Superstorm Sandy is a Wake-Up Call

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) calls for a fundamental shift in how the United States generates and distributes energy to address the increasing frequency and severity of climate-driven disasters. The author advocates for a 'moon-shot challenge' of energy transformation, emphasizing the need for a smarter, more resilient, and distributed power grid, as well as the integration of climate variability assumptions into all new infrastructure and building projects.

• The author asserts that the United States is experiencing a change in climate manifested through the increased frequency and intensity of hurricanes in the East, wildfires in the West, and droughts, floods, and tornadoes in the Midwest.
• The document argues that the government must intervene to encourage markets to account for costs and benefits to implement both climate mitigation and adaptation solutions.
• A primary infrastructure challenge is the transformation of the electrical grid to be more distributed, resilient, and smart, which the author suggests should be prioritized similarly to the transportation system.
• The author contends that all new construction and infrastructure rebuilding must assume future climate change effects and variability rather than relying on historical patterns.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2012). Superstorm Sandy is a Wake-Up Call. https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/superstorm-sandy-is-a-wake-up-call

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. Superstorm Sandy is a Wake-Up Call. 2012. https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/superstorm-sandy-is-a-wake-up-call.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=Superstorm Sandy is a Wake-Up Call |date=2 November 2012 |url=https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/superstorm-sandy-is-a-wake-up-call |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2012superstorm, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{Superstorm Sandy is a Wake-Up Call}}, publisher = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2012}, month = nov, url = {https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/superstorm-sandy-is-a-wake-up-call}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }