Congress invites GWAC to table...Eight Seats Open for GWAC...GWAC and GWA sign MOU

Congress invites GWAC to table. The 2007 Energy Bill has not been signed as of this edition of Smart Grid ^TM News. In the last available mark-up, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is required to solicit the input of GWAC about the development of interoperability standards for the Smart Grid. Section 1305 (a) (2) of the Smart Grid Facilitation Act directs NIST to seek input from GWAC about the framework for protocols and model standards for information management for Smart Grid devices and systems. Other provisions of the Smart Grid Facilitation Act require DOE to (i) report to Congress concerning the status of Smart Grid deployments nationwide and any regulatory or government barriers to continued deployment, within a year of passage and (ii) within 90 days of enactment establish a Smart Grid Advisory Committee with 8 members.

   QuickTake: Lost in the debate over CAFÉ standards, renewable portfolio standards and taxes is Congresses’ continued dedication to enacting the Smart Grid Facilitation Act. Both GWAC and the GridWise Alliance have been diligent in representing electric system interests before Congress.

Eight Seats Open for GWAC. Annually, GWAC goes through a membership renewal process. It has just made a call for candidates. GWAC is seeking visible, respected and influential champions of interoperability to submit applications to become members. Membership is restricted to 13 people, and balance of representation across the stakeholder base is critical. This year, 8 seats are up for renewal, and all members whose terms are expiring are interested in new 2-year terms.

   QuickTake: Though their familiarity with GWAC is advantageous, the Bylaws stipulate that roughly one quarter of the Council seats are targeted to be new members, so please consider joining GWAC.

    â€œGWAC Call for Candidates web site

GWAC and GWA sign MOU. At the recent GridWise Alliance (GWA) annual meeting, sponsored by Duke Energy, GWAC and GWA signed a memorandum of understanding providing for continued cooperation in sponsoring GridWeek (to be held in September of 2008) and working together on Smart Grid matters.

   QuickTake: This MOU is an encouraging sign that Smart Grid groups now see the benefit of combining efforts and resources instead of each going its own way. This provides a clear indication to utilities that they can get behind the efforts of GWAC and GWA going forward.

Upcoming GWAC quarterly meetings. GWAC also meets quarterly in locations throughout the country. These meetings are open to the public. These are forums where anyone interested in advancing interoperability concepts should seriously consider attending. . The links below provide information about each upcoming meeting. They include,

·         GridWise Expo -- in concert with ConnectivityWeek, 20-22 May 2008

·         GridWeek^TM -- scheduled 23-25 September 2008

·         Grid-Interop^TM -- look for a December 2008 announcement

      Location and dates for meetings

      GridWise Expo web site

      GridWeek web site

Upcoming building to grid events. The 2008 Air-conditioning, heating, refrigeration and ventilation expo (AHR Expo) will have a major focus on the greening of buildings with electricity as a key part of that discussion. There will be several GWAC events at the expo in New York this January 2008. Adjoining this conference will be a Building to Grid Summit (B2G) on January 21, 2008. GWAC is an endorsing organization. It is also offering two free education sessions about interoperability standards for connecting buildings to the grid. One session is titled Global Warming and GridWise and the second is called The New Building Automation: Energy Demand Response.

   Air-conditioning, heating, refrigeration and ventilation expo website

   B2G Summit web site