SAC BEE OP-ED “The electrical equipment that keeps sparking California wildfires may become outdated and superfluous as the grid is updated in the coming decades. Efforts to prevent fires should look to the future, starting with microgrids that generate solar electricity and store it…. Microgrid systems would reduce impacts of fire-risk reduction outages while increasing local supplies of secure electricity and accelerating California’s response to the climate crisis.” Read the complete December 10 op-ed, co-authored by Arjun Makhijani and PSE’s Elena Krieger.
PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITIES PSE’s Richmond Air Monitoring Network, a Community Air Grant–sponsored project, is currently conducting local outreach in preparation for the launch of a hyperlocal air pollution sensor network. PSE is asking members of the Richmond, North Richmond, and San Pablo communities for input on pollution hot spots where air monitors should be installed. You can share information, learn more, and follow our progress on the new Richmond Air Monitoring Network project page.
IMPROVING BEST PRACTICE In January, PSE Senior Scientist Dominic DiGiulio worked with co-investigators at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to publish the EPA report “Leak, Purge, and Gas Permeability Testing to Support Active Soil Gas Sampling.” The report improves quality assurance and quality control measures to support active soil-gas sampling. Read DiGiulio’s blog post on the study or request a copy of the report.
We Are Growing!
In recent months, PSE has added three new team members.
RACHEL BLYTHE MPH, Environmental Health Sciences, University of California, Berkeley. Rachel is an analyst supporting the Environmental Health and Clean Energy programs. She has a background in air quality assessments for health, environmental justice screening tools, and statewide spatial analyses. Previously, she managed environmental equity research at the California Air Resources Board and evaluated occupational hazards in the semiconductor industry.
ANNIE DILLON MS, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University. Annie is an analyst supporting the Clean Energy Program. She is interested in advancing clean energy solutions that prioritize health and social equity and reduce emissions. Previously, Annie researched models for community-owned energy at the Rocky Mountain Institute and worked on an emerging fund for small-scale solar projects benefiting low-income communities in the United States.
ANA McPHAIL PhD, Environmental Engineering, Rice University. Originally a Clean Energy Program associate in 2016, Ana has re-joined PSE as an environmental engineering consultant, working on a variety of environmental- and energy-related projects within the Clean Energy Program. Her focus areas include data analysis in California-based energy access and emission reductions. As a consultant, Ana collaborates on economic and policy research and also works in impact investing and socially responsible finance. Ana is a former Ford Foundation Fellow and EPA Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Fellow.
