Nuclear energy polarizes people. There are two camps: Those who actually think of nuclear energy as a form of renewable energy that makes clean fuel fast (most of us would call this group France), and those who think the first camp is spouting evil propaganda for the Man and that nuclear power is a frightening, dirty, nasty tidbit of Cold War leftovers.
Doesn't seem to be a lot of gray area on the nuclear front.
Yesterday, U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu blogged---yes, blogged---on Facebook about the need for a newly announced nuclear power loan guarantee program. He made all the rational arguments for the program: that no one single power source can be the solution, that renewables are not feasible enough to be a large power footprint right now, that nuclear energy does help reduce carbon and, therefore, would positively impact climate change. His arguments were reasonable and practical---just what you'd expect from a scientist who is also the Secretary of Energy.
The outsider comments on his blog entry were not so reasonable, nor so rational. There were a lot of angry diatribes from a lot of angry Facebookers about how to make renewables more feasible instead. Interestingly enough, they wanted the money being guaranteed for nukes to be promised, instead, to renewables. A lot of those discussions claimed that nukes wouldn't be feasible without this government financial assistance (which may be true, but, right now, there's a very solid similar argument for solar and wind, so it seems these guys are shooting themselves in the foot in order to take pot shots at the enemy).
I've always found it fascinating---all the walls built between renewable energy camps and traditional energy camps. The renewable peeps find traditional energy old, outdated and dangerous. The traditional energy peeps fine renewable energy a tad silly, ridiculously expensive and impractical. The hippies versus the squares, to put it all into 1960s war metaphor terminology.
But, there are good arguments on both sides. Renewables have great potential, but there are still issues (storage, intermittence, cost, maintenance, investment). Traditional energy is currently practical, but offers a future with severe imperfections (climate change, global warming, loss of fuel source, reliance on unstable economies for fuel). But, in the end, there is no direct way to dissolve traditional energy and transition entirely into renewables overnight. So, rather than stand on opposite sides of the digital wall and scream at each other, perhaps it's time for a little overlap.
I really think that's all Sec. Chu was driving at: The importance of all sorts of shades of gray in the energy equation. No one says you have to see nukes as the shining light of an energy future. But, perhaps we can see it as a way to transition, a "baby step" toward a different energy economy.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Exelon to "Arrogant Americans": No Gig for You
Fox News is reporting quite the HR snafu from energy powerhouse Exelon. It seems that the company sent out a note via an IT staffing firm requesting a writer with a focus on the nuclear industry and a certain reverence for China. Unfortunately, it wasn't worded quite as nicely as I just put it.
Toward the end of the ad's second paragraph, after discussions about job duties and skills required, is the line "An arrogant American will not work well in this role."
Apparently, that made a few Americans---both arrogant and otherwise, perhaps all a bit sensitive to the label---a tad unhappy.
See, now I know exactly how this happened. Somewhere in this process was someone just as blunt as me. Some perturbed or stress-out manager with a reputation for "plain language" said, quite directly, something about needing a person for the job who is not the typical "arrogant American" who runs over outside cultures (which we have a reputation for, unfortunately) because Chinese culture is very, very different and requires a lot of social delicacy.
And, sadly, this plain language never hit an editor or a stage where they added some fluffy verbiage to say it more PC like "attune to cultural differences and willing to defer to cultural needs." (Probably due to company lay-offs or other cutbacks, that editor/assistant/secretary/HR intern who would read it for such plain language doesn't exist anymore.)
Nope. Taken literally. Put into the ad directly. Funny stuff.
This is a good example of how an editor could save your butt. Isn't it an amusing bit of dramatic irony (giving the job ad an air of great literature) that a good writer was needed to whip up an ad to garner a good writer---the concept of which the staffing firm that penned the query apparently wasn't aware.
But, to help their defense attorney, I'd point out that the ad didn't restrict ALL Americans from the gig---just the arrogant ones. So, they could get off on a technicality, if challenged. They are not discriminating by nationality. They are discriminating by nationality plus personality. And, heck, all employers discriminate by personality. To paraphrase Pulp Fiction, a good personality goes a long way.
Makes you wonder what other plain language ads could pop up in this industry. Wind farms could ask for no former nuclear engineers. Solar proponents might restrict "the typical old school energy executive in love with coal." I'd love to have a biomass producer write "no whiny former CEOs who can't get their hands dirty."
