The eight pilot projects funded by $47 million of the Department of Energy’s stimulus money are located in different regions of the country from Hawaii to Massachusetts. The department hopes the projects will uncover which devices or systems work best. But again, the question of success could vary depending on the area and its consumers. In rural towns, smart-grid technology may mean creating a system in which homes and businesses receive electricity without interruption. In windy Colorado, a smart grid may focus more on harnessing wind energy to supplant (取代, 代替) electrical power.
In rural areas, smart-grid technology focuses on