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Recovery Act

ConnSMART is 50% funded by the Smart Grid Investment Grant Program, a $3.4 billion initiative under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

About the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
On Feb. 13, 2009, Congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 at the urging of President Obama, who signed it into law four days later. A direct response to the economic crisis, the Recovery Act has three immediate goals:

• Create new jobs as well as save existing ones
• Spur economic activity and invest in long-term economic growth
• Foster unprecedented levels of accountability and transparency in government spending

The ARRA is also known as the “Recovery Act” and the “stimulus program.” See recovery.gov for more information.

About the Office of Electricity Delivery & Energy Reliability

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is charged with disbursing $36.7 billion in Recovery Act funding across a variety of energy-related investment areas. The Office of Electricity Delivery & Energy Reliability (OE) forms one part of the DOE and is the office responsible for Smart Grid grant disbursements.

• For more information about the DOE’s role in the Recovery Act, click here.
• For more information about the OE’s specific Recovery Act projects and programs, click here.
  
  

About the Smart Grid Investment Grant Program (SGIG)

The Smart Grid Investment Grant Program was originally authorized by Section 1306 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, Public Law 110-140 (EISA) and later modified by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Public Law 111-5 (Recovery Act). The Research and Development Division within the DOE’s Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE) is responsible for implementing and managing the SGIG.

The Funding Opportunity Announcement for the SGIG (DE-FOA-0000058, 6/25/2009) states that the purpose of the program is:

"…to accelerate the modernization of the nation’s electric transmission and distribution systems and promote investments in smart grid technologies, tools, and techniques which increase flexibility, functionality, interoperability, cyber-security, situational awareness, and operational efficiency. This purpose will be accomplished through a merit-based, competitive solicitation for projects to receive federal financial assistance for up to 50% percent of eligible project costs. This financial assistance is intended to enable measurable improvements that can result from accelerated achievement of a modernized electric transmission and distribution system, including:

• Reliability of the electric power system.
• Electric power system costs and peak demand.
• Consumer electricity costs, bills, and environmental impacts.
• Clean energy development and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Economic opportunities for businesses and new jobs for workers."
  
  

If you have any questions about the Smart Grid, please contact NPU at
860 887-2555 or communitymatters@npumail.com.

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