A 2-day public workshop will be held to look at the challenges and opportunities to lower end-use electricity use, reduce electricity-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve electricity resiliency in rural communities, isolated/islanded locations, and large users that can operate as microgrids (military installations, other large federal facilities, hospitals/universities, other unified demand centers). The objective is to help the Quadrennial Energy Review’s (QER’s) public outreach by focusing on communities that have unique challenges; the focus for these communities will be on electricity end use, edge of grid (i.e., issues at the end of the electric distribution systems), and the distribution network. A workshop planning committee of 3-6 people will be appointed to develop a proposed agenda and identify invitees.

Although the planning committee will be responsible for setting the goals of the workshop, major themes likely to be considered include the following:
(1) Attributes of electricity use and distribution systems associated with rural electricity users, islanded residents, and isolated demand centers;
(2) Challenges and opportunities for increasing efficiency, reducing emissions and costs, or improving resiliency in such locations; and

(3)Innovative clean energy strategies being undertaken in such locations.

A brief workshop summary will be prepared by a designated rapporteur in accordance with institutional guidelines.