Sacramento - Assemblyman Mike Davis (D-48) announced that the National Center for Risk Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events (CREATE) at the University of Southern California (USC) has been awarded $500,000 to develop strategies and protective measures to ensure the security of California’s electricity transmission grid from terrorist attacks.

“This research illustrates the importance of protecting the integrity of California’s electricity infrastructure,” said Davis.  “By studying how to minimize potential terrorist attacks or other catastrophic events on the state’s electrical grid, we are demonstrating our commitment to keep a smooth, uninterrupted source of power available to all consumers,” he added.

The proposed research aims to implement the recommendations of a previously-funded project by developing measures to prevent significant events on California’s power grid and minimizing the impact of terrorist events or other hazards on the grid through strategic analysis.  By using 3-D infrared imaging and computer modeling, CREATE will study failures on large transformers.  The center will also develop a diagnostic security system for monitoring electrical substations and networks.  The award, to be paid out over two years, follows a previous $100,000 contract which produced an assessment on the vulnerability and security of California’s electric grid.
Founded in 2004, the USC-based CREATE was established by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and has partnerships with New York University and the University of Wisconsin. The Center is a leading academic research program for modeling the risks and vulnerabilities of terrorism, assessing the direct and indirect consequences, gauging their economic impacts, and evaluating the effectiveness of counter measures.

This project is funded from the Energy Commission’s Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program.  The PIER program supports energy research, development and demonstration projects that improve the quality of life in California by bringing environmentally safe, affordable and reliable energy services and products to the marketplace.  The PIER program annually awards up to $80 million to conduct public interest energy research.

For additional information please contact Sawait Hezchias at (916) 319-2048.