Microgrid Alliance joins Association for Demand Response & Smart Grid
The Microgrid Alliance (MGA) and the Association for Demand Response & Smart Grid (ADS) announced today that they have joined forces, with the MGA becoming part of ADS. The Microgrid Alliance was established in early 2014 to bring together companies and individuals involved in or interested in the microgrid space so that they could exchange information and expertise, and collaborate on activities. ADS, founded in 2004, is the leading voice for the demand response and smart grid community, creating content, cooperative member activities, and events, both for ADS members and the broader DR and smart grid community.
"This is an exciting new development for ADS," said Howard Smith, Resource Planning and Operations Manager for Alabama Power and Chairman of ADS. "ADS considers the new advances in microgrids to be an important component under the smart grid umbrella, and we look forward to providing ADS members and members of the MGA with new resources and services in the microgrid area."
"We look forward to being a part of ADS," said Terry Mohn, CEO of General Microgrids, Inc. and Chairman of MGA. "The reputation and credibility that ADS has earned over the years provides us with a new opportunity to expand our efforts to educate, collaborate, and do new things." Mohn will become the Chair of the new Microgrids Committee within ADS.
"ADS has always taken a broad view of the electricity space as it is modernizing," said Dan Delurey, CEO of ADS. "We started as a DR organization, and remain the leader on that front. We then evolved to add a smart grid perspective, recognizing that the future of the industry is one of integrating a variety of resources and options in a way that planning and operation of the grid can be optimized. We see microgrids as an important option going forward and are pleased to be joining with the MGA.
"We are especially happy to merge these two groups together as we ramp up for the 12th annual National Town Meeting on Demand Response and Smart Grid," continued Delurey. "We certainly plan to include lessons learned and examples of microgrids on the agenda and program for the event coming up May 26-28 in Washington, DC."
