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.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
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.
Monday, December 28, 2009
New Year's Resolutions Abound
It's that time of year --- to look back, to look forward ---- to do the hokey pokey and, if you've been bad (like having one too many cookies after dinner), to turn yourself around. It's only a few days after Christmas and my exhaustion has already transferred from a weariness of Christmas specials to a weariness of "2009 in review" shows.
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) got in on the act today by issuing a release that looks forward at 2010. They discuss a number of exciting options, including the possibility that 2010 will have wind energy being #2 in new generating capacity for the sixth year in a row. For a complete look at the release, click here.
While AWEA is hoping for renewable jobs folded into legislation and more powerful wind turbines, it's more likely that 2010, like 2009, will be the year of the smart grid, with renewables being a happy tangential rather than a real focus. The one potential difference between the smart grid of 2009 and the smart grid of 2010 is probably similar to those Christmas gifts we all received last week: The excitement of the gift's potential wanes with the hassle of piecing it together and making sure it works with our Wi, iPod, iPhone, Mac, Playstation 8,000, etc.
Smart grid 2010 will have the sophomore slump, so to speak. While the freshman enthusiasm may still simmer under the surface, the reality of all those components that need to fit together will, inevitably, put a bit of a dip in the thrill.
As we start to move from unbridled "yes, let's do it" to tempered "oh goodness, what have we gotten ourselves into?" we need to remember that this, too, shall pass. We'll figure out the gadgets and gizmos and issues and, in the end, that enthusiasm will return and this time of concern will be just a blip on the chronological radar. As we approach this time of balance and contemplation, however, it's all the more important to share information, take in a conference or two (like DistribuTECH or POWERGRID Europe) and buckle down for a less-exciting, but more fulfilling year of putting some meat on the smart grid bone structure.
My prediction for the smart grid in 2010 is more walk and less talk. Significant strides will be accomplished.
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) got in on the act today by issuing a release that looks forward at 2010. They discuss a number of exciting options, including the possibility that 2010 will have wind energy being #2 in new generating capacity for the sixth year in a row. For a complete look at the release, click here.
While AWEA is hoping for renewable jobs folded into legislation and more powerful wind turbines, it's more likely that 2010, like 2009, will be the year of the smart grid, with renewables being a happy tangential rather than a real focus. The one potential difference between the smart grid of 2009 and the smart grid of 2010 is probably similar to those Christmas gifts we all received last week: The excitement of the gift's potential wanes with the hassle of piecing it together and making sure it works with our Wi, iPod, iPhone, Mac, Playstation 8,000, etc.
Smart grid 2010 will have the sophomore slump, so to speak. While the freshman enthusiasm may still simmer under the surface, the reality of all those components that need to fit together will, inevitably, put a bit of a dip in the thrill.
As we start to move from unbridled "yes, let's do it" to tempered "oh goodness, what have we gotten ourselves into?" we need to remember that this, too, shall pass. We'll figure out the gadgets and gizmos and issues and, in the end, that enthusiasm will return and this time of concern will be just a blip on the chronological radar. As we approach this time of balance and contemplation, however, it's all the more important to share information, take in a conference or two (like DistribuTECH or POWERGRID Europe) and buckle down for a less-exciting, but more fulfilling year of putting some meat on the smart grid bone structure.
My prediction for the smart grid in 2010 is more walk and less talk. Significant strides will be accomplished.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
The Year of Energy Efficiency
In the holiday classic, "The Year Without a Santa Claus," Santa has a nasty cold and decides to take Christmas off. Today, it seems Florida utility FPL would be more than willing to step into Santa's vacant shoes with their press release on suggested energy efficiency "presents." Even without a Santa Claus, the gifts will abound, it appears.
FPL says to stock up the holidays with energy-star labeled products, solar-powered technology, LED televisions, surge strips and rechargeable batteries, compact fluorescents and low-flow showerheads, and "human-powered" products like shake flashlights and wind-up radios.
