Authors: Madeleine Pollack, Ryan Piansky, Swati Gupta, Alyssa Kody, Daniel Molzahn

Published on: April 17, 2024

Impact Score: 8.0

Arxiv code: Arxiv:2404.11520

Summary

• What is new: This research reveals that the current methods of allocating funds to de-risk power lines under the Justice40 and SVI indices are insufficient in reducing power outages in indigenous communities and areas with high wildfire risks.
• Why this is important: Wildfires ignited by power system infrastructures pose a significant risk, and emergency power shutoffs impact vulnerable communities.
• What the research proposes: Proposes a method to equitably allocate funds to underground power lines, adding group-level protections to ensure fair distribution of load shedding.
• Results: The proposed method shows potential in correctly allocating resources to protect against wildfires, particularly in indigenous communities and high-risk areas, which were previously neglected.

Technical Details

Technological frameworks used: Uses a high-fidelity synthetic power grid dataset, simulating the Texas transmission system.

Models used: Comparison of budget allocation models based on the Justice40 initiative and the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI).

Data used: Synthetic power grid data, Justice40 index, and the CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index (SVI).

Potential Impact

Utility companies in wildfire-prone regions, infrastructure development sectors, and governmental or non-governmental organizations focused on disaster mitigation.

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