Smart Grid

RICHMOND, Va., Nov. 10 -- Dominion Virginia Power is working with Virginia Tech to make the "smart grid" smarter by developing and testing innovative technology that will improve the electric grid's efficiency and reliability. This technology, known as "synchrophasors," does this by providing dynamic real-time information about conditions on the transmission grid.

The research project, funded by a $1.5 million grant from the Department of Energy, also involves Quanta Technology of Raleigh, N.C.    » read more »

U.S. Department of Energy Awards Salt River Project Competitive Grant Funds

27 October 2009 -- WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama today announced a $3.4 billion investment in Smart Grid technology, the largest single Smart Grid modernization investment in U.S. history, funding a broad range of projects that will ease the nation's transition to a smarter, stronger, more efficient and reliable electric system.

As part of that investment, Tempe-based Salt River Project (SRP) was awarded a $56 million competitive grant to install smart grid technology that will help save money and fuel and ensure that electricity is moved efficiently throughout Arizona and the Western Region. Mitchell, who advocated on behalf of the competitive grant application, welcomed the news of the award.    » read more »

Award will help increase electric reliability, create clean energy jobs

10/28/2009 -- Las Vegas — U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the award of $138 million in federal funds to NV Energy for smart grid technology. Matching funds increase the value of this project to $298 million. These funds will help transition an electric distribution system to a smarter, more efficient and reliable electric system, and spur the creation of clean energy jobs across Nevada.    » read more »

Lauds Houston Utilities’ Smart Grid Leadership; Local Companies Awarded Over $250 Million in Smart Grid Grants

October 28, 2009 -- HOUSTON, Texas – Visiting the Energy Capital of the World, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today lauded the advanced power transmission and distribution technology adopted by CenterPoint Energy Houston, a regional utility that received a $200 million federal grant to spur its deployment of a Smart Grid that will improve efficiency and help area consumers manage and control their electricity usage.

Other Texas electric utilities shared about $58 million in Smart Grid grants, including Reliant Energy Retail Services, LLC (Houston); Golden Spread Electric Cooperative (Amarillo); Denton County Electric Cooperative; and El Pasco Electric.    » read more »

October 28, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Jim Webb (D-VA) and Mark Warner (D-VA) today announced that the Department of Energy released nearly $15.7 million to Rappahannock Electric Cooperative in Fredericksburg for upgrades and improvements to spur Virginia’s transition to a smarter, stronger, more efficient and reliable electric system. The funds were made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The funding for Fredericksburg is part of a $3.4 billion clean-energy initiative aimed at creating markets for wind and solar power. The 100 projects selected will be matched by industry funding for a total public-private investment worth over $8 billion.    » read more »

October 28, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today announced that the Navajo Tribal Utility Association will receive a $4.9 million grant to better serve its 38,000 customers.

The funding, which comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will be used to install a “smart grid” network and data management system that will quickly identify system outages.

“This is an important investment in the Navajo Nation – one that will result in better service to the Navajo Nation Utility Association’s nearly 40,000 customers,” Bingaman said. “At the same time, this grant will help create good jobs in the area.”    » read more »

October 27, 2009 -- BOSTON – Senators John Kerry and Paul Kirk today announced that six Massachusetts communities and companies will receive a total of $35,778,357 in Recovery Act funding for investments in Smart Grid technologies. The funding aims to ease the nation’s transition to a smarter, stronger, more efficient and reliable electric system.

“These investments will make our electricity delivery system more efficient, give us more control over power surges and reduce the amount of energy we use,” said Sen. Kerry. “I’m grateful that the Obama Administration recognizes the benefits of investing in these projects.”    » read more »

Applicants say investments will create tens of thousands of jobs, save energy and empower consumers to cut their electric bills

October 27, 2009 -- ARCADIA, FLORIDA – Speaking at Florida Power and Light’s (FPL) DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center, President Barack Obama today announced the largest single energy grid modernization investment in U.S. history, funding a broad range of technologies that will spur the nation’s transition to a smarter, stronger, more efficient and reliable electric system.

The end result will promote energy-saving choices for consumers, increase efficiency, and foster the growth of renewable energy sources like wind and solar.    » read more »

Applicants say investments will create tens of thousands of jobs, save energy and empower consumers to cut their electric bills

October 27, 2009 -- ARCADIA, FLORIDA – Speaking at Florida Power and Light’s (FPL) DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center, President Barack Obama today announced the largest single energy grid modernization investment in U.S. history, funding a broad range of technologies that will spur the nation’s transition to a smarter, stronger, more efficient and reliable electric system. The end result will promote energy-saving choices for consumers, increase efficiency, and foster the growth of renewable energy sources like wind and solar.    » read more »

October 27, 2009 -- (Arcadia, Florida) - Today, President Obama spoke at the DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center in Arcadia, Florida where he delivered the below remarks:

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, guys. Thank you very much. Please, have a seat. Thank you so much.

Well, first of all, let me thank Lew Hay and his visionary leadership at Florida Power & Light. It's an example of a company that is doing well by doing good. And I think it's a model for what we could duplicate all across the country.    » read more »

Recovery Act Funding Will Create Jobs, Help Move Toward Energy Independence

October 27, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Mark Udall announced that Smart Grid projects in Fort Collins and Pueblo will receive more than $24 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The funding will help both cities create jobs and advance their efforts to transition to a smarter, stronger, more efficient and reliable electric system.    » read more »

Washington, D.C. -- October 27, 2009 -- U.S. Senators Bob Casey and Arlen Specter today announced that the U.S. Department of Energy has awarded $233,184,232 to four companies in Pennsylvania to invest in Smart Grid Technology. Federal funding is provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“I am pleased that this federal funding has been allocated to energy providers in Pennsylvania to reduce consumer costs and invest in infrastructure,” said Senator Casey. “This funding will allow Pennsylvania to continue to be a leader in conserving energy, increasing efficiency and harnessing innovative, renewable energy sources.”    » read more »

Meeting With Energy Secretary Helped Make Vermont’s Case

October 27, 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- The Vermont Congressional Delegation – Senator Patrick Leahy (D), Senator Bernie Sanders (I) and Representative Peter Welch (D) – announced Tuesday morning that Vermont Transco, LLC, will receive $68,928,650 in federal support to launch Vermont’s Smart Grid technology. The funds are part of $3.4 billion in Smart Grid grants across the nation that President Obama announced today – the largest awards made in a single day from this year’s American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.    » read more »

Pave Pathway to a Clean Energy Future

October 27, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- Nevada Senator Harry Reid today announced a $138 million grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to NV Energy to implement smart grid technologies for the Silver State. This significant funding, part of the largest single smart grid modernization investment in history, will create good-paying Nevada jobs while helping to make our state the leader in a national clean energy revolution. NV Energy will match the Federal grant with another $160 million to create a highly efficient electricity and natural gas delivery system that will save consumers money, generate hundreds of jobs, and accelerate Nevada’s energy independence.    » read more »

October 27, 2009 – Today, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson welcomed an announcement by the U.S. Department of Energy that Nebraska will receive more than $2.2 million to modernize the electric grid in the state. The funding is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

“I fought hard to include this energy funding in the stimulus bill because it will help modernize Nebraska’s distribution system and will bring jobs to the state,” said Nelson. “This investment represents the future of energy distribution in the U.S., and this funding ensures Nebraska will be a part of that future.”    » read more »