In light of the recent power crisis in Texas, which we predict will cost at least $200B for damages, Zpryme spoke with Dr. Massoud Amin of the University of Minnesota and often referred to as the father of the smart grid about the amount of investments needed to enhance the U.S. power infrastructure to be able to prevent and protect against future extreme weather and climate events in the future.

Dr. Massoud Amin, IEEE and ASME Fellow, is a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and a University Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Amin is known as the Father of the Smart Grid and as a cyber-physical security leader who directed all security-related research and development post-9/11 for all North American utilities. His practice, teaching and research focus is in complex systems: 1) defense networks – C4I, combat & logistics (1982-1997); 2) modernization, efficiency, security & resilience of interdependent national critical infrastructures (1997-present); and 3) technology/business/policy foresight & strategy (1997-present). In summary, Dr. Amin has made transformative contributions in the areas of defense, critical infrastructures, technology, policy, and business. Dr. Amin holds B.S. (cum laude), and M.S. degrees in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and M.S. and D.Sc. degrees in systems science and mathematics from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. His passion is developing leaders and powering progress. For more information, please see https://massoud-amin.umn.edu/