ATLANTA — General Electric Co. says it will locate its $15 million Smart Grid Center of Excellence in south Cobb County, a project it says will create 400 jobs.
The complex near the Cobb Galleria will include the world headquarters of GE's new digital energy business, a smart grid engineering laboratory, and an exhibition area showing how the smart grid works.
Smart grid is the name given to a digital technology system for distribution of electricity to consumers. Advocates say it improves the regulation of power demand and supply.
Georgia Tech, which received a federal grant for training people in the technology, will take part in the project.
"Atlanta is an ideal location for us to continue to grow our smart grid business," said Bob Gilligan, vice president, digital energy for GE Energy Services. "This new center of excellence will strengthen our green workforce and help GE continue to create solutions to better address our 21st century energy needs."
"GE Energy's decision to expand its presence in Georgia through the opening of the Smart Grid Technology Center of Excellence supports our state's strategic growth as a global leader in the energy sector," said Governor Sonny Perdue.