Environmental Leader

A number of tech companies have come together to work on the Pecan Street Project, Austin’s pioneer smart electric grid initiative. The companies are getting an interesting opportunity to solidify their brands with smart grid technologies.

For example, hose who have volunteered to work on the project will use Cisco’s online forum system, WebEx, as a networking tool. They’ll also have access to Cisco’s communication services for conference calls and other events.

Supporting this project is both a philanthropic and business decision for Cisco. The company sees the Austin project as a way to test networking tools that could someday be a part of a multibillion-dollar electric grid industry. If Austin is a success, communities around the world could duplicate the system, using Cisco technologies for their projects.

A number of other companies have also jumped on board to help create the Austin smart grid and get their foot in the door when it comes to green electric grid projects. Freescale Semiconductor Inc., Applied Materials Inc., Austin Energy, and Dell Inc. are among the companies participating.

GE launched its new advertising campaign, called “NOW,” with the theme of “innovation you don’t have to wait for” during the Super Bowl, specifically focusing on smart grid technology.

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