Via The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, an interesting article on renewable energy and the myth that wind, solar, hydro, and other sources of energy are really “clean and green”: “Clean.” “Green.” What do those words mean? When President Obama talks about “clean energy,” some people think of “clean coal” and low-carbon nuclear power, while others […]
Read more »GigaOm Pro (subscription required) published an interesting new report recently entitled: “Cleantech, meet connectivity: a new era of energy efficiency.” While a number of interesting points are made, it – like many other reports on the smart grid – fail to note that consumer engagement is the key to making the smart grid truly “smart”. […]
Read more »Via The Smart Grid Library, a look at what is truly required to get consumers to “cross” the smart grid “chasm”. As the article notes, it will be innovative financial models that drive this transition …smart markets, anyone? Two years ago, the Smart Grid industry was debating the pros and cons of different displays to […]
Read more »Via Yale’s e360 blog, an interesting interview with David Crane, president and CEO of NRG Energy who believes the U.S. electricity-generating market is on the verge of a profound transformation, not unlike the era two decades ago when the antiquated world of land-line telephones and “Ma Bell” companies was about to give way to cell […]
Read more »Via GreenMonk, an interesting article on the potential for utilities to use smart meter data to introduce innovative revenue-generating services. While we are in full agreement that utilities need to start thinking of themselves as true energy service providers – with a full ecosystem of services alongside their core mandate of selling water, power, natural […]
Read more »Courtesy of Aguanomics, a very interesting look at decoupling, a strategy used by a number of jurisdictions to try to make it easier for utilities to promote conservation. Alas, while the intent is good, the outcome of decoupling can lead to some unintended – and undesirable – motivations as Dr. Zetland adroitly notes: “Utility revenue […]
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