April 26, 2010

Big banks may get reined in. But will that harm the utility sector, which benefits from the capital that those lenders bring?

Congress is now considering legislation to ban those financial institutions from participating in speculative activities that are not tied to the basic and federal-backed services that they offer. So, those investment banks that trade commodities for their own advantage so as to increase their revenues would be barred from doing so. But those that trade on behalf of their industrial clients would be allowed to continue.

April 16, 2010

Before his inaugural, Barack Obama spoke of healing the country's divisions and of lifting its spirits. But more than a year later, those lines have become entrenched, best illustrated by the bitter healthcare vote. That has left an irreconcilable gash between the two parties that might make future agreements impossible.

But the recent acrimony will not deter the president from tackling another contentious subject: climate change. His political tactics, however, will evolve. Instead of relying on floor leaders to push through his policies, the president is working in advance of a vote to make key concessions to opponents.

March 15, 2010

It's an election year and the Obama administration's record is fair game.

A cornerstone of the president's agenda has been making investments in the latest energy technologies -- money that underscores the transformation to the green economy and the creation of jobs and cleaner air. Toward that end, the administration spearheaded a $787 billion stimulus plan that has allocated hundreds of billions of dollars into such things as the intelligent utility, green energy development -- and even subsidies for futuristic nuclear and coal facilities.

March 03, 2010

"Public awareness is always the first step in winning a political battle in the United States," said Theodore Roosevelt in his gubernatorial efforts to promote conservation to the largely indifferent citizenry of New York State.

To move smart grid initiatives forward in the Northeast United States, keeping the public aware of what a more intelligent utility can mean to their lives is critical. The benefits of a smarter, more robust grid and the consequences of not having one must be clearly communicated to garner broad public support.

February 26, 2010

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) has placed an unprecedented focus on state and local energy issues. With half of the approximately $580 billion in ARRA funding having been pegged for states and localities, those efforts that, over time, best pool and manage regional resources will charge ahead of the pack to fruition. That all-important word -- collaboration -- sets the stage for successful working relationships.

Earlier this year, prior to the first smart grid stimulus awards being granted, Carl Imhoff, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's manager of the electrical energy sector, spoke to Intelligent Utility about the importance of stimulus funding in the electricity sector. "It's going to be an important stimulus to help get the vendor community, the utilities, the regulators and the consumer engaged, and to pick up the pace in this transformation, and it will have some important, lasting benefits," he predicted.