Gazette Business Breakfast Series to switch on power grid

Are we ready?

In one survey of businesses late last year, a number of Cedar Rapids businesses reported they had lost a combined $133.4 million due to the hurricane-force derecho that ravaged parts of Iowa on Aug. 10.

When Eastern Iowa is hit with its next derecho — or some other form of weather-related crisis or natural disaster — will our power grid be able to sustain the damage and keep working? Will the lights and the internet stay on, or bounce back soon?

A wide-ranging panel of industry experts on June 8 will talk about the state of Iowa’s current grid, what they learned from this past summer’s trials and what we need before the next major stressor on the system.

Panelists for The Gazette’s second Business Breakfast of the year, “The Power Grid of the Future,” live online starting at 9 a.m., will be:

Viewers can submit questions to panelists during the 60-minute session. The event will be free, but registration is required, at thegazette.com/special-events/business-breakfast.

The conversation will be recorded and can be watched later on The Gazette’s site.

Gazette business editor Michael Chevy Castranova will moderate the discussion.

BerganKDV, the business, financial and technology solutions company, is the series sponsor. Supporting partners are NewBoCo and Corridor Careers.