Funding for Detroit Edison Energy Storage Projects

Article continues below...

November 24, 2009 -- WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Carl Levin (D-MI) announced today that the Detroit Edison Company will receive $4,995,271 in a grant from the Department of Energy for utility-scale energy storage projects that will enhance the reliability and efficiency of the electrical grid and save consumers money. The grant is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“Investing in our electrical grid and energy infrastructure is vital to the people of Michigan, reducing their energy bills and providing more reliable service,” said Stabenow. “This grant has the potential of creating jobs in manufacturing, IT specialization, cyber security, and engineering. I am pleased that this funding will not only create jobs, but will help the environment by investing in renewable energy sources.”

“Upgrading our electrical grid is critical to making plug-in electric vehicles practical for consumers and to achieving the maximum energy efficiency these vehicles can provide,” said Levin. “Grants such as these are providing the bridge to Michigan’s economic future.”

The funding will be used to demonstrate the benefits of community energy storage (CES) systems for utilities and to test the ability to integrate secondary-use electric vehicle batteries. The project will install CES units of 25kW/2hr each into a system that includes a one megawatt storage device integrated into a solar system. Michigan project locations include Detroit, Northville and Auburn Hills. More information about this and other grants can be found at www.energy.gov.

Source: Senator Carl Levin