STATE OF THE SMART GRID:…

I’ve been avoiding writing about the potential fate of smart grid in this new Congress because, honestly, I haven’t been able to get a good read on these new folks yet. The President’s State of the Union address did provide us with some markers about what might be possible in the smart grid world over the next 18 months or so. Let’s start with what he said:

●A Clean Energy Standard, which seems to be on a track to define everything as “clean” except energy efficiency (arguably the quickest, cheapest, cleanest resource of all), may help smart grid in some way—since just about any power production benefits from an intelligent grid–although not as significantly as a renewable portfolio standard would.

●Emphasis on “infrastructure” could certainly incentivize improvements to the electric grid and create much-needed jobs.

●STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) education programs, especially assisting girls, will help groom our smart grid employee of the future. More