January 10, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CDA’s Zolaikha Strong to Address the Need for Grid Modernization for the Purpose of Protecting Our Nation’s Power Supply
NEW YORK, NY— The Copper Development Association’s (CDA) Director of Sustainable Energy, Zolaikha Strong, will discuss how improving the U.S. grid infrastructure is critical to securing the nation’s energy supply and to benefiting the economy at GLOBALCON 2018.
Strong’s presentation, “Energy Efficiency & Resiliency: The Recipe for Protecting Our Nation’s Electrical Grid,” will focus on how increased energy efficiency and resiliency are vital to securing power supply and creating economic growth. Her session is scheduled for 10 AM, March 22.
“Improving our national electrical infrastructure and implementing comprehensive and future-thinking energy legislation are vital not only for the sake of America’s national security and economy of today, but also for that which our children and their children will inherit in the future,” said Strong.
Strong will detail current and pending business, industry, and legislative measures that must be undertaken to modernize our energy infrastructure and thus strengthen the energy workforce, prioritize innovation, and secure the electric grid.
Copper’s superior conductivity, durability and reliability play a critical role in increasing the energy efficiency and resiliency of energy systems, including infrastructure and installations. As such, copper is the conductor of choice for the Climate Institute’s North American Supergrid (NAS) initiative, on which the CDA is one of 12 partnering organizations. The NAS would be environmentally safe, improve the grid’s ability to protect against physical and cyber threats, as well as create an enormous economic opportunity for workers and the economy.
The GLOBALCON conference and expo will be held March 21-22 in Boston, Mass. The annual event draws business, industry, and government decision makers to discuss leading edge energy technology, policy, and integrated solutions. CDA will also be exhibiting.
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About Zolaikha Strong
Zolaikha Strong serves as the energy expert on sustainable energy markets for the copper industry. She supports policy makers in the development of energy policies and regulations, collaborates with manufacturers on the development of new technologies, promotes the value of copper related solutions in energy efficient systems, and builds partnerships with sustainable energy advocates.
Strong is a member of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee (REEEAC) and a co-chair of the Outreach and Education Sub-Committee. She is also a member of the Edison Foundation Institute for Electric Innovation Technology Roundtable, and an active participant and contributor to policy initiatives for the Alliance to Save Energy, the American Wind Energy Association, Energy Storage Association, American Copper Policy Council and the High Performance Building Congressional Caucus Coalition. Strong commissioned the industry’s seminal study on the global energy storage market: “Market Evaluation for Energy Storage in the United States,” and is currently completing a five year market analysis on growth of energy storage in the U.S. for the Energy Storage Association.
Prior to her work at the Copper Development Association, Strong was the Manager of Federal Regulatory Affairs at the Edison Electric Institute in Washington, D.C. She also has served as an Energy Analyst with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and worked as an International Policy Fellow for the Clinton Foundation.
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