Publications

*Testimony on the PURA/DEEP docket 19-06-29 on the Value of Distributed Energy Resources. This in depth testimony (19 pages) examines many areas not covered by traditional sources that goes not only into to climate change mitigation and adaptation issues but also into cyber and physical security. Together, it makes some powerful arguments for decentralization of the grid.

*Testimony on 17-12-03 PURA Investigation into Distribution System Planning of the Electric Distribution Companies. This 2017-2018 docket has the potential to set an extremely important roadmap to transition to resilient, clean and less expensive renewable energy. It can also provide greater employment opportunities related to energy efficiency and clean energy production. Unfortunately, when done without forethought to security, it may present major problems. These comments solely address PURA's question on if "... there other relevant topics that should be substituted or considered in addition to the topics presented...?" Security, in all it many forms, was not approached in any depth and not as a major concern. This testimony fills that gap.

*Final Comments on the 2017 Draft Comprehensive Energy Strategy. Originally supposed to have been completed for 2016, this significantly late draft document is neither "comprehensive" nor a "strategy". It’s physical layout has made it difficult to discern any actual priorities. Divided into major sections of Electricity, Buildings and Transportation, each containing a lengthy laundry list of sub goals, reviewers are unable to easily compare, value and rank these many goals to each other.

*Preparing the Electric Grid for Climate Adaptation. A White Paper pertaining to the need for the environmental community to reconsider energy-related actions taken for climate change. It is focused on how mitigation choices may have negative effects for eventual climate change adaptation energy needs. This is particularly true of the electric grid where multiple threats require a holistic, all-hazards approach that can provide additional value making investments more cost effective. October 2016.

*Scoping Comments On the 2016 Connecticut Comprehensive Energy Strategy (A Focus On Energy Security Considerations) Comments on Connecticut’s primary energy planning document that is critical on its lack of any significant detail concerning energy security considerations be they of a physical nature or involve the many aspects of cyber. June 2016.

*Comments to the CT Governors Climate Change Council (GC3) 07-10-15. Input to the Connecticut Governor's Climate Change Council on the needs for greater diversity of members; potential conflicts of interest with the state's existing Comprehensive Energy Strategy and Integrated Resource Plan (both below) as they pertains to climate change mitigation and adaptation; and why a more holistic approach is essential to deal with this challenge.

*Testimony on the Connecticut 2014 Draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP): Focus on Security. February 2015 in-depth testimony covers essential analyses between the IRP's policy goals and the strategies by which to meet them. While a brief discussion of security is included in the IRP, it is highly siloed and does not subject each of the strategies to be placed under a "security lens" for ranking purposes. As such, there is the potential for some severe security repercussions for the more highly ranked strategies.

*Final Comments on the Connecticut Renewable Portfolio Stand (RPS) Study. A critique of a 2013 study by the State of Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) that refutes the Department's contention that large, distant, hydroelectric facilities (likely in Canada) are a good solution for the state to meet its renewable energy goals.

* Meeting Electric Grid Sustainability and Resiliency Challenges. The energy segment of a full day workshop on resiliency given on March 5, 2013, at the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association's annual conference in Boston. Covered all aspects of grid resilience, both physical and cyber.

*Final Comments on the 2012 Connecticut Comprehensive Energy Strategy. Comments on need to include all-hazards security implications for the strategy to be considered "comprehensive". April 24, 2012.

*The Third Storm. A White Paper in response to the many studies, panels and dockets pertaining to Tropical Storm Irene and the October Nor'easter that left 800,000+ Connecticut residents without power on two occasions in 2011/2012. It examines the lack of whole systems thinking that ignored an all-hazards approach.

*Smart Grids: The Promises and Perils. Article for the magazine Northeast Sun. Autumn 2010. pp. 28-32. One of the earliest articles to point out the downsides of Smart Grid technology which is extremely vulnerable to cyber attacks particularly if expanded to regional or national proportions.

*Smart Grid Pilots: Real Time Updates on Real Live Projects. Presentation for NESEA BE10 Conference. Seaport Trade Center. March 11, 2010.

*A New Security Paradigm Is Needed To Protect Critical US Energy Infrastructure From Cyberwarfare. With Michael Mylrea. Foreign Policy Journal. September 14, 2009.

