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Giant Grants for the Smart Grid

By Toby Shute – Updated Apr 6, 2017 at 12:34AM

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Here are some of the biggest beneficiaries.

Last month, we saw Uncle Sam (or Uncle Chu, to be more accurate) dish out $800 million in grants for alternative transportation and renewable energy projects. That was small potatoes compared to the grants unveiled by President Obama at FPL Group's (NYSE:FPL) DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center earlier this week. The Smart Grid Investment Grant awards, part of the greater stimulus plan, weigh in at $3.4 billion.

Let's take a look at where our money is going.

Houston's CenterPoint Energy and Baltimore Gas & Electric, the regulated utility arm of Constellation Energy Group (NYSE:CEG), pulled down $200 million apiece for smart meter deployment in their respective cities. The "smart grid," being pushed by everyone from GE (NYSE:GE) to Google (NASDAQ:GOOG), is one vision of a path to reduce electricity consumption and increase the efficiency of this country's energy distribution network. Fresno, Calif., residents might tell you that smart meters are a total ripoff, and only drive rates higher. Whether boon or boondoggle, they're coming to a city near you.

In the realm of electric distribution systems, Consolidated Edison got the biggest grant, weighing in at $136 million. This will go toward implementing automation, monitoring, and two-way communication in Con Ed's New York/New Jersey service area.

There wasn't much funding allocated to the smart appliance category, but Whirlpool did walk away with a little cash to develop devices like smart dryers that modify electricity consumption in response to variable or time-of-use utility pricing.

Finally, in the integrated and/or crosscutting systems category, a catch-all for multifaceted smart grid deployment, big winners included Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK), Progress Energy, and of course FPL. Each picked up $200 million for their comprehensive projects.

While utilities caught the headlines, plenty of other companies stand to benefit from this government greening of the grid. Two names that spring to mind are Echelon (NASDAQ:ELON) and Quanta Services (NYSE:PWR), but perhaps you've got an even more compelling smart grid play. Go ahead and share an idea in the comments section below.

Google is a Rule Breakers pick and Duke Energy is an Income Investor recommendation. Plug into any of our Foolish newsletters free for 30 days.

Fool contributor Toby Shute doesn't have a position in any company mentioned. Check out his CAPS profile or follow his articles using Twitter or RSS. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Stocks Mentioned

Duke Energy Corporation Stock Quote
Duke Energy Corporation
DUK
$103.71 (-0.93%) $0.97
Alphabet Inc. Stock Quote
Alphabet Inc.
GOOGL
$98.74 (-1.40%) $-1.40
General Electric Company Stock Quote
General Electric Company
GE
$64.55 (-1.24%) $0.81
Echelon Corporation Stock Quote
Echelon Corporation
ELON
Quanta Services, Inc. Stock Quote
Quanta Services, Inc.
PWR
$128.76 (-5.12%) $-6.95
Constellation Energy Group, Inc. Stock Quote
Constellation Energy Group, Inc.
CEG

*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.

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