The Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago (BOMA/Chicago) is seeking $92.7 Million in Federal Stimulus Funds under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) to launch the first commercial office building smart grid program in the US according to a Commercial Property Executive article. The total cost of BOMA/Chicago’s smart grid program is estimated at $185.4 million and is aimed at delivering a utility-scale, clean, virtual generator through implementation of smart grid technology in more than 260 commercial buildings in downtown Chicago, which could provide as much as 200 megawatts of demand response capability to help lower costs and avoid the need to construct expensive new generation plants.
"In the past, nearly all discussion of demand response and smart grid technology has centered on the utilities delivering grid intelligence. For the first time, our program will demonstrate that demand side resources, such as our commercial buildings, can provide operating reserves, frequency regulation and capacity in wholesale grid markets," said Michael Cornicelli, executive vice president of BOMA/Chicago. "Not only will our program help our members transform their electricity usage and spend, but the smart grid improvements will benefit all energy consumers and society as a whole by lowering energy costs and reducing carbon emissions."
The program calls for upgrading the buildings’ electric metering infrastructure with smart meters that will communicate with a BOMA/Chicago‐run Network Operating Center (NOC) in real time. The NOC will analyze electricity demand in light of grid conditions and electricity market prices, then send suggested response strategies back to the buildings for speedy implementation. Program participation will require significant building-level upgrades, including the installation of variable speed motors, digital controls, and new or upgraded building automation systems, which will enable commercial buildings to compete in markets formerly dominated by large central station generators and simultaneously reduce carbon emissions by approximately 300 million pounds annually.
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