I think they are stretching for that last one as far as an energy efficient gift goes, but they're in Florida. Those are practical items in a hurricane. We'll just let it slide.
Even before FPL's holly-jolly-low-flow Christmas tidings, energy efficiency seemed the topic on everyone's lips. Autovation was largely about energy efficiency, from LEDs to energy management systems. Gridweek even covered efficiency more heavily than usual. There were articles on it, blogs on it, conferences around it, conferences adapted to it (just see the line-up for CES 2010 to get an eye for how even consumer conferences are changing to push the idea).
And there is practicality in efficiency. It doesn't require anyone to build more plants, add more power. It's about getting more from what you have on hand. But, as anyone surviving the recession understands, sometimes squeezing more from less creates a certain law of diminishing returns.
I'm interested in the marketing around energy efficiency, really. Granted, products like energy displays, etc., can build on the foundation of saving while promoting a certain amount of spending, but that can only reach so far before we start to figure out that we're forking out a lot of cash to slice tiny nickels and dimes off our energy bills. I often wonder: Where's the tipping point? At what spot in the process will the average consumer say, "Nah. This is just silly."
I know where my tipping point is: Despite the encouragement of FPL, anyone who buys me a low-flow showerhead for Christmas will get a lump of coal in return. A girl with lots o' hair cannot possibly get shampoo out of it with the trickle-and-spit low-flow method. So, Santa ... or FPL ... please, nothing low-flow for me. If that makes me bad, so be it. Put me on the energy efficiency naughty list. I can take it.
FPL says to stock up the holidays with energy-star labeled products, solar-powered technology, LED televisions, surge strips and rechargeable batteries, compact fluorescents and low-flow showerheads, and "human-powered" products like shake flashlights and wind-up radios.
I think they are stretching for that last one as far as an energy efficient gift goes, but they're in Florida. Those are practical items in a hurricane. We'll just let it slide.
Even before FPL's holly-jolly-low-flow Christmas tidings, energy efficiency seemed the topic on everyone's lips. Autovation was largely about energy efficiency, from LEDs to energy management systems. Gridweek even covered efficiency more heavily than usual. There were articles on it, blogs on it, conferences around it, conferences adapted to it (just see the line-up for CES 2010 to get an eye for how even consumer conferences are changing to push the idea).
And there is practicality in efficiency. It doesn't require anyone to build more plants, add more power. It's about getting more from what you have on hand. But, as anyone surviving the recession understands, sometimes squeezing more from less creates a certain law of diminishing returns.
I'm interested in the marketing around energy efficiency, really. Granted, products like energy displays, etc., can build on the foundation of saving while promoting a certain amount of spending, but that can only reach so far before we start to figure out that we're forking out a lot of cash to slice tiny nickels and dimes off our energy bills. I often wonder: Where's the tipping point? At what spot in the process will the average consumer say, "Nah. This is just silly."
I know where my tipping point is: Despite the encouragement of FPL, anyone who buys me a low-flow showerhead for Christmas will get a lump of coal in return. A girl with lots o' hair cannot possibly get shampoo out of it with the trickle-and-spit low-flow method. So, Santa ... or FPL ... please, nothing low-flow for me. If that makes me bad, so be it. Put me on the energy efficiency naughty list. I can take it.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
NRC to PHEVs: You're Too Expensive
Yesterday, the National Research Council (NRC) released a report on the costs of plug-in hybrids that seems to confirm basic logic: Consumers won't see a return on their initial investment for decades. It could be 2030 before it's actually a good buy to plunk down cash for a hybrid.
According to the NRC report, "costs to manufacture plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in 2010 are estimated to be as much as $18,000 more than for an equivalent conventional vehicle." Since my last car cost less than $18,000 altogether, that seems like a big ol' mountain for the hybrid industry to climb before the average consumer like me thinks: Oh boy, I get to save money AND save the environment. I'll definitely buy one.
