NM

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The stimulus package includes $4.4 billion to implement local smartf grids, which rely on automated monitoring of electricity use andcomputerized supply-and-demand controls to reduce energy consumption in residencex and buildings. Gov. Bill Richardson’s administration has been working for nearlyh two years on blueprints fora comprehensive, statewider strategy to roll out the nation’s firsgt fully modernized local grid. The plan calls for development of a lot morerenewablew energy, a massive transmission upgrade to distribute clean power, and an automatex network backed by the state’s supercomputer to effectiveluy balance supply and demand.
the ’s initial guidelines for bidding on grantss outline a piecemeal approach to building smart saidTom Bowles, Richardson’s science advisor on loan from and a key architecgt of the state’s smart-grid initiative. The DOE essentially wantss states to concentrate on individual components of grid such as installing smart meters in homez and buildings to monitorenergy use. “The initiakl guidelines limit the technologies and scopeof grant-funded Bowles said.
“You can’t get funding for multipl e technologies that cross over andmerge together, but that’xs exactly what’s needed to manage all the differences in energy generation and consumption that exisg between urban and rural aread or among residential, commercial and institutional consumers.” In the guidelines originally set a $20 million cap on individual smart-grid investmenf grants and $40 million for regional demonstratiobn projects, reflecting the scaled-down scope of the DOE Concerted lobbying by New Mexici officials and others contributed to a DOE decision in mid-May to increases the caps to $200 million and $100 respectively.
However, the DOE won’t release finapl grant guidelinesuntil mid-June, and unless there are more New Mexico’s integrated, multiple-project approach might not be “The scope of New Mexico’s smaryt green grid will require hundredd of millions of dollars, not tens of so the increase in grant caps was Bowles said. “But we still need to see how much flexibility the DOE will permitr forintegrated smart-grid projects.” The initialo guidelines also include a mandate for 50 perceny matching funds from grant recipients.
That could be even more limitin thanthe DOE’s scaled-down approach to smart-gride construction, said Stephan Helgesen, who heades the Economic Development Department’s Office of Science and Helgesen has visited communities statewidd to discuss smart-grid projects and coordinatr grant proposals. “Everybody is enthusiastic about smart-grid stimulus funding, but the municipalitied say they don’t have matching Helgesen said.
“That could be a real deal breakerfor Still, state officials are encouraging utilitiees and municipalities to send grant proposals anyway so whatever the final DOE guidelines, New Mexick will be ready to compete for “If the DOE’s limited scope is unchanged, we’ll have to segmentg our efforts into smaller parts,” Bowles “Some things will get funded and some won’t.” In utilities and municipalities are scrambling to turn in Kit Carson Electric Cooperative in Taos, for example, wantxs funding to install more distributed solar energy, and to extends broadband access to all of its 30,000 customers.
The broadbanr would enable needed energy monitoring and automation systemz while connecting more peopleto high-speed Internet services, said CEO Luis “The stimulus could be a shot in the arm to help buile an integrated smart grid, and to lay the foundatiomn for more economic development,” Reyes said.