On March 1–2, 2011, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE), the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), the State of North Carolina, and the City of Raleigh co-hosted the 2011 "Red Earth” Southern Regional Energy Assurance Exercise and Workshop in Raleigh, N.C. The exercise was attended by over 150 representatives from Federal, State and local governments, trade associations, and private industry. Attendees assessed the consequences, mitigation, and response to a series of simulated large-scale regional energy emergencies or supply disruptions. The exercise allowed States to evaluate their State and local energy assurance plans, which are currently being developed by State Energy Offices and select local governments.

The event helped States and local communities undertake enhancements to their plans and address issues raised by the scenarios that may not have been addressed in their prior planning efforts. The exercise agenda included presentations from public and private sector experts on federal authorities, energy sector interdependencies, and energy infrastructures and markets in the areas of electricity, natural gas, petroleum products, and renewables.