White House Promotes a Smarter Grid

Source: MIT Technology Review, Kevin Bullis (6/15/11)

". . .but early efforts have been met with some consumer resistance."

MIT Technology Review, Kevin Bullis

This week Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced new initiatives to support the development of the smart grid. But he also warned that the United States isn't doing enough to get the grid ready for cheap renewable energy. And he acknowledged privacy concerns are making some utility customers wary of new smart meters, which are a key component of the smart grid.

The initiatives include a nonprofit organization called Grid 21 that will promote new smart-grid technologies to consumers, a student competition aimed at improving energy efficiency at home, a series of meetings about Recovery Act smart-grid projects, and a "rapid response team" to speed up the review of potential energy-transmission projects. The U.S. Department of Agriculture also announced $250 million in loans for rural grid development. Full details can be found here.

Much of this can be managed with technology that will be invisible to consumers. But one vital part of an advanced grid—the smart meter—affects consumers directly. And where efforts have already been made to deploy smart meters, such as California, these have sometimes met with resistance. Smart meters allow utilities to keep track of each household's power consumption throughout the day, making it possible to charge consumers higher rates at peak demand hours. In addition, some consumers have serious privacy concerns, as Chu acknowledged.

Chu said that utilities are responding to these concerns by making sure the new data can't be hacked, but he didn't specify how, nor did he say whether the government plans to put controls on how utilities or the government could use the information.

That document (in PDF form here)—a policy framework written by Cabinet officials—provides more detail about privacy issues. Significantly, the document notes that energy usage data is probably not covered under existing privacy laws.

Oil & Gas Company to Acquire Hydrogen Tech Firm's Assets
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/26/2021)

Jericho Oil will gain the acquiree's award-winning, patented, zero-emissions Dynamic Combustion Chamber boiler.

High Performance Energy Storage Company Posts 132% Increase in Yearly Revenue
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/24/2021)

Eguana Technologies reported financial and operating results for FY/20 that demonstrated substantial improvements in both revenue and gross margins.

Company Accelerates Development and Deployment of Solar Projects
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/15/2021)

UGE International provided an update on its project and corporate activities during Q4/20.

Ballard Receives Order for Scotland’s First Fuel Cell-Powered Train
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/12/2021)

Shares of Ballard Power Systems traded 18% higher to a new 52-week high after the company reported that it had received an order from Arcola Energy for its FCmove-HD fuel cell modules that will be used to power Scotland's first fuel cell-powered train.

Solar Energy Company Secures Bid to Build Additional 5.4MW DC Community Solar Project
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/06/2021)

UGE International reported that just prior to year-end 2020 it secured a contract to build a new US$9.9 million, 5.4MW DC community solar project in the State of Maine.

This Tiny Tech Stock Is Quietly Building a Huge Business in Air Quality
Source: Matt Badiali for Streetwise Reports (01/05/2021)

Independent financial analyst Matt Badiali discusses how mCloud's technology is making it possible for office buildings to reopen during the pandemic.

Clean Energy Fuels Partners with Total SE to Develop Carbon-Negative RNG Production Facilities
Source: Streetwise Reports (12/22/2020)

Shares of Clean Energy Fuels Corp. traded 23% higher to a new 52-week high price after the company reported it is entering into a $145 million 50-50 joint venture with Total SE of France to develop carbon-negative renewable natural gas production facilities in the U.S.

Company Providing Microgrid Optimization Set for 'Exponential' Revenue Growth
Source: John "Jack" C. Hurley for Streetwise Reports (12/08/2020)

Value investor John "Jack" C. Hurley outlines the value proposition behind technology company CleanSpark.

Shares of SolarWindow Technologies reached a new 52-week high after the company reported it has created the "first-ever" electricity-generating flexible glass using a high-speed manufacturing process.