That would make reading the industry want ads much more interesting.
Toward the end of the ad's second paragraph, after discussions about job duties and skills required, is the line "An arrogant American will not work well in this role."
Apparently, that made a few Americans---both arrogant and otherwise, perhaps all a bit sensitive to the label---a tad unhappy.
See, now I know exactly how this happened. Somewhere in this process was someone just as blunt as me. Some perturbed or stress-out manager with a reputation for "plain language" said, quite directly, something about needing a person for the job who is not the typical "arrogant American" who runs over outside cultures (which we have a reputation for, unfortunately) because Chinese culture is very, very different and requires a lot of social delicacy.
And, sadly, this plain language never hit an editor or a stage where they added some fluffy verbiage to say it more PC like "attune to cultural differences and willing to defer to cultural needs." (Probably due to company lay-offs or other cutbacks, that editor/assistant/secretary/HR intern who would read it for such plain language doesn't exist anymore.)
Nope. Taken literally. Put into the ad directly. Funny stuff.
This is a good example of how an editor could save your butt. Isn't it an amusing bit of dramatic irony (giving the job ad an air of great literature) that a good writer was needed to whip up an ad to garner a good writer---the concept of which the staffing firm that penned the query apparently wasn't aware.
But, to help their defense attorney, I'd point out that the ad didn't restrict ALL Americans from the gig---just the arrogant ones. So, they could get off on a technicality, if challenged. They are not discriminating by nationality. They are discriminating by nationality plus personality. And, heck, all employers discriminate by personality. To paraphrase Pulp Fiction, a good personality goes a long way.
Makes you wonder what other plain language ads could pop up in this industry. Wind farms could ask for no former nuclear engineers. Solar proponents might restrict "the typical old school energy executive in love with coal." I'd love to have a biomass producer write "no whiny former CEOs who can't get their hands dirty."
That would make reading the industry want ads much more interesting.
Friday, February 12, 2010
FirstEnergy Bargain Shops, But is it a Sweetheart Deal?
FirstEnergy, that large utility out of Ohio best know for being at the blame end of all the finger pointing during the 2003 blackout in the Northeast, has decided to throw caution to the wind (farm) and make a play for Maryland-based Allegheny Energy for nearly $5 billion----although like Ted Turner buying his first TV station, no actual money will change hands, just stock.
At first glance, it seems like a sweet deal. FirstEnergy gets a bigger footprint and Allegheny stockholders get a price above what's being currently traded for their slice of the pie. Plus, it would form one of the largest power companies in the U.S., and bigger is better, right?
Well, not always. The American public in general---and American investors specifically, it would seem, given the blah reaction of the stock market to this announcement---remember all too well the "we're too big to fail" mantra of banks before the recession. And now, bigger isn't always seen as better; it's just as often seen as a breeding ground for folly, hubris and ego.
Of course, when you're as problem-laden as FirstEnergy and Allegheny in customer reputation and reliability, it may be simply a matter of bad branding. If the power company you already don't like is bought by a power company with the reputation for blackouts and huge million-dollar government fines, it may be that two wrongs don't actually make a right.
And, there are other questions hanging in the air as well. First, how many job losses will this mean in a weakened economy? While CEOs of both companies say that they were not seeking to cut jobs, specifically, with this merger, talk of "efficiency" and "streamlining" is always translated as "layoffs" to a skittish population. That won't be stellar for their individual, or combined, reputations---just another bruise.
Additionally, what about climate change? This is a merger that seems to defy the scientists and politicians pushing for more cap and trade and less use of coal. This will make FirstEnergy a huge coal player, which is a big, big risk given that no one knows, exactly, what will come down the pike in the form of regulations and allowances. And FirstEnergy is putting all their little plastic Easter eggs of gold coin into one black and messy coal basket. Is that a good idea that will pay off or a huge risk that will bite them in the keister in just a few years?
In the end, I expect that FirstEnergy and Allegheny thought the announcement of this deal would re-establish both of them into good utility standing. But, given the economy, their past transgressions and a series of utility mergers that unraveled like cheap carpeting (Exelon and Public Service Enterprise Group, for example), it appears that most people gave this announcement the old stink eye.
