Seattle City Hall played host to a high-powered summit that couldn't come at a more critical time. Over 100 scientists, energy professionals, and policy experts convened for the ResiliEX Summit 2.0, a three-day event focused on "Grid Resilience to Extreme Events," according to Seattle City Light's blog. The aim was clear: to urgently piece together a more resilient electric grid against the backdrop of an indisputable climate emergency.

Climate Change Research and Adaptation Advisor Ronda Strauch emphasized the necessity to "build that shared knowledge and partnership needed to rally further actions." The ambition to not just talk shop but to really prepare to act was palpable among the attendees. The summit had discussions to understand and improve the grid's adaptability to extreme weather—events once considered rare that are now becoming worryingly commonplace, as per the Seattle City Light's blog.

This event wasn't all about the high-level theorizing. The summit's sessions delved into the practicalities of innovation. Over 30 keynote speeches, lectures, and panels were on the schedule, garnering insights from industry leaders who do not take lightly the threat posing to our electricity supply. As one frank speaker put it, "We are facing an era where a once-in-a-lifetime weather event happens more frequently than we would it like to." Such stark realities are driving a sense of urgency to get our grid up to snuff, according to the Seattle City Light's blog.

But it wasn't just about the grid. The summit also turned the spotlight onto how these high stakes decisions ripple out into our communities. Seattle City Light Interim General Manager and CEO Dawn Lindell told Seattle City Light's blog, "We know we have to change and adapt to our everyday changing circumstances at a more rapid pace, because the reality is that climate change isn’t something that’s happening in the future. Climate change is here". A poignant panel discussion featuring voices from the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, the Duwamish River Community Coalition, and Klickitat Valley Health echoed the sentiment that community inclusion is fundamental to the success of any technological or infrastructural revamp.