Grid Expansion A Must: Part II
It’s no secret that wind turbines and solar panels are getting a lot of attention as a means to reduce the United States’ dependence on foreign oil. You don’t hear much about fuel cells except for vehicles, which hasn’t reached the market. Which ever alternative energy means is used will not be of much significance if the existing power grid is not upgraded. The aging electric infrastructure cannot handle the stress that alternative energy sources put out, such as wind turbines which produce power that is variable and intermittent. Upgrading the grid will cause some problems and business issues as far as the utilities are concerned. Politics will also play a part.
The rush to erect turbines all over the place may need to slow down until this problem is at least addressed. Even in the mid 80s, articles began to appear on the deterioration of the power grid and the increased demand for power. People today are becoming more and more worried about the power grid. When Y2K came about, it did a great deal to increase awareness of small standby generating systems. It caused a glut in the marketplace and an increased awareness for portable generators and standby units. And who can forget the mass blackout of August 2003 that immobilized the parts of the east coast, Midwest and Canada. I remember it because I was in Washington D.C. and stayed an extra day because there was no power at home. The potential advantages of alternative energy will not be maximized if the power grid is not attended to.