At first glance, it seems like a sweet deal. FirstEnergy gets a bigger footprint and Allegheny stockholders get a price above what's being currently traded for their slice of the pie. Plus, it would form one of the largest power companies in the U.S., and bigger is better, right?
Well, not always. The American public in general---and American investors specifically, it would seem, given the blah reaction of the stock market to this announcement---remember all too well the "we're too big to fail" mantra of banks before the recession. And now, bigger isn't always seen as better; it's just as often seen as a breeding ground for folly, hubris and ego.
Of course, when you're as problem-laden as FirstEnergy and Allegheny in customer reputation and reliability, it may be simply a matter of bad branding. If the power company you already don't like is bought by a power company with the reputation for blackouts and huge million-dollar government fines, it may be that two wrongs don't actually make a right.
And, there are other questions hanging in the air as well. First, how many job losses will this mean in a weakened economy? While CEOs of both companies say that they were not seeking to cut jobs, specifically, with this merger, talk of "efficiency" and "streamlining" is always translated as "layoffs" to a skittish population. That won't be stellar for their individual, or combined, reputations---just another bruise.
Additionally, what about climate change? This is a merger that seems to defy the scientists and politicians pushing for more cap and trade and less use of coal. This will make FirstEnergy a huge coal player, which is a big, big risk given that no one knows, exactly, what will come down the pike in the form of regulations and allowances. And FirstEnergy is putting all their little plastic Easter eggs of gold coin into one black and messy coal basket. Is that a good idea that will pay off or a huge risk that will bite them in the keister in just a few years?
In the end, I expect that FirstEnergy and Allegheny thought the announcement of this deal would re-establish both of them into good utility standing. But, given the economy, their past transgressions and a series of utility mergers that unraveled like cheap carpeting (Exelon and Public Service Enterprise Group, for example), it appears that most people gave this announcement the old stink eye.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Dude, What's Your Major? The Smart Grid
I never did major in anything particularly cool in college. I have an AA in liberal arts, a BA in English and a graduate degree in poetry writing. No one ever confused my love of Mark Twain's essays and the one-two literary poet punch of Keats and Yeats with anything remotely close to cool. The closest I ever got to a with-it sort of major was time spent with a close friend who was studying film. And, in the 1990s, film studies was the ultimate example of a cool major.
Even film studies might be eclipsed by Cincinnati State's new autumn 2010 offering: a major in smart grid.
Just today the Ohio Board of Regents, which governs the state's school system, gave the thumbs-up to Cincinnati State to offer that unique major as part of the college's power systems engineering technology program.
According to Larry Feist, chairman of the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Major at Cincinnati State, the program is "designed to capitalize on both the short term demand for technicians to install new generations of electric and gas meters and on the longer-range need for specialists who will be able to maintain the new systems and work on the distribution and transmission aspects of the electrical grid." (At least, that's how he was paraphrased in the article about this announcement on the college's website.)
So, they're going to teach people to install smart grid stuff and then teach people to go back and fix those problematic bits of installed smart grid stuff. Fair enough. We're definitely going to need bringers and fixers in the smart grid mix. But, what exactly does this smart grid major require? What classes does a burgeoning, passionate smart grid college student take?
The college's website notes that this major will build on traditional power engineering classes. So, before you get to "What Smart Grid Represents in Modern Metaphysical American Culture" you will have to take those hard courses like physics, algebra, calculus, direct/alternating current labs, examinations of national electric codes and, of course, power system design.
On top of that basic power engineering stuff, Cincinnati State will layer the exciting smart grid classes on instrumentation, control systems and communication. No, there won't really be one on what smart grid stuff represents in American culture—although, to be honest, that would be the one smart grid class that even a poet like me would be interested in.
So, I'm calling the official death of film studies as the "cool" major. It shall be replaced by degrees in the smart grid. Le Roi est mort. Vive le Roi! (The King is dead. Long live the King.)
Yes, I know. Too poetic of an ending. You'll just have to forgive me. Poetry was my major, after all. I went to college before I could get a degree in the practical awesomeness of the smart grid.
Even film studies might be eclipsed by Cincinnati State's new autumn 2010 offering: a major in smart grid.
Just today the Ohio Board of Regents, which governs the state's school system, gave the thumbs-up to Cincinnati State to offer that unique major as part of the college's power systems engineering technology program.
