The current hot topic in alternative energy is how the new big solar and wind power installations are swamping an already over-worked national power grid. The problem stems from the practice of siting the largest power stations far from the end users. There are numbers in the trillions of dollars being quoted as the only way to fix this huge problem.
Part of this problem would go away immediately if we started inserting one word into our thinking: Decentralize. Yes, Nevada and Arizona are perfect places for solar farms. But so are California, Florida, Texas, and areas near population centers in many other states. Yes, Montana and Nebraska are perfect places for wind farms. But so are most of the coastal states (areas of population clusters), as well as areas around the Great Lakes.
I find it hard to understand why we wouldn’t site these farms nearer to cities. We have had no difficulties siting coal plants and nuclear plants a few miles from the cities they service. Even if some large minority of our clean power could be generated near cities, that would lighten the load on the grid, not increase it, saving much if not most of the “required trillions” for upgrading the grid.
Here in Western Massachusetts, we have a long (100+-year) history of successful municipal, community-owned power generation that today provides electricity (successfully) to cities and towns up and down the Connecticut River. With their own electric companies, these towns seem to be able to manage quite well, delivering superior service to their customers. Even storm-related power outages, not uncommon in New England, are far less common where the town owns the production/distribution system.
This doesn’t even begin to take into account the ability/willingness of individual property owners to site smaller generating stations within their communities, cutting infrastructure use even further.
More money and centralized production are not always the right answer. Has anyone seen research or even news coverage that agrees with this, or that proves it wrong? Let me know — I love being proved wrong.