NEMA has joined the Obama administration in supporting the transformation and modernization of the nation's electricity transmission and distribution system as a means to fulfilling the objectives of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.

In a joint letter to Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, NEMA President and CEO Evan R. Gaddis has joined nine top executives from NEMA member companies that represent manufacturers of Smart Grid products and technologies to applaud the administration's focus on Smart Grid issues, and to pledge cooperation in accomplishing the vision of an efficient, secure, and reliable electricity infrastructure.

The letter builds on the support they voiced at the May 18 White House Leadership Summit hosted by Secretary Locke and Secretary Chu and facilitated by Dr. George Arnold, Director of Smart Grid for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The summit was attended by more than 60 organizations with an interest in promoting the Smart Grid.

"The emphasis to date has been on the speed of standards adoption," said Gaddis. "We simply need to make sure that the secretaries and the administration consider the risks that an aggressive strategy has on the bottom line for both our manufacturers and the utilities. The executives were honored to be asked for their input on such a critical element of the nation's energy policy and that the entire group agreed that the right resources from their organizations need to be applied in order to achieve success."

The letter details the following recommendations to ensure that the Smart Grid adoption process continues to promote innovation and maintain momentum:

+ intellectual property and patent rights

+ interoperability testing and certification

+ governance of the standards adoption process

+ harmonization of U.S. and International standards

+ financial incentives for the adoption of Smart Grid technologies

+ funding for demonstration and implementation projects

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