Experts urge system-focused innovation to keep lights on as Washington decarbonizes

Melanie Roberts, executive director of the Washington State Academy of Sciences, convened a webinar to examine how innovation can serve the public interest in the electricity system. Deborah Smith, a longtime utility leader and former CEO of Seattle City Light, opened by describing the system as three linked functions — production, transmission and distribution — and said the public expects power to be reliable, affordable, low‑emission and safe. "I usually say that it takes 3 things to be able to flip that switch and have your lights go on," Smith said, arguing that improvements in one box do not automatically improve the whole system.