Local utility companies are moving forward with plans to create smart metering systems that officials say could change the way customers use electricity. Both Lafayette Utilities System and Cleco recently received federal grants to install the meters at homes and businesses. Although certain regulations must be met and processes completed, the plan is for Cleco Continue reading →
grants
On October 27th, President Obama announced that over $3.4 billion would be allocated through the Smart Grid Investment Grant to 100 projects that will help build a ‘smarter’ electric grid. This stimulus money from the Recovery Act will be matched by industry contributions for a total investment of more than $8 billion – seed money Continue reading →
Pittsburgh’s BPL Global is emerging as a leader in the bid to help America modernize its aging electricity infrastructure. With $3.4 billion available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, BPLG is positioned to help utilities and other companies get to work. Last month the first funds were awarded, targeting private companies, utilities and other Continue reading →
Members of the Maryland congressional delegation and the U.S. secretary of housing and urban development joined Friday to congratulate Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. for receiving $200 million in federal stimulus grants to support efforts to modernize the electricity grid in Maryland. The U.S. Department of Energy announced this week that BGE received among the Continue reading →
President Obama announced Tuesday $3.4 billion in grants for “smart meters,” updated transformers, and other devices that he called the largest energy grid modernization investment in the nation’s history. The federal money, which was part of the $787 billion economic stimulus package, will pay for a broad range of technologies aimed at making the nation’s Continue reading →
By the time the late August application deadline had expired, a Department of Energy program to distribute $615 million to fund projects demonstrating smart-grid technology had attracted 140 proposals requesting a total of $2.3 billion. “The response is very encouraging,” said Jen Stutsman, a spokeswoman for the Energy Department. “We expect some very competitive projects.” Continue reading →
Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) recently submitted an application for federal grant money to construct a fiber optic mesh data network, or Smart Grid. PEC said the grid could expand the co-operative’s operating systems and infrastructure to make them faster and more reliable. In the grant petition, approved by the board, PEC requested matching funds from Continue reading →
Scan our list of the companies lining up to get a piece of the roughly $4 billion in stimulus funds for the smart grid and here’s what you’ll find: utilities far and away dominate the queue. But dig a little deeper and you’ll see that a growing number of startups are finding a stake in Continue reading →
Global defense contractor Lockheed Martin is teaming with Black & Veatch, a major construction and consulting company, to offer utilities a suite of products they can use to improve their smart grid implementations. The idea is that their technology will up efficiency and grid security, making utilities more attractive recipients for grants being doled out Continue reading →
Given the current beltway brouhaha about whether the economy needs another multi-hundred billion dollar fiscal boost, the DOE will likely fund most of the $3.4 billion in SGIG grants sooner, not later. “Give it to us fast. Bigger projects are OK. Provide a ton of detail. Mind your CBA. Win extra points for dynamic pricing. Continue reading →
Bangor Hydro Electric Co. today said it has applied for federal stimulus dollars to help fund its proposed $8.8 million Smart Grid project. Bangor Hydro requested $4.3 million in grant funding for the project, which the company says will conserve energy and lower electricity bills for its customers. Bangor Hydro, owned by Halifax, N.S.-based Emera Continue reading →
A previous article introduced the concept and supported the notion for the development of a smart grid both here and abroad. The Department of Energy (DOE) announced the availability in June of $3.9 billion in stimulus grants for modernizing the nation’s electricity grid. The majority of this funding will be composed of cost-shared grants totalling Continue reading →
The U.S. Department of Energy has received more than 400 proposals for economic stimulus grants to deploy smart electric grid systems. The DoE is still tallying the total amount of funds requested, and will start selecting winning proposals in early November. A top executive at Duke Energy discussed the utility’s partnership with meter maker Echelon Continue reading →
Smart Grids and Statewide Clean Energy Programs DOE awarded $47 million in ARRA funds to eight ongoing smart grid demonstration projects. The $47 million investment will add to the $17 million in funds DOE had awarded these eight projects in 2008, thereby accelerating the timelines for the projects. Most of the projects relate to technologies Continue reading →
Progress Energy has applied for $200 million in federal funds to help build out an electric “smart grid” in its Carolinas and Florida territories, the Raleigh-based utility announced Wednesday. The U.S. Department of Energy is awarding $4.5 billion in smart grid grants nationwide as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Smart Continue reading →
The Governor`s Energy Office (GEO) announced today it is soliciting applications for a $2 million grant program that marks the inaugural set of renewable energy and energy efficiency grants to be funded through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) in Colorado. The GEO is accepting applications for the first round of New Energy Economic Continue reading →
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. is the first of California’s big three investor-owned utilities to publicize its request for part of $3.3 billion in federal smart grid stimulus grants. Northern California utility Pacific Gas & Electric Co. won’t be asking the federal government for financial help in its multi-billion dollar smart meter deployment. Instead, PG&E Continue reading →
Consolidated Edison Inc. on Friday said it has applied with the U.S. Department of Energy for $172 million in federal stimulus dollars to help fund smart grid projects. The power company said it intends to use the grants to fund projects in service areas of its subsidiaries Con Edison Company of New York Inc. and Continue reading →
If your firm wanted to apply for the first phase of the smart grid investment grant program, well, you best get cracking — the deadline is today, and this week a flurry of utilities have been announcing their intentions to apply for some of the $3.4 billion in funding. Just because the companies are announcing Continue reading →
Duke Energy Corp. Thursday applied for $200 million in federal infrastructure funds to develop a “smart grid” in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. The company also has sought $14 million in federal funds for smart grid transmission lines in North Carolina and South Carolina. The smart grid allows utilities, such as Duke, to send signals to Continue reading →
