The nation is making transition from aging electricity infrastructure to a cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable power grid system. The transition is not only leading the nation toward a greener future, it is actually helping create jobs which is crucial for an economy torn by the century's worst recession. The Federal Stimulus grants are helping many companies translate nation's smart grid dreams into reality. Under this backdrop, two corporate majors in electrical industry have decided to come together to take New York City's energy infrastructure to the next level and the initiative has received support from all the quarters.
Among a few companies that are helping in this transition, Ice Energy is definitely a major one. Since 2003, the company has been providing advanced energy storage and smart grid solutions to the electric utility industry. The company is dedicated to transforming energy system efficiency and improving grid reliability through it suit of advanced solutions. The company's Ice Bear energy storage systems are high in demand and Ice Energy in a bid to meet growing backlog for this solution, Ice Energy seeks to expand its manufacturing capacity. To this end, it has teamed up with Hammondsport, New York based Mercury Corporation. The partnership is expected to enhance the Ice Energy's manufacturing capacity.
The new venture between Ice Energy and Mercury Corporation will bring positive outcomes for the industry and job market. The venture is expected to bring about important new clean energy manufacturing jobs to upstate New York.
As a matter of fact, earlier this year, Ice Energy was awarded a Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) economic stimulus grant in the form of Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credits. The venture has been welcomed by the industry as well as at the state level for its potentials of creating family-wage jobs, including skilled mechanical and electrical assembly workers, represents re-training and re-employment opportunities for local workers in the region.
"New York already has a number of major companies, like IBM (News - Alert), GE and CA, who are leading the development of the smart grid. It is exciting to strengthen New York with the addition of a promising young company like Ice Energy and the expansion and evolution of an established one like Mercury Manufacturing, bringing new permanent jobs to Upstate New York. The importance of storage to the development of the grid, the integration of renewables, and our sustainable energy future can't be underestimated. The combined resources and expertise of these two companies are significant assets for New York and demonstrate the importance of new technologies to economic development in the region," Robert B. Catell, who is the Chairman of NYS Smart Grid Consortium summarized the essence of the partnership.
Madhubanti Rudra is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.Edited by
Alice Straight
