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What does the term "Smart Grid" mean?
The term "smart grid" is being heard more and more these days. Just what is a "smart grid" and what does it mean for the advancement of a reliable electric network in America?
For a layman's summary of what the smart grid is all about, visit the following link:
http://www.oe.energy.gov/information_center/documents.htm#smartgrid
It will take you to a downloadable .pdf of "The Smart Grid: An Introduction," which is intended to acquaint non-technical yet interested readers with:
- The existence and benefits of a smarter electrical grid.
What the application of a smarter grid means for our country.
How the Department of Energy is involved in helping to accelerate its implementation.
What it will mean for consumer choice and even greater energy efficiency.
Westar Energy is beginning work on the definition of a smart grid as it applies to our company and our customers' needs. Our definition will differ from other utilities, vendors and the government, all of whom are attempting to answer the question from their point of view.
Vendors look at smart grid as a sales opportunity; utilities can look at it as improving services and creating efficiencies for our customers; and the government looks at it in part as a method for possibly delaying construction of power plants and infrastructure.
Westar Energy's definition must be acceptable for the various customers we serve. No matter the definition, implementation of smart grid technology is a necessary, yet long-term and expensive venture. We look forward to keeping our customers apprised of our work in the area of smart grid technology over the next several years.
Federal Stimulus Money for Clean, Efficient Energy
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a $787 billion federal stimulus package, provides a total of $30 billion for such initiatives as a new, smart power grid, advanced battery technology, and energy efficiency measures, which will create nearly 500,000 jobs across the country.
The state of Kansas has assembled an advisory group of state leaders and legislators working to ensure that Kansas maximized the opportunities in the stimulus bill. For updates on how the money Kansas receives will be utilized, bookmark www.governor.ks.gov/recovery.
The legislation also provides tax incentives to spur energy savings and green jobs, including a $20 billion in tax incentives for renewable energy and energy efficiency over the next 10 years, a three-year extension of the production tax credit (PTC) for electricity deprived from wind (through 2012) and for electricity derived from biomass, geothermal, hydropower, landfill gas, waste-to-energy, and marine facilities (through 2013).
$5 billion has been provided to improve the energy efficiency of more than 1 million modest-income homes through weatherization across the country. This will save modest-income families on average $350 per year on the their heating and air conditioning bills. The bill also provides funding for increasing energy efficiency in federally-supported housing programs.
Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency Upgrades
EnergyStar.gov is an excellent website for energy efficiency information. The site recently updated information regarding the federal tax credits available for energy efficiency home improvements. Tax credits for improvements on existing homes are available at 30% of the cost, up to $1,500, in 2009 and 2010 for:
Insulation.
Roofs (metal and asphalt).
HVAC.
Water heaters (non-solar).
Biomass stoves.
You can also gain access to EPA's Energy Star Tip of the Day by downloading a widget for your Windows Live, iGoogle, or blogger account. Visithttp://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tipofday.home to download the Energy Star Tip of the Day widget.
Questions and Answers
Q. What does Westar energy do as a company to make energy cheaper?
A. We operate our power plants as cost effectively as possible - using the plants that run on uranium and coal first, because they cost less. We also sell excess power we produce into the wholesale market and use the profits from those sales to offset the prices our customers pay. Our customers' efforts to be energy efficient also help toward this end, and help us delay the need for new sources of generation. | |