On April 17, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Sam Bodman announced the members of its newly-established Electricity Advisory Committee. The 30 inaugural members will serve one- or two-year terms. They include some of the nation's top public and private sector leaders in electricity policy, planning and operations. The American Public Power Association's (APPA) Sue Kelly, Vice President, Policy Analysis and General Counsel, is among the members.
According to DOE's press release, the Committee-chartered by Secretary Bodman last month-will provide senior-level counsel to DOE's Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability in carrying out its mission and meeting requirements of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. In addition, the Committee will advise the Office on deployment of smart grid technologies, research and development of energy storage technologies, renewable energy resource system integration, and new transmission infrastructure to ensure the efficient delivery of electricity.
Linda Stuntz, who served as Deputy Secretary of Energy from 1992-1993 and held other senior positions in DOE from 1989-1992, will chair the Committee. The Committee will hold its first meeting on May 20, 2008 in Arlington, VA and will meet at least annually thereafter.