leading the charge
A MESSAGE FROM PEDRO J. PIZARRO
Thank you for visiting Leading the Charge. The energy industry will continue to play a significant role in many of the most important issues that affect our future. Climate change, clean energy, economywide electrification, sustainability, digital transformation, cybersecurity and diversity, equity and inclusion are some of the complex and critical issues that we will address. Edison International is a leader in these areas and Leading the Charge will bring together top professionals and experts to explore how decarbonizing the economy while safely delivering reliable and affordable energy will benefit everyone now and in the future.
Achieving 100% delivered clean energy in the U.S. (and globally) as soon as technically and financially feasible would help mitigate climate change and build a more competitive economy while increasing high‐quality jobs. We need to make this transition equitable and affordable across society with policies that ensure a fair distribution of both the costs and benefits of the clean energy transition. Decarbonizing affordably, reliably and equitably may mean that we need to electrify more vehicles and buildings until we can overcome the challenges to fully decarbonizing the electric sector.
Nat Keohane, president of the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), joins Pedro as the first guest on Leading the Charge. Together, they discuss how to make sustainability the foundation to address climate change and transform the electric power industry to a clean energy future. They also talk about the need to accelerate efforts to decarbonize the electric industry and electrify all sectors of the economy to ensure the clean energy transition is affordable for everyone.
Edison International, Southern California Edison and Edison Energy have an unwavering commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. DEI is an important consideration in how we operate our business and how we approach climate change and our clean energy future. The transition to a clean energy future must include everyone, and the most affordable path to success is by taking an economywide approach. Charging Ahead will explore how the principles of equity, affordability and reliability can guide our ongoing work to bring all sectors of society the benefits of a clean energy economy.
Pedro authored the feature article in the September/October 2021 issue of the Edison Electric Institute’s bimonthly magazine, Electric Perspectives. In it, he says we must embrace diversity, equity and inclusion to achieve a clean energy future. Climate change disproportionately affects economically disadvantaged communities. The challenge is progressing toward a clean energy future that is affordable for everyone. An economywide approach will help all electricity customers attain the economic benefits.
Cybersecurity is critical to the security and reliability of the nation’s electric grid and for the protection of customers’ data. Today’s cyberattacks are advanced and persistent. A strong cybersecurity strategy includes a multilayered defense in-depth approach using a combination of advanced tools, technologies, processes and a robust culture of security among employees. As threats continue to grow, utilities must continually evaluate and prioritize resources and infrastructure to keep systems and data safe and reliable.
Pedro’s feature in the September/October 2021 issue of the Edison Electric Institute’s bimonthly magazine, Electric Perspectives, includes a short sidebar about cybersecurity. Creating diverse and inclusive teams can offer more opportunity to identify, mitigate and protect against cyber risk while supporting a strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Multiple advancements are converging in the energy industry and driving the use of digital technologies to transform the way utilities serve customers and communities. The future includes developing strategies to promote research and development and technology deployment, such as drones, artificial intelligence and machine learning. These advances will support industrywide goals to make utility infrastructure more resilient, support the transition to clean energy, increase worker safety and mitigate climate change and its contribution to wildfire risk.