The motivating force behind utility smart grid deployments is changing as the majority of stimulus-led smart grid projects approach completion. Now driven instead by regulatory requirements and operational efficiencies, North American utilities are looking for best practices and proven business cases to help them spend their money most effectively. Within these new market conditions, it’s Continue reading →
When the smart grid stimulus funding was announced, many investor-owned utilities (IOUs) mobilized themselves to take advantage. With that motivator no longer present, most IOUs have reverted to dither mode. They just can’t seem to pull the trigger on major new smart grid initiatives. And who can blame them considering all the other things fighting for Continue reading →
With about 80 days left to go, the 2012 presidential election is shaping up to be a question of how much the government can or should get involved with the economy, with business and in people’s individual lives. Both President Barack Obama and his challenger Gov. Mitt Romney have their own ideas about the role Continue reading →
The first city in the nation to receive smart grid funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is running out of money and time – with work still left to do. A report in the Glendale News-Press says a stripped-down city budget dramatically decreased funding in the final year of Glendale Water & Power’s smart grid Continue reading →
Numerous municipalities around the world see the smart city concept as the key to making them better places to live, work and grow – so much so that the market for relevant technologies and services is expected to grow from $8 billion in 2010 to $39 billion by 2016, for a cumulative spend of $116 Continue reading →
When Congress passed the landmark stimulus bill in 2009, more than $90 billion was targeted at clean energy — the largest investment of federal dollars in the energy sector ever. Nearly $3 billion was awarded to the Bay Area from the Department of Energy alone. The infusion of money came at a critical juncture, filling Continue reading →
IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced that it is the systems integrator for NV Energy’s Advanced Service Delivery project that includes smart grid technology, advanced meter infrastructure and meter data management. NV Energy, serving 1.4 million electric and gas customers in Nevada, is leading a comprehensive deployment of smart grid technologies, with support from the Department Continue reading →
Inventors, engineers, battery suppliers and electric vehicle developers, along with dozens of civil servants and academics, met in Vancouver last week for EV (Electric Vehicle) 2010. While Germany, Japan, China, South Korea and the United States are investing billions in electric vehicle research and development, Canada’s true believers struggle along with shoe-string budgets. via Canada, Continue reading →
The administration of President Obama has released a list of “100 Recovery Act Projects That Are Changing America.” Many of the projects involve solar energy, vehicle electrification and electric grid modernization, as well as wind turbine research and manufacturing. Others benefit the military, police, rural communities and the oil and natural gas industry. Although expenditures Continue reading →
With deadlines looming to spend $499 million in stimulus-act money for energy programs in Arizona, the next 18 months should be busy for the renewable-energy industry. About $443 million, or nearly $9 out of every $10, remains to be spent. via Stimulus funds for Arizona energy projects largely unspent.
In 2009, the Smart Grid industry was filled with hope for what the $4.5 billion in U.S. government stimulus dollars could mean for the acceleration of Smart Grid deployments. Hundreds of utilities applied for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding, $4.5 billion in awards were announced, and scarecrows danced on power lines as the Continue reading →
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 — President Obama’s $787 billion stimulus — has been marketed as a jobs bill, and that’s how it’s been judged. The White House says it has saved or created about 3 million jobs, helping avoid a depression and end a recession. Republicans mock it as a Big Continue reading →
The U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Sandia National Laboratories has awarded New Jersey-based Petra Solar a $3 million contract to commercialize its technology for the nation’s energy grid. Part of the DOE’s Solar Energy Technologies Program, the contract will help Petra continue to develop electric grid stabilization, micro-grid and smart grid technologies with the goal of Continue reading →
Renewable energy technologies, fueled by worldwide government support in the form of stimulus programs and other incentives, have improved the global economic outlook with new jobs and industry. Six will hit double digit growth in the next five years — and change our lifestyle, according to a series of market studies from SBI Energy. Here’s Continue reading →
Talk about timing. Allied Waste had already decided to transform its fleet of garbage trucks from biodiesel to compressed natural gas when federal stimulus funds became available. “How much more shovel-ready can you get?” said Rachele Klein, manager of business development for Allied in the Treasure Valley. via How to spend Idaho’s $1.6 billion stimulus Continue reading →
The Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) on Friday conditionally approved Baltimore Gas and Electric Co.’s (BGE) revised smart grid implementation plan. As a result, BGE, a subsidiary of Constellation Energy (NYSE:CEG), will move forward with implementation of a multi-million dollar plan that will receive $200 million in support from the U.S. Department of Energy. via Continue reading →
After weeks of testimony and 11th-hour changes to its big smart meter project, Baltimore Gas & Electric has gotten itself back into the good graces of Maryland state regulators. The utility announced Monday (PDF) that the Maryland Public Service Commission approved the redrawn project on Friday, meaning BG&E won’t have to return a $200 million Continue reading →
Many see the electric and power utility industry as a huge dinosaur that is slow to respond to new challenges. However, there are a number of leaders that are quickly embracing smart grid and renewable energy technologies and approaches. The leading utilities for this year were just announced by IDC Energy Insights and Intelligent Utility Continue reading →
Baltimore Gas & Electric Co. on Thursday defended its plan to pay for its smart grid program with some form of surcharge passed on to customers, and intimated that it might walk away from the project without one. After rejecting BGE’s first plan in June, the Public Service Commission began two days of hearings about Continue reading →
The blogosphere and media channels have recently been full of news about the Maryland PSC’s decision to reject a Smart Grid program proposed by Baltimore Gas & Electric, even though this plan had already received ARRA stimulus funding and the utility claimed that failure to approve the plan by July 30 would cause those stimulus Continue reading →
