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Automation Insight
November 2008
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Accelerated Depreciation for Smart Grid Technologies Becomes Law
After a series of failed attempts, Congress finally passed enhanced tax incentives for smart grid technology as part of the $700 billion Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, signed into law on Oct. 3, 2008. These new provisions provide for accelerated depreciation for smart meters and other smart grid equipment, a change that supporters believe will stimulate greater utility investment in smart grid technology. The move was hailed by the demand response industry and other smart grid advocates as an important step in addressing structural obstacles to broad development of smart grid systems. Read more.
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GE and Google Form Partnership to Press Clean Energy, Smart Grid Initiatives
General Electric (GE) and Google have announced a strategic partnership aimed at promoting national deployment of a clean energy infrastructure. The alliance is loosely focused on overcoming policy barriers and technical hurdles that impede development of more advanced transmission and distribution systems, innovative renewable energy sources, and other clean technologies. The two companies plan to press this agenda by lobbying the federal government and collaborating on research and development (R&D). Read more.
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Smart Grids: European Situation and Developments
Pier Nabuurs, CEO, N.V. KEMA and Advisory Council Chair, SmartGrids European Technology Platform for Electricity Networks of the Future
European energy policy, as set by the European Union (EU) and implemented nationally by the individual member states, has set ambitious targets for 2020, with 20 percent reduction in CO2 emissions, 20 percent energy generated by renewable sources, and 20 percent energy savings. This “20/2020” initiative has intensified discussion of, and is setting the stage for, intensive research and forward-looking investment in the modernization and interconnection of the continent’s grid needed to efficiently and effectively reach the targets. Read more.
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KEMA Whitepaper Series: Integrated Network Strategy for Utilities
Define the topics to be covered, solutions to explore.
Receive complimentary copies of the whitepapers.
AMI, Smart Grid, Home Area Networks, Mobile Workforce Automation. Pick up any utility publication or attend any conference and these are the hot topics of the industry. The business and the regulatory bodies are requiring that these technologies be deployed by the utility. However, these applications are heavily dependent on having a robust, secure, communications network. Are utilities ready to deploy these technologies now? Can they do so in a cost efficient manner? Read more.
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Did You Hear?
The U.S. Congress has provided its first-ever tax breaks for investments in a next-generation electricity grid, giving a lift to an industry that for years has struggled to win the federal government’s help in dealing with costs.
Silver Spring Networks, a US-based provider of Smart Grid technology solutions, has secured $75 million of financing led by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers’s Green Growth Fund (KPCB).
Landis + Gyr announced that it has signed a four-year contract with PG&E Corp. (PCG) utility Pacific Gas & Electric to install advanced electric meters.
Read more.
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About Automation Insight
Automation Insight is a complimentary monthly publication designed specifically for the utility industry and those serving the utility industry. For comments or suggestions on future article topics, please contact Will McNamara, Managing Editor, will.mcnamara@us.kema.com, tel. 781.534.8621.
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Automation Insight is an opt-in subscription. KEMA does not sell or otherwise make public subscriber information and honors all ‘unsubscribe’ requests. To unsubscribe, please e-mail automation.insight@kema.com with 'unsubscribe' in the subject line.
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[download] Automation Insight - November 2008 (.pdf 252 kb)
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