A big chunk of stimulus money went into metering initiatives around the country, yet the DOE has slowly but surely been doling out dollars for a wide variety of Smart Grid projects and technologies. Some of them are just plain exciting. We’ve identified 10 we’ve got our eyes on. They may not all be successful, but like we said, they’re all pretty darn interesting. See if you agree.
In recent weeks the DOE and utilities around the country have been inking contracts that will at long last unleash federal stimulus funds for scores of Smart Grid projects. Is the momentum finally shifting? Click inside for a quick update on Smart Grid Investment Grant recipients.
What does the recent IRS ruling on Smart Grid grants really mean? Tax attorney and former IRS counsel James Atkinson has produced an analysis for Smart Grid News – and you better take a look. The ruling is not necessarily as favorable as it might appear at first glance. And as Atkinson explains, the IRS’s increasingly narrow approach to an important section of tax code raises concerns for utilities that go beyond the taxability of Smart Grid grants.
DOE has announced its second round of funding opportunities totaling $100 million for transformational energy research projects through its Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy.
With DOE canceling Phase 3 of the Smart Grid stimulus investment grant program and Phase 2 uncertain at this stage, our security experts are worried. Can fast-tracked applications adequately address the security requirements mandated by DOE?
The Energy Department’s advanced research agency tasked with fostering R&D focused on transformational, energy-related technologies is seeking public comments on future programs and funding opportunities through a series of workshops. First up is an Oct. 4 event in Seattle, focused on grid-scale energy storage.
California State University teamed with a number of partners in seeking $77.5 million in Recovery Act money to install smart meters in 934 buildings across its 23 campuses. The goal is to cut utility spending by 15 to 20 percent.
Pacific Gas & Electric has applied for $25 million of the Department of Energy's $615 million Smart Grid demonstration grant program to build an underground compressed air energy storage system. The California utility intends to use the compressed air to generate inexpensive electricity during times of peak demand.
From utility giant Southern Company’s request for $362 million in stimulus money to tiny Texas-based Bluebonnet Electric Coop’s application for $18.8 million, we’ve rounded up a lengthy list of contenders for that $3.3 billion in Smart Grid investment grants the DOE will start doling out this fall. Who are they? How do they propose spending the money? We’ve got the basics, plus links to news stories and press releases – and maybe even a surprise or two.
The highly anticipated funding announcements for Smart Grid Investment Grants and Smart Grid Demonstration projects were released by the DOE on June 25. About $4 billion in Recovery Act money will go to initiatives that support modernization of the nation’s electric grid. Read the highlights from both funding announcements here, plus get the FAQs that DOE prepared in response to more than 600 public comments it received on the projects this spring.
Here's a snapshot of key points of the DOE's $60 million funding announcement for projects relating to interconnection transmission planning and analysis.
Here are highlights of the grant opportunities relating to wind energy consortia between higher learning institutions and the industry issued by the Department of Energy.
Geothermal energy demonstration projects that validate innovative exploration technologies are sought for the $170 million geothermal program the DOE is funding with Recovery Act money.
President Obama announced $59 billion in new investment and tax credits for energy technologies. Find out what it means for utilities, businesses and government entities.
The Department of Energy is taking the lead in disbursing billions of dollars in stimulus funds in support of Smart Grid and renewable energy projects around the country. Learn more about this important federal agency.
A new DOE organization spawned by the ARRA will fund high-risk, high-payoff research and development projects designed to bring breakthrough technologies to the fore. Learn more about ARPA-E's mission.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on March 11 that it will now provide grants to support energy audits at farms, ranches, and rural small businesses through its Rural Energy for America Program.
We're getting mixed signals about the vitality of the smart grid market. On the one hand, the recent DistribuTECH conference was one of the most successful ever. On the other, a well-known Wall Street analyst recently told his clients that the smart metering sector is "facing several headwinds," including weak regulatory support in the U.S. and delays in European adoption. Taking the pulse of the smart grid industry is this week's Tuesday Topic.
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