U.S. passes smart-grid stimulus bill

President Obama made good on a promise from his 2008 election campaign. He announced a $3.4 billion investment of Recovery Act funds that will modernize the U.S. electric grid. Today, one hundred cities, manufacturers, private companies, utilities and other partners across the U.S. will receive grants to help build new smart energy grids.

These smarter energy grids will be more efficient and better at managing energy from sustainable sources such as solar and wind. Smart energy grids will allow the nation to share renewable energy sources much like this generation already distributes and shares information on the Internet (read more from Ode). A solar power plant in Florida could power homes states away. This effort to cut costs for consumers and boost accessibility to renewable energy sources will also create tens of thousands of “green” jobs.