U.S. Conference of Mayors Passes Resolution to Support GridWise™ Policies in Efforts to Develop a Smart Electricity Grid in the U.S.

Mayors Demonstrate Leadership to Transform the Nation’s Electric Power System

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 19, 2007 – The GridWise Alliance announced today that the United States Conference of Mayors has adopted a resolution endorsing GridWise™ Smart Grid Policies. The resolution, introduced by Mayor Martin J. Chávez of Albuquerque, calls for cities, communities and the federal government to endorse the development and adoption of intelligent energy systems and the digital automation of the entire power supply system – from generator to consumer – to improve reliability and efficiency.

Further, the resolution highlights the importance of accessible, abundant and affordable electric power as one of the cornerstones of the U.S economy and intrinsic to our national prosperity. “Adoption of this new initiative in energy efficiency is another important step in reducing the harmful effects of greenhouse gas emissions and combating global warming,” Mayor Chavez said. “Smart buildings will have a greater impact when linked to and working seamlessly with a smart energy grid.”

“The GridWise Alliance is very pleased that our cities are aligning with national smart grid policy efforts,” said Steve Hauser, President of the Alliance and Vice President of Strategy at GridPoint, Inc., one of the Alliance member companies leading the effort to bring intelligence to the electric grid. GridWise Alliance member companies have formed a Coalition of public and private stakeholders to spearhead US Grid modernization.

Technology is the key to creating new flexibility in designing, building and operating a power system that is more efficient, reliable and environmentally friendly. “By passing this resolution, the U.S. Conference of Mayors has taken a very important step in modernizing our nation’s electricity infrastructure,” Hauser said.

“Smart Grid policy is important to our efforts to improve power reliability in our cities and drive economic development and growth”, said City of Austin Mayor Will Wynn, Chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Energy Policy Committee and co-sponsor of the GridWise Smart Grid Policy.

“It is exciting to see the nation’s mayors taking a leadership role in this area and recognizing that there is a significant challenge facing our nation’s electric supply, and that information technology can help provide solutions. Mayor Chávez of Albuquerque, my home city, was the first to acknowledge the critical role that a reliable electric supply plays in the continued economic health of a city, while also recognizing the additional economic opportunity that is created by embracing these new technologies,” said Jack Mc Gowan, GridWise Architecture Council chairman and president of Energy Control, Inc.

GWAC is a multidisciplinary group sponsored by the DOE to enable all information technology elements of the electric system to interact.

The Alliance and GWAC members recognize that emerging energy and information technologies have the potential to radically improve the efficient use of the nation’s energy system. New technologies such as smarter meters, automated distribution systems, demand response, thermal and battery storage when carefully woven together with an IT overlay, can bring tremendous value to utilities and consumers alike.

In the past six months, the Alliance has doubled its membership. GridWise Chairman and General Manager of IBM’s Global Energy and Utilities Industry, Guido Bartels is “thrilled to have these smart grid companies join in our mission to transform the way power is delivered, managed and used in the United States. Acting today means far-reaching benefits tomorrow – from energy reliability and protection of our nation’s electrical infrastructure, to billions in cost savings and an increase in national competitiveness.”

For more information about the Alliance and GWAC, visit www.gridwise.org or www.gridwiseac.org\

Current members of the GridWise Alliance include: ABB, Accenture, Ambient, American Electric Power, Arcadian Networks, AREVA-T&D, Austin Energy, Battelle, Beacon Power Corp., Bonneville Power Administration, CenterPoint Energy, Cisco, ClickSoftware, CMEA Ventures, Con Edison, Current, Duke Energy, Duquesne Broadband, EnergySolve, Enporion, EPRI, GE, GridPoint, Inc., IBM, Ice Energy, Itron, PJM Interconnection, RockPort Capital Partners, RuggedCom, SAIC, SAP, Sempra Energy, Serveron, Site Controls, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and Utilities Telecom Council (UTC)

About GridPoint

GridPoint, Inc., a leading clean tech company, is the pioneer of an innovative smart grid platform to benefit electric utilities, consumers and the environment. GridPoint SmartGrid Platform™ offers an intelligent network that integrates energy storage technologies, load measurement and control devices, and renewable energy sources at the edge of the grid, under utility control. The platform enables utilities to efficiently balance supply and demand by deploying stored power during peak periods, reducing customers’ non-essential loads, optimizing existing base-load generation assets and relieving stress on transmission and distribution (T&D) lines. For consumers, GridPoint’s platform provides protection from power outages, increases energy efficiency and integrates renewable energy, paving the way for the commercial success of solar and wind energy sources.

On the Net: www.gridpoint.com

Contact Information

Suzanne Lauer
703.862.3137 or slauer@gridpoint.com

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