The World

Smart grids: what it means to boost our electrical infrastructure’s IQ

Five years ago today, a power outage blanketed parts of North America. The outage highlighted the fragility of our electricity system. And with energy demands rising, the economy in a slump and global warming fears taking center stage, ‘smart grid’ technologies could provide solutions.

Environment

Five years ago today, a power outage blanketed states in the Northeast, Midwest and parts of Canada. Leaving 50 million in the dark, it was the largest blackout in North American history. The outage highlighted the fragility of our electricity system. And with energy demands rising, and economy in a slump and global warming fears taking center stage, “smart grid” technologies could provide solutions. Guest: Bracken Hendricks, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress.