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NIST Announces Third Smart Grid Public Workshop, Aug. 3-4

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) today announced a third major stakeholders workshop as NIST expedites the development of the standards necessary to make a smart electric power grid a reality. The workshop will be held Aug. 3-4, in Chantilly, Va. A Smart Grid would use two-way digital communication and networking technologies to deliver electricity more efficiently, reliably and securely.

A key objective of the public workshop is to engage standards development organizations (SDOs) in addressing standards-related priorities. Sessions will be devoted to discussing individual SDO perspectives on the evolving roadmap for Smart Grid interoperability standards, reaching agreement on which organizations should resolve specific standards needs, and developing plans and setting timelines for meeting these responsibilities.

Under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, NIST is charged with coordinating development of interoperability standards to ensure that software and hardware components from different vendors will work together seamlessly while securing the grid against disruptions.

A nationwide Smart Grid is a high priority for the Obama Administration in its plans to move the nation toward energy independence. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) contains investments critical to spurring the Smart Grid development process, with the Department of Energy leading the federal effort.

As part of a contract with NIST, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) recently prepared the Report to NIST on the Smart Grid Interoperability Standards Roadmap. This report is now out for public review and can be found on the NIST Smart Grid Interoperability Standards Project Web site.

After reviewing this report and other information, NIST identified more than 10 high-priority areas that it is proposing for immediate, focused action by SDOs and stakeholder groups.

Under the terms of its contract, EPRI is assisting NIST in organizing this workshop. The workshop is free and open to the public, but space is limited. Opening and closing plenary sessions will be webcast, and breakout sessions will be teleconferenced.

Information on how to view the webcasts and join the teleconferences will be posted in advance.

What: Third Smart Grid Interoperability Standards Roadmap Public Workshop
When: August 3-4, 2009
Where: Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles
14750 Conference Center Drive
Chantilly, Virginia 20151
1-800-635-5666

Register

Additional Contact: clperry [at] epri.com (Clay C. Perry), EPRI, 202-293-6184
Released July 24, 2009, Updated February 1, 2023