Business, government leaders create Silicon Valley Smart Grid Task Force

The Silicon Valley Leadership Group, City of San Jose and Pacific Gas and Electric Co. on Friday announced that they have partnered to create the Silicon Valley Smart Grid Task Force.

The group brings together leaders from industry, the public sector, nonprofits and academia to make recommendations on California's energy efficiency efforts and the rollout of smart grid technology.

The task force consists of member companies Oracle Corp., Cisco Systems Inc., Nanosolar Inc., Control4 Corp., Coulomb Technologies, Silver Spring Networks and OPower, among other leaders in energy and renewable energy.

In addition to educating consumers, the Silicon Valley Smart Grid Task Force will focus on how smart grid enhances long-term environmental and efficiency goals, demonstrate the economic benefits of such investments in creating Silicon Valley jobs and identify next steps for local, state and federal policy makers.

Many utilities throughout California are beginning to deploy technology that will develop smarter grids. PG&E has installed 5.5 million gas and electric meters with SmartMeter technology as part of its effort to give customers more information about their energy consumption and contribute to the smart grid.

Read more in the Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal.