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US Energy Secretary Steven Chu yesterday furthered the nation’s plans to move toward a smart grid with the announcement of $100 million to retrain the electric power workforce to be ready for the smart grid.

The funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) will support the development of training programmes at utilities, colleges, universities and other organisations and the rollout to electric utility workers and electrical equipment manufacturers.

“America cannot build a 21^st Century energy economy with a mid-20^th Century electricity system,” said Secretary Chu. “This is why the Obama Administration is investing in projects that will lay the foundation for a modernized, resilient electrical grid.”

A further $44 million will be traded to state public utilities to hire new staff and retrain the existing workforce to undertake smart grid projects.

Meanwhile, IBM has unveiled a new software platform that aims to ensure that networks of smart grid equipment is operating correctly and make it easier for utilities to integrate data from smart grids with existing networks.

The new Solution Architecture for Energy and Utilities Framework (SAFE) brings IBM’s software expertise to all aspects of a utility company including plant operations, smart meters and personal utility management.

For further information:
www.energy.gov
www.recovery.gov
www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/?doc=DE-FOA-0000152&agency=DOE
www.ibm.com

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US smart grid moves a step closer (22-May)
US invests in smart grid (20-Apr)
IBM to set up smart grid for Malta (5-Feb)