Lights On, Puerto Rico! David Owens’ Career Capstone

The second season of Grid Talk kicks off with a discussion about
rebuilding and modernizing Puerto Rico's electric grids after
devastating hurricanes. Host Marty Rosenberg talks with David
Owens who is the Vice-Chair of the Puerto Rico Electric Power
Authority.  Mr. Owens talks about how his organization is
working to use solar energy and microgrids to build a more
resilient and reliable energy system. 

"A grid for renewable technologies is a grid very distinctly
different in many respects from a grid that’s been built around
central station facilities, which is traditionally how the Puerto
Rican grid has evolved. So, you have to move from the kind of
grid that we have today to one that has---that’s more digitized,"
said Owens.

He also discusses why it's more than just building a new
grid.

"This is really about the future of Puerto Rico. This is about
bringing jobs back to Puerto Rico, enhancing economic
development, re-establishing businesses in Puerto Rico, getting
Puerto Ricans employed."  

David K. Owens is an accomplished executive with extensive
experience in public policies surrounding utility operations,
strategic planning, technology development, rate making and
regulation. He is recognized as one of the foremost authorities
on electric utility issues, industry restructuring, and
transformation. His experience in the electricity sector includes
leading the Edison Electric Institute’s (EEI’s) efforts over a
broad set of issues that affect the future structure of the
electric industry and new rules in evolving competitive markets.


He spearheaded efforts to enhance the public policy climate for
investments in America’s electric infrastructure with emphasis on
the role of new technologies to address climate change, and to
enhance energy efficiency through smart buildings, smart
appliances, smart meters, and smart electric grids.


Mr. Owens is a graduate of Howard University with a Bachelor and
Masters of Engineering degrees. He also has a Masters in
Engineering Administration from George Washington University.