Expansion of National Grid Key to Renewable Energy Growth
3/29/2010

Summary:

Stoel Rives attorney Bill Holmes spoke to Ken Silverstein of EnergyBiz Insider about the importance of smart grid technology to growth in the renewable energy base. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 ("ARRA") provided $4.5 billion to the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability to upgrade the nation's electricity grid with smart grid technology and facilitate the development of related technologies, such as energy storage. A smart grid uses two-way digital technology to control appliances, and incorporates an intelligent monitoring system to keep track of all electricity flowing in the system.

While crediting the ARRA for helping revive the renewable energy industry with production tax credits and cash grant programs, Holmes stressed the importance of expanding the national grid. A robust transmission grid that provides continuous data is better able to transport 'green' electrons around the country, according to Holmes, owing to the intermittent nature of most renewable energy sources (such as the wind and sun).

"Obama's Agenda" was published by EnergyBiz Insider, March 15, 2010.