Smart Grid Funding Misspent On Obsolete Technologies, Says New Report

Billions spent with taxpayer dollars on “smart meters” will not lead to U.S. sustainability; Place citizens and economy at risk

WASHINGTON, D.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new policy report focused on the electric grid and economy of energy, “Getting Smarter About the Smart Grid”, was published today by the National Institute for Science, Law & Public Policy (NISLAPP) in Washington, D.C. The report states that billions of dollars in federal subsidies for “smart” utility meters have been misspent on meter technology that will not lead to energy sustainability or contribute to the possibility of a more efficient and responsive electricity grid.

READ FULL POST HERE - http://www.gettingsmarteraboutthesmartgrid.org/press_release.html

****Media & Community Leader Conference Call on A Smarter Smart Grid Featuring
Timothy Schoechle, PhD, Author of “Getting Smarter About the Smart Grid”
Monday, December 3^rd, - 4:00 p.m. EST
Dial-In to [phone], Access Code: 784589#

Authored by engineering and policy consultant, Dr. Timothy Schoechle of Boulder, CO, an expert in smart grid technologies who serves on several international smart grid standard setting committees, the new report “Getting Smarter About the Smart Grid” states:

• Congress, state and local governments, as well as ratepayers, have been misled about the potential energy and cost saving benefits of the new “smart” meters, paid for in large part with taxpayer dollars, as well as ratepayer dollars.
• The present policy approach to electricity infrastructure in the United States depicted in the report, Policy Framework for the 21^st Century: Enabling Our Secure Energy Future, issued by the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) of the Executive Office of the President, evidences a fundamental lack of understanding of the problems associated with the future of electricity and energy.
• The growing grass roots rebellion against smart meters now happening in 18 states, such as CA, VT, AZ, TX, FL, PA, ME, IL, OR and the District of Columbia, is only the “tip of the iceberg”—one that conceals a deeply dysfunctional energy economy needing urgent federal, state and local attention.
• Ratepayers’ desire to “opt-out” of the new wireless meters on privacy, security, reliability, cost and potential public health grounds may herald an “epochal transformation of the political economy of energy”.
• Much of the $ multi-billion dollar federal subsidy for smart meters in the name of stimulus funding does not benefit ratepayers, nor support economic growth, but primarily benefits meter and meter networking manufacturers, while financially propping up unsustainable Investor-Owned Utilities (IOUs).
• There are inherent conflicts in the monopoly utility business model preventing the nation from moving to a renewable energy economy, and utilities may eventually require a government bail out.
• READ FULL PRESS RELEASE at: http://www.gettingsmarteraboutthesmartgrid.org/press_release.html

Download “Getting Smarter About the Smart Grid”– www.GettingSmarterAbouttheSmartGrid.org

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