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WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will host a second major Smart Grid workshop, May 19-20, in metro Washington, DC, to expedite development of standards that will lay the foundation for a smart electric power grid that will help make America energy independent, save consumers money, and reduce greenhouse gases.
WHAT: Second Smart Grid Interoperability Standards Interim Roadmap Public Workshop
WHO: industry, government, consumer and other representatives interested in Smart Grid interoperability standards
WHEN: May 19-20, 2009
WHERE: Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center 201 Waterfront Street National Harbor, MD 20745 (301) 965-2000
REGISTER: Link removed
A nationwide Smart Grid would employ real-time, two-way digital communication and networking technologies to deliver electricity efficiently, reliably, and securely. By year's end, NIST's coordination effort aims to complete an initial slate of consensus-based standards designed to ensure that Smart Grid devices and systems work together and are protected against disruptions.
The modernized grid would allow consumers to save money on their energy costs, reduce America's dependence on foreign oil and create clean energy jobs.
Workshop attendees will include stakeholders from industry, consumer groups and other interested entities.
They will review progress made since a late April workshop, when nearly 500 stakeholders met in Reston, VA, to begin refining requirements for standards and evaluating the appropriateness of existing standards for the Smart Grid infrastructure.
Key issue areas at the May workshop will be high-priority Smart Grid applications identified by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission: demand response, electric transportation, wide-area visualization, and energy storage.
A nationwide Smart Grid is a high priority for the Obama Administration in its plans to move the nation toward energy independence. The recently passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) contains investments critical to spurring the Smart Grid development process, with the Department of Energy leading the federal effort.
NIST has contracted with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to provide assistance in organizing this workshop. The workshop is part of the first phase of the three-phase plan for Smart Grid interoperability standards previously announced by NIST. By the end of the first phase in early fall, NIST expects to publish a document describing the Smart Grid architecture; priorities for interoperability and cybersecurity standards; an initial set of standards to support implementation; and plans to meet remaining standards needs.
The workshop is free and open to the public.