11/24/2009 GAAS:720:09 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Version |
Governor Schwarzenegger Issues Statement on $175 Million in Recovery Funds for Smart Grid Projects from U.S. Department of Energy
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the following statement after California was awarded nearly $175 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) funds from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for advanced Smart Grid demonstrations and integrated energy storage projects that will help build a smarter and more energy efficient electrical system:
“My administration pushed for updated federal guidelines to ensure California received every dollar of Recovery Act funding possible for Smart Grid – and today’s announcement proves that our work paid off. This funding will not only help modernize the state’s electricity infrastructure to make delivery methods more efficient and increase energy savings for consumers, but it will create jobs for Californians at a time when we need them most.”
The nearly $175 million award is part of a larger $620 million pot of Recovery Act funds for Smart Grid projects around the country announced by DOE Secretary Steven Chu earlier today. The California projects, ranging from wind, battery and underground compressed energy storage systems to regional Smart Grid demonstrations, are leveraging the Recovery Act funds with more than $404 million in private sector funds.
The California projects awarded Recovery Act funds include:
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Primus Power Corporation in Alameda
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$ 14,000,000
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Seeo, Inc in Berkeley
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$ 6,196,060
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Amber Kinetics Inc in Fremont
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$ 4,000,000
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Southern California Edison in Rosemead
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$ 40,134,700
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Southern California Edison in Rosemead
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$ 24,978,264
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Pacific Gas & Electric in San Francisco
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$ 25,000,000
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Los Angeles Dept of Water and Power
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$ 60,280,000
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Total:
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$174,589,024
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With more than 200,000 miles of overhead transmission and distribution lines and an additional 70,000 miles of underground lines, California’s grid is one of the largest in the world. Unfortunately, today’s transmission system is also using technology that hasn’t changed for more than 100 years, making electricity distribution extremely inefficient. A Smart Grid delivers electricity from suppliers to consumers using digital technology to save energy, reduce cost and increase reliability and can support more renewable resources, increase energy efficiency, better blend of distributed and central generation assets, and fosters innovation, improvements and better services for the consumer.
On May 1, Governor Schwarzenegger sent a letter to DOE Secretary Chu to suggest changes to the Recovery Act’s Smart Grid guidelines to ensure balanced investment of Smart Grid funding and on May 18, DOE released changed guidelines that reflected many of the Governor's suggestions. Last month, Governor Schwarzenegger applauded President Barack Obama announcement to invest $3.4 billion in smart-grid technology throughout the nation, including over $200 million in California.
