Thursday, April 23, 2009

Wellinghof Throws Down Smart Grid Guantlet

I got to meet FERC Chaiman (then a commissioner) Jon Wellinghof last year at MIT. Smart, generous, balanced. That's how he came across to me.

Two days ago, on the subject of additional coal and nuclear plants for the U.S., he told the world, "We may not need any, ever." He went on to say that new supply side tech (renewables) and demand side technologies and policies (smart grid) would likely obviate the need for more old school forms of generation.

If this idea gains traction, it could bring the smart grid to fruition sooner than later ... with less time to hammer out all the attendent security standards, policies, etc. See what I'm saying?

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