Obama's trip to Tampa could tout 'smart grid'

Details are still emerging -- and no official word has come from the White House -- but President Obama's planned trip to Tampa on Tuesday could be used to highlight his vision for a revamped national energy network, the so-called smart grid.

Obama's stimulus package contains $4.5 billion in funding for a smart grids, which would tap into wind and solar and other green energy sources and transmit it to large urban areas, such as Tampa and Miami. General Electric recently started an experiment in Hawaii that saves energy by turning off household appliances when electricity is expensive and makes better use of wind and solar power.

Planners envision installing a new kind of power meter in homes - a wall-based unit that can monitor how much electricity is being used by various appliances and turn them off at peak times during the day or night when demand for energy is higher, and thus costlier to consume. The project also would upgrade the utility's computer systems so that it can integrate more renewable energy.

The Wall Street Journal has a recent story on the smart grid technology.

Comments

[Ed]

Crist and Obama, Please stay home. YOU LIE,.........................

[Kenneth]

Welcome President Obama! Please fly low over Ed's home on your way in. Preferably during the middle of the night.

[Dave]

So, let me get this right. The government wants to control when I cook and do laundry and wash the dishes! God help this country.

[Randall Stevens]

Dave - the ultimate soup nazi! No Soup For You... until electricity is cheaper!

[Attorney Al]

Dave, YOU CANNOT BE A GROWN MAN if that is what you got out of this article. As an Republican, I have some SERIOUS concerns about Obama, however, the one thing I have to give him is HE IS TRYING TO DO THINGS as opposed to a whole lot of people there who have not done much over the last 10 years, both Democrat and Republican.

[D]

Dave, your ignorance almost makes me wish for some sort of intelligence and reading comprehension test to apply before people are allowed to vote! Reread the article, use whatever brain cells you may have left, and try to think before you comment.

[Obama declares unwinable War!]

Obama commits more troops to War on Fox News, still awaiting Afghan troop surge

[Conservative Tom]

Gentleman Dave is correct. A Democratic govt is not in the business of how much I want to use the toaster oven. This is a FREE country. I will use my $ as I see fit. I do not need the govt to manage my budget with a "feel good" program. Obama's budget is spend/spend/spend....
Once the govt has control of something they NEVER relinquish it. Name one govt program that has come in under budget and on time? Seriously guys time to wake up.
Last thing. This guy is always using the word(s) like smart/smarter/intelligent/thoughful/ etc.. He insults EVERY great real leader that came before him. He is arrogant and smug and his policies are destroying the greatness of this country.

[Jon]

TECO already has a program for this. My parents' AC turns off when there is high load and it saves them a bundle. They have been doing this for 20 years.

[GeorgeBushisRemorse]

Faux News is far more dangerous to our country than Afghanistan ever will be.

[JStraum]

Dave, Tom, you're paranoid, delusional and ignorant - not a good combo. A "smart" grid has nothing to do with BHO, or the way you FEAR he's out to control your lonely vibrating beds. Rather, BHO and many other people smarter than you are pushing smart grids because, brace yourself, they would be good for America - but just a guess here, maybe that's exactly why you're so against them?

Since it's obvious you can't rely on your boss's cousin's brother's ALL CAPS chain mail for the straight scoop, why not educate YOURSELF for a change? Do you even know how to use the Google? It's Google.com - try it - Because if you did and typed in something like "smart grid" maybe just maybe, you would learn something that WND, freerep or faux aren't willing to tell you...why do they insist on keeping you guys so dumb?

[Andy]

It seems like if you don't support Obama, then you don't like anything that he is trying to do to the point of wanting it all to fail. (Kinda like the media invention of Hillary supporters voting in droves for McCain)I for one want to see this country move forward instead of looking for failure. Most people strongly disagreed with what the GOP did over the last eight years and showed it in the ballot box. Now the folks supporting the GOP arethrowing temper tantrums in hopes they get their way. That isn't how democracy works.

I am for using energy smarter. Enrolling in these types of "brown out" programs have been optional for years. It leads to lower bills but isn't mandated.

[nolebull fan]

Dave, you are absolutely right in your assessment. Sort of seems a bit like 1984, doesn't it?

[Sandy Gina]

Maybe Obama will come to Florida on Vacation, and leave on Probation? He is an Illegal after all. I am sure what he has done (posing as a citizen to get a govt job) is highly Illegal. His sole purpose is to turn the US over to the UN.

[Conservative Golden Rule]

Responsibility.....BAAAAAD!
Partisan Idiocy....GOOOOOD!

[DGallo]

I have participated in the TECO program for years and have saved an average of $20 on each bill. Similar concept to smart grid. It involves a minor sacrifice - a very short period of time when the AC is off during high demand periods. Anyone who whines about sacrificing a little for the good of many cannot claim that they truly love this country. And, Sandy Gina -- you cannot be taken seriously. Get a life & then do something positive with it.