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Shelton, WA - A Kirkland company working on a groundbreaking project with Mason County PUD No. 3 was named as winner last week of the “Smart Power” category in the 2011 Cleantech Open competition. GridMobility won the award for its signal technology, which enables business, industry, and consumers to choose electricity sources based on their personal preferences. GridMobility is collaborating with PUD 3 and the Bonneville Power Administration on a pilot program to measure the ability to match renewable energy generation with customer energy use. The company’s Renewable Demand Response™ software is testing the time-shift of electricity use based on renewable electricity delivery. The Cleantech competition, based out of California, is designed to find, fund and foster entrepreneurs with big ideas that address today's most urgent energy, environmental and economic challenges. PUD 3 is installing special devices on water heaters that will tell them to turn on or off, based on conditions of the regional electrical system and the amount of renewable energy available. Homeowners can override the device at any time. With modern insulated water heaters, it is unlikely homeowners will notice a change in water temperature. The hardware for the control devices has been developed by a local company, Allyn Technologies. PUD 3 provides electricity to nearly 33,000 customers in most of Mason County and small portions of Kitsap, Grays Harbor, and Pierce Counties. The PUD also provides wholesale telecommunications services through a fiber optic network. |
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