Sen. Durbin Announces Nearly $1 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Smart Grid Technology in Naperville

October 27, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the City of Naperville will receive $10,994,000 in Recovery Act funding for energy grid modernization technologies that will spur the nation’s transition to a smarter, stronger, more efficient and reliable electric system. Earlier today, President Obama and the Department of Energy announced $3.4 million in Smart Grid grants nationwide that are expected to create tens of thousands of jobs and a stronger more reliable energy grid.

“The use of new, smart technologies in homes and businesses will give consumers more control over their utility bills,” said Durbin. “Smart meters, in particular, will empower Illinois consumers by giving them real-time information on the cost of their energy usage at certain times allowing them to reduce consumption when prices are high. Deploying these technologies will create jobs and further our progress to energy independence.”

Article continues below...

The City of Naperville is expected to use today’s grant to deploy more than 57,000 smart meters and install the infrastructure and software necessary to support and integrate various Smart Grid functions. Nationwide, the Recovery Act combined with private investment will allow the deployment of more than 40 million smart meters in American homes and businesses over the next few years to help consumers cut the cost of their utility bills.

The Smart Grid is a modernized electricity network that involves a collection of compatible technologies installed on the electric system to deliver electricity from suppliers to consumers. It uses digital technology to control appliances at consumers’ homes to save energy, reduce cost and increase reliability and transparency. It is estimated that the implementation of smart grid technologies could reduce electricity use by more than 4% by 2030. That would mean an annual savings of $20.4 billion for businesses and consumers around the country.

The Smart Grid will address energy independence, global warming and emergency resilience issues. Smart Grid technologies will integrate energy available from wind, sun, geothermal and other renewable sources into the electric system while maintaining reliability.

Source: Senator Dick Durbin