The plan has been proposed as a response to a call in June 2009 by the US Department of Energy to create regional smart grid demonstration projects that would show how smart grid technology could improve the safety, reliability and efficiency of energy delivery on a regional and national level.
The proposed project would involve approximately 60,000 metered customers in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming. Using smart grid technologies, the project would engage system assets exceeding 112MW, that can serve 86,000 households.
Succeeding the installation of equipment and technology, participants would gather energy use information over two years from 15 test sites ranging from Fox Island in Puget Sound to the Teton Mountains in western Wyoming, and include the University of Washington and Washington State University campuses.
If selected, the project would last for five years and the expected cost for the project is approximately $178m. Of the total cost, 50% would be provided by the participants. Battelle, in addition to leading the project, would also analyze field data collected during the project.
