Massachusetts and Energy Security: What One State is Doing to Enhance Security through Distributed Generation

Abstract

ABSTRACT The events of September 11, 2001, have indelibly marked requirements for a focus on energy generation and use strategies to protect public interests and manage emergency events. Security experts have concluded that current electrical systems could be vulnerable to conventional military, nuclear, and terror attacks. Disbursed, renewable and domestic supplies of fuels and electricity can be used to reduce these risks1. As part of a larger state strategy to prepare for and respond to harmful events, Massachusetts is undertaking activities to reduce risk of harm to critical public facilities by considering distributed generation. The state's clean energy fund has begun an initiative to consider fuel cells and solar technologies as part of emergency planning and response. The early lessons from that effort indicate a strong willingness and need for distributed generation but a lack of resources to implement it. These lessons and plans for future activities are shared in this report.