We are at
a crossroads in a lot of social, political, economical, environmental, and
moral issues, not only in this country, but throughout the world.
Here at
home, three main issues need to be addressed in the future of electricity
planning.
1.
Our power plants and
transmission grid system is getting old, and need massive replacement and
upgrades.
2.
Regulations on
pollution and climate change gases will continue to get tighter, as science and
the resultant ramifications eventually trump politics.
3.
The cost of cleaner
renewables is rapidly coming down, and beginning to gain significant market
share.
The current cost of building
two new nuclear reactors in Georgia is estimated between $14-25 billion. Just to replace the 100+ current reactors in
the US which will soon end their lives will potentially cost $2+
trillion??!! Add another trillion $$$s
for upgrading the grid, decommissioning those nukes, isolating nuclear wastes,
and other technical necessities, and the future costs are astronomical.
Meanwhile, Solyndra and
other solar companies are going bankrupt because they cannot compete with the decreasing
costs of solar equipment. A lot of this
is driven by the huge subsidies China is giving its solar industries, which we
should also be doing. Instead we quibble
yearly about renewable tax credits and incentives, spend millions to “fight”
the subversive renewable industry, and offer billions in support of the dying
(if not dead) nuclear industry.
One would think that without
federal aid and subsidy, renewables would continue to be a “hippie” dream. Not true!
Solar and wind are making major inroads in this country’s energy mix in
spite of the “big” business model. It
all boils down to the old argument of centralized vs. de-centralized
technology. Where once, an individual person was responsible on
their own for installing solar on their rooftop, there are now associations of
residents and neighborhoods leasing and buying into community solar projects,
ie. panels on the roof of a large church where individuals and financing
entities share in the profits of solar electricity.
One drawback of solar PV is
that it produces DC power, and inverters to make it “grid compatible” were
expensive and bulky. Not any more. Buy a panel or two, and just plug into a wall
socket, and run your meter backwards!
And remember, this is coming
DOWN in price, as more and more small entrepreneurs , communities, individuals,
and local agencies begin to realize the values and benefits…economic,
sustainability, environmental, and social...that doing for yourself
offers. Just the tip of the iceberg,
and big energy is trying to melt! Just
think of what we could accomplish if we had the full support of the federal
government!
Meanwhile, electricity rates
continue to go up in Florida for nuclear plants that will never be built
and the citizens in Japan
pay an enormous price for its once blind trust in the nuclear industry.
You know what? The “big boys” aren’t always that smart!
