The GridWise Alliance, a technology-neutral smart grid coalition, and IEEE Power and Energy Society (IEEE PES), the leading provider of scientific and engineering information on electric power and energy, today announced the signing of an agreement enabling the two organizations to work collaboratively on smart grid-related issues. The cooperative agreement was unveiled during the Smart Grid Day, April 21, 2010, held in conjunction with the IEEE PES Transmission & Distribution Conference and Exposition in New Orleans, LA.
The collaborative agreement brings together two leading electric industry organizations, the GridWise Alliance and IEEE PES. The GridWise Alliance is a consensus-based coalition of stakeholders from across the electric ecosystem, advocating a smarter grid for the greater public good. GridWise Alliance members represent utilities, system operators, manufacturers, investors, academia, and information and communications companies. IEEE PES is a global nonprofit association of more than 25,000 technical professionals throughout the electric power industry. The organization is part of IEEE, the world’s largest technical professional society encompassing 400,000 members in 160 countries.
“This agreement to collaborate will strengthen the engineering basis of our group,” said Katherine Hamilton, President, GridWise Alliance. “IEEE PES has worked diligently to ensure professional engineers are appropriately educated as our utilities build their smart grid programs. IEEE PES has provided significant thought leadership on smart grid and can help provide a technical foundation to the policies we advocate.”
“We are thrilled to be partnering with the GridWise Alliance,” said Wanda Reder, 2008-2009 President, IEEE PES and Chair, IEEE Smart Grid. “Our relationship will join the advocacy leadership of the GridWise Alliance with the technical expertise and integrity of IEEE PES. We look forward to collaborating on education and workforce development, because we feel strongly that a prepared workforce with appropriate competencies is one of the most critical elements for smart grid success.“
