How the Smart Grid opportunity looks a lot like the Internet once did
The smart grid is a new technology arena that will change how Americans think about electricity. Entrepreneurs jumping into this sector give many reasons — to save the planet, save lives, or save the economy — but what attracts us most is the opportunity to leverage what we learned from the Internet revolution, to make a difference.
Denis Du Bois, P5 Group
Here's some great news in Xconomy Seattle from Business Leader for Climate Solutions Denis Du Bois of P5 Group. We're also glad to be working closely with Dave Kaplan (V2Green and GridPoint), Mike Davis (PNNL) and Michael Atkinson (Alstom Grid), all mentioned for their local leadership in the article below.
How the Smart Grid Opportunity Looks a Lot Like the Internet Once Did
Denis Du Bois
11/8/10 | XconomySeattle.com
The smart grid is a new technology arena that will change how Americans think about electricity. Entrepreneurs jumping into this sector give many reasons — to save the planet, save lives, or save the economy — but what attracts us most is the opportunity to leverage what we learned from the Internet revolution, to make a difference.
I see myriad opportunities for tech entrepreneurs to transition to energy, and on Wednesday evening I’ll be moderating an MIT Enterprise Forum that will dig into the possibilities. The parallels between the Internet and the smart grid are notable:
Billions in federal funding are jump-starting this sector, not unlike the way U.S. Department of Defense investments built ARPANET. Startups are attracting millions in venture capital investments, while big players grapple to define the playing field.
The grid’s move to a digital information network is a game-changer for an entire industry, just as the Internet changed the way people do, basically, everything.
See the rest at ClimateSolutions.org/pressroom.
