6.1. ERMUSR 08-11-2009 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Public Power Weekly to cities to develop new or modify existing local energy assurance plans modeled after the Public Technology Institute's Luca( Enerw~ Assarrance Gccidelines. The renewable energy announcement (DE-FOA-0000122) is intended to support communities with existing renewable energy technology plans that are ready to move into implementation through readily deployable renewable energy installations. Applicants are encouraged to partner with other state and local governments and agencies, utilities (including municipal, rural electric cooperatives and investor-owned utilities), and renewable energy project developers to identify and leverage additional project funding and financing mechanisms, DOE said. Applications are due Sept. 3. DOE anticipates making approximately 50 awards of between $60,000 and $300,000 under the local energy assurance announcement (DE-FOA- 0000098). Cost sharing is not required. Eligibility is restricted to U.S. cities, which are defined as acity-equivalent unit of local government, such as a town, village or other municipality. Consolidated city-county governments will be eligible. The deadline for applications is Oct. 8. -ROBERT VARELA FERC smart grid priorities: security, interactivity The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on July 16 issued a policy statement designed to speed up the development of a smart grid that would provide long-term savings for consumers by improving the grid's efficiency. The policy sets priorities as the industry develops smart grid standards. It also adopts an interim rate policy to encourage early investment in smart grid systems. FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff said the policy closely tracks the priorities that FERC proposed in March and protects consumers while providing cost- recovery assurances to utilities that invest early in smart grid technologies. The smart grid policy "will guide the transformation of the old grid into the grid of the future, while providing for fair regulatory treatment to consumers and utilities," said Commissioner Suedeen G. Kelly. The policy "is a step toward smarter rates that will enable customers to control their personal use of electricity," said Commissioner Marc Spitzer. "The grid needs to take advantage of technical innovations. At the same time, consumers need to be protected from unnecessary costs," he said, adding, "I frankly think this is one of the most exciting aspects of the work we're doing." Moeller agreed, saying the smart grid "has fantastic promise for consumers." http://www.naylornetwork.com/app-ppw/printFriendly.asp?projID=3214 (10 of 21)7/28/2009 3:37:08 AM