [email protected]
* ENERGY RESEARCH: Erhard Joeres, professor of civil and environmental engineering and environmental studies, has a solid grip on current energy issues. He can also talk about university energy research, as he chaired an interdisciplinary search committee to hire four more experts in energy systems and policy.CONTACT: Erhard Joeres, (608) 265-5277, [email protected]
* PLOTTING THE GRID: Members of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering's Power Systems Group -- including Alvarado, DeMarco, and Lasseter -- are working on the modifications that will have to be made in the nations electrical-transmission grid to make regulatory changes possible. Contact numbers are listed above.
To find more national and international experts on a wide range of topics, try the UW-Madison Experts Database, which offers journalists the expertise of more than 1,000 faculty and staff at one of the nation's leading research universities. Listed experts have agreed to talk with reporters on selected topics. To search the database, visit: http://experts.news.wisc.edu/###Tim Kelley, UW-Madison news service, (608) 265-9870, [email protected]
RSS