Media invited to cover last public event of Northwest demonstration plan
March 25, 2015 
Issued by Battelle
SPOKANE, Wash. - National and Northwest energy leaders will convene April one to share high-level accomplishments of the nation's biggest smart grid demonstration Plan and discuss what's next to make the regional power grid more efficient, reliable and sustainable.
About 150 energy professionals - including Plan participants, government officials and representatives of utilities, research companies and vendors - will gather in Spokane, Washington, for the Pacific Northwest Smart Grid Demonstration Plan Regional Symposium. Attendees will reflect on the project's major accomplishments and project for future electric grid modernization after the Plan concludes in June. Topics to be discussed include Plan progress, lessons learned, consumer feedback and other anecdotal results. Complete and detailed Plan results will be accessible when the final technical report is finished and accessible by June.
"As we finish crunching the data collected during the project's past 5 years, this symposium allows us to kick-start a crucial dialogue on which next steps the region should take to enhance electricity delivery and reliability for all," said Ron Melton, who directs the Plan for Battelle.
Planned speakers include:
- Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
- Assistant Secretary Patricia Hoffman, D.O.E. Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability
- Administrator Elliot Mainzer, Bonneville Power Administration
- Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA)
Topics to be discussed include:
- Overview of Plan accomplishments
- The value and benefits of transactive energy management
- Utility and technology participants' lessons learned from and thoughts on the Plan
- Future of the Northwest power grid
Members of the media wishing to cover the symposium must register for free by 4:30 p.m. PT March 30 by contacting Franny White at (509) 375-6904. Other individuals wishing to participate in the symposium can pay the $75 registration fee online. Information about lodging at the event location is also on the website.
Event details:
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What: Pacific Northwest Smart Grid Demonstration Project's Regional Symposium
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When: Wednesday, April 1, 2015, eight a.m. - 4:30 p.m., followed by private reception for registered participants
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Where: The Historic Davenport Hotel, ten S. Post St., Spokane, Washington
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Why: Discuss regional smart grid research accomplishments, project next steps
The Pacific Northwest Smart Grid Demonstration Plan is a five-year, $178-million research project. The Battelle-led project's participants include eleven utilities, the Bonneville Power Administration, 2 universities and multiple technology companies in 5 Northwest states: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. In excess of $80 million in advanced grid infrastructure has been installed for the project, which aims to make the power grid more efficient, reliable and sustainable. The Plan has been supported by the federal American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, through the D.O.E.'s Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, and participant-provided matching funds.
Tags: Energy, Smart Grid
Every day, the people of Battelle apply science and technology to solving what matters most. At major technology centers and national labs around the world, Battelle conducts research and development, designs and manufactures products, and delivers critical services for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio since its founding in 1929, Battelle serves the national security, health and life sciences, and energy and environmental industries. Battelle has managed and operated the D.O.E.'s Pacific Northwest National Lab in Richland, Wash., since the laboratory's inception in 1965.
