By Bracken Hendricks of the Center for American Progress
Read the full report (pdf)
Additional Information Including Maps, Infographic, and a background basic of Building a National Clean-Energy Smart Grid.

A truly national clean-energy smart grid must consist of two distinct components: an interstate transmission “sustainable transmission grid” that will transport clean utility-scale renewable energy long distances to market, and a digital “smart distribution grid” to deliver this electricity efficiently to local consumers. Read more…

The Center for American Progress Action Fund today released the formal agenda and the participants for its “National Clean Energy Project: Building the New Economy” forum on Monday, February 23, 2009 at the Newseum in Washington, DC.

An Economic, Environmental, and National Security Imperative

Expanding and upgrading our electric power transmission and distribution system are vital to renewing America’s economic growth, strengthening national security, and addressing the threat of global climate change. Two critical investments are needed: Read more…

“If I am President, I will immediately direct the full resources of the federal government and the full energy of the private sector to a single, overarching goal – in ten years, we will eliminate the need for oil from the entire Middle East and Venezuela.” Read more…

The Center for American Progress Action Fund will use this forum to shape our policy recommendations to senior leaders, as the nation begins to turn its attention to crafting a new national energy policy to promote clean alternative energy and increase efficiency and security by investing in modern infrastructure. Read more…

The the Center for American Progress Action Fund and John Podesta are hosting a forum entitled “National Clean Energy Project: Building the New Economy” on Monday, February 23, 2009 in Washington, DC. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is Honorary Chair. Read more…

To outline the agenda for the National Clean Energy Project there will be a kickoff teleconference Monday, February 2, 2009 at 3:30pm ET. Call Participants include Read more…

Developing a Clean Energy Future for Nevada, the Nation, and the World

View Summit Video Highlights by Visiting the National Clean Energy Summit Website here

Nevada is at the epicenter in the debate of how America should generate and use energy in the future. Nevada has abundant clean energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, and efficiency technologies that could be developed to meet its future energy needs. The question is whether Nevadans—and all Americans—will shift to a clean energy economy that creates less expensive and more efficient energy, cleaner air, clean energy markets, and the creation of good new jobs that strengthen and grow our economy in Nevada, the nation, and the world. Read more…

April 1, 2009

Related Links: Letter to the President, Event Video, Policy Report

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), energy executive T. Boone Pickens and Center for American Progress Action Fund president and CEO John Podesta, released a letter on April 1st to United States President Barack Obama, thanking him for his leadership on clean energy and urging him to, “recommit your efforts to rapidly build the infrastructure for a new energy economy – using all the policy and leadership tools at your disposal.” The letter was accompanied by a policy research paper, written by Bracken Hendricks and published by the Center for American Progress Action Fund, entitled “Wired for Progress 2.0: Building a National Clean-Energy Smart Grid.”

“Wired for Progress 2.0” hones in on the key decisions that Congress and the Obama administration face as they take up the challenge of rebuilding America’s electricity infrastructure. The updated report builds on the themes of February’s original 1.0 version, focusing on the four major hurdles to building a national clean energy smart grid—planning, siting, cost allocation, and ensuring the low-carbon attributes of the electricity. It also examines three broader policy imperatives—grid intelligence, physical and cyber security, and job training and workforce development—that must also be part of modernization efforts.

The original version of the report, titled “Wired for Progress 1.0” and published by the Center for American Progress Action Fund in February 2009, assessed the urgent need to build a national clean energy smart grid to power an innovative, low-carbon 21st century economy that combats global warming and creates millions of good jobs. Based on an extensive stakeholder outreach process undertaken in partnership with the Energy Future Coalition, the report detailed the reasons why we need to build this national clean energy infrastructure quickly, and outlined key policy measures to move this complex project forward.

In just a few short weeks since the February release of the original report, Congress made rapid progress, drafting concrete legislative language and building the political will to turn these policies into law. It was critical that the essential features of the Wired for Progress proposal remain clear within the context of the rapidly progressing debate in Washington.

Featured Speakers:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid

T. Boone Pickens, founder and chairman, BP Capital Management

John D. Podesta, President and Chief Executive Officer, Center for American Progress Action Fund

Bracken Hendricks, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress Action Fund

Related Links: Letter to the President, Event Video, Policy Report

The Federal government should:

• Provide long-term extension of tax incentives for renewable energy production and energy efficiency. Establish incentives for the construction and purchase of super fuel efficient autos such as plug-in electric hybrid vehicles.

Read more…