The seventh annual survey on the State of the Electric Utility was published this week by Utility Dive, an on-line utility industry publication. It concludes that renewables and sustainability are the top issues for utilities, but notes that there is room for improvement on the issues of cybersecurity and climate resilience.

The survey drew responses from 566 executives and professionals from utilities and energy retailers around the world. Nearly half of the respondents (46%) listed renewables and sustainability as pressing issues. Less than half of the survey participants (44%) said they were coordinating with public safety officials around climate-related risks, and only 24% said they were adopting emerging technologies such as microgrids or energy storage with climate resilience in mind.

A copy of the complete survey results are available here.

Environment, Renewables Top List of Concerns in New Utility Survey

ABRA CONSERVATION HUB

ABRA’s Conservation Hub program promotes responsible resource management by providing access to critical information needed for effective public involvement in environmental review and oversight.

Following the defeat of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline in 2020, ABRA initiated the Conservation Hub to support informed public engagement with the broader range of environmental issues confronting the Allegheny-Blue Ridge Mountain region. The Conservation Hub builds on the analysis and information sharing capacity achieved through ABRA’s Pipeline CSI project during the years of ACP opposition.

The Conservation Hub is based on the use of GIS mapping to provide details and context for land development projects and management practices that involve risk of environmental harm, as well as for environmental preservation and restoration initiatives. The Conservation Hub also provides access to regulatory documents and assessments related to specific projects or issues.

Multiple Conservation Hub sites, focused on individual projects or issues, have been developed collaboratively with ABRA’s partners and allies. Going forward, we invite conservation groups, individuals, and communities to provide ideas for new Hub sites and GIS mapping that can contribute to informed public engagement on behalf of environmental integrity in the Allegheny-Blue Ridge region.