Associated Press - November 24, 2009 5:44 PM ET

RICHLAND, Wash. (AP) - The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded nearly $89 million to Battelle Memorial Institute in Richland, Wash., to study ways to improve the electricity grid in the Pacific Northwest.

The stimulus grant announced Tuesday pays for much of a $177.6 million Pacific Northwest Smart Grid Demonstration Project. A "smart grid" uses computers and communication technology to optimize how electricity is generated, transmitted, distributed and used. The remainder of the money will come from other participants in the project, including utilities and technology companies.

Test sites for the project will be in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.

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