The White House today outlined its priorities for modernizing the electricity grid, saying the smart grid is central to economic competitiveness and a cleaner energy system.The National Science Technology Council released a report called "Building the 21st Century Grid," which was presented by Obama's top science and environmental advisers, Energy Secretary Steven Chu, and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
The White House expects to devote at least $250 million to modernize the grid in rural areas and its budget for next year calls for the creation of a "smart grid innovation hub" research center. The report says the White House's top goals for the smart grid are giving consumers access to energy information, security, standards, and a process to assess the cost effectiveness of infrastructure investments.