U.S. to spend $3.9 billion on smart grid
DOE Secretary Steven Chu has announced $3.9 billion in smart grid funding.
Source: Reuters -- Consulting-Specifying Engineer, 6/26/2009 8:20:14 AM
According to a Reuters story. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced on June 25 $3.9 billion in "smart grid" funding aimed at making power transmission around the country more flexible.
Addressing utility executives at an industry meeting, Chu said the funds would help create a system to allocate electricity more efficiently, whether through improved power lines or by allowing batteries in hybrid cars to feed back into the grid when needed.
"Right now, the way we distribute energy, it's like plumbing, it's down the hill," he told reporters at a news conference after his speech to the Edison Electric Institute conference in San Francisco.
Asked about people objecting to high-voltage power lines being built near their homes as part of a smart grid, Chu said he would appeal to U.S. national interests.
Want to tap into these funds?
It's one thing for the federal government to commit billions of dollars for smart grid technology and transmission infrastructure. But it's quite another for the spigot to actually open with a clear set of criteria for applicants - and that's where we are today. The Obama administration recently announced the final details for how to get in line for $3.9 billion in grants for smart grid technologies and demo projects funded as part of the stimulus package.
The smart grid buildout may be one of the biggest creators of wealth in the next decade-spawning, as smart grid analyst Jesse Berst has put it, "new Googles and Microsofts." These grants could go a long way to determine which companies come away with the biggest share.
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Another giant government money waster!!!
Utility interconnections must be carefully planned and proven to be economical. The idea of connecting major systems coast to coast or distances of many miles will not be proven due to the losses and resultant waste of energy!!! Whether AC or DC converted, the results are approximately the same.
Modest distance interconnections are OK where proven economical.
Let's not waste masses of energy trying to save eneergy
Archie D. Fellenzer, Jr. PE - 7/16/2009 9:54:56 AM CDT
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