SmartGrid program likely to get federal boost

U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, D-Boulder, announced that he has secured approval to earmark $500,000 in the 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations bill for Boulder's energy-saving project. The bill still needs approval from the U.S. Senate and President Barack Obama.

"Boulder is a shining star in the new energy economy," Polis said in a news release. "I am proud to have secured funds to expand our smart grid, which directly reduces our costly dependence on foreign oil, cuts our carbon footprint and saves local taxpayers money."

The $500,000 would equip up to 60 hybrid electric cars with plug-in "vehicle-to-grid" technology. The hybrid cars, part of the Boulder, Boulder County and University of Colorado fleets, will be able to charge off the sun's energy during the day and then feed electricity back to the grid when power demand is peaking. "It's part of the overall vision for energy use in Boulder," said Boulder spokesman Patrick von Keyserling.

Joe Castro, Boulder's facilities and fleet manager, said plug-in capabilities would double the cars' miles-per-gallon capability -- allowing them to be used in electric mode for the short driving distances that are typically required. "You could practically never have to fill up," he said. "It would be zero emissions."

Converting the 60 Boulder hybrid cars is the second phase of the smart grid project. The first phase, under way now, is equipping three Boulder County hybrid cars, plus one already in use by the University of Colorado's chancellor, with plug-in technology. That effort, launched by Xcel Energy, is the nation's first large-scale test of "vehicle-to-grid" technology. The conversion is expected to give Xcel company officials the feedback they need to make the system work from their end. The average hybrid charges its batteries during driving. A plug-in hybrid typically has a larger battery and can charge off the electricity grid. Vehicle-to-grid technology takes the plug-in to the next level, allowing the batteries to pull power off the grid and feed it back on.

To make it all come together, it's necessary to have a power utility that has the capacity to suck the energy in, and ideally, measure the electricity and pay the car owner for it -- which Xcel Energy plans to do. Ultimately, the goal is to add 500 more cars to the project.

Source : Colorado Daily, by Amy Bounds, July 20th, 2009