House Concurrent Resolution 120

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING ALL STATE AGENCIES TO DEFINE THE SMART GRID ENERGY CONTROL FOR THE PURPOSES OF CREATING MORE AND BETTER PAYING JOBS AND ENCOURAGING CONSUMER SAVINGS IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.

WHEREAS, the Smart Grid is an emergent form of energy demand and operational control that utilizes smart meters, transformers, one- and two-way consumer/provider communications networks, and other methods to facilitate more efficient uses of electricity and more dynamic grid operations; and

WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi has enormous economic development opportunities leading to more and better paying jobs through product manufacturing and consumer savings through practical application of the Smart Grid; and

WHEREAS, all appropriate public and private sector entities should work together to develop a Smart Grid standard for the state that includes in its scope advanced metering, self-restorative networks, and the role of renewables and other alternative energy sources; and

WHEREAS, it is important to define the Smart Grid to help guide the work of investigating alternative funding for the Smart Grid development; the development of the Smart Grid in other states; marketing the concept of the Smart Grid as it relates to generation, transmission, distribution, and end-user efficiencies leading to consumers gaining a better understanding of opportunities, costs, and impact of employing the Smart Grid infrastructure; and to guide research into the economic impact of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and the infrastructure required to support it:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby urge all state agencies in the State of Mississippi to define the Smart Grid as one that applies technologies, tools, and techniques available now to bring knowledge to power making the grid work more efficiently and thereby ensuring its reliability to degrees never before possible; maintaining its affordability; reinforcing our global competitiveness; fully accommodating renewable and traditional energy sources; potentially reducing our carbon footprint; and introducing advancements and efficiencies yet to be envisioned.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the Mississippi Development Authority, the United States Department of Energy and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.