Vermont Law School in South Royalton is getting a $450,000 grant to do research on smart grid technology.
The idea is to update the power grid in the United States.
Smart grid systems use digital technology to move power more efficiently, cutting usage and peak demand and saving money.
Congressman Peter Welch says the money will help the school’s Institute for Energy and the Environment become a national leader in smart grid implementation standards.
Welch says the grant will enhance the law school’s leadership in the field. It will also lay the regulatory and legal groundwork for when the company adopts grid technology.
Last fall Vermont won $69 million in federal stimulus funds to help create a smart grid system.