Smart meters and green buttons: Something even a mother-in-law could love? Feb 13, 2012 We were taken by a fun (but also informative) blog post from eMeter's Chris King, who writes about the "Green Button" program that California utilities have implemented and how it's already a hit with his mother-in-law. Find out why.  More >>

Is this the year to sell your smart grid company? Feb 13, 2012 A leading Wall Street analyst recently complained about the lack of consolidation in the smart grid space. It's true that the prolonged existence of too many suppliers can make a market noisy and confusing to buyers. So why aren't things settling down? That's this week's Tuesday Topic in our discussion forum.   More >> New nuclear plants under cost, deadline scrutiny Feb 10, 2012 With the decision by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Thursday to approve the first new nuclear facility in the U.S. in more than 30 years, the Southern Company project in Georgia will be under a financial and operational microscope. But as Peter Gardett of AOL Energy explains, the long-term outlook for nuclear remains muddy.  More >> EV project in France uses subscription model to optimize impact on grid Feb 9, 2012 BPL Global is one of the companies involved in a project in France's rural Alsace region that will supply end users with electric vehicles via a subscription service. The service is supposed to optimize the impact of EV charging on the grid by aggregating the load and storage capacities of the batteries and managing their charging patterns.   More >> Siemens smart grid strategy: Feeding the world's appetite for integration Feb 8, 2012 Over breakfast with Thierry Godart, president of Siemens' smart grid division in the U.S., SGN Chief Analyst Jesse Berst learned that for Siemens, 2012 is going to be all about integration - and that Siemens wants to be the leading smart grid integrator. Click for a peek at the three areas that Siemens is targeting - and how Jesse thinks this old school company's prospects shape up against new school competitors.  More >> Smart grid forecasts: energy storage, hydrokinetics, investments and more Feb 8, 2012 Some days you could spend all of what little reading time you have just getting through all the smart grid market studies, trend reports, forecasts and white papers. We've made the chore a little easier for you with a roundup of six recent releases that caught our eye on topics ranging from smart grid investments to building automation growth.   More >>

Obama's 2013 budget request includes big bucks for energy - but will it fly? Feb 13, 2012 The President released his 2013 budget request Monday and energy initiatives were high on his wish list. Everything from renewables to efficiency to grid-scale storage and even a new "innovation hub" to focus on grid systems and the tie between T&D. But his ambitious energy agenda faces an uphill battle.  More >> A123 Systems scores big win in UK Feb 10, 2012 A123 Systems will provide six battery energy storage systems for the UK's largest smart grid project. The systems will be designed for peak load shifting and managing voltage fluctuations in the country's electric grid to maintain stability as more renewable energy sources are added.  More >> Sending some smart grid love to 5 utilities Feb 9, 2012 Electric utilities take their share of grief. There's the smart meter angst. Ongoing complaints about electricity rates. Customers upset about response times after storm-caused power outages. Often the good things utilities are doing take a backseat. So as we approach Valentine's Day, we thought we'd take a moment to show a little love for utility programs that are helping customers and the planet. We're highlighting five; but we hope you'll click inside and add to our list.  More >> DOE finds more money for energy innovation - lots of it, in fact Feb 9, 2012 The Department of Energy this week announced $12 million in funding to speed solar energy innovation from the lab to the marketplace. It's the latest in a series of announcements we've seen in recent weeks that suggest there's more money filtering into energy projects, including up to $120 million for advanced research on batteries and energy storage. Click inside and we'll show you the money.  More >> Smart grid benefits that matter (it's not always about money) Feb 8, 2012 Results from the second wave of the Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative's Consumer Pulse study reveal that there are smart grid benefits that resonate with consumers beyond reducing their monthly electric bill. SGCC Executive Director Patty Durand outlines the findings and actions her organization is taking in response.  More >>

THE TUESDAY TOPIC Is this the year to sell your smart grid company? A leading Wall Street analyst recently complained about the lack of consolidation in the smart grid space. It's true that the prolonged existence of too many suppliers can make a market noisy and confusing to buyers. So why aren't things settling down? That's this week's Tuesday Topic in our discussion forum. Join the conversation >>

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