SCC eBulletin - Dr. Wayne Lei, Portland General Electric

October 14, 2013, Volume 46, Issue 5

The Electrical Energy
Grid 101:

Making Salem’s Energy
Use Smarter

Dr. Wayne Lei

Director of Research
and Development,

Portland General Electric

Friday, October 25, 2013

Our power lines supply us with that currency of modern civilization, electricity, so prevalent that we largely take it for granted. However, as with most of our infrastructure, the electrical grid needs to be updated.*

With this in mind, there is a worldwide movement to develop Smart Electrical Energy Grids. These are defined as systems that use information and communications technology to gather and act on grid status information in an automated fashion to improve the efficiency, reliability, economics and sustainability of the production and distribution of electricity. So what would that look like!!??

To find out, please join us on Friday, October 25 for Dr. Wayne Lei’s presentation. He is the Director for Research and Development at PGE, and is actively involved with the creation and development in our community, and state, of the federally funded $178 million Pacific NW Smart Grid Demonstration Program (PNW-SGDP). He will present us with the basics of the Smart Grid and outline what the expectations are for the PNW-SGDP and the Salem Smart Power Center on 22nd St. The latter is a large energy storage center with 1,440 lithium ion batteries capable of 5 MW (Mega Watts) peak output and 1.26 MWh (Mega Watt hours) total energy output, which would be enough energy to power approximately 38,690 average Oregon homes for 1 day, or 106 homes for 1 year

Dr. Lei holds a doctorate in Physics from NYU, specializing in Environmental Health Sciences; a Masters in Biological Science and a BA in Biology. For a decade, he served in the nuclear industry, and for over 10 years he has served as Director of R&D at PGE. There he has led studies on environmental, social and technical issues affecting the company. In addition, he manages the Corporate R&D Funds and Project Selection Process, and works in a liaison role for PGE with universities and colleges.
*(Image Source: oregonbest.org)

Please join us as we welcome Dr. Lei on Friday, October 25, 2013. As is our tradition we meet at the Willamette Heritage Center at the Mill. For lunch reservations email rsvp@salemcityclub.com before noon Wednesday, October 23, 2013. Parking is free. Doors open at 11:30 AM. For more information on this program please go to www.salemcityclub.com.

2013 Club

Membership Drive

October 1 – December 13

We need your help to introduce your friends, colleagues, family members and others to Salem City Club. So, we've combined a new tool and prize drawings to help you help the SCC.

The theme of the drive is "Member for a Day". We have sent Member for a Day certificates to all members via email with directions for passing those certificates to people in the community who might want to give SCC a try, attend a program, and, we hope, join the Club.

Prizes!

Free Lunches! Each "Member for a Day" certificate will be entered into drawings for a free lunch at a future program. The lunch prize drawings will be held at each meeting for the duration of the Membership Drive.

A Weekend at the Beach! Each current member who introduces someone to the club, and the introduction leads to a membership, will be entered into a drawing for a weekend at the beach. The Beach House Get-A-Way drawing will be held December 13, 2013.

Please be part of the success of your Salem City Club Membership Drive. More members help drive better programs, more engagement, and fun. If you have any questions about the Membership Drive, please contact Cindy Condon, Membership Chair, at cindycondon@comcast.net

Mark Your Calendar,

Save the Dates

November 8: Congressman Kurt Schrader, representing Oregon's 5th Congressional District: A D.C. Update on the Affordable Care Act, and a report on the end of the budget year. This is the second program in our Health Care for Oregonians Series.

November 22: Norm Gruber, President and CEO of Salem Health: From a cottage industry to corporate entities: How and why hospitals must change to survive The third program in the Health Care for Oregonians series.

December 13: My New Year's Wish for Salem.
A panel of Salem citizens share their New Year's
wishes for our fair city. Guest Moderator:
Michael Davis, Executive Editor, Statesman-
Journal Media.