Boulder, Colorado won’t be going off-grid or relying on 100% solar energy anytime soon, instead it is pioneering the nation’s first fully integrated digital technology system to manage its electrical grid. Xcel Energy, one of the nation’s leaders in supporting aggressive renewable energy programs, selected Boulder to test its Smart Grid technology. The system will track power loads from devices installed on homes and businesses around the city so that supply can be met from all its power sources, including wind farms and solar installations.
Working with the City of Boulder and sharing funding with a consortium of technology vendors, Xcel plans to spend $100 million over the next 2-years to install 50,000 smart meters on buildings throughout the city. Xcel expects to switch on the system this August.
Boulder’s abundant sunshine and commitment to carbon-neutrality helped make it the winning recipient of Xcel’s pilot (in 2006, Boulder was the first US city to pass a local carbon tax).
Cooler Planet applauds Xcel and Boulder for taking on a truly cool project. We look forward to hearing about its results.
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That is awesome – I get more impressed with XCEL energy all of the time. We’re in downtown Boulder, so we are proud of our town and what they are doing on this cool project.