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Media Blackout on the U.S. “Smart Grid
Deployment”: Designs and Monied Interests Behind “Smart Meters” Installed across
America [“The global Smart Grid is part and parcel of a proposed new
economic system – one based on energy, not tangible assets such as gold” –
Duncan, Nexus Magazine
]
Over the past several years a conspiracy of silence
has surrounded the implementation of the Smart Grid across the United States,
perhaps with good reason. If the public were aware of what lay behind this
agenda there would likely be considerable outcry and resistance.
has surrounded the implementation of the Smart Grid across the United States,
perhaps with good reason. If the public were aware of what lay behind this
agenda there would likely be considerable outcry and resistance.
“Smart meters”–the principal nodes of the Smart Grid
network–are being installed on homes and businesses by power utilities across
the United States under the legal and fiscal direction of the United States
government. In December 2007 both houses of the US Congress passed and President
George W. Bush signed into law the Energy
Independence and Security Act (EISA).
network–are being installed on homes and businesses by power utilities across
the United States under the legal and fiscal direction of the United States
government. In December 2007 both houses of the US Congress passed and President
George W. Bush signed into law the Energy
Independence and Security Act (EISA).
This 310-page piece of legislation employs the dubious
science of anthropogenic CO2-based climate change science to mandate an array of
policies, such as fuel efficiency standards for vehicles and “green” energy
initiatives. Tucked away in the final pages of this law is the description and
de facto mandate for national implementation of the Smart Grid that the Bush
administration promised would result in “some of the largest CO2 emission cuts
in our nation’s history.”[1]
The bill unambiguously lays out the design and intent science of anthropogenic CO2-based climate change science to mandate an array of
policies, such as fuel efficiency standards for vehicles and “green” energy
initiatives. Tucked away in the final pages of this law is the description and
de facto mandate for national implementation of the Smart Grid that the Bush
administration promised would result in “some of the largest CO2 emission cuts
in our nation’s history.”[1]
behind the Smart Grid, including surveillance, tiered energy pricing, and energy
rationing for all US households and businesses through round-the-clock
monitoring of RFID-chipped “Energy Star” appliances.[2] Congress and “other
stakeholders” (presumably for-profit utilities and an array of Smart Grid
technology patent holders[3] whose lobbyists co-wrote the legislation) describe
the Smart Grid’s characteristics and goals via ten provisions.
(1) Increased use of
digital information and controls technology to improve reliability,
security, and efficiency of the electric grid.
(2) Dynamic
optimization of grid operations and resources with full
cyber-security.
(3) Deployment[4] and integration of
distributed resources and generation, including renewable resources.
(4)
Development and incorporation of demand response, demand-side resources,
and energy efficiency resources.
(5) Deployment of “smart”
technologies (real-time, automated, interactive technologies that optimize the
physical operation of appliances and consumer devices) for metering,
communications concerning grid operations and status, and distribution
automation.
(6) Integration of “smart” appliances and
consumer devices.
(7) Deployment and integration of advanced
electricity storage and peak-shaving technologies, including plug-in
electric and hybrid electric vehicles, and thermal-storage air
conditioning.
(8) Provision to consumers of timely information and control
operations.
(9) Development of standards for communication and
interoperability of appliances and equipment connected to the electric
grid, including the infrastructure serving the grid.
(10)
Identification and lowering of unreasonable or unnecessary barriers to
adoption of smart grid technologies, practices, and services [emphases
added].[5]
Less than two years after EISA’s enactment President digital information and controls technology to improve reliability,
security, and efficiency of the electric grid.
(2) Dynamic
optimization of grid operations and resources with full
cyber-security.
(3) Deployment[4] and integration of
distributed resources and generation, including renewable resources.
(4)
Development and incorporation of demand response, demand-side resources,
and energy efficiency resources.
(5) Deployment of “smart”
technologies (real-time, automated, interactive technologies that optimize the
physical operation of appliances and consumer devices) for metering,
communications concerning grid operations and status, and distribution
automation.
(6) Integration of “smart” appliances and
consumer devices.
(7) Deployment and integration of advanced
electricity storage and peak-shaving technologies, including plug-in
electric and hybrid electric vehicles, and thermal-storage air
conditioning.
(8) Provision to consumers of timely information and control
operations.