This reminds me of the time I looked into putting solar cells on my house. When I figured in the cost of the panels, the conversion of the electric wiring, the specialty meter, etc., the figure topped out at over $20,000. Since my average power bill in the summer is $60 and in the winter is $30, it would be nearly 30 years until those solar cells started paying for themselves. And they only had a shelf life of a decade. After that, I would be tush-over-teakettle, building up debt to replace panels every 10 years---like those people who trade in cars every six months and then wonder why they can no longer afford to eat. It just wasn't a feasible, practical option.
Now, some of the same adjustments to home electric wiring required for me to prop up those solar panels would also be required for PHEVs, adding as much as a grand on top of the 18K for the vehicle.
Apparently, it takes a lot of money to save the world. And, while I wish to save the world, don't get me wrong, I'm more concerned about not ending up tush-over-teakettle. I don't like debt. I certainly don't want to be swimming in it, personally, in order to transfer part of my carbon footprint from my little Kia Sportage to my local electric company.
I remember an old friend who was all gung-ho for PHEVs. He was ready to pay heavy for saving the world. He was pumped and prepped to trade in his Ford and get on the green bandwagon, though he still lived in a huge, three-car-garage/five-bedroom house 65+ miles from his workplace. As he talked to me about the positives of PHEVs, all I could think about were the costs he would be ringing up when he could buy a smaller house closer to his work and make a much larger contribution to bettering the environment. But, buying the car was actually easier, for him anyway.
For most of us, though, buying a PHEV is difficult. I love the environment, and I hope we can all do our part to make it greener. But, I prefer the more practical---and infinitely easier for me---concepts of smaller footprints through smaller living, cold-water washing, using less paper products, living 3 miles from work (although I do still drive, I admit that).
While PHEVs may offer hope that we can slice our larger, national population's carbon footprint, it seems the first hurdle is still the most prominent: making it affordable for the individual average consumer who cannot see an extra 20K fly out of their pocketbook for the environment. I would love to see this technology become affordable and accessible. But, until it does, I don't see very many of us clamoring to go green through our garages.
For more information on PHEVs, click through to our PHEV topic page here.
According to the NRC report, "costs to manufacture plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in 2010 are estimated to be as much as $18,000 more than for an equivalent conventional vehicle." Since my last car cost less than $18,000 altogether, that seems like a big ol' mountain for the hybrid industry to climb before the average consumer like me thinks: Oh boy, I get to save money AND save the environment. I'll definitely buy one.
This reminds me of the time I looked into putting solar cells on my house. When I figured in the cost of the panels, the conversion of the electric wiring, the specialty meter, etc., the figure topped out at over $20,000. Since my average power bill in the summer is $60 and in the winter is $30, it would be nearly 30 years until those solar cells started paying for themselves. And they only had a shelf life of a decade. After that, I would be tush-over-teakettle, building up debt to replace panels every 10 years---like those people who trade in cars every six months and then wonder why they can no longer afford to eat. It just wasn't a feasible, practical option.
Now, some of the same adjustments to home electric wiring required for me to prop up those solar panels would also be required for PHEVs, adding as much as a grand on top of the 18K for the vehicle.
Apparently, it takes a lot of money to save the world. And, while I wish to save the world, don't get me wrong, I'm more concerned about not ending up tush-over-teakettle. I don't like debt. I certainly don't want to be swimming in it, personally, in order to transfer part of my carbon footprint from my little Kia Sportage to my local electric company.
I remember an old friend who was all gung-ho for PHEVs. He was ready to pay heavy for saving the world. He was pumped and prepped to trade in his Ford and get on the green bandwagon, though he still lived in a huge, three-car-garage/five-bedroom house 65+ miles from his workplace. As he talked to me about the positives of PHEVs, all I could think about were the costs he would be ringing up when he could buy a smaller house closer to his work and make a much larger contribution to bettering the environment. But, buying the car was actually easier, for him anyway.
