Sec. Chu announces $620 million for smart grid demonstration and energy storage projects

From a news release issued by the U.S. Department of Energy:

COLUMBUS, OHIO – At an event in Columbus, Ohio this afternoon [November 24], Secretary Chu announced that the Department of Energy is awarding $620 million for projects around the country to demonstrate advanced Smart Grid technologies and integrated systems that will help build a smarter, more efficient, more resilient electrical grid. These 32 demonstration projects, which include large-scale energy storage, smart meters, distribution and transmission system monitoring devices, and a range of other smart technologies, will act as models for deploying integrated Smart Grid systems on a broader scale. This funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be leveraged with $1 billion in funds from the private sector to support more than $1.6 billion in total Smart Grid projects nationally.

An Associated Press article posted on WKBT-TV (La Crosse):

Federal energy officials have handed Wisconsin $10 million to improve electrical grids.

The money is part of $620 million in stimulus money that will support 32 grid improvement projects across the country. Projects include large-scale energy storage, monitoring devices and other technological upgrades that will serve as models for the rest of the nation.

U.S. Department of Energy officials say Wisconsin's share of the stimulus money will go toward a $21 million effort by Waukesha Electric Systems to develop a smaller, more efficient utility substation transformer.