Posted on 10/27/2009, 12:40:57 PM by markomalley
President Barack Obama will announce a $3.4 billion investment of stimulus funds to modernize the electric grid at an event in Arcadia, Fla., Tuesday, administration officials said.
One-hundred private companies, utilities, manufacturers, cities and others will receive grants of between $400,000 and $200 million to help build a nationwide "smart energy grid" that will cut costs for consumers and make the nation's electrical system more reliable.
The grants are expected to create tens of thousands of jobs - the administration did not say exactly how many - and also lay down the infrastructure to create a new renewable energy industry, one of Obama's longstanding goals.
The stimulus funds will draw an additional $4.7 billion in private investment to match the grant awards.
“The smart grid is something that has a transformational impact on how energy is delivered,” said Carol Browner, Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change. “This is about building more than just miles of wire, it’s about building…something that works.”
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Only in terms of cost. I've commissioned literally thousands of battery arrays in telecom sites. All it takes is money.....
It should probably read “One-hundred DEMOCRAT PARTY SUPPORTING companies, utilities, manufacturers, cities and others will receive grants.”
Someone should monitor which of these companies have historically donated funds to the Democrat party.
It’s ironic, isn’t it,
that in order to control us more, to control our energy consumption more,
they’re making us “go green”,
but there are a few of us that insist on our individual freedoms, and we’re going to “go green” in order to avoid their control of our lives.
It does have a nice ring to it.....
Why can’t I get the word “power rationing” out of my head when I hear Obama mention “smart grid”?
Very ironic indeed. My farm is pretty far out in the country, but the local water authority is planning to run a commercial water line down the main road about a half mile or so from my property. Rumor has it they are going to try to force people to join on. I've got two great wells, one will do 48 gallons per minute of clean water. I have absolutely no reason to switch to city water, run a water line for a half a mile, and then pay them a penny a gallon for the privilege. I smell a fight coming on.....
Over hyped. Reducing peak demand will save some money on infrastructure, but energy used is energy used.
Smart grid is more mark of the beast on a once free society. We are already way too dependent on all these interlocking systems and it makes us an easy target for all sorts of natural enemies: acts of nature, foreign powers, terrorists and politicians. For example, Katrina hitting NO meant gas shortages here in NC.
Smart grid makes a growing problem grow faster and much worse. All part of the plan?
The Russians had a “smart” natural gas system. Just be home when the gas is on or NO SOUP FOR YOU!
How do you foresee them “forcing” you on rural water?
I don’t see how they could prevent you from continuing to use your well, even if they hook you up “for free”.
Total control of your consumption is their goal,
and the smart grid is certainly going to facilitate that.
A “smart” thermostat or utility meter could easily have an individual ID encoded in it that communicates back along the grid and keeps track of and control exactly how much you’re using.
I agree it is a good thing. I do not have the cash at this time but I will go off grid someday.
That being said, We WILL be taxed in the future for our ‘production’ of energy.
Remember there are stories of people with ‘powered by bio-diesel’ stickers on their vehicles who are being fined for not paying tax...
and turns off the power if you use too much or waste it.
Sounds like big brother to me.
I do not trust this!
What can you say
but "Molon Labe"... :)
Living off the Grid used to be a nutty idea, now it is the mark of a true patriot.
Yep. Make your power even more dependent on the entire system, coast to coast.
So a fault anywhere in the system will zap the entire system.
For safety in the event of a national emergency, the power systems should be totally divorced from each other so the failure of one will not take down others.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.