According to Larry Feist, chairman of the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Major at Cincinnati State, the program is "designed to capitalize on both the short term demand for technicians to install new generations of electric and gas meters and on the longer-range need for specialists who will be able to maintain the new systems and work on the distribution and transmission aspects of the electrical grid." (At least, that's how he was paraphrased in the article about this announcement on the college's website.)
So, they're going to teach people to install smart grid stuff and then teach people to go back and fix those problematic bits of installed smart grid stuff. Fair enough. We're definitely going to need bringers and fixers in the smart grid mix. But, what exactly does this smart grid major require? What classes does a burgeoning, passionate smart grid college student take?
The college's website notes that this major will build on traditional power engineering classes. So, before you get to "What Smart Grid Represents in Modern Metaphysical American Culture" you will have to take those hard courses like physics, algebra, calculus, direct/alternating current labs, examinations of national electric codes and, of course, power system design.
On top of that basic power engineering stuff, Cincinnati State will layer the exciting smart grid classes on instrumentation, control systems and communication. No, there won't really be one on what smart grid stuff represents in American culture—although, to be honest, that would be the one smart grid class that even a poet like me would be interested in.
So, I'm calling the official death of film studies as the "cool" major. It shall be replaced by degrees in the smart grid. Le Roi est mort. Vive le Roi! (The King is dead. Long live the King.)
Yes, I know. Too poetic of an ending. You'll just have to forgive me. Poetry was my major, after all. I went to college before I could get a degree in the practical awesomeness of the smart grid.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Ted to the Rescue: Turner, Southern to Let the Sun Shine In
I'm always a little skeptical when big, overwhelming cultural icons set out to save the world. I thought Al Gore's heart was in the right place, even if he was sort of fuzzy on details. His movie was enjoyable, and I groove on his obvious desire to help. The T. Boone Pickens one-two punch of natural gas conversion and wind farms (the Pickens Plan) I found odd and suspicious, especially after research dug up that Pickens owned natural gas conversion companies and wind farms. Just confirmed to me that his heart wasn't in the right place, but his wallet was.
Now, Ted Turner---man-about-CNN, man-about-bison, man-about-town---is teaming with Southern Company on a new renewables project. Unlike my feelings about Gore, I'm not sure Ted's heart is in the right place. (Yes, I remember that Turner gave a billion to the UN, but I'm leaning more towards my Pickens-inspired suspicious nature again.)
The details: Southern Company CEO David Ratcliffe and Turner today announced a strategic alliance to pursue development of renewable energy projects in the United States.
"This alliance unites our common goal to explore and develop new renewable energy projects," said CEO David Ratcliffe. "We have said for some time that renewable energy should play an increasing role in this country's energy mix and that Southern Company would seek opportunities to expand our renewable portfolio where it makes sense. This is evidence of that commitment."
"I've always been passionate about developing renewable energy, and I'm excited to join forces with Southern Company to explore our renewable energy potential," said Ted Turner, owner of Turner Renewable Energy. "Southern Company's experience in power project development, construction and operations, and customer relations help make this a strong alliance, and I look forward to working together."
Initially, Southern Company and Turner will focus on developing and investing in large scale solar photovoltaic projects in the U.S. Southwest. Southern Company and Turner "also may consider developing other renewable technologies."
See, it could be the vague language of the announcement that makes me rather suspicious: We're gonna do something solar, somewhere in the great, wide West, probably on Ted's land, and, if we stumble on new and neat-o technology, we'll maybe sell that, too.
Now, Turner is the largest individual landowner in North America (according to him, to Wikipedia and to Southern Company). So, they could spend years just playing on Ted's land alone.
Perhaps I shouldn't suspicious. It isn't like Ted's new to these causes. He did create that awful cartoon series "Captain Planet and the Planeteers," which was aimed to teach kids environmentalism, even if it did just mostly teach them to talk in flat and annoying platitudes about recycling---inevitably repeating those platitudes to parents whose combined net recycling effort probably wouldn't offset a fraction of Ted's impact on the environment (given his land, properties, development of electricity-sucking TV stations, etc.).
But, my suspicions aren't just limited to the motivation behind this announcement. Honestly, when I read Turner's quote (the one noted above), I thought, "No way he said that." That seems mighty tame after telling Charlie Rose a few years ago that, if we don't act on global warming science, most of us will keel over and the rest of us will be cannibals. Now, that is classic Ted Turner.
