/PRNewswire/ -- As the U.S. Senate considers an appropriations measure setting aside funds for the U.S. Department of the Interior, Sens. David Vitter (La.), Jim DeMint (S.C.) and John Barrasso (Wyo.) are working to include an amendment in the bill that would streamline and advance energy development along our nation's outer continental shelf (OCS). Consumer Energy Alliance, which has played a leading role in generating over 150,000 of the more than 350,000 favorable public comments to Secretary Ken Salazar in support of expanded offshore energy production, has urged the Senate to adopt this commonsense provision that would increase domestic energy production, helping to drive down and stabilize prices for American consumers.
CEA president David Holt issued the following statement:
"Our energy security, the price American consumers pay at the pump, and the much-needed jobs and revenues created through environmentally-sound, 21st century offshore energy development must be addressed head-on. This commonsense amendment helps do that, and it deserves strong bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate.
"This amendment, coupled with the overwhelming support that the American people delivered to the Interior Department for expanded offshore energy production yesterday as the 5-year comment period came to an end, should continue to send a strong message to the policymakers that decisive action is needed to help meet our growing energy needs, put Americans back to work, raise revenues for the local, state and federal governments and help get the U.S. economy rolling again."
CEA has participated in over 100 events over past three months focused on responsibly increasing American energy production, while ensuring environmental safeguards. Early indications suggest that favorable comments to the Interior Department handily surpass those in opposition to American energy production, which would be in line with virtually all public opinion polling.
Over the past several years, public comments to the Interior Department have overwhelmingly favored increased offshore energy production. During the 2006 period, 72 percent of comments received during four separate comment periods favored increased energy production offshore. In 2008, 53 percent backed domestic OCS energy exploration. And, early indications from yesterday's close of the public comment period, favorable comments will once again lead groups who are opposed to sensible offshore development by a sizeable margin. American consumers once again voiced clear support for increased energy production.
For more information, visit www.consumerenergyalliance.org.
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Showing posts with label funds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label funds. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
Southern Company Seeks $362 Million in Federal Funds to Advance 'Smart Grid' Initiatives
/PRNewswire/ -- Southern Company (NYSE:SO) today announced it has applied for $362 million in federal infrastructure funds to advance the company's 'Smart Grid' initiatives across its four-state service territory.
Southern Company submitted its applications to the U.S. Department of Energy, which has allocated $4.5 billion to award grants to advanced infrastructure projects nationwide as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Specifically, Southern Company has requested $197 million for its advanced metering or 'Smart Meter' initiative, and $165 million to increase automation of electric transmission and distribution infrastructure.
Smart meters enable two-way communication between the company and its customers. Southern Company began deploying smart meters in its Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi operating subsidiaries in 2008 and have installed more than one million to date. Over the next three years, the company will install more than 4,000 meters per day and will have more than four million in place by 2012.
Smart meter benefits include reduced operating costs associated with monthly meter reading, off-cycle meter reading and the ability to use advanced technologies to improve the reporting and response to electric distribution system events, such as power outage detection and power restoration. Moreover, smart meters offer a technology platform that enables future services and options, such as customer access to data, rate and pricing options encouraging reductions of peak demand and consumption, and access to enabling technologies such as home area networks, among others.
"In addition to reducing operating costs that help keep our customers' rates lower than the national average, smart meters help reduce environmental impact," said Wes McDowell, Georgia Region Chief Information Officer and Smart Grid Program Coordinator, Southern Company. "By moving from conventional to smart meters, we expect to reduce the vehicle fleet used for meter reading by at least 500, saving 12.5 million miles of driving annually and producing direct benefits in lower vehicle emissions."
Southern Company has also undertaken a series of initiatives to accelerate deployment of Smart Grid technologies in each of its operating affiliates. Funds awarded for these efforts will be used to bolster system reliability and grid efficiency, reduce peak demand, optimize asset utilization and improve the anticipation and response to system disturbances.
For example, line devices with two-way communication will be installed to enable system operators to isolate faulted lines remotely. Moreover, some of these devices will be placed in self-healing network schemes. These schemes will automatically isolate trouble areas and then restore power to unaffected portions of the circuit, all without operator intervention.
The company's 'Smart Substations' program will focus on updating targeted substations and equipment with improved smart monitoring, protection, and control devices. These technologies will produce a leap forward in implementing smart technologies with the intent of improving the monitoring and control capabilities of the system while enhancing its proven grid reliability.
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Arts Across Georgia
Southern Company submitted its applications to the U.S. Department of Energy, which has allocated $4.5 billion to award grants to advanced infrastructure projects nationwide as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Specifically, Southern Company has requested $197 million for its advanced metering or 'Smart Meter' initiative, and $165 million to increase automation of electric transmission and distribution infrastructure.
