Energy & Environment

Overview

TIA's energy and environment policy program runs a sustained advocacy campaign with key government officials asserting the role of the ICT industry in achieving national green goals through improving energy efficiency and decreasing carbon emissions. From climate and energy legislation to smart grid funding and implementation, TIA advocates policies that maximize the green impact of the ICT industry without hampering innovation. The Energy & Environment Working Group (EEWG) provides opportunities for TIA member companies to highlight to policymakers in the Congress and the Administration how ICT equipment significantly reduces energy consumption and carbon emissions in other more energy intensive sectors as well as what actions companies are taking to decrease the environmental footprint of the ICT sector.

Mission

• Promote the role of ICT as clean technology in reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions
• Advocate private and secure consumer and third-party access to energy usage and pricing data to unlock the potential of the smart grid
• Promote technology neutrality in smart grid policy to encourage competition and innovation
• Support funding for both R&D and deployment of smart grid technologies
• Encourage greater adoption of telework and videoconferencing to facilitate travel substitution
• Drive deployment and adoption of broadband
• Educate policy-makers regarding industry efforts to improve energy efficiency of ICT sector

Recent Activity

• TIA files comments with FERC regarding smart grid interoperability standards. (Apr 5, 2011).
• TIA files comments with Colorado Public Utilities Commission regarding smart grid data access and privacy. (Mar 31, 2011)
• TIA files comments with Ohio Public Utilities Commission regarding smart grid data access and privacy. (Mar 4, 2011)
• TIA releases Smart Grid Policy Roadmap. (Feb 14, 2011)
• TIA files comments with Colorado Public Utilities Commission regarding smart grid data access and privacy. (Jan 20, 2011)
• TIA files comments with the DOE addressing policy and logistical challenges to smart grid implementation (November 1, 2010)
• TIA reply comments filed with DOE on implementing the National Broadband Plan by studying the communications requirements of electric utilities to inform Federal Smart Grid Policy (July 26, 2010)
• TIA reply comments filed with DOE on National Broadband Plan, Smart Grid: Data Access, Third Party Use and Privacy (July 26, 2010)
• TIA Talks Smart Grid at Broadband Breakfast Club. Read the full story and watch the video (July 22, 2010)
• TIA members demonstrate smart technologies at FCC Clean Technology Showcase (May 18, 2010)
• TIA files comments in California Public Utility Commission Smart Grid proceeding. (April 7, 2010)
• TIA signs letter to President Obama endorsing consumer access to energy data. (April 5, 2010)
• TIA files comments with White House Office of Science and Technology Policy regarding consumer interface with the Smart Grid. (March 12, 2010)

White Papers

Smart Grid Policy Roadmap: Consumer Focused and Technology Driven, outlines key recommendations from the ICT industry on how policies concerning consumers and smart grid technology development and deployment can help the smart grid reach its potential. The white paper is available for free download.