Feds invest in smart grid technologies

WASHINGTON, June 25 (UPI) -- Energy Secretary Steven Chu says the Department of Energy is soliciting applications for $3.9 billion in grants to modernize the U.S. electric grid.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds, Chu said, will allow for greater integration of renewable energy sources while increasing the reliability, efficiency and security of the nation's transmission and distribution system.

"These investments will be used to develop a smart, strong and secure electrical grid that will help integrate renewable resources onto the grid, deliver power more reliably and effectively with less environmental impact, and create new jobs across the country," Chu said in a statement.

He said the final Funding Opportunity Announcements include approximately $3.3 billion for the Smart Grid Investment Grant Program and $615 million for smart grid demonstration projects.

The Energy Department will provide cost-shared grants to support manufacturing, purchasing and installation of existing smart grid technologies that can be deployed on a commercial scale, officials said.

Funding under the Smart Grid Demonstration Program will be used to demonstrate how emerging technologies can be applied in innovative ways within the electric delivery system to provide integrated and economically-feasible solutions.