WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Carl Levin (D-MI) announced today that the Michigan Public Service Commission has been awarded $1,004,971 in funds to support the state’s transition to a smart electric grid. The funds are made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“This is a significant investment in Michigan’s public utilities and will help improve energy efficiency throughout the state,” said Stabenow. “Immediately, this creates new jobs and helps retrain current employees in these new and current technologies.”

“This is among the first steps in many needed to make our energy grid more efficient,” Levin said. “Making our energy grid smart will save energy and create jobs in Michigan.”

The commission will use the funds to prepare current staff and hire more employees to efficiently handle applications for proposed projects throughout the state that address renewable energy, carbon capture and storage, transmission line, smart grid and other greening technologies.