(9) Development of standards for communication and
interoperability of appliances and equipment connected to the electric
grid, including the infrastructure serving the grid.
(10)
Identification and lowering of unreasonable or unnecessary barriers to
adoption of smart grid technologies, practices, and services [emphases
added].[5]
Barack Obama directed $3.4 billion of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act
to Smart Grid development. Matching funds from the energy industry brought the
total initial Smart Grid investment to $8 billion.[6] The overall completion of
the Smart Grid will cost another $330 billion.[7] Today a majority of energy
delivery throughout the US is routed to homes equipped with smart meters that
monitor power consumption on a minute-to-minute basis.
As noted, the American public remains largely unaware of
the numerous designs and monied interests behind the Smart Grid–not to mention
how smart meters themselves pose substantial dangers to human health and
privacy. This is because the plan for tiered energy pricing via wireless
monitoring of household appliances has been almost entirely excluded from news
media coverage since the EISA became law on December 19, 2007.
A LexisNexis search of US print news outlets for “Energy
Independence and Security Act” and “Smart Grid” between the dates December 1,
2007 to January 31, 2008 yields virtually no results.
An identical LexisNexis search of such media for the
dates December 1, 2007 to February 18, 2015 retrieves a total 11 print news
items appearing in US dailies (seven in McClatchey Tribune papers; one article
appearing in each of the following: New York Times 8/14/08,Santa Fe New Mexican, 5/12/09, Providence Journal, 2/24/11,
Tampa Bay Times, 12/13/12).[8]
dates December 1, 2007 to February 18, 2015 retrieves a total 11 print news
items appearing in US dailies (seven in McClatchey Tribune papers; one article
appearing in each of the following: New York Times 8/14/08,Santa Fe New Mexican, 5/12/09, Providence Journal, 2/24/11,
Tampa Bay Times, 12/13/12).[8]
Even this scant reportage scarcely begins to
examine the implications of the EISA’s Smart Grid plan. The New York
Times chose to confine its coverage to a 364-word article, “The 8th Annual
Year in Ideas; Smart Grids.” “It’s a
response to what economists would call a tragedy of the commons,” the
Times explains.
examine the implications of the EISA’s Smart Grid plan. The New York
Times chose to confine its coverage to a 364-word article, “The 8th Annual
Year in Ideas; Smart Grids.” “It’s a
response to what economists would call a tragedy of the commons,” the
Times explains.
[P]eople use as much energy as they are willing to pay for,
without giving any thought to how their use affects the overall amount of
energy available … Enter Xcel’s $100 million initiative, called SmartGridCity,
a set of technologies that give both energy providers and their customers more
control over power consumption … Consumers, through a Web-enabled control
panel in their homes, are able to regulate their energy consumption more
closely — for example, setting their A.C. system to automatically reduce power
use during peak hours.[9]
News in far more modest papers likewise
resembles the promotional materials distributed by the utilities themselves.
“There will soon be a time when homeowners can save electricity by having
appliances automatically adjust power for peak-demand times and other periods of
inactivity by a signal sent through the electrical outlet,” an article in
Sunbury Pennsylvania’s Daily Item reads. “‘Right now, it’s at the
infant stage,’” a power company executive observes. “‘We didn’t worry about this
until two years ago. Nobody cared when electricity was five cents per kilowatt
hour. People just bit the bullet and paid the bill.’”[10]
resembles the promotional materials distributed by the utilities themselves.
“There will soon be a time when homeowners can save electricity by having
appliances automatically adjust power for peak-demand times and other periods of
inactivity by a signal sent through the electrical outlet,” an article in
Sunbury Pennsylvania’s Daily Item reads. “‘Right now, it’s at the
infant stage,’” a power company executive observes. “‘We didn’t worry about this
until two years ago. Nobody cared when electricity was five cents per kilowatt
hour. People just bit the bullet and paid the bill.’”[10]
Smart Grid Czar Patricia
Hoffman
Hoffman
Along these lines, the Department of Energy’s
Assistant Secretary for the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy
Reliability Patricia
Hoffman, is charged under the EISA with federal
oversight of nationwide Smart Grid implementation. In other words, Hoffman is
America’s “Smart Grid Czar.” Yet despite heading up such a dubious program since
2010, she has almost entirely escaped journalistic scrutiny, having been
referenced or quoted in only four US daily papers (Washington Post,
2/8/12, St. Paul Pioneer Press, 4/26/12, Palm Beach Post,
5/12/13, Pittsburgh Tribune Review 11/13/13) since her tenure
began.
