The Pecan Street Project receives $10.4 million grant

The Pecan Street Project receives $10.4 million grant

By Mary Tuma Wednesday, 25 November 2009

AUSTIN — The Department of Energy granted the Pecan Street Project, an initiative charged with providing clean energy within city limits, $10.4 million to fund an advanced smart grid project at Mueller development. The stimulus money comes from the department’s regional smart grid demonstration program.

Mayor Lee Leffingwell, U.S. Congressman Llyod Doggett and members of the Pecan Street Project met Nov. 23 to announce the award.

The project will create an open platform Energy Internet, which is two-way electricity and information flow grid, modeled on the architecture of the Internet. Additionally, a Technology Review and Advisory Committee will be formed, with representatives from a number of energy companies such as CPS Energy San Antonio and Pedernales Electric Coop.

To gauge the effects on electricity usage and bills and environmental outcomes, data will be collected and analyzed against control groups and distribution feeder systems in other locations.

The plan includes: distributed clean energy installation, energy storage technology installation and testing, smart grid water and smart grid irrigation systems, smart appliances and plug-in electric vehicles linked to a grid-integrated system of smart charging stations, energy storage and solar power.

The proposal is a partnership between Austin Energy, The University of Texas, Environmental Defense Fund, The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and the city. Funding details will be negotiated by the Department of Energy in the next few weeks.

For more information about the Pecan Street Project, read Community Impact's April 2009 article: Pecan Street Project could change the way people use and receive energy