Study focuses on electric cars’ effect on power grid (video)
AUSTIN, TX (KTRK) — Electric cars could be the wave of the future, but as they hit the roads, they have to get their charges. And that means they’ll pull power from the state’s power grid. Researchers in Austin are working to figure out what kind of strain that would put on energy resources, and [...] Read More »
Austin community participates in energy-saving study (video)
"We're working with these companies and real customers to find out what it is that people like enough that they'll go spend their own dollars buying," McCracken said. Read More »
Job Posting: Pecan Street Inc. seeks Technical Writer
Pecan Street Inc. seeks a Senior Technical Writer for the production of Blueprint Solutions and Implementation Guides developed by the Pecan Street Consortium. This position will require close collaboration with the organization’s staff, funded researchers and member companies. Read More »
Plugging in: No Compromises. (Almost) No Gas.
The Fishers are among about 20 volunteer participants in Pecan Street’s smart grid demonstration project who have already purchased or leased a Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle. “When you’re an early adopter, you expect a few rough edges,” Fisher said. “But we haven’t found any. It’s the nicest car I’ve ever owned.” Read More »
Pecan Street Inc. and New $1.5 Million Lab Give Students Hands-On Research Experience
"There is no other university in the nation where students and professors are working this directly ... on developing and testing real-world applications at the intersection of electricity systems, big data and consumer technologies." – Brewster McCracken, Executive Director, Pecan Street Inc. Read More »
Austin Icons Revisit MCC
Pecan Street Inc. was pleased to host an historic look back at the MCC competition and what it meant to Texas. Moderated by Evan Smith, CEO of the Texas Tribune, the event featured former Governor Mark White, Pike Powers, Ben Streetman and Bob Inman. Read More »
A Few Smart Ideas to Clean Up and Re-energize Cities
One area where much innovation is needed in urban environments is energy. The Pecan Street project in Austin, Texas is becoming a living laboratory of sustainability and energy efficiency. Read More »
Pecan Street’s aim: Create path for consumers into smart grid’s future
As a lab, Pecan Street wants to be where the New Energy Economy is tested and verified before it goes to market. By extension, McCracken expects many of the innovators to base their companies here. Read More »
Red State, Green City: How Austin Has Become America’s Clean-Tech Hub
Nowhere is that clearer than in the Pecan Street project, a pioneering smart-grid research and demonstration program based in Austin's historic Mueller neighborhood. Pecan Street is a collaboration between Austin Energy, the Environmental Defense Fund, the city of Austin and the university, with much of its financing provided by the 2009 federal stimulus bill. The study is detailing energy and water use at the residential level, gathering data that most utilities barely have a handle on. Read More »
Pecan Street featured on EnergyNOW (Video)
The smart grid conjures up images of controlling home energy use with iPhones and utilities communicating with customers in real time like never before. But across most of the country, the smart grid is more fantasy than reality – except in the Lone Star State. Correspondent Josh Zepps reports from Austin, Texas on the Pecan [...] Read More »