Securing the Grid, Addressing Energy Poverty at USEA

Grid security and global energy policy are two of the top issues for the United States Energy Association (USEA). This episode of Grid Talk features Sheila Hollis who is the Acting Executive Director of the USEA. USEA’s members include more than 100 organizations from the U.S. energy sector, including governmental entities, nonprofits, and Fortune 500 companies and utilities. All of them are focused on securing the grid from attacks.“We have done an enormous amount of work on the cybersecurity issue which I must say is one of the peak key issues that keep me up at night,” said Hollis.“There are malefactors, there are gamesmen, there are unfortunately bad forces that have extreme capabilities to try and attack and sabotage the United States in many ways.” Another key issue for the association is global energy poverty. “Energy to me is a human right, it’s a human right. It’s like water and air. It’s a human right now to be part of the modern world, and in some cases, just to survive, you must have energy.”As the Acting Executive Director of the United States Energy Association, Ms. Hollis represents the broad interests of the U.S. energy industry and interacts with domestic and international leaders to advance knowledge and seek partnerships to develop and enhance energy infrastructure worldwide.Prior to becoming Acting Executive Director, she served as the Association’s Chairman of the Board. She has served on the USEA Board of Directors for 15 years.Ms. Hollis is also Of Counsel and Chair of the Duane Morris, LLP Washington, D.C. office. She practices in the areas of energy policy and, transactional and regulatory law worldwide. Ms. Hollis is a graduate of the University of Denver College of Law and the University of Colorado at Boulder, in general studies and journalism.