DOE Opens Up: Provides Public Access to Energy Resources, Policies and Activities The DOE has released its Open Government Plan, a series of efforts to make its activities more transparent and to encourage more public interaction with the agency. The platform also provides public access to the department's resources and information. Apr 9, 2010    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

The Department of Energy Raises Bar for Smart Grid /Smart Metering Initiatives – Key Strategies for Success The Smart Grid Investment Grant (SGIG) program funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) has raised the bar for smart meter projects. This paper discusses the new de facto standards created by DOE in its determination of SGIG requirements and selection of grantees. It talks about how meter data management systems, among others, provide potential solutions tot he new requirements. Jan 18, 2010    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

Smart Grid Stimulus: The Pause That Distresses With the announcement of the first stimulus grants just weeks (or even days) away, it’s time to talk about the elephant in the room. Here’s Founding Editor Jesse Berst with thoughts on why the stimulus slowed the Smart Grid and when the sector may recover its momentum. Oct 20, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   11 Active Comment(s)

FERC Chair Warns Grid Can't Handle Additional Power Load from Renewables Without Huge Investment As the federal government invests billions in Recovery Act funds to support development of renewable energy sources, the chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission says the electric grid can't handle it all without - you guessed it - even more money. Read more on our top story, plus these other developments from the energy stimulus beat: Alaska Legislature overturns Palin stimulus funds veto... Federal buildings to get $20 million in energy upgrades. Aug 11, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

Smart Energy Jobs: Where, When, How Many? Even before Congress passed the Recovery Act and started talking about clean energy policies, some were predicting huge swells in the number of green jobs on the way. Now as federal stimulus dollars roll out, others are wondering if our expectations may be set a little too high. See who’s weighing in - from one Washington to the other. Jul 28, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

And They're Off! The Race for Stimulus Funds The newly released guidelines for Smart Grid ARRA funding attempts to placate critics of the preliminary rules. What has changed and what is left to be done? Keep reading for an important summary and analysis of DOE’s latest attempt to spread the wealth around. Jun 30, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   2 Active Comment(s)

Dr Robert Pollin on Stimulus Funding and Opportunities for Green Investments and Jobs Robert Pollin is a professor of economics at the UMASS-Amherst. Recently interviewed at IBM's "Building Skills for an Energy and Environment-centric Economy" event, Dr. Pollin discusses the Smart Grid potentials for our economy - driven by building retrofits and new smart grids, and increasing the need for IT and engineering experts. Jun 26, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

Leaders Weigh in on Stimulus What is the most important next step in the development of tfhe Smart Grid? What kind of “shovel-ready” projects can the Smart Grid produce? What role should the federal government play? We put these questions to a dozen leaders in the Smart Grid field to assess the economic impact of grid modernization and to uncover the developments that will shape our future. May 25, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

Smart Grid Stimulus: Can It Jolt the Economy and Our Electricity Future? What is the most important next step in the development of tfhe Smart Grid? What kind of “shovel-ready” projects can the Smart Grid produce? What role should the federal government play? To answer these and other questions, we created this thought leadership gallery that brings together a dozen of the best and brightest players in the Smart Grid world to assess the economic impact of electricity network improvements as well as the next-generation developments and innovations worth watching in this area. May 24, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   2 Active Comment(s)

Statement of Policy on Modernization of Electricity Grid This Department of Energy policy statement outlines the government's support for modernization of the nation's electricity transmission and distribution system and objectives of the ARRA-funded Smart Grid investment grants and related funding opportunities. May 14, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

Smart Grid Stimulus Bill: DOE Snubs IOUs and Meters The Department of Energy last week issued its first preliminary guidelines for Smart Grid stimulus projects. The solicitation seems to indicate that the DOE favors coops and municipals over IOUs, science projects over deployments, isolation over interoperability, rate increases over private sector funding, and almost anything over smart meters. Apr 20, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   26 Active Comment(s)

Proposed Funding Criteria for the ARRA Smart Grid Matching Grant Program and the ARRA Smart Grid Demonstration Projects The Smart Grid Collaborative has submitted this set of proposed funding criteria to the Department of Energy (DOE) as it prepares to disburse billions of dollars available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. The guidelines are “a consensus among 19 states and FERC” on the best way to fund projects. The criteria are broken down into eight categories, including preconditions, technologies, redesigns, and regulatory issues. Mar 31, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

Stimulus Spells Payday for Electric Vehicles Too The stimulus bill is a huge set of handouts and loans for all kinds of energy projects, including electric cars.  But it's a patchwork of grants, not a comprehensive energy policy. Unless that changes, how long can we expect funds to last? Mar 23, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   7 Active Comment(s)

Keeping It Real: Evaluating Proposals for Smart Grid Stimulus Funds The stimulus package has billions available for the Smart Grid. But how to distribute the money quickly and wisely? In this guest editorial, Silver Spring Networks VP Eric Dresselhuys offers some clear and simple criteria. Mar 14, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

Energy Provisions in ARRA The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA, P.L. 111-5) emphasizes jobs, economic recovery, and assistance to those most impacted by the recession. It also stresses investments in technology, transportation, environmental protection, and other infrastructure and proposes strategies to stabilize state and local government budgets. Energy provisions are a featured part of ARRA. More than $42 billion is provided in appropriations for energy programs, mainly for energy efficiency and renewable energy. ARRA also provides more than $21 billion in energy tax incentives, primarily for energy efficiency and renewable energy. This summary of those provisions was prepared by the Congressional Research Service. Mar 14, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

Stimulus Package Will Create Winners in Smart Grid Standards The coming onslaught of Smart Grid investments, spurred by the stimulus bill, will force Smart Grid vendors to fight it out over protocols and standards. Feb 17, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   2 Active Comment(s)

Billions for Smart Grid in Stimulus... DOE Releases Grid Reports... Experts Predict Growth in Smart Grid Funding… Utilities Could See Revenue Shortfalls US and UK governments propose Smart Grid investments... DOE and EPRI release studies and recommendations... Pundit sees Smart Grid deployment as a revenue loss for utilities... Excerpts published of new Electronomics book by Jesse Berst Jan 21, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   3 Active Comment(s)

The US Smart Grid Revolution - KEMA's Perspectives for Job Creation Produced by consulting firm KEMA on behalf of the GridWise Alliance trade association, this 31-page report estimates the job creation potential of the Smart Grid. It concludes that a disbursement of $16 billion over 4 years could catalyze an additional $64 billion in related projects that could create approximately 280,000 new direct jobs, of which 140,000 would persist long-term. Written to an industry audience, it may be useful not just for its conclusions, but for its explanations of its methodology, which could be applied by any organization seeking to justify Smart Grid expenditures on the basis of economic impact (including those applying for government stimulus funding). Dec 23, 2008    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

SMART GRID NEWS TALK BACK BUZZ Research Help Dear sir, I am MASc student, doing research on Smart grid large scale integration. Please can you help me by providing some sites that can help me for my research work also simulation sw. Thanks and best regards ... Talk Back right now to Ramprosad Mondol