Electricity

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 »

October 28, 2009 -- The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) enthusiastically supports a new policy announced today by the Administration that will greatly facilitate efforts to access world-class renewable energy resources currently stranded in remote parts of the country. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) announced today will streamline the transmission permitting process for federal lands by improving coordination among nine federal agencies and creating timelines to limit delays in the permit approval process.    » 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 »

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 »

Meeting With Energy Secretary Helped Make Vermont’s Case

WASHINGTON -- Oct. 27 -- 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 »

Stimulus funding moving to local communities

October 27, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) announced today that two South Dakota electric utilities will receive a total of $9.6 million to implement Smart Grid technology across the state. Black Hills Power of Rapid City will receive $5,592,602 and Sioux Valley Energy of Colman will receive $4,016,368. Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the projects will give the companies the ability to update and expand their innovative electricity technologies.    » read more »

Federal Dollars Would Lower Costs in Lower Hudson Valley; Con Edison Applied For Federal Recovery Dollars To Modernize Grid, Install Smart Meters

October 27, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced more than $136 million that will help lower energy costs for residents in Westchester, Rockland, and Orange Counties and New York City. The federal funding will be used for an initiative by Con Edison to modernize the electric grid.

The federal dollars would be allocated by the U.S. Department of Energy through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which Senator Gillibrand helped pass earlier this year. The federal investment would help Con Edison's 3.3 million customers conserve energy and save on their electric bills.    » read more »

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.    » read more »

October 27, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC - 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 »

Funding Represents Federal Investment Championed by Cantwell to Make the Nation's Electricity Grid Smarter, Stronger, More Efficient, and Reliable

October 27,2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced that Snohomish Public Utility District (PUD) will receive a federal investment of $15,825,817 to implement smart grid technologies that will create jobs and lead to lower electricity bills for consumers.

The funding will be used to install a smart grid framework, including a digital telecommunications network, substation automation and a robust distribution system infrastructure. This will enable the implementation of future smart grid technologies, including smart meters that will provide real-time energy use information to customers.    » read more »

Funding Represents Federal Investment Championed by Cantwell to Make the Nation's Electricity Grid Smarter, Stronger, More Efficient, and Reliable

October 27,2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced that Avista Utilities in Spokane will receive a federal investment of $20,000,000 to implement smart grid technologies that will create jobs and lead to lower electricity bills for consumers.

The funding will be used to implement a distribution management system, intelligent end devices, and a communication network to reduce distribution system loses, enable automatic restoration to customers during outages, and allow for the integration of on-site generating resources.    » read more »

Investment will create green jobs and help Hoosier consumers conserve energy, lower utility costs

October 27, 2009 -- Washington -- Senator Evan Bayh today announced that Indiana will receive more than $39 million in economic recovery funds to modernize local electrical grids and accelerate Indiana’s transition to a more efficient electric system.

Smart grids are modernized electricity grids that deliver power from suppliers to consumers in a way that saves energy and lowers consumer costs for using electricity during non-peak hours. Bayh announced the funding for Auburn, Carmel and Indianapolis today under The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.    » read more »

October 16, 2009 -- Washington, DC - Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today lauded the final decision filed yesterday by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) that effectively kills New York Regional Interconnect's (NYRI) efforts to keep alive its suspended power line proposal.

The FERC decision denied the request submitted by NYRI for reconsideration of the agency's prior decisions that would effectively prevent NYRI from tapping ratepayer subsidies for its massive power line proposal. Hinchey, along with U.S. Reps. Michael A. Arcuri (D-NY) and John Hall (D-NY), had written to the federal agency in July expressing strong opposition to NYRI's rehearing request and reiterating their opposition to the project.    » read more »

Clovis-Area Superstation To Send NM-Produced Renewable Energy to Customers in Other States

Oct. 12, 2009 -- SANTA FE – New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson today announced that New Mexico will be home to the Tres Amigas Super Station, which will connect America’s three main power grids – opening the door to more efficient delivery of renewable energy through the nation’s power transmission infrastructure.

“New Mexico leads the way in green and renewable energy development,” Governor Bill Richardson said. “But we need the ability to send energy produced in New Mexico to surrounding states. Tres Amigas will break that barrier, creating a larger market for our energy.

New Mexico is proud to be chosen as the site for this unique renewable energy market hub."    » read more »

FPL’s DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center's 90,000 photovoltaic panels will begin delivering electricity to customers

October 13, 2009 -- JUNO BEACH, Fla. – The nation’s largest solar photovoltaic plant will power up in one week, Florida Power & Light Company announced today.

FPL’s DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center in Arcadia, Fla., is expected to begin delivering clean, renewable electricity to customers on Oct. 20 – ahead of schedule and $22.2 million under budget.

The DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center uses more than 90,000 photovoltaic panels to turn the sun's rays into electricity to power more than 3,000 homes.    » read more »