WASHINGTON - Enrique Santacana, president and CEO of ABB in North America, has been named to the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Electricity Advisory Committee (EAC).

The newly-established EAC will provide advice to the DOE on emerging smart grid technologies and applications across the U.S. power delivery infrastructure, and provide counsel on related issues such as grid stability, storage, security, efficiency, and renewable energy integration. This committee will help the Department to meet requirements of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.

The 30-member committee - representing some of the top public and private sector leaders in the nation related to electricity and energy policy - will also report its findings and recommendations to Congress regarding the status of smart grid applications nationwide, along with any regulatory, governmental, or technological barriers. The committee will outline the current status and progress of smart grid development, including information on technology advancements, communications networks capabilities, costs, and obstacles.

“We are grateful that Mr. Santacana has agreed to serve as a member of the Department of Energy’s Electricity Advisory Committee,” said David Meyer, senior policy advisor for the DOE. “The EAC will be addressing some very important issues related to the future of the national power grid infrastructure. We look forward to tapping into Mr. Santacana’s expertise in the power industry, and ABB’s vast experience related to energy efficiency, grid reliability, and smart grid initiatives.”

The formation of the committee comes as both the public and private sectors are pushing for a modernization of electric power transmission and distribution systems nationwide, a process that can help meet future demand growth and maintain a more reliable and secure electricity infrastructure.

Publication date: 05/19/2008