Jobs in Baltimore Created by Smart Grid

Efforts to build a smart grid will help create several jobs in Baltimore.
The Department of Energy recently announced that it will provide Baltimore Gas & Electric Co. with a $200 million federal stimulus grant to help the city build a smart grid.
White House officials have said the funding will help create work for those manufacturing smart meters and completing equipment installation, data entry, cyber-security and information technology.
The Department of Energy will provide a total of $3.4 billion in funding to help build smart grids throughout the country. BGE is one of 100 companies selected to receive the funding out of 400 total applicants.
Funding for the smart grid initiative is coming from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which was passed earlier this year. BGE plans to invest a total of $251 million into the project, meaning the first phase will cost about $451 million.
The project will help install 1.1 million advanced power meters for BGE customers. The company expects that customers will save a total of $2.6 billion because of the project.
According to an article by The Baltimore Sun, the nationwide initiative is designed to help speed transition to what has been dubbed by the Obama administration as “the largest single grid modernization investment in U.S. history.”
BGE has announced that it will eventually implement peak-time pricing, which will provide savings to customers for using less energy during peak periods and reduce the need to build new peak-power generating capacity.

Originally posted by joel cheesman