NCAR Mesa Lab – Boulder, Colorado
Thursday – Friday, September 21st – September 22nd, 2023
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Panel 1: Industry Perspectives – All Industry
Goals: For national public and private industries with a focus on western utilities, focus on current and future needs and concerns: need for new technologies, tools, and skillsets, aging energy infrastructure, increased intensity and frequency of wildfires, what do we need to do to prepare a more resilient power system
Outcomes: Improved understanding of industry practices, needs, and concerns
Moderators:
Brad Pierce, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Joseph Wilkins, Howard University
Panelists:
James V. Hillegas-Elting, Bonneville Power Administration (BPA)
Slides
VIRTUAL – Wade Ward, Arizona Public Service (APS)
Slides
Duane Highley, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association Inc. (TSGT)
Branden Sudduth, Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC)
Panel 2: Community Impacts – Environmental Justice Community
Goals: Community perspective, Tribal representation. Address community concerns regarding vulnerability and equity, historical perspectives, current mitigation measures and future opportunities, EJ focused
Outcomes: Improved understanding of community practices, needs, and concerns
Moderators:
Jen Rouda, 7Skyline
Joseph Wilkins, Howard University
Panelists:
Belinda Brown, Lomakasti
Slides
Marko Bey, Lomakasti
Panel 3: Observations – All Researchers
Goals: Federal perspective (panel for NASA/NOAA/DOE program overview), what are the current and future capabilities of satellite based wildfire and smoke detection and characterization
Outcomes: Improved understanding of current and future observational capabilities
Moderators:
Brad Pierce, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Paul Stackhouse, NASA Langley Research Center
Panelists:
Joe Casola, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Slides
Chris Schmidt, UW-Madison Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC)
Slides
Ben Gaubert, NCAR Atmospheric Chemistry Observations & Modeling Lab (ACOM)
Slides
Jackie Shuman, NASA Ames Research Center
Slides
Panel 4: Predictability – Balance Industry and Researchers
Goals: Discussion of current and future capabilities and gaps in prediction of fire weather, wildfire emissions, smoke prediction, and wildfire behavior on seasonal and event scales
Outcomes: Understanding of current and future predictive capabilities and how satellite data can be used to improve wildfire and smoke predictability
Moderators:
Tim Juliano, NCAR
Christine Wiedinmyer, University of Colorado-Boulder
Panelists:
Jordan Ambrogi, CORE Electric Cooperative
Slides
Ronnie Abolafia-Rosenzweig, NCAR
Slides
Eric James, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Jackie Shuman, NASA Ames Research Center
Lilly Jones, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES)/Southern California Edison (SCE)
Slides
Panel 5: Power Infrastructure – Balance Industry and Researchers
Goals: Discussion of vulnerability of power infrastructure to wildfire impacts and threats to reliability (power transfers, solar reductions, loss of facilities)
Outcomes: Understanding of power infrastructure vulnerabilities and how satellite data can be used to improve planning activities and future infrastructure decisions
Moderators:
Branden Sudduth, Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC)
Mark Lauby, North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)
Panelists:
VIRTUAL – Steve Ashbaker, Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC)
Slides
Tim Beach, California Independent System Operator (ISO)
Slides
Ahmed Zamzam, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Slides
Curtis Hartenstine, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association Inc. (TSGT)
Noah Rhodes, EAP Student University of Wisconsin-Madison
Slides
Panel 6: Mitigation – Balance Industry and Researchers
Goals: Discussion of current and future approaches to reduce infrastructure vulnerability through system hardening, advanced detection technologies, and equitable emergency load balance strategies (particularly for vulnerable communities)
Outcomes: Understanding of current and future mitigation strategies and how satellite data can support these efforts
Moderators:
Joseph Wilkins, Howard University
Brad Pierce, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Panelists:
Sofia Taylor, EAP Student University of Wisconsin-Madison
Slides
VIRTUAL – Cameron McPherson, Southern California Edison (SCE)
VIRTUAL – Ray Fugere, Southern California Edison (SCE)
VIRTUAL – Sandeep Aujla, San Diego Gas and Electric (SDGE)
VIRTUAL – Chris J. Arends, San Diego Gas and Electric (SDGE)
VIRTUAL – Dave Canny, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E)
Slides
Early Career Flash Talks – Balance Industry and Researchers
Goals: Provide a forum for early career scientists and engineers to discuss emerging research and industry efforts to develop new tools to manage wildfires and energy infrastructure in a changing climate.
Outcomes: Improved connections between current industry, government, and academic efforts and the next generation of scientists and engineers.
Moderators:
Louisa Emmons, NCAR
Joseph Wilkins, Howard University
5 minute talks, each followed by a Q&A, plus discussion with any remaining time
Kimberley Corwin, Colorado State University
Slides
Timothy Juliano, NCAR
Slides
Maggie Bruckner, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Slides
Osinachi Ajoku, Howard University
Slides
Elizabeth Wiggins, NASA Langley Research Center
Slides
Wenfu Tang, NCAR Atmospheric Chemistry Observations & Modeling Lab (ACOM)
Slides
Shima Shams, NCAR Research Applications Lab
Slides
Closing Discussion & Audience Feedback
Summarize key points and invite audience to speak
Thank you to our sponsors!