So, basically, this whole announcement with Southern seems too tame and vague to be of the true Turner vein. Come on, Ted. Olly olly oxen free. Come out and give us the juicy details of what is really going on.
Now, Ted Turner---man-about-CNN, man-about-bison, man-about-town---is teaming with Southern Company on a new renewables project. Unlike my feelings about Gore, I'm not sure Ted's heart is in the right place. (Yes, I remember that Turner gave a billion to the UN, but I'm leaning more towards my Pickens-inspired suspicious nature again.)
The details: Southern Company CEO David Ratcliffe and Turner today announced a strategic alliance to pursue development of renewable energy projects in the United States.
"This alliance unites our common goal to explore and develop new renewable energy projects," said CEO David Ratcliffe. "We have said for some time that renewable energy should play an increasing role in this country's energy mix and that Southern Company would seek opportunities to expand our renewable portfolio where it makes sense. This is evidence of that commitment."
"I've always been passionate about developing renewable energy, and I'm excited to join forces with Southern Company to explore our renewable energy potential," said Ted Turner, owner of Turner Renewable Energy. "Southern Company's experience in power project development, construction and operations, and customer relations help make this a strong alliance, and I look forward to working together."
Initially, Southern Company and Turner will focus on developing and investing in large scale solar photovoltaic projects in the U.S. Southwest. Southern Company and Turner "also may consider developing other renewable technologies."
See, it could be the vague language of the announcement that makes me rather suspicious: We're gonna do something solar, somewhere in the great, wide West, probably on Ted's land, and, if we stumble on new and neat-o technology, we'll maybe sell that, too.
Now, Turner is the largest individual landowner in North America (according to him, to Wikipedia and to Southern Company). So, they could spend years just playing on Ted's land alone.
Perhaps I shouldn't suspicious. It isn't like Ted's new to these causes. He did create that awful cartoon series "Captain Planet and the Planeteers," which was aimed to teach kids environmentalism, even if it did just mostly teach them to talk in flat and annoying platitudes about recycling---inevitably repeating those platitudes to parents whose combined net recycling effort probably wouldn't offset a fraction of Ted's impact on the environment (given his land, properties, development of electricity-sucking TV stations, etc.).
But, my suspicions aren't just limited to the motivation behind this announcement. Honestly, when I read Turner's quote (the one noted above), I thought, "No way he said that." That seems mighty tame after telling Charlie Rose a few years ago that, if we don't act on global warming science, most of us will keel over and the rest of us will be cannibals. Now, that is classic Ted Turner.
So, basically, this whole announcement with Southern seems too tame and vague to be of the true Turner vein. Come on, Ted. Olly olly oxen free. Come out and give us the juicy details of what is really going on.
Monday, January 18, 2010
The Utility in Service
"In service" is one of those phrases of simplicity with a lot of deeper meanings. Usually, if you're thinking of it in partnership with an electric utility, you're thinking, "Hooray, my power's on, and everything's working. Whew." But, the concept of service goes much deeper than keeping lights on and fridges chilling.
Today, we celebrate a man who lived his life in service---to a cause, to a community, to a philosophy, to change. Dr. Martin Luther King even gave his life in service. And, with that in mind, I've been thinking a lot today about how utilities provide service to communities---beyond the basics of selling power.
Now, providing electricity is a powerful bit of community service, no doubt. I'm sure every man and woman working at an electric utility anywhere in this world would like to be able to bundle up that service, or grab the world's longest power line, and personally run it down to Haiti to help with the earthquake efforts. But, alas, such superhero feats aren't humanly possible.
But, that doesn't keep some utilities from moving beyond power production to community service. These aren't superhero efforts, it's true. But, they all add up to make a difference.
Georgia Power and Southern Company urged their employees to honor Dr. King's legacy by volunteering today. This year, in addition to the company's traditional annual activities, they are teaming up with the city of Atlanta and the King Center to focus on energy-efficiency projects.
One project involves replacing the shower heads and faucet aerators at all city of Atlanta natatoriums with new, efficient ones that save water and energy. Additionally, an energy-audit assessment and improvements will be made to the MLK natatorium.
