House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming Hosts Capitol Hill Briefing to Examine the Essential Role Microgrids Have in Electricity System Transformation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 13, 2010
CONTACT:
Jennifer Devlin, (703) 876-1714, jennifer.devlin@cox.net
Maria Enie, (202) 248-5460, menie@vancomm.com
*** MEDIA ADVISORY ***
HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON ENERGY INDEPENDENCE AND GLOBAL WARMING HOSTS CAPITOL HILL BRIEFING TO EXAMINE THE ESSENTIAL ROLE MICROGRIDS HAVE IN ELECTRICITY SYSTEM TRANSFORMATION
WHAT: The House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming is hosting Microgrids: A Critical Component to U.S. Energy Policy, a briefing on Capitol Hill to present information and answer questions about microgrids, which are an important component of U.S. energy policy. Microgrids have the potential to dramatically reduce carbon emissions and speed the inclusion of renewables into the U.S. power grid while providing reliable, secure, and lower cost energy options to federal agencies, companies, and communities.
The briefing will highlight several microgrid projects currently in development as well as illustrate the potential for federal development of microgrids for military bases and other facilities requiring secure, reliable energy.
The briefing is designed for Members, staff and media. Presenters will address key questions including:
- What is a microgrid and how does it operate with the existing electricity grid?
- Why are microgrids important as an energy solution?
- Who should develop microgrid projects and what are the costs and benefits?
- What policy changes need to happen in order to facilitate large scale implementation of microgrid development?
WHO: Guy Warner, CEO of Pareto Energy
John Kelly, Deputy Director, Galvin Electricity Initiative
Fiona Sims, Director of the Intel Open Energy Initiative, Intel Corp.
WHEN: Thursday, May 20, 2010, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
WHERE: Rayburn House Office Building (RHOB 2218)
Microgrids offer a decentralized power source, often involving renewable energy solutions, to achieve more affordable, reliable, and secure energy sources that operate in parallel to the bulk electricity grid. With the national focus on green jobs and renewable energy development, microgrids are gaining national attention as a solution to the electricity infrastructure crisis.
Microgrids shift the focus to consumers and empower communities while unleashing investment and innovation to create local jobs. A microgrid for a city of 50,000 can attract up to $400 million in investment, reduce carbon emissions by more than 50 percent, and improve reliability by 80 percent. As consumer demand for electricity has continued to rise, so has interest in microgrids as independent local solutions well-suited to address the energy needs of specific public and private communities.
To attend the briefing or for further information, please contact:
Jennifer Devlin Maria Enie
(703) 876-1714 (202) 248-5460
jennifer.devlin@cox.net menie@vancomm.com
About Pareto Energy
Pareto Energy has a strategic alliance with the U.S. Conference of Mayors to establish the public-private partnerships known as Energy Independence Districts that facilitate the creation of Microgrids. They also develop Microgrid technology, design the architecture and assist in the arrangement of project financing, operation and maintenance. They developed a patent-pending technology known as GridLink™ that provides the interface between Microgrids and Macrogrids in a straightforward plug-and-play process. To learn more about Pareto Energy, visit www.paretoenergy.com or call 202-625-4388.
About The Galvin Electricity Initiative
The Galvin Electricity Initiative was launched by former Motorola CEO Robert W. Galvin to transform our electric power system into one that is reliable, efficient, secure and clean, and meets the needs of 21st century consumers. In 2010, the Initiative is accelerating its campaign to spark a migration toward a consumer-driven electric power system in select states. The campaign goal is to promote grid modernization through policy reform to pave the way for Perfect Power smart microgrids that place top priority on serving consumers and businesses with reliable, high-quality, clean power. For more information about smart microgrids and the Galvin Electricity Initiative, visit www.galvinpower.org/microgrids and follow http://twitter.com/perfectpower.
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