Secretary Chu announced that the DOE is awarding $620 million to demonstrate advanced Smart Grid technologies and integrated systems that will help build a smarter, more efficient, more resilient electrical grid.

Avista (NYSE: AVA) will lead a smart grid demonstration project that will create the first “smart community” in the Pacific Northwest.

Southern California Edison won $65 million Tuesday in energy-related stimulus grants from the Department of Energy, though San Diego Gas & Electric Co., which had also applied for the money, came up short.

Haddington Ventures, L.L.C., has sold to FirstEnergy Generation Corp., a subsidiary of Akron, Ohio-based FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), the rights to the Norton Energy Storage Project, a compressed air energy storage.

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Honeywell International Will Also Help Other Grant Recipients Implement Programs as the Country Transitions to a More Efficient, Reliable Energy Grid.

AES Energy Storage and A123 Systems announced the commercial operation of a 12 MW frequency regulation and spinning reserve project at AES Gener’s Los Andes substation in the Atacama Desert, Chile.

IBM (NYSE: IBM) announced two new utilities have joined the Global IUN Coalition designed to further the adoption of smarter energy grids around the world — CPFL Energia from Brazil, and Liander from The Netherlands.

Grid-Interop 2009 is an annual three-day gathering of thought leaders from around the world who will focus on the successful interconnection of transmission and distribution devices to enable the Smart Grid.

ABB and Fortum will develop a variety of solutions to ensure that excess power generated from renewable energy sources can be fed into the power grid.

AirRay? is the name given to the car that will produce energy through solar power and wind power; enough energy to reduce or eliminate your electric bill and eventually allow your car to solely run on electric.

There’s enough under-used capacity in British Columbia’s power grid to charge 2.5 million electric cars, almost the number of vehicles on B.C. roads right now.

Applicants say investments will create tens of thousands of jobs, save energy and empower consumers to cut their electric bills.

The goals of the ?1 million, 21-month initiative include developing and installing a recharging station prototype for electric vehicles.

Valence Technology will provide lithium phosphate batteries for installation in Tennant?s newest compact floor scrubber.

The US Government has plans to announce 100 smart grid “investment” grants in 49 states in this first round of funding. Dollars will begin flowing within 60 days for projects implemented over the next 12-36 months.

A group of utility companies that provide electricity to customers in several Northeast states have formed the Regional Electric Vehicle Initiative (REVI) to encourage collaboration among entities.