Assistant Secretary for the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy
Reliability Patricia
Hoffman, is charged under the EISA with federal
oversight of nationwide Smart Grid implementation. In other words, Hoffman is
America’s “Smart Grid Czar.” Yet despite heading up such a dubious program since
2010, she has almost entirely escaped journalistic scrutiny, having been
referenced or quoted in only four US daily papers (Washington Post,
2/8/12, St. Paul Pioneer Press, 4/26/12, Palm Beach Post,
5/12/13, Pittsburgh Tribune Review 11/13/13) since her tenure
began.
In an era where news media wax rhapsodic over new
technologies and fall over each other to report consumer-oriented “news you can
use,” the Smart Grid’s pending debut should be a major story. It’s not. Indeed,
almost the entire US population remains in the dark about this major
technological development that will profoundly impact their lives.
technologies and fall over each other to report consumer-oriented “news you can
use,” the Smart Grid’s pending debut should be a major story. It’s not. Indeed,
almost the entire US population remains in the dark about this major
technological development that will profoundly impact their lives.
When one more closely examines the implications and
realities of the federally-approved Smart Grid scheme—from the adverse health
effects of electromagnetic radiation to surveillance and energy rationing—there
should be little wonder why this degree of silence surrounds its implementation.
Such a technocratic system would never be freely accepted if subject to an open
exchange and referendum.
Notesrealities of the federally-approved Smart Grid scheme—from the adverse health
effects of electromagnetic radiation to surveillance and energy rationing—there
should be little wonder why this degree of silence surrounds its implementation.
Such a technocratic system would never be freely accepted if subject to an open
exchange and referendum.
[1] “Fact
Sheet: Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007,”
whitehouse.gov, December 19, 2007.
Sheet: Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007,”
whitehouse.gov, December 19, 2007.
[2] “ENERGY STAR is a U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) voluntary program that helps businesses and individuals save money
and protect our climate through superior energy efficiency. The ENERGY STAR
program was established by EPA in 1992, under the authority of the Clean Air Act
Section 103(g).” http://www.energystar.gov/about
Agency (EPA) voluntary program that helps businesses and individuals save money
and protect our climate through superior energy efficiency. The ENERGY STAR
program was established by EPA in 1992, under the authority of the Clean Air Act
Section 103(g).” http://www.energystar.gov/about
[3] Jeff St. John, “Who’s
Got the Most Smart Grid Patents?” greentechmedia.com,
August 5, 2014.
Got the Most Smart Grid Patents?” greentechmedia.com,
August 5, 2014.
[4] The word “deployment,” commonly used in
government and technical plans for the Smart Grid’s launch, is a military term.
From the Latin displicāre, “to scatter,” the modern definition is “[t]o
distribute (persons or forces) systematically or
strategically.”
government and technical plans for the Smart Grid’s launch, is a military term.
From the Latin displicāre, “to scatter,” the modern definition is “[t]o
distribute (persons or forces) systematically or
strategically.”
[5] Public Law 110-140, Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007, Title XIII,
Section 1301, Washington DC: United States Congress, December
19,2007.
Independence and Security Act of 2007, Title XIII,
Section 1301, Washington DC: United States Congress, December
19,2007.
[6] “President
Obama Announces $3.4 Billion Investment to Spur Transition to Smart Energy
Grid,” energy.gov, October 27, 2009.
Obama Announces $3.4 Billion Investment to Spur Transition to Smart Energy
Grid,” energy.gov, October 27, 2009.
[7] Jon Chavez, “Expert Sees $2 Trillion Benefit
For Country in Smart Grid,” Toledo Blade, January 16
2013.
For Country in Smart Grid,” Toledo Blade, January 16
2013.
[8] In contrast, seven times as many articles (78)
appeared in law journals over the same seven year period.
appeared in law journals over the same seven year period.
[9] Clay Risen, “”The 8th Annual Year in Ideas;
Smart Grids,” New York Times, December 14, 2008.
Smart Grids,” New York Times, December 14, 2008.
[10] Jaime North, “Devices Will Soon Monitor
Themselves,” Daily Item, October 4, 2008.
Themselves,” Daily Item, October 4, 2008.
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