Grappling with the grid

Energy experts generally agree to the fact that the electrical supply and distribution grid is in time for an upgrade; especially so if renewable energy sources like wind power are going to be used.

It was just last week when investor T. Boone Pickens said that he’s halting his planned four-gigawatt wind farm in Texas partly because of a lack of transmission lines to carry the power from the farm to urban centers. The president and CEO of the Electric Power Research Institute, Steven Specker, says that the lack of such transmission is the biggest obstacle to the growth of renewables.

On the other hand, Paul Jocksow, president of the Sloan Foundation and a professor of economics at MIT says that building high-power transmission lines across the country is only a dream. He goes on to say, <blockquote>It’s expensive. It’s politically contentious. In the end, I think you’re better off spending the money on other things.</blockquote> And why wouldn’t he? A national system would also be expensive. A study by the utility AEP suggests that a new national system of 19,000 miles of high-voltage lines would cost $60 billion.

What’s more, some politicians have moved to block such lines because wind power from North Dakota could threaten local wind power companies in places such as New England.

High costs, differing opinions, local politics and low investor confidence is making the new grid a difficult affair. And unfortunately, the answer is not blowing in the wind.