Senator Harry Reid and the Unified Smart Grid

Ever since reading Thomas Friedman’s seminal work on energy and America’s future “Hot, Flat and Crowded”, I have been touting the need to convert to a smart grid.

Here is a great definition and explanation of what the ‘smart grid’ is and how it will benefit America, from Repoweramerica.org:

Unified National Smart Grid and what it means to you and I

The Problem: The US electricity transmission and distribution system – or ‘grid’ — is in critical need of an upgrade. It is old, balkanized and too limited in its reach. The current grid is a series of independently operating regional grids – it can’t meet the needs of a nation whose economy would benefit substantially from the system optimization that comes with national interconnection. Its limitations and vulnerability to failure are also reported to cost the nation $80 billion to $188 billion per year in losses due to grid-related power outages and power quality issues.¹ And most critical to clean energy development, areas rich in renewable resources like solar, wind and geothermal are currently not well-served and thus have no ‘highway’ available to move power outputs to the markets where that power is needed.

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A smart grid? What is it? Why? How? Now?

The Smart Grid involves the use of communications and computing technology to transmit and distribute energy more efficiently. This video describes the smart grid and how it will reduce our carbon footprint through energy efficiