The Smart Grid Network, publishers of Smart Grid News, has launched a new Web site aimed specifically at helping readers understand, track, and navigate the often complex world of government funding and its attendant issues.

When the U.S. president signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 into law, it authorized billions of dollars for Smart Grid and other energy-related industries. But the money wouldn’t flow until the DOE set up a process for doing so and states and energy companies could make submit the proper applications. Smart Grid Stimulus provides the missing link —actually dozens of links —to help unravel the DOE rules, local regulations, and technology standards that criss-cross the stimulus landscape.

The site includes the same helpful mix of news, links, white papers, and other resources found on Smart Grid News. But Smart Grid Stimulus goes a step beyond, offering a variety of tools for contacting the government, applying for funds, looking for jobs, and learning the lingo.

Those who just want to explore the site can use Smart Grid’s Stimulus menus to browse a wide range of topics.  Here are just a few examples:

·       National demonstration projects

·       Federal investment grants

·       Policy and regulation

·       Insights and commentary

To find a specific topic, on the other hand, the Search box at the top makes it easy to track down information no matter what page you’re on at the moment.

Smart Grid Stimulus combines the kind of news analysis you’ve found at Smart Grid News with a number of features you may you’re not likely to find at other sites:

• News and Analysis. If you’ve been wondering why SGN’s great news and analysis hasn’t touched on stimulus stories, you’re looking in the wrong place.  Smart Grid Stimulus offers the same great insight into the latest decisions on the DOE’s grants, loan guarantees, and stimulus policies, as well as updates on the race for Smart Grid standards.
• State-by-State Stimulus Toolkits. For each state in the union, Smart Grid Stimulus offers a page of resources, including links to media coverage of Smart Grid or renewable developments in the state, state energy official contact info, summaries of some of the state’s stimulus projects, links to the state’s utilities and regulatory bodies, plus relevant state Web sites and resources.
• Jobs Toolkit. Looking for work? The Smart Grid Stimulus Job Toolkit provides news, resources, and link to job sites geared toward smart energy job seekers.
• Doing Business with the Government 101. One toolkit is specifically designed to help get you up and running on the federal contracting and grant process.  If you’re hoping to snag some ARRA funds, start here.
• Energy Awards.  Wondering where the government is spending all your dough?  Follow the money with the Smart Grid Stimulus Energy Awards Directory, which provides links to government monetary award announcements, organized by date.
• Watch Words. Keeping track of government acronyms and the technical lingo of the Smart Grid isn’t always easy.  That’s why Smart Grid Stimulus provides two different glossaries, one covering terms used in government contracting, and another for words and acronyms associated with the Smart Grid.

As long as a single ARRA dollar remains unaccounted for, Smart Grid Stimulus will track stimulus money, projects, and related activity.