Author – Community Benefits Plan | Resilience & Vulnerability Mapping

As part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program under Topic II, Christina Alston served as the Lead Author of the Community Benefits Plan (CBP), developing the community-centered technical framework that supported a successful $250 million grant award aimed at strengthening grid resilience across rural and underserved areas. Drawing on her expertise in geospatial analysis and equity strategy, Christina designed a data-driven, place-based approach to assess vulnerability—particularly at the grid edge—where service disruptions pose the highest risk. Her work ensured the CBP addressed equity, vulnerability, and social justice issues, aligning the plan with federal Justice40 goals and the evolving needs of disadvantaged communities.

This work was pivotal in shaping a $507 million infrastructure roadmap, partially funded by DOE, that includes advanced microgrid technologies, battery energy storage systems, and upgraded transmission infrastructure to serve more than 4 million residents.

Christina’s insight into how CBPs can lead—not follow—technical design, repositions them as critical tools for modeling resilient energy systems. Her approach bridges energy justice, health equity, economic impact, and geospatial intelligence, resulting in real, measurable benefits—such as job creation, community energy education, and expanded engagement opportunities for universities and technical colleges. Today, this foundational work directly informs the mission of SolCaribe Energy, where Christina continues to apply these principles across the Caribbean, Central, and South America, helping governments and international agencies design equitable, data-informed energy resilience strategies.