Smart Grid Funding Opportunity Announcement by DOE
DOE issued solicitations in late June for $3.9 billion in grants to support the development and demonstration of smart grid technologies. Smart grid technologies involve adding communication capabilities and control systems to the electrical grid. Just as the Internet drastically changed how people use their home computers, adding communications to the power grid is expected to change how people use electricity, resulting in improved home energy management for the homeowner, greater demand control for the utility, and a more reliable power grid overall. Smart grids are also expected to better accommodate the use of renewable energy, all forms of on-site power production, and electric vehicles. DOE's new solicitations include a $3.3 billion Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for the Smart Grid Investment Grant Program , which is intended to enable smart grid functions on the nation's electrical grid as soon as possible. The cost-shared grants will support the manufacturing, ...