Smart Grid Demonstration Grant Awards Tomorrow?

Posted At : November 23, 2009 5:51 PM | Posted By : Kate Rowland
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My father once told me that there's no such thing as a sure bet. I had bet him my entire allowance for the week on something I was convinced was a sure thing.

I lost. I haven't bet anyone anything, for any reason, in the ensuing 40 years.

But if there was ever a sure bet, this is it.

Today, the Department of Energy announced that Secretary Chu, along with US Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Ohio Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher, and US Representative Mary Jo Kilroy (D-Ohio), would be visiting my alma mater city, Columbus, Ohio, and touring American Electric Power’s (AEP’s) Dolan Technology Center tomorrow.

Now, these heavy hitters could be heading to Columbus to congratulate the Ohio State Buckeyes on their trouncing of Michigan last weekend, cinching OSU’s Rose Bowl spot…but I rather doubt it.

No, the DOE’s announcement today made sure to note that American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding will be on the agenda tomorrow.

Late last week, I checked in with DOE spokeswoman Jen Stutzman on the status of the expected-in-November Smart Grid Demonstration Grant (Section 1304) award announcements. She assured me that “we hope to make the announcement soon; we are still planning on this month.” And while she didn’t add “imminently”, a quick check of the calendar is all the reminder it takes to realize the month is quickly waning.

Add to that the fact that AEP Ohio announced back at the end of August that it had applied for $75 million in federal stimulus funds to support its AEP Ohio gridSMART(SM) Demonstration Project, and it’s a clear 2+2 equation.

Tune in just after 12:40 p.m. Eastern time tomorrow – let’s see if I’m right!

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