Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
A final subset of actors linking consumers and utilities to manage energy is energy
service companies (ESCOs). ESCOS work with all kinds of consumers to help them save
energy and money. An ESCO representative will work with a company to identify potential
energy savings opportunities, help arrange financing for investment, and monitor and
evaluate energysavings. Asmany smaller companies donothave the resources orability to
identify and implement energy efficiency measures, ESCOs can create performance-based
contracts and take on the financial risk of energy efficiency improvements, then share the
savings with the host company. With an increased array of sensors and technologies, smart
grid could potentially provide new opportunities for ESCO providers.
4.5 Civil Society Actors
Many civil society actors are engaged directly and indirectly in smart grid and energy
system development. Some see smart grid as a way to further their energy or climate
agendas while others view it as a potential threat to the issues they care about most
deeply. Civil society actors include environmental groups, consumer advocates, and groups
concerned with negative externalities of smart grid development, including privacy and
negative health effects. While the opinions and orientations of civil society actors are
diverse, they often engage in smart grid debates in several distinct forums. First, civic
society groups work to directly shape public opinion and consensus on issues by creating
position papers and public outreach/media materials, preparing educational materials, and
engaging in grassroots organizing and social networking. Second, these groups also work
in coalition with other actors to advocate for policies that further their goals by developing,
promoting, and supporting local, state, and federal legislation. Third, civil society groups
are often involved with litigation over specific projects or policies, suing utilities,
government,orotheractors.Finally,civilsocietyactorscanworkdirectlywiththebusiness
communityincollaborativeeffortstoaddressspecificissues.Byworkingtosupport,shape,
or thwart specific projects and developments through grassroots organizing, court action,
involvement with local councils and boards, testimony at regulatory hearings, and business
engagement, civic society actors are able to influence smart grid development in multiple
diverse ways.
Some environmental groups are actively engaged in ensuring that smart grid
development incorporates their strategic goals, including climate mitigation and reducing
air and water pollution. They see smart grid as a crucial step in moving away from
fossil fuel use and enabling renewable technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
However, environmental groups also operate at multiple scales. National-level
environmental organizations may embrace large global goals, while local chapters of
the same environmental group may focus on community priorities such as local land
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