DOE and National Labs Equity Summit Report
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)-National Lab Equity Summit was held on February 5, 2024, by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, focusing on equity in grid planning and operations. It was part of the Grid Modernization Laboratory Consortium (GMLC) project, Advancing Equity in Grid Planning and Operations. Staff from seven national laboratories and various DOE offices participated in the summit alongside leading energy equity experts from states and utilities to discuss challenges and opportunities to incorporate equity into grid planning and operations. The summit participants identified more than 25 DOE-funded projects related to this topic. The summit aimed to connect DOE and lab researchers working on grid-related equity issues, share information on current and planned projects, and inspire participants through panel discussions. Kelly Crawford, Energy and Environmental Justice Senior Advisor in the DOE Office of Equity and Environmental Justice, emphasized the importance of energy justice and community engagement in grid planning. The summit included two panels of industry leaders from utilities, state public utility commissions, state energy offices, and industry consultants who shared their perspectives on equity challenges and successes. Panelists also discussed the role of utilities in promoting equity and how data modeling and technical needs could advance equity in grid planning and operations.