Anyone looking for proof that smart grid is good for cities need look no further than a new study from real estate and development giant Jones Lang LaSalle. When researchers compared smart grid cities with North American averages, they found that connected cities have:

• GDP growth 0.7% higher
• Unemployment 1.0% lower
• Office occupancy rates 2.5% higher

So here's something your utility can wave around the next time an advocacy group claims that smart meters and smart grid are an evil conspiracy. Explain that the evidence shows the smart grid is a path to economic growth and jobs.

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Jesse Berst is the founder and chief analyst of Smart Grid News.com, the industry's oldest and largest smart grid site. A frequent keynoter at industry events in the U.S. and abroad, he also serves on advisory committees for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the Institute for Electric Efficiency. He often provides strategic consulting to large corporations and venture-backed startups. He is a member of the advisory boards of GridGlo and Calico Energy Services