“Smart Grid” is becoming a mainstream concept

Posted on | March 8, 2009 |

The “Smart Grid” concept is getting increasing mainstream press, but the discussion has so far been mostly about a national system, designed without sufficient regard to the needs of the localities that would host the powerlines. The goal of the “National Smart Grid” you read about is to increase markets for the established power companies, and it depends on long-distance high-voltage power lines delivering power across the country for the benefit of far-away customers and far-away power company owners. The kind of smart grid we envision would be owned locally, and designed for small- and medium-scale locally owned energy production for the benefit of local economies. For this to happen, energy regulations must be updated to free the energy market and unleash entrepreneurial ingenuity to bring a variety of energy sources to market. This is one reason why CETF has intervened in the CapX2020 process. Although we are disappointed that the judge has recommended PUC approval of CapX2020, we are gratified that articles such as “A SMART GRID, YES. A NEW NATIONAL GRID, NO.” by David Morris are getting more attention, and the New York Times has run an excellent opinion piece called “HOME-GROWN POWER” by Massachusetts secretary of energy and environmental affairs Ian Bowles.

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