*Primer on MicroGrids, DG, Decentralization & Smart Grid Principles. Presentation. NESEA BE09 Conference. Boston Seaport Trade Center. March 12, 2009.

*Passive Survivability: Decentralized Energy for Survivable Community Design. Presentation on what goes beyond green buildings by incorporating resiliency into building designs so they can func tion under adverse conditions. NESEA BE08 Conference. March 13, 2008.

*The Case for Environmental and Energy Security. Presentation on implications for conflicts due to climate change. NESEA BE07 Conference, Mar. 2007. Boston.

*Cyber-threats: A Major Driver For Distributed Generation. MetcoGen Conference. 10/7/04. NYC.

-Reducing Risk with Distributed Energy: Connecting the Insurance and DE Industries. With Nicholas Lenssen. Private distribution through Primen (then owned by EPRI). June 2004. DE-SR-11-04.

*Cyberthreats: A Major Driver for Distributed Generation. Paper for the American Solar Energy Society Conference Solar 2002. Reno, NV. June 2002. Revised Nov. 2004.

*Rating the States for Energy Infrastructure Security. InfoWarCon 03. October 1, 2003. Washington, DC

*Rating the States for Energy Security. Paper and presentation for the American Solar Energy Society Solar 2003 conference with Susan Gouchoe and Steve Kalland of the North Carolina Solar Center of UNC. Austin, TX.June 24, 2003.

*Cyberthreats to the Grid: A Driver for Distributed Generation. International Conference on Advanced Technology & Homeland Security (ICATHS) University of Connecticut. September 25, 2003.

*Cyberthreats and Grid Vulnerability: Considerations in Rebuilding the Transmission System. InforWarCon02. The nation’s preeminent cyber conference at that time. 9/5/02. Washington DC.

*Distributed Power Generation. A pre-9/11 article on electric grid security which also addressed then-emerging cyber threats. Contingency Planning Magazine. Mar/Apr 2001.

*The Power to Insure: Reducing Insurance Claims with New Power Options, Prepared for the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) for a project under a US DOE contract. September 2000.

*Distributed Renewable Energy and the Environment—Domestic Drivers and Barriers. Decentralized Energy Alternatives Symposium. Sustainable Development Initiative of the Columbia Graduate School of Business. March 15-17, 1999.

Additional Publications and Presentations

*Energy, Climate Change & Values. Presentation. Gordes, Joel N. NESEA Conference. March 12, 2008. Presentation. Seaport Trade Center Boston, MA

*An Historical and Prospective Review of Solar Water Purification. With John Perlin. Paper for the American Solar Energy Society. Orlando, FL. August 2005.

*Blackout 2003: Renewable Successes--Renewable Failures. Paper & presentation for the American Solar Energy Society. Portland, OR. July 2004.

*Solar Electric System Basics. (Editor) A set of basic facts for advocates, lawyers and others to become “instant experts” in photovoltaic (PV) technology. A project of the Pace University School of Law Energy Project. 2002. Updated May 2003.

*Biomass Strategies for Connecticut, Prepared for the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund. July 27, 2000. Follow-on Paper in August 2000.

*PV-Powered Wireless TelecommunicationsSystems, Study. Prepared for the Rhode Island Renewable Energy Collaborative and the CT Clean Energy Fund. April 29, 2000.

*Electrofinance: A New Insurance Product for a Restructured Electric Market, with Dr. Jeremy Leggett for the Renewable Energy Policy Project (REPP). August 1999.

*Clean Development Mechanism & Emissions Trading Impacts on Carbon Sequestration Markets, for Solar Century. April 9, 1999.

*Cooperative Climate Change Options for: the Alliance of Small Island States the Insurance Industry and Energy Companies Not in Denial. With Ann Deering. For Earthkind. Negotiating positions developed for AOSIS leading up to the Kyoto Conference of the Parties on climate change. 1997.

*Climate Change and the Insurance Industry: Uncertainty Among the Risk Community. Private paper for the insurance industry and NGO’s involved in the climate change question and how it affects the insurance industry. 1995.

*The Teaching of Hubbert's Curve as a Learning Tool for Acceptance of Renewable Energy Sources. American Solar Energy Society conference. Circa 1988.

*Understanding Solar Stills. Gordes, Joel N., McCracken, Horace. Volunteers in Technical Assistance. 1985.