"Like most Americans, I took only moderate notice of President Barack Obama's announcement on October 27, 2009 of a $3.4 billion commitment to build something called the "smart grid." My ears perked up when Obama spoke about how the new smart grid would be based on a clean energy economy, and I envisioned renewable energy sources powering every home. I love the idea of clean energy, and I imagined a future in which America's clean energy leaders would be choosing energy sources and delivery systems that strive and succeed in doing good, or at least in doing no harm, as the word "clean" implies.

"The growth of clean energy can lead to the growth of our economy," Obama announced, promising that 100 private companies, utilities, manufacturers, cities and others would soon be receiving grants of between $400,000 and $200 million each. This sense of fast forward action suited America's recessionary times, and resistance was discouraged when Obama called for an "all hands on deck approach," saying, "The closer we get to this new energy future, the harder the opposition is going to fight. It's a debate between looking backwards and looking forward, between those who are ready to seize the future and those who are afraid of the future, and we know which side the United States of America has always come down on."

"Few details were explained at this initial presentation. Carol Browner, Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change said, "The smart grid is something that has a transformational impact on how energy is delivered. This is about building more than just miles of wire, it's about building... something that works." Having something that works sounded promising, and at the time, I gave the smart grid no further thought . . .