Many people have said that if Thomas Edison were alive today and looked at our electricity grid, he would recognize it. But finally, some 100 years after Edison fired up the first commercial power grid, the revolution is beginning– thanks to broadband.

A recent briefing on Capitol Hill hosted by the Clean Economy Network and Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA) touched on how broadband is enabling consumer energy tools and the smart grid. Smart grids are being developed across the country, and they will change the amount of control that consumers have over their energy consumption and monthly bills like never before. Presenters at the briefing focused their comments on how broadband providers and utility companies can work together to ensure that smart grids become commonplace.

Following the event, NextGenWeb caught up with Mike Brander, Vice President of Sales for Utility and Industrial at Verizon Wireless, and Tim Greeff, Political Director if the Clean Economy Network, to further discuss the role broadband is playing in enabling the smart grid.

Click below to view interviews as well as complete archived footage of the briefing.

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Earlier this week, a group gathered in Washington to discuss the importance of Information Technology in the business and environmental world. The ITIF event “Using IT to Create a More Sustainable World,” touched on the ways Internet technology can help the economy move forward in a more low cost and low carbon way.

After the event, NextGenWeb was able to interview Beth Shiroishi of AT&T to discuss the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) “Telepresence Report.” Using technology for business purposes is a growing trend among companies today. Now companies no longer have to send employers to events miles away. All work and discussions can be held over innovative online technologies. The telepresence approach to holding virtual meetings can save a $1 billion company nearly 900 business trips a year and reduce CO2 emissions up to 2,271 metric tons over five years. This type of technology also allows the employee to attend multiple events per day without affecting their work or personal life.

To hear more about Carbon Disclosure Project’s “Telepresence Report” watch the interview below with Beth Shiroishi.

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The Georgetown Center for Business & Public Policy took to the Hill yesterday with a line-up of experts to discuss future job opportunities that will have the most impact on economic growth.   What are they you ask?

Green Jobs – As we transition to a greener economy, the increased demand for greater energy efficiency creates incredible potential for growth in the green jobs sector.  Mark Doms, a Chief Economist at the Department of Commerce, says that although the green economy is currently just 1-2% of the economy, with the right policies and investments, this could be an important area of growth.  Supporting this trend, fellow panelist Bob Nelson, President of CWG Midwest cited data from the growth of his e-waste recycling company, like the 20% increase in the recycling of cell phones.

Smart Jobs – Panelists were quick to note that often our job concerns focus on manufacturing, when the real opportunities for growth are in services and other “skilled, high wage” businesses.  Georgetown Business Professor J. Bradford Jensen says the smart business service sector is 25% of all jobs (vs. only 10% in manufacturing), suggesting this is where we need to focus.  Paul Delaney, a representative from FedEx Express concurred, even noting that IBM 20 years ago was about 80% manufacturing and 20% services now is 80% services and 20% manufacturing.

Broad(band) Jobs – Robert Shapiro, a Senior Policy Fellow at the Georgetown Center, brought to light the economic reality that job creation has now declined relative to economic growth, and therefore, we can no longer be complacent about job growth. He believes that broadband deployment will be key to new jobs, generating job growth in infrastructure, devices, and applications.  Fellow panelist Nicol Turner-Lee agreed noting that with increased digital literacy opportunities, minority and low-income communities could benefit from economic success.

Shapiro also noted that communities with broadband had more job growth than those without, demonstrating the increased labor value of those who work with these technologies.  He says we need policies that support investment in broadband and cautioned the Administration and Congress about policy changes that could weaken these investments.

Read more about broadband and jobs in this report from the Brookings Institute and this report from ITIF, and watch the video below for more from Robert Shapiro.

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Among the headlining speakers that included Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, Sierra Club Executive Chair Carl Pope, and U.S. Senator John Kerry at the Good Jobs, Green Jobs National Conference was Jim Cicconi, AT&T’s Senior Executive Vice President for External & Legislative Affairs. AT&T offered a unique perspective among an array of green activists and politicians, by talking about the important contributions that broadband is making to our green economy and low carbon future.

Cicconi began by thanking fellow conference participants, including the Blue Green Alliance for their recent report, Networking the Green Economy: How Broadband and Related Technologies Can Build a Green Economic Future. The report talks about the potential of broadband to spur job growth through the development of smart buildings, smart grids, telehealth, teleconferencing, and digital education. Cicconi also referenced the Smart 2020 report, which found that the large-scale adoption of broadband in the United States can reduce CO2 emissions by 13 to 22 percent by 2020 “by transforming the way people and businesses use technology.”

Cicconi touted the $55 billion that AT&T has invested in their networks over the past three years, and outlined plans to invest between $18 and $19 billion this year, an increase of 5 to 10 percent over last year. It is precisely this level of investment that will power our green job future. Finally, Cicconi reminded the audience of the need to maintain the kind of climate conducive to these kinds of capital investments, which are so critical in increasing deployment and adoption of the green technologies that were highlighted at the event.

Click below to watch archived footage of Cicconi’s remarks.

