Press Release
NASHVILLE - State Sen. Andy Berke (D-Chattanooga) congratulates the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga for winning $2.4 million in federal stimulus funds to develop training programs for electrical smart grid technology.
"With these funds, UT-Chattanooga will be able to provide students with the knowledge and training necessary to obtain the jobs of the future," Berke said. "Smart grid technology will save energy and provide our nation with the infrastructure necessary to accommodate future generations, and Tennesseans will be a major part of making it happen."
A smart grid uses digital technology to provide information to consumers about their electricity use, potentially allowing them to adjust their usage. Smart grid technology also communicates with appliances to avoid peak usage, thereby saving both energy and money.
The UT-Chattanooga funds will help the university develop both high school and college-level programs to train and educate students on smart grid technology. The grant is part of nearly $100 million in federal stimulus funds released by the U.S. Department of Energy last week.
"UT-Chattanooga has been moving to the forefront of alternative energy and Smart Grid research, and this grant demonstrates the significance of our past endeavors and recognizes the tremendous potential of our campus and faculty," said Dr. Phil Oldham, UTC Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. "The opportunity to partner with local school systems and industries on this project fits nicely with UTC's commitment to high tech research and economic development in our region."
The Department of Energy's smart grid programs are expected to train approximately 30,000 Americans to modernize the nation's electrical grid and implement smart grid technologies in communities across the country.