Posted by
Brenda Bee on Sunday, August 31, 2008 1:23:11 PM
The article below is the first in a
New York Times series on energy needs, possibilities and problems
in the United States. The first sentence quoted "The dirty secret of clean energy is that while generating it is getting easier, moving it to market is not." is the kicker. No matter what energy source we use the problem is our antiquated and mismanaged power grid.
Not only is the grid unable to carry the amount of energy needed even
today, it has approximately 500 owners! Yes the 200,000+ miles of
transmission lines belong to 500 companies. All of these companies
have their own policies for use of their lines, plus the 50 states all
have their own regulations dealing with the transmission of energy.
This makes it impossible for a solar energy farm in the desert of the
southwest to transmit power to the large cities where it is needed.
What is needed is for the federal government to take over the
management and ownership the nation's power grid just as they once had
to take over and build an Interstate highway system. Before President
Eisenhower demanded Congress make easy travel possible all across the
country the roads were miserable as they changed from state line to
state line.
Eisenhower knew from his experience in moving his army in Europe over
both miserable and good roads just how important decent highways were
a country. He knew that our economy's growth would be curtailed
unless companies were able to move products quickly and easily across
the country. So the federal government stepped into the breech and our
economy and very way of life has changed because of it.
I personally hate the federal government's involvement in my life but
there are certain things that only the federal government can do and
the national power grid is one of these things. If we are ever to
achieve some energy self sufficiency this must be done.
This is a large and rather all inclusive series so you may want to pick
and choose, but by all means check it out. This is our only future if
we are to continue to prosper. It is also the only way the United
States can become independent of the fickle world leaders and the
blackmail that has so often been used to tie our hands when action was
needed.
This latest crisis with Russia invading Georgia is a prime example of
energy blackmail. The European countries are dependent on Russian oil
so our President's hands were tied as were those of the other NATO
countries. Of course this was all planned by the Russian leaders of
whom many if not most come from the ranks of the KGB. Putin and his
communist-in-hiding are on the march and oil is their ace in the hole.
It behooves all of us to understand the energy crisis, needs and
possible future and to get the message to our Congressmen. In fact,
if the federal government wants to get our economy moving this project
would certainly provide the jobs to stimulate the economy much better
than the ill conceived "stimulus package".
The articles also speaks to the gasoline shortage. BB
Wind Energy Bumps Into Power Grid’s Limits
Published: August 26, 2008 http://nytimes.com/ref/science/earth/energy.html
"The dirty secret of clean energy is that while generating it is getting easier, moving it to market is not.
The grid
today, according to experts, is a system conceived 100 years ago to let
utilities prop each other up, reducing blackouts and sharing power in
small regions. It resembles a network of streets, avenues and country
roads.
“We need an interstate transmission superhighway system,” said Suedeen G. Kelly, a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. "