DOE Announces Developments in GridWise Partnership

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Electric Transmission and Distribution (OETD) has established the GridWise Program Activity as one of six Research & Development (R&D) Program Areas for FY 2005. DOE describes GridWise as a vision, a national initiative and an alliance created to transform the U.S. energy system from electrical generation through transmission and distribution to end-use consumption. The GridWise Program will continue development and integration of sensing, communication, information and control systems to support intelligent grid operations, allowing use of real-time information to improve electric system reliability and efficiency.

On March 25, 2004, DOE and the GridWise Alliance signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in order "to provide a coordinated framework for collaborative efforts on new energy and information technologies to achieve a more reliable and efficient electric system throughout the United States." The GridWise Alliance is a 501(c)(6) corporation formed by seven charter members: Battelle, PJM, Alstom, IBM, Sempra Energy, RockPort Capital Partners, and UAI. According to DOE, this industry-led alliance has developed a vision that is in unison with the DOE Grid 2030 vision. The GridWise Alliance is actively recruiting public and private entities to join as members. For more information, see www.gridwise.org or call 1-866-803-2350.