“The shift to a smart grid will allow the widespread implementation of natural energy resources while making energy sources more efficienct,” Al Gore stated during a conference in California. Congress recently committed $8,000,000,000 into these projects in the form of stimulus grants. Unfortunately, that large sum is estimated to be only approximately 5% of the commitment that economists believe will be necessary to overhaul the entire national power grid.

These projects have recently reached the implementation phase in Asia and Africa. In these countries, major solar and wind power technologies are being aimed at helping meet the eastern hemispheres energy requirements. Gore informed the delegates of China’s goals for 2020, and how it will give them a huge advantage in industry.

An abundance of legislation, industry agendas, and lengthy processes combined with the non-standardized renewable energy policies from state to state have not promoted green power in America, and have stalled the advent of natural energy resources and smart grid development in the government.

He further issued a call to action stating, “in order to act effectively [in order to streamline government dialogue regarding disagreements and challenges on the issue of smart grids], we have to straighten out the regulatory and state legal morass, and we have to put a price on emissions”. He believes that a government-mandated initiative is the only option.

A new problem facing the supporters of natural power was also brought up throughout the dialogue, and is rapidly coming to the forefront of the issue of the practical emergence of an American smart grid – namely the projected skill gap of several thousand repair techs and engineers needed to turn their vision into a reality.