*Member Op-ed* 4.23.09 Seif and Epstein: Much-needed Smart Grid will likely face hurdles in Pennsylvania

Today’s Patriot-News’ As I See It column, written by coalition member and former PA DEP secretary James Seif and environmental and energy consultant Joel Epstein, explains that the best way to fast-track the construction of a smart grid is to align Pennsylvania’s energy investments with federal stimulus funds and community aspirations. 

Instead of a heavy-handed, preemptive approach to building the nation’s new grid, Seif and Epstein propose that a “Smart Grid Community Network” should be created.  Composed of a wide array of public, private, and non-profit stakeholders, the network would encourage and guide communities’ involvement in the grid’s renewal.

 Seif and Epstein write:

Support for a Smart Grid is widespread, so what’s the problem? Wait for the first map showing the precise location of proposed power lines, substations and other infrastructure, and then watch political battles erupt.

The state stands on the verge of investing more than $1 billion in public funds towards a clean energy based economy. To expedite the grid’s construction, the federal government designated parts of Pennsylvania national energy interest corridors potentially pre-empting state and local decision makers. Governor Rendell has opposed the designation and a lawsuit has been filed to compel the government to perform environmental assessments, foreshadowing the conflict and inevitable delays to come.

Governments often use heavy-handed, top down approaches to force the location of everything from group homes to nuclear waste facilities. This always creates opposition — often justified — which slows down or kills, rather than streamlines, worthwhile projects. Instead of pre-emption, Pennsylvania should target the half billion dollars in federal energy stimulus funds it receives with investments from its own $650 million renewable energy fund to communities that want the new Smart Grid.

What better way to reward the participation of local governments, companies, utilities and others than to place them first in line for energy efficiency and green jobs training?

To fast track the new grid’s construction, the state should create the “Smart Grid Community Network.” Composed of a wide array of public, private, and non-profit stakeholders, it would encourage and guide communities’ involvement in the grid’s renewal. Network support would go to communities with specific strategies to leverage the grid’s benefits, involve local interests in its planning and implementation, and commit to take tangible steps that increase the likelihood that it will be built.

The shortest route to the new energy economy is to build the Smart Grid. But to avoid lengthy disputes, a participatory, transparent and incentive-based process – rather than the traditional coercive one – is the quickest way to tap into the Smart Grid’s vast potential.