We are very pleased to announce that Kindling Group has been awarded a grant from the Illinois Science and Energy Innovation Foundation (ISEIF) to help raise awareness about our state’s smart grid rollout through documentary and storytelling. We’re part of a cohort of grantees this year that includes the Shedd Aquarium, Archeworks, the Delta Institute, and the Galvin Center at IIT — and we’ll all be collaborating in explaining to Illinoisans how the heck the smart grid works, and why it’s so important.
A little more about the project, from ISEIF:
“ISEIF was formed as a part of the Illinois Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2011 (EIMA), or, the Smart Grid Law, which mandated the creation of a $50 million fund ($5 million per year over ten years) to ensure consumers understand and have access to the benefits of the new smart grid. ISEIF’s fund is ... dedicated to educating Illinois consumers on the benefits of a stronger electrical system that will save residents billions by reducing outages, increasing efficiencies, and providing faster restoration times.
“‘Engagement at this scale, and with as diverse a demographic as that of Illinois, is unprecedented in the area of the smart grid,’ said Jason Blumberg, Executive Director of ISEIF. ‘We have a unique opportunity to further consumer understanding of the smart grid and also beyond that, to enhance their understanding of electricity and energy use in their everyday lives.’”
Kindling Group has the exciting and challenging task of supporting the important work happening on the ground to educate consumers about the smart grid’s benefits — for our wallets and the environment — using digital and video storytelling. We’ll be looking for compelling stories of how this technology is making a difference all over the state and upping its impact — and we can’t wait to jump in!