Smart meters enable two-way communication between the company and its customers. Southern Company began deploying smart meters in its Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi operating subsidiaries in 2008 and have installed more than one million to date. Over the next three years, the company will install more than 4,000 meters per day and will have more than four million in place by 2012.
Smart meter benefits include reduced operating costs associated with monthly meter reading, off-cycle meter reading and the ability to use advanced technologies to improve the reporting and response to electric distribution system events, such as power outage detection and power restoration. Moreover, smart meters offer a technology platform that enables future services and options, such as customer access to data, rate and pricing options encouraging reductions of peak demand and consumption, and access to enabling technologies such as home area networks, among others.
"In addition to reducing operating costs that help keep our customers' rates lower than the national average, smart meters help reduce environmental impact," said Wes McDowell, Georgia Region Chief Information Officer and Smart Grid Program Coordinator, Southern Company. "By moving from conventional to smart meters, we expect to reduce the vehicle fleet used for meter reading by at least 500, saving 12.5 million miles of driving annually and producing direct benefits in lower vehicle emissions."
Southern Company has also undertaken a series of initiatives to accelerate deployment of Smart Grid technologies in each of its operating affiliates. Funds awarded for these efforts will be used to bolster system reliability and grid efficiency, reduce peak demand, optimize asset utilization and improve the anticipation and response to system disturbances.
For example, line devices with two-way communication will be installed to enable system operators to isolate faulted lines remotely. Moreover, some of these devices will be placed in self-healing network schemes. These schemes will automatically isolate trouble areas and then restore power to unaffected portions of the circuit, all without operator intervention.
The company's 'Smart Substations' program will focus on updating targeted substations and equipment with improved smart monitoring, protection, and control devices. These technologies will produce a leap forward in implementing smart technologies with the intent of improving the monitoring and control capabilities of the system while enhancing its proven grid reliability.
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Thursday, October 16, 2008
More Than Five Billion Dollars Released Under LIHEAP
HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today announced the release of $5.1 billion
from the federal government's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
(LIHEAP) under the Fiscal Year 2009 Continuing Resolution. The funds
will assist states, territories, tribal areas and the District of
Columbia with addressing their energy needs, particularly for the
upcoming winter season.
"The release of these funds will help low-income families stay warm this
winter," Secretary Leavitt said. "These funds will also help reduce the
risk of health and safety problems exacerbated by exposure to extreme
temperatures."
LIHEAP funding is provided to states through the Office of Community
Services in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at HHS.
The funds will assist eligible low-income households in meeting their
heating and other energy needs.
"The funds released by the Bush Administration will help our most
vulnerable citizens, including the disabled, elderly and children," said
Josephine Robinson, director, Office of Community Services at ACF.
Under the language of the Continuing Resolution, $4.5 billion in block
grant funds and $590 million contingency funds must be released by Oct.
30, 2008. Block grant funds will be allocated to states under a formula
specified in the Continuing Resolution. Of the $590 million in
contingency funds, $100 million will assist states where large numbers
of eligible households use heating oil for heat: Alaska, Connecticut,
Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The
remaining $490 million will help individuals in all 50 states.
For a complete list of state allocations of the funds released today go
to:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/news/press/2008/liheap_allocations_fy2009.htm.
Individuals interested in applying for energy assistance should contact
their local/state/LIHEAP agency. For more information, go to
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/liheap or
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/liheap/brochure.html.
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from the federal government's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
(LIHEAP) under the Fiscal Year 2009 Continuing Resolution. The funds
will assist states, territories, tribal areas and the District of
Columbia with addressing their energy needs, particularly for the
upcoming winter season.
"The release of these funds will help low-income families stay warm this
winter," Secretary Leavitt said. "These funds will also help reduce the
risk of health and safety problems exacerbated by exposure to extreme
temperatures."
LIHEAP funding is provided to states through the Office of Community
Services in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at HHS.
The funds will assist eligible low-income households in meeting their
heating and other energy needs.
"The funds released by the Bush Administration will help our most
vulnerable citizens, including the disabled, elderly and children," said
Josephine Robinson, director, Office of Community Services at ACF.
Under the language of the Continuing Resolution, $4.5 billion in block
grant funds and $590 million contingency funds must be released by Oct.
30, 2008. Block grant funds will be allocated to states under a formula
specified in the Continuing Resolution. Of the $590 million in
contingency funds, $100 million will assist states where large numbers
of eligible households use heating oil for heat: Alaska, Connecticut,
Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The
remaining $490 million will help individuals in all 50 states.
For a complete list of state allocations of the funds released today go
to:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/news/press/2008/liheap_allocations_fy2009.htm.
Individuals interested in applying for energy assistance should contact
their local/state/LIHEAP agency. For more information, go to
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/liheap or
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/liheap/brochure.html.
-----
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