Together they discuss one of the most pressing challenges facing the energy sector today: the growing threat of utility-caused wildfires and the sweeping changes required to mitigate them. 

The conversation dives into critical topics such as aging infrastructure, wildfire mitigation plans, the trade-offs between reliability and safety, and why solving this issue demands a whole-of-society approach and not just utility action. 

Listeners will gain insight into the technologies, policies, and cultural shifts, shaping the future of grid resilience in an era of climate-driven challenges. 

As the head of NERC, Robb emphasizes the importance of grid security exercises, including NERC’s biannual GridEx exercises, and describes load growth due to AI data centers as “the issue of our time.” 

The conversation highlights risks to the grid, a recent Department of Energy Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) on large load interconnections, and improvements to NERC’s Reliability Standards Development Plan. With respect to the NOPR and large load characteristics specific to AI uses, there is a comparison to the standards and reliability oversight processes of inverter-based resources and the balance of establishing standards and practices that foster reliability without forcing significant changes on legacy equipment. 

For students interested in combining technical skills with strategic thinking, Oliver’s story offers a compelling look at what a career at CRA can offer.

The conversation examines how generative AI may challenge the definition of a trade secret by making proprietary information more easily discoverable, and what that means for legal protections, damages calculations, and competitive strategies.  

Drawing from real-world legal cases and the complexities of assessing damages in the age of AI, this episode offers sharp insights for professionals navigating the future of innovation and intellectual property protection. 

Their conversation explores how traditional models are no longer enough, why winter reliability is becoming as urgent as summer, and how CRA’s AI-enabled tool, AdequacyX, is helping utilities to make smarter, forward-looking decisions. From complex grid modeling to regulatory strategy, this conversation unpacks how cutting-edge analytics are reshaping our plans for the future of electricity. 

They explore why companies are increasingly turning to trade secrets to protect AI-generated innovations, the advantages trade secrets offer over patents, and the growing impact of the Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA). With real-world examples and expert analysis, they unpack complex issues like unjust enrichment, avoided costs, and the balance between monetary damages and injunctive relief.  

Whether you're in legal, tech, or IP strategy, this conversation offers a compelling look at how AI is reshaping the landscape of intellectual property protection. 

Drawing on decades of industry experience, Kondziolka emphasizes the critical distinction between reliability—everyday service delivery—and resiliency—the ability to withstand and recover from extreme, low-frequency events like wildfires, storms, and cyber threats.

The conversation highlights tools like the Transmission Resiliency Maturity Model (TRMM), the importance of continuous improvement, and the role of emerging technologies such as smart inverters, dynamic line ratings, and AI in enhancing grid performance. The episode emphasizes the urgency of proactive planning and innovation in the face of climate change and increasing system complexity.

In the episode, Michael speaks with Claire, Selena, and Karla about their perspectives on maximizing their time in the internship role at CRA.

Tom was contacted by the plaintiff lawyers in the litigation and worked with the lawyers for several years. His expertise as an economist helped the lawyers frame some of the legal and economic issues in the case.

The litigation was between some property owners in North Carolina and a large food company owned by a Chinese conglomerate that produces mostly pork products. The company contracts with hog farmers, who raise the hogs, according to its specifications, and the food company then produces and sells the consumer products. The plaintiffs in the litigation were neighbors to the hog farms. They owned their property before the hog farms were built near their homes.

The cases were brought on by “neighbors of a North Carolina industrial hog operation for smells and noise they said made living nearby unbearable,”1 and are the centerpiece of the recent nonfiction bestseller Wastelands. Dr. Hubbard submitted an expert report in January 2017. This report described how the large food company’s operations, in conjunction with those of hog growers, created economic value but potentially generated social harms as well.

There was also an award-winning documentary produced in 2022, The Smell of Money, chronicling the case and the neighbors of the North Carolina hog operation.

To hear more about Tom’s expert report and how the engagement unfolded, listen to the podcast episode.

The opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Charles River Associates, its clients, or any of its or their respective affiliates. This podcast is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal advice. Copyright 2023 Charles River Associates