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US invests in smart grid

US Vice President Joe Biden has outlined the Department of Energy’s investment plans for a smart grid for the country as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The plans will make more than $3.3 billion available in the form of grants ranging from $500,000 to $20 million for the deployment of smart grid technology. A further $615 million will be set aside to support projects of $100,000 to $5 million on smart grid monitoring.

The programme will match funds by up to 50% on investments planned by electric utilities and other electricity suppliers or sellers, as well as other grid operation, equipment and installation companies.

“We need an upgraded electrical grid to take full advantage of the vast renewable resources in this country,” said Biden.

Plans for a smart grid meeting in Washington DC in May were also announced, which will bring together industry leaders and other key stakeholders. The meeting will aim to start discussions on industry-wide smart grid standards and a timetable for their development and implementation.

“A smart electricity grid will revolutionize the way we use energy, but we need standards in place to ensure that all this new technology is compatible and operating at the highest cybersecurity standards to protect the smart grid from hackers and natural disasters,” explained Commerce Secretary Gary Locke.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will assist with the development of standards for a smart grid network.

For further information:
www.energy.gov/
www.commerce.gov/
www.recovery.gov/
www.nist.gov/

20 April 2009

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