On April 20, the city of Miami announced the start of a $200 million Smart Grid initiative that aims to connect every home and business in Miami-Dade County by 2011.

That’s right, every home and business. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to what city leaders are dubbing “Energy Smart Miami” – the largest Smart Grid program in the U.S.

Led by state utility company Florida Power & Light, an initial buildout to 1,000 homes will test different devices and services such as dashboards, smart thermostats, smart appliances and demand response software that are designed to help consumers more actively manage their energy consumption.

To achieve this end, the Smart Grid network will take advantage of numerous applications that utilize wireless hardware, different types of software – even cell phones. Third-party providers are already in heated competition and lining up to show that their apps are tops.

There’s a lot at stake. If the program is successful, FPL plans to invest another $500 million to provide the smart service to all of its 4.5 million customers.

All in all, it’s proof positive that a connected community will position itself to reap unimagined economic benefits.

A simple and powerful idea for communities is constructing Smart Grids and their broadband network at the same time. After all, a broadband network has a similar structure as an electricity network — long-distance transmission, feeder lines to local hubs and fixed and wireless users.

At the Knight Center of Digital Excellence, we feel Miami’s efforts will not only take advantage of the work we’re already doing there to establish broadband networks, but will create overall efficiencies in how business is conducted.