For most of us, though, buying a PHEV is difficult. I love the environment, and I hope we can all do our part to make it greener. But, I prefer the more practical---and infinitely easier for me---concepts of smaller footprints through smaller living, cold-water washing, using less paper products, living 3 miles from work (although I do still drive, I admit that).
While PHEVs may offer hope that we can slice our larger, national population's carbon footprint, it seems the first hurdle is still the most prominent: making it affordable for the individual average consumer who cannot see an extra 20K fly out of their pocketbook for the environment. I would love to see this technology become affordable and accessible. But, until it does, I don't see very many of us clamoring to go green through our garages.
For more information on PHEVs, click through to our PHEV topic page here.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Boeing Loves Smart Grid
It's been industry gossip for months: Just what is Boeing doing? How will the company be involved in the smart grid? What are they up to, exactly? We've heard about their involvement, read blogs about it and been utterly enthralled with the very idea of it---a new suitor for an old maid.
Why is it all so enthralling? Because it's just not done. Because no one knocks on the door of power distribution from outside the industry. Maybe it's the high tech factor; maybe it's the old fogey factor. It could be a mixture of both. We may smell like a combo of copper wiring and Bengay.
There's a lot of buzz about smart grid inside the industry of course. Generation players suddenly want to be grid players. The transmission end of things wants to push past distribution and into a consumer's home. Yet, even with all the interior movement, it is still rare for a company outside the power industry to say, "Now, the grid. That's the next big thang. That's where stuff is moving and shaking. I've got to be a part of that."
Yet, that seems to be just what's happening with major aerospace and defense mega-giant Boeing.
In late November, Boeing was selected to receive federal stimulus funds with some work on smart grid platforms here in the U.S., a move that served double-duty as a public announcement that the company is looking seriously at the grid side of power. Boeing received an $8.5 million grant to lead one project team and is involved with two other projects (with Consolidated Edison and Southern California Edison).
Last Friday evening, POWERGRID International magazine spoke with Tim Noonan, vice president of Boeing Advanced Global Services and Support about the company's history, its view on grid security and Boeing's vision of that smart grid horizon. You can read that interview in full in our upcoming January issue news section. Until that magazine hits the stands though, here's the Twitter, 140-character-or-less summary: Boeing loves the smart grid like tourists once loved New York. They're investing. Heavily. (90 characters, spaces included.)
Stay tuned.
Why is it all so enthralling? Because it's just not done. Because no one knocks on the door of power distribution from outside the industry. Maybe it's the high tech factor; maybe it's the old fogey factor. It could be a mixture of both. We may smell like a combo of copper wiring and Bengay.
There's a lot of buzz about smart grid inside the industry of course. Generation players suddenly want to be grid players. The transmission end of things wants to push past distribution and into a consumer's home. Yet, even with all the interior movement, it is still rare for a company outside the power industry to say, "Now, the grid. That's the next big thang. That's where stuff is moving and shaking. I've got to be a part of that."
Yet, that seems to be just what's happening with major aerospace and defense mega-giant Boeing.
In late November, Boeing was selected to receive federal stimulus funds with some work on smart grid platforms here in the U.S., a move that served double-duty as a public announcement that the company is looking seriously at the grid side of power. Boeing received an $8.5 million grant to lead one project team and is involved with two other projects (with Consolidated Edison and Southern California Edison).
Last Friday evening, POWERGRID International magazine spoke with Tim Noonan, vice president of Boeing Advanced Global Services and Support about the company's history, its view on grid security and Boeing's vision of that smart grid horizon. You can read that interview in full in our upcoming January issue news section. Until that magazine hits the stands though, here's the Twitter, 140-character-or-less summary: Boeing loves the smart grid like tourists once loved New York. They're investing. Heavily. (90 characters, spaces included.)
Stay tuned.
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