Washington, DC - Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) praised the Obama Administration after it was announced that two Michigan-based companies will receive a total of $103 million in grants to invest in smart energy grid technology.  Below are the Michigan companies and the amounts they are receiving:

• Detroit Edison, $83.8 million to install over 600,000 smart meters across Michigan and start a Smart Home program to educate customers on how to become more energy-efficient in their homes.

• Whirlpool Corporation of Benton Harbor, $19.3 million to help with the development of smart household appliances that have the capability of communicating with a home computer network to defer or schedule the energy use in a more efficient and cost-saving manner.

Congressman Dingell made the following remarks about the investments in Michigan and across the nation:

“The great blackout of 2003 revealed just how much our nation needs to upgrade our energy grid to ensure we could provide energy to our people.  Since that massive failure, some investments have been made, but nothing like the investment the White House is making today.  This investment is the largest single energy grid modernization effort in our nation’s history.  The grants will help create jobs across the country, including many in Michigan.  The investment is made with a 21st Century sensibility, as we shift to clean, low cost renewable sources.  Because of the investment today, we can expect an energy grid that is more reliable, more environmentally friendly and offers consumers more choice and control.  This is a huge step forward and all Americans will benefit because of the investment the White House is making today.”

Background:
The Obama Administration is investing $3.4 billion through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, to help fund the largest single energy grid modernization in U.S. history. One-hundred private companies, utilities, manufacturers, cities and other partners will receive grant awards tomorrow ranging from about $400,000 to $200 million to help build a nationwide smart energy grid that will cut costs for consumers, make the grid stronger and more reliable, and increase accessibility to clean, low-cost renewable energy sources for American homes and businesses. An analysis by the Electric Power Research Institute estimates that implementation of smart grid technologies could reduce electricity use by more than 4 percent by 2030, saving $20.4 billion for businesses and consumers across the country.

What is a Smart Grid?
The construction of the federal highway system is often invoked when discussing the smart grid, but it is a poor analogy. The highway system was complete when a given number of asphalt miles were built where none existed before. The Smart Grid is a collection of enabling technologies installed on the electric system, not “built”, and it isn’t something you can take a picture of. Deploying a given number of smart meters or building a given amount of power lines doesn’t make a Smart Grid. In other words, the Smart Grid isn’t measured in miles or meters, but in the capabilities of the overall system.

Once realized, the smart grid will have a transformational impact on how electricity is generated, delivered and consumer. 

In all, the White House announced 100 grants to help with the smart energy grid effort.  These awards will benefit consumers in 49 states

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