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed commented, "This effort to improve energy efficiency in city facilities and in the Atlanta community is not only symbolic of King's vision, but represents a real contribution to people's livelihoods."
Georgia Power employees also will be giving away 6,000 compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) and staffing interactive displays at the King Center on Monday to educate attendees on energy efficiency. In addition to the displays and give-a ways, the company has coordinated with volunteers from the King Center and Ebenezer Baptist Church to distribute or change out inefficient light bulbs in a low-income housing development and to residents in Atlanta's Fourth Ward.
And, Georgia Power isn't the only utility in service its community today.
Constellation Energy today announced that it is taking applications for its first EcoStar Grant program, which will provide qualifying nonprofit organizations with funds to implement projects on environmental stewardship. Grant awards will be up to $5,000, with funds provided by the Constellation Energy Foundation.
The EcoStar Grant program will target community-based projects that fit into one or more of five stewardship categories: pollution prevention, education and outreach, energy efficiency, conservation and community activism.
Constellation Energy also recently announced that it intends to join the ranks of companies that give 1 percent or more of their annual operating income to support charitable organizations and causes. In keeping with that goal, the EcoStar Grant program joins a range of initiatives, donations and grants targeting the company’s key areas of focus---energy, education, economic growth and the environment.
Georgia Power and Constellation are just two in a number of new programs and goals for American power companies. From volunteerism to the environment, utilities are taking a bold step forward in giving back to the communities they live and work in, providing service in every meaning of the word---keeping the lights on both literally and figuratively.
As Dr. King once said, "Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness."
It's nice to see utilities choosing to bask in the light.
Today, we celebrate a man who lived his life in service---to a cause, to a community, to a philosophy, to change. Dr. Martin Luther King even gave his life in service. And, with that in mind, I've been thinking a lot today about how utilities provide service to communities---beyond the basics of selling power.
Now, providing electricity is a powerful bit of community service, no doubt. I'm sure every man and woman working at an electric utility anywhere in this world would like to be able to bundle up that service, or grab the world's longest power line, and personally run it down to Haiti to help with the earthquake efforts. But, alas, such superhero feats aren't humanly possible.
But, that doesn't keep some utilities from moving beyond power production to community service. These aren't superhero efforts, it's true. But, they all add up to make a difference.
Georgia Power and Southern Company urged their employees to honor Dr. King's legacy by volunteering today. This year, in addition to the company's traditional annual activities, they are teaming up with the city of Atlanta and the King Center to focus on energy-efficiency projects.
One project involves replacing the shower heads and faucet aerators at all city of Atlanta natatoriums with new, efficient ones that save water and energy. Additionally, an energy-audit assessment and improvements will be made to the MLK natatorium.
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed commented, "This effort to improve energy efficiency in city facilities and in the Atlanta community is not only symbolic of King's vision, but represents a real contribution to people's livelihoods."
Georgia Power employees also will be giving away 6,000 compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) and staffing interactive displays at the King Center on Monday to educate attendees on energy efficiency. In addition to the displays and give-a ways, the company has coordinated with volunteers from the King Center and Ebenezer Baptist Church to distribute or change out inefficient light bulbs in a low-income housing development and to residents in Atlanta's Fourth Ward.
And, Georgia Power isn't the only utility in service its community today.
Constellation Energy today announced that it is taking applications for its first EcoStar Grant program, which will provide qualifying nonprofit organizations with funds to implement projects on environmental stewardship. Grant awards will be up to $5,000, with funds provided by the Constellation Energy Foundation.
The EcoStar Grant program will target community-based projects that fit into one or more of five stewardship categories: pollution prevention, education and outreach, energy efficiency, conservation and community activism.
Constellation Energy also recently announced that it intends to join the ranks of companies that give 1 percent or more of their annual operating income to support charitable organizations and causes. In keeping with that goal, the EcoStar Grant program joins a range of initiatives, donations and grants targeting the company’s key areas of focus---energy, education, economic growth and the environment.
Georgia Power and Constellation are just two in a number of new programs and goals for American power companies. From volunteerism to the environment, utilities are taking a bold step forward in giving back to the communities they live and work in, providing service in every meaning of the word---keeping the lights on both literally and figuratively.
As Dr. King once said, "Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness."
It's nice to see utilities choosing to bask in the light.
