The McDonnell Group

WASHINGTON DC – February 18, 2009 – In one of his first major presentations to the industry, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu delivered the keynote address today at the 2009 Electricity Delivery Forum.  Chu outlined the DOE’s goals for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, signed into law earlier in the week by President Obama.

Chu spoke to a PowerPoint presentation in a refreshingly straightforward, direct, and highly informed style without reading directly from notes. He presented job creation goals and objectives for the energy portions of the Act, discussed smart grid investments, transmission infrastructure, and energy efficiency, and pointed to an expanded role for renewable energy in the future. Reinforcing a point made recently in an article in The Wall Street Journal, Chu noted the Administration aims to radically streamline the approach to getting energy stimulus funding to work by processing project applications and starting to “cut checks” by April.

Chu also called for increased research and development funding in the energy sector -- a topic he called “near and dear” to him.   Chu’s smart grid vision includes a new smart grid information technology infrastructure that “has to support two way information flows … and an increased use of already embedded assets.”

Chu clearly understands the opportunity to improve the integrated system efficiency, security, reliability, and environmental impact of our electric power infrastructure in the United States through new technology and new operational paradigms.

Chu’s speech clearly established him as the ideal intellectual leader of the emerging smart grid movement.  Repeatedly, in private conversations over the course of two days, colleagues who have worked with him or met him admired the open, easy, and engaged style that Chu brought to his keynote address and to private meetings with leaders from the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC). Enthusiasm ran high, not only for his command of the material, but also for his willingness to listen to industry leaders’ ideas and suggestions.

On the topic of state and federal collaboration, Chu’s comments and approach reinforced the vision President Obama’s inaugural speech alluded to:

“We will build…the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place…”