Today, the US Administration announced a new Smart City Initiative, investing $160 million in federal research and leveraging new technology collaborations to help communities tackle key challenges, including managing the effects of climate change and improving city services.

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy has tapped Envision Charlotte as the model for a national smart cities initiative named Envision America, which will launch in January 2016. Itron will be playing an integral supporting role for Envision America, a new nationwide nonprofit, issuing a challenge to accelerate deployment of innovative technologies that tackle energy, water, waste and air challenges to America's cities. Envision America will be hosting a boot camp for selected winning communities in January in Charlotte, NC where they will work with leading experts from industry and academia to diagnose needs, develop solutions and create new city initiatives.

For Itron, Envision America, means a meaningful and critical opportunity for our technology, services and solutions to step-up and stand behind the national vision of creating a more sustainable and resourceful America.

To read the full official White House Fact Sheet, click here.