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You have probably heard us talk about how broadband is green in terms of enabling everything from the smart grid to telecommuting. And while this is all true (check out our “Broadband and Green Technology” page), what we haven’t highlighted is what American telecom companies are doing to lead the way in energy efficiency standards. Chuck Graff, Director of Core Network and Technologies at Verizon presented at the Broadband Properties Summit on what Verizon is doing to be a leader in energy efficiency. Verizon has a set of energy efficiency initiatives that include electrical, environmental and energy requirements, all with the purpose of reducing carbon emissions. Click below to learn more about how Verizon is leading the way.

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With so much talk about sustainability, climate change, renewable resources, and the like, Earth Day has really caught on this year. But here at NextGenWeb, we make a conscious effort every day to highlight the part broadband is playing in the environmental movement (Make sure to check out our “Broadband and Green Technology” page). Whether it be enabling the smartgrid or allowing customers to reduce their carbon footprint by telecommuting, broadband and broadband-enabled technologies are stepping up to the plate.

This year, we wanted to take the opportunity to highlight what some of America’s broadband service providers are doing to celebrate Earth Day. AT&T is the exclusive mobile phone sponsor of this year’s Earth Day celebration on the national mall. They are also supporting Earth Day Network’s “1 Billion Acts of Green Campaign.” Some of the initiatives for this campaign include the AT&T ZERO Charger, the first mobile phone charger that does not waste power when plugged in but not in use; a transition to smaller packaging for wireless accessories; and the rolling out of its 1000th alternative-fuel vehicle. To see more about the AT&T Green Fleet, check out NextGenWeb’s video from last year’s SuperComm below!

Verizon has launched a comprehensive sustainability campaign aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Some of the green initiatives that make up this campaign include adding 1,600 alternative energy vehicles to Verizon’s fleet; partnering with the utility sector to help increase deployment of smart-grid technology; and teaming up with Motorola to produce eco-friendly set top boxes for FiOS TV customers. To learn more about the sustainability campaign, check out this video entitled “How Verizon is reducing its carbon footprint.”

Not only is broadband playing a vital role in the green movement, but America’s broadband service providers are leading the way through original sustainability campaigns that demonstrate their commitment to the cause. We hope that you will join NextGenWeb in finding new and innovative ways to utilize broadband for the ultimate goal of preserving our planet. And feel free to share your broadband experiences in the comment section below!

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On Tuesday, April 20 National Journal Live hosted “Inside the Issue: Climate Change.” Click below to watch archived footage from NextGenWeb’s live stream of the event.

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Broadband can be a key player in driving the United States towards a new “Green Economy.” That was the message delivered by four organizations on Capitol Hill this week. The Progressive States Network, in collaboration with the Blue Green Alliance, the Sierra Club and Communications Workers of America, unveiled a new report titled, “Networking the Green Economy: How Broadband and Related Technologies Can Build a Green Economic Future.”

Nathan Newman, Executive Director of the Progressive States Network, said that broadband can reduce energy in various ways, including smart meters in homes and businesses, telehealth, teleconference and telecommuting, and e-commerce. Newman also stressed the immense cost savings that broadband would bring in these same sectors. See NGW’s interview with Newman below.

Annie Hill, Executive Vice President for the Communications Workers of America, carried a jobs message and said that increased broadband deployment brings with it immense opportunity for gainful employment. “Investment in the green economy is the job creator of the 21st century, and broadband is part of that investment,” Hill said.

Allison Chin, President of the Sierra Club, discussed broadband and smart meters. Chin stressed the importance of ubiquitous broadband so that all consumers can track their energy usage, and in turn be more energy efficient. Check out NGW’s interview with the Sierra Club President below.

As the event drew to a close, Congressman Ed Markey, Chairman of the US House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, congratulated the organizations for their work on the report. He stressed the importance of the transition to a new green economy, and the fundamental role broadband will play in that transition.

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What role does broadband have to play in the future of smart grids and energy conservation? A lot, according to some very interesting presentations recently at Verizon’s Washington, D.C. headquarters.

The event, titled “Thinking ‘Outside’ the Smart-Meter Box,” was organized by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and hosted by Verizon. Kathy Brown, Verizon’s SVP for Public Policy Development and Corporate Responsibility, kicked off the event by noting that, “information technology will lead us to be a more energy efficient people.”

Karen Ehrhardt of ACEEE began the discussion by reviewing new research on consumer behavior regarding energy consumption. She presented products that will help consumers decrease their energy use, including broadband-enabled smart meters. Kat Donnelly of MIT followed by highlighting consumer feedback technologies as well as presenting on some of the social barriers to adoption of new energy tracking tools. She said the primary barrier is the fact that energy is now an invisible resource – people are disconnected from their actual consumption.

Finally, Benson Hougland of Opto 22 gave a live demonstration of technologies he installed in his home to track energy consumption. Hougland was able to control appliances in his home in California remotely from the event in DC, measure energy usage in real-time, and calculate cost savings due to energy conservation. All of these technologies were made possible by connecting his electricity meter to his broadband modem. Though Hougland wrote special software to allow for the seamless integration of all his appliances, his presentation exemplified the power of broadband and provided a window into a future where the consumer has more control over their energy consumption. A future that, thanks to innovative broadband networks, is just around the corner.

Click below to watch archived footage from the event, as well as an interview with Benson Hougland.

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On Wednesday, November 4 National Journal Group’s hosted a policy breakfast titled “Countdown to Copenhagen” featuring a conversation on climate change policy with Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).

Click below to watch archived footage of the event.

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