1. Planning the Networked Grid – An Advocate’s Perspective
Merrian Borgeson
Natural Resources Defense Council
March 17, 2016

2. Why does distribution planning matter?
Getting distribution planning right is required to meet our climate goals at the lowest possible cost
We cannot afford the luxury of silos
This is no longer the realm of engineers alone

3. Walk-Jog-Run Framework

4. Start walking now…
Track the current hosting capacity for DERs over time, and use this info to streamline interconnection (Integrated Capacity Analysis = ICA)
Identify the net benefits of DERs, including the methodology and tools to assess this in specific locations (Locational Net Benefits Analysis = LNBA)
Develop a grid modernization framework to guide utility investments

5. Stakeholder engagement is key
Distribution planning matters more and more to a much wider group of stakeholders
Getting the non-grid engineers up to speed is vital and takes time + translation
Need to consider how to support the participation of stakeholders in both the short term and the long term (this will not be “done” in 12 months)

6. Merrian Borgeson mborgeson@nrdc.org
Contact:
Merrian Borgeson