General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forumswho owns/operates transmission lines? This article has me thinking..
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/15/business/energy-environment/intermittent-nature-of-green-power-is-challenge-for-utilities.html?hp
I am know there are separate entities that operate the transmission - but if the transmission lines are owned by companies that own other coal power companies - then there is no incentive for them to upgrade the lines that will only end up hurting their own business.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)It's the whole New Deal idea of "let's empower and then heavily regulate one company"; same idea behind the original Ma Bell. I don't know that there's an issue with some nefarious coal-driven plot so much as there's really just an unbelievable amount of bureaucratic inertia in these organizations, by design.
PDJane
(10,103 posts)While generation should be able to be diversified, the grid should be unified. Solar, wind, wave, and geothermal power should feed into a grid, with possibility of storage somewhere along the line.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)And that includes industrial wind, that requires peaker plants for grid stability.
We really need, as a species, to remove the profit from this, make is into locally owned public utilities, and try nascent technology...such as bladeless wind and distributive grids.
But it makes Siemens look green
Germany's wind industry might prove a warning. And no, I am not against green tech, like some here believe, but have read enough into the current system to believe it is a scam by utilities worried about the necessary changes to the current utility model.
Pretzel_Warrior
(8,361 posts)nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)You are right...
The wind industry is not going bust in Germany...except it is
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-offshore-wind-industry-goes-from-boom-to-bust-a-914158.html
And Siemens (the larger purveyor of industrial wind mills) is not in trouble, except it is
http://www.windpowermonthly.com/article/1193648/siemens-wind-division-profits-dive
And peaker plants are not my imagination
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-05-19/business/ct-biz-demand-response-20130519_1_grid-pjm-interconnection-peaker
You should research distributive networks and why the industry fears them. Free clue, these are far greener than the current centralized model.
Pretzel_Warrior
(8,361 posts)and many wind power tie in projects including addition of substations is being handeled by Bonneville Power Administration and Tennessee Valley Authority.
COLGATE4
(14,732 posts)not more transmission corridors- NIMBY. A major electric utility I worked with in Michigan saw its plans to increase transmission lines (desperately needed at the time) totally stymied by 'not in MY backyard'. Claims of possible death (EMT) or cancer from these electric lines, damage to the aesthetics and a general 'hell no, I don't want it - sue me" made the project drop dead. Hasn't been revived to this day.