Project Summary:

Develop and implement an Energy Internet microgrid, located in a large mixed-use infill development site in Austin, Texas. This effort will build on Austin Energy's existing Smart Grid programs by creating a microgrid that will initially link 1,000 residential smart meters, 75 commercial meters, and plug-in electric vehicle chaging sites. The project will be implemented by a unique Texas not-for-profit corporation created to research, develop and implement smart grid clean energy systems.

Project partners: Austin Energy, the City of Austin, Environmental Defense Fund, the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, and the University of Texas’ Austin Technology Incubator — each of which is now represented on the board of directors of Pecan Street Project, Inc

Pecan Street Project Timeline
- Spring 2008: City of Austin and UT’s Austin Technology Incubator begin discussing a clean energy economic develop- ment collaboration.
- Summer 2008: Informal workgroups develop rough parameters for the project and recruit local experts, including Envi- ronmental Defense Fund (EDF).
- September 2008: EDF officially joins the effort, rounding out the Found- ing Partners with the City of Austin, Austin Energy, the University of Texas and the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce.
- Fall 2008: EDF recruits corporate partners to provide staff and expertise.
- December 2008: Pecan Street Project and its founding and corporate partners are announced at a Clean Energy Venture Summit press conference.
- January 2009: Project volunteers gather for the first work session at SEMATECH, break into workgroups and begin their research and deliberations.
- Spring 2009: Research and deliberation continue, remotely and at two more Austin work sessions.
- July 2009: Workgroups submit internal reports and the found- ing partners begin formulating recommendations.
- August 2009: Founding partners create Pecan Street Project, Inc., a non-profit organization, to pursue the project’s mis- sion beyond the release of the recommendations.
- August 2009: Pecan Street Project, Inc. coordinates the submission of an application for Department of Energy stimulus funding for a smart grid demonstration project at Austin’s Mueller community.
- November 2009: The Department of Energy awards the Pecan Street Project, Inc. $10.4 million for the smart grid demon- stration project at Mueller.
- January 2010: Pecan Street Project, Inc. hires Brewster McCracken as executive director.
- January 2010: Pecan Street Project, Inc. receives a $297,000 Department of Commerce economic development grant through the Capital Area Council of Govern- ments (CAPCOG) to fund a portion of the organiza- tion’s operating expenses.
- March 2010: Recommendations resulting from research and de- liberations of workgroups are released to the public.

Equipment:

, In-home displays
, Smart thermostats
, Smart water meters
, Smart meters
, Smart appliances
, Batteries
, Electric vehicles
, Solar panels

Targeted Benefits:

, Lower electricity cost
, Greenhouse gases reduced
, Power quality improved
, Dependence on foreign oil reduced

Additional Information:

For more information about the project, please refer to:
- Project URL: http://pecanstreetproject.org/
- Smartgrid.gov URL: http://www.smartgrid.gov/project/pecan_street_project_inc_energy_interne...