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Idaho start-up wins federal funding: M2M Communications receives $2.1 millionOct 29, 2009 (The Times-News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- M2M Communica-tions in Boise was awarded a $2.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, part of a $3.4 billion federal investment to modernize the nation's power grid. The awards were announced today. M2M, which makes web-to-wireless monitoring and control solutions, works primarily with electric utilities to reduce their peak load through control of irrigation pumps. The company will use the funds to install smart grid-compatible irrigation load control systems in California's Central Valley to reduce peak electric demand in the state. In August, M2M was named the fifth fastest-growing company in Idaho by Inc. Magazine. M2M was the only private firm in Idaho, and one of just four private companies nationwide, to win one of the competitive grants. A total of 100 grants will be awarded, primarily to utility companies. Idaho Power will receive $47 million to modernize its electric transmission and distribution infrastructure, including deploying a smart meter network for all 475,000 customers. It also will implement an outage management system and irrigation load control program that will reduce peak and overall energy use and improve system reliability. "We heartily congratulate M2M Communica-tions for receiving one of the 100 awards granted nationally," said Don Dietrich, Director of the Idaho Department of Commerce. M2M received assistance in applying for the grant through the Department of Commerce. To see more of The Times-News, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.magicvalley.com Copyright (c) 2009, The Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |