TAG Smart Energy Society Honors Smart Grid Company and Professional of the Year

    ATLANTA, GA, December 24, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The TAG Smart Energy Society honored GE Energy and John McDonald at its awards ceremony on Dec. 6.

In 2009, GE Energy announced its decision to locate the company's Smart Grid Center of Excellence in Atlanta. The Center of Excellence has created approximately 200 new jobs in Georgia, further securing Atlanta's place as a global leader in the energy sector and an influential source of sustainable energy innovation. Additionally, GE Energy's $15 million, 10,000-square-foot Grid IQ Experience Center showcases the automation and information technologies developed locally to empower smart homes, smart grids and sustainable energy. The Grid IQ Experience Center includes video demonstrations and interactive displays to help explain exactly what the smart grid is, and why it's the future.

"GE is honored to earn the Smart Grid Company of the Year award from Georgia's TAG Society," said Bob Gilligan, vice president of GE's Digital Energy business based in Atlanta. "We have a unique opportunity to modernize our electrical infrastructure to unleash an entirely new way of life for people around the world. Infusing technologies to manage electric demand - and supply - will help turn our greatest energy challenges into lasting solutions by empowering consumers, increasing energy efficiency and improving power reliability. We're proud to support TAG's mission for economic growth, by adding 400 new people over four years in Atlanta to focus on sustainable energy solutions."

John McDonald is the chair of the Governing Board of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Smart Grid Interoperability Panel. A power engineer by trade, McDonald teaches at GE Energy and the Georgia Institute of Technology and actively participates on the Department of Energy's Smart Grid Electricity Advisory Committee, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association Smart Grid Council, the GridWise Alliance, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Standards Association.

"To be chosen as the Smart Grid Professional of the Year is a real honor, McDonald said. "My involvement with NIST has been very rewarding, particularly to be the chair of the board representing 1,800 people and 700 companies all working together to do smart grid standards work."

Visit: www.tagonline.org/SmartGrid.php for more information about the TAG Smart Energy Society.

The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) is the leading technology industry association in the state, serving more than 14,000 members and hosting over 170 events each year. TAG serves as an umbrella organization for 30 industry societies, each of which provides rich content for TAG constituents. TAG's mission is to educate, promote, and unite Georgia's technology community to foster an innovative and connected marketplace that stimulates and enhances a tech-based economy. The association provides members with access to networking and educational programs; recognizes and promotes Georgia's technology leaders and companies; and advocates for legislative action that enhances the state's economic climate for technology. Additionally, the TAG Education Collaborative (TAG's charitable arm) focuses on helping science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education initiatives thrive. For more information visit the TAG website at www.tagonline.org or TAG's community website at www.TAGthink.com. To learn about the TAG-Ed Collaborative visit http://www.tagedonline.org/. To learn about the TAG Smart Energy Society visit http://www.tagonline.org/SmartGrid.php.

Technology Association of Georgia

Contact
Becky Biggs
[email protected]
(404) 920-2008

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