5.18.09 WSJ: Team Obama Announces New Standards, More Cash for Smart Grid

The Wall Street Journal blog announced that although major parts of President Obama’s energy package are still being debated, the smart grid got a big boost today from the Department of Energy.

The DOE took a big first step toward jumpstarting development of an intelligent electricity grid by announcing the first set of technical standards for equipment vendors.

The DOE also upped its financial support for the smart grid, increasing the maximum amount available from the stimulus package: “The maximum award available under the Smart Grid Investment Grant Program will be increased from $20 million to $200 million and for the Smart Grid Demonstration Projects from $40 million to $100 million.”

The smart grid is meant to turn the one-way power system into something more like the Internet, though presumably with fewer pop-up ads. The idea is to let utilities and consumers know how much electricity they are using at any given time, to more efficiently manage power generation and distribution.