Friday, January 8, 2010
The Rise of the Smart City
The concept of a smart grid powers up imaginations around the world—and not just inside the transmission and distribution industry. The cultural phenomenon of smart grid touches everyone from presidents to preschoolers. There are articles and documentaries on the subject. There are entire magazines and conferences on the topic. But, why stop there? Why stop with just the confined concept of a smart grid?
A smart grid is just the beginning; it's the infrastructure on which modern urban centers can build brighter futures. Renewables can be more easily integrated—both small and large, distributed and structural. Consumers can manage energy systems via the Internet, as can businesses. Data can flow two ways, rather than just one, allowing for use, interpretation and change at every point on the system. A smart city doesn't just have a better power grid with smart grid technology; it has a better municipal backbone, one that can reach into and benefit aspects beyond electricity, such as transportation and water distribution.
Amsterdam leads the way in developing a smart city. Rather than leaving the power company to find the half-dozen ways the utility can utilize a smarter grid, Amsterdam saw more potential for this game-changing technology. The city brought together businesses, officials and citizens to dream up the perfect power system from every angle, with benefits that flow past the power utility and into every home. Amsterdam's Climate Street project alone has reorganized industry thinking about how to approach the smart grid. Climate Street dramatically changes a few blocks in the city as a test bed of what can be possible with the integration of energy management systems, solar panels, water management and trash disposal. All of these items work together harmoniously, guided by smart grid technology, which juggles pulling solar energy with distributing data to the correct sources to run items on time and the most efficiently.
Other cities around Europe have stopped thinking of the smart grid as a technology push and started thinking of that technology in relation to urban living. Amsterdam is certainly not the only smart city on the horizon: Stockholm and Lyon are frontrunners as well. Additionally, in the U.S., there's a similar push in Boulder, Colorado. In China, the City of Yangzhou is moving in the smart city direction. And, in the Middle East, there's brilliant city planning using grid technology within the Masdar project.
POWERGRID Europe's session on smart cities this summer will feature speakers from Amsterdam, Stockholm and Masdar to enlighten attendees on this latest step forward in intelligent power infrastructure. No longer is smart grid the future. The smart grid is now; it's moving into our infrastructure daily. The future lies in building on that infrastructure. The future is smart cities: Using intelligent grid technology holistically in connection with city planning to create a greener, more efficient municipality.
A smart grid is just the beginning; it's the infrastructure on which modern urban centers can build brighter futures. Renewables can be more easily integrated—both small and large, distributed and structural. Consumers can manage energy systems via the Internet, as can businesses. Data can flow two ways, rather than just one, allowing for use, interpretation and change at every point on the system. A smart city doesn't just have a better power grid with smart grid technology; it has a better municipal backbone, one that can reach into and benefit aspects beyond electricity, such as transportation and water distribution.
Amsterdam leads the way in developing a smart city. Rather than leaving the power company to find the half-dozen ways the utility can utilize a smarter grid, Amsterdam saw more potential for this game-changing technology. The city brought together businesses, officials and citizens to dream up the perfect power system from every angle, with benefits that flow past the power utility and into every home. Amsterdam's Climate Street project alone has reorganized industry thinking about how to approach the smart grid. Climate Street dramatically changes a few blocks in the city as a test bed of what can be possible with the integration of energy management systems, solar panels, water management and trash disposal. All of these items work together harmoniously, guided by smart grid technology, which juggles pulling solar energy with distributing data to the correct sources to run items on time and the most efficiently.
Other cities around Europe have stopped thinking of the smart grid as a technology push and started thinking of that technology in relation to urban living. Amsterdam is certainly not the only smart city on the horizon: Stockholm and Lyon are frontrunners as well. Additionally, in the U.S., there's a similar push in Boulder, Colorado. In China, the City of Yangzhou is moving in the smart city direction. And, in the Middle East, there's brilliant city planning using grid technology within the Masdar project.
POWERGRID Europe's session on smart cities this summer will feature speakers from Amsterdam, Stockholm and Masdar to enlighten attendees on this latest step forward in intelligent power infrastructure. No longer is smart grid the future. The smart grid is now; it's moving into our infrastructure daily. The future lies in building on that infrastructure. The future is smart cities: Using intelligent grid technology holistically in connection with city planning to create a greener, more efficient municipality.
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