Govt Could Invest $10B In Smart Grid, But Job Creation May Be Slow

January 15, 2009

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After almost a decade of trying to bring attention to the “smart grid,” companies are thrilled that the government is looking at “smart grid” as an energy infrastructure investment.

Steve Hauser, head of market development at GridPoint and a president emeritus at the GridWise Alliance, told Manufacturing Business Technology that congressional aides talked about possibly spending $10 billion over two years on smart grid technology. That amount would represent about half the investment senate democrats have said they would like for energy provisions in the $800 billion economic stimulus package that congressional Democrats expect to pass by mid-February.

A report recently released by the GridWise Alliance said $16 billion in smart grid incentives over four years could create 280,000 new jobs, including 150,000 at the end of 2009.

However, lawmakers including Sen. John Kerry have cautioned that the stimulus money in the form of investment tax credits may be too slow a mechanism to spur job creations this year.

Last November, Boston Consulting Group developed a U.S.-focused analysis and said a smart electrical grid is one of four main ICT-enabled opportunities in the U.S.

Matter Network says in order for plug-in hybrid vehicles to become commercially viable, smart grid technologies must be developed to accommodate intermittent solar and wind energy; and to manage peak power through demand response technology.

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