16 States Get Boost from DOE Awards

16 States Get a Boost from DOE Awards

The DOE in recent days awarded more than $400 million in State Energy Program (SEP) funds to 16 states. The money is intended to pay for statewide plans that prioritize energy savings, generate or retain jobs, increase renewable energy use, and cut greenhouse gas emissions. The awards amount to 40 percent of states' total funding under the Recovery Act (ARRA). An initial 10 percent of the money was previously made available to finance state planning activities, and the remaining will be awarded after states have met ARRA's reporting, oversight, and accountability requirements. The allocations will be awarded to the following states: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, and Washington.  Awards range in size from $9.5 million for South Dakota to $90.4 million for California.

   EERE news release

   EERE news release

    EERE announcement  

   SGN State Stimulus Toolkits

DOE Asks for Wind Turbine Testing Proposals. The Prize? $45 Million

The Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) titled Large Wind Turbine Drivetrain Testing Facility is for the development of a dynamometer (a power and torque measuring device) and facility to ensure performance, durability, and reliability of large-scale wind turbine drivetrain systems. Specifically, the grant is to be used in the design and construction of an accredited testing facility capable of conducting Highly Accelerated Life Testing (HALT) of 5-15 MW-rated wind turbine drivetrains and generators, and operation and maintenance of the facilities. Only one grant will be awarded. Letters of intent are due by July 15, 2009, and applications are due by Aug. 6, 2009. Click the FOA link below for details.

   Wind turbine testing FOA

AT&T Dives Into the Fray; Partners on Wireless Grid Sensors

Telecommunications giant AT&T has partnered with medium and high-voltage electrical equipment manufacturer Cooper Power Systems to sell wireless grid sensors in what promises to be a booming stimulus-fueled Smart Grid market. The sensors, a key Smart Grid component, can provide real-time performance information that will help utilities manage and monitor power. Cooper will run two of its technologies over the AT&T network. Cooper's OutageAdvisor monitors for outages on electricity delivery lines, and VARAdvisor offers what AT&T describes as a low-cost sensor alternative to manually inspecting voltage regulation equipment. Marketing and sales will be a joint effort between the two companies.

   Quick Take: AT&T is the latest of the giant companies to nibble at the Smart Grid market, and it may be a mixed blessing. Nice to have the muscle and resources of the big guys, but we can't help but wonder how smaller startups and the like are going to fare as the competition heats up.

   InformationWeek article

   CIO article