State Seeks Stimulus Funds for New Mexico Green Grid Initiative

(Santa Fe, NM) New Mexico has filed an application for tens of millions in federal stimulus dollars to create a new, clean way to deliver electricity to homes and businesses in New Mexico using "smart grid" technology.

The New Mexico Green Grid Initiative aims to reduce peak power use by 25 percent; increase energy efficiency by 6 percent; and deliver 25 percent of electricity from renewable energy by 2020, among other improvements to the state's electric power grid.

The project would add significant renewable energy resources to the power grid, and enable small communities to export clean energy.

The effort could receive a significant boost now that the U.S. Department of Energy has set aside hundreds of millions for demonstration projects via the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The New Mexico Computing Applications Center, on behalf of the Green Grid Initiative, has applied for more than $50 million in competitive funding. The money would be used to launch five demonstration projects throughout the state to show an economically and technologically viable energy delivery solution Read more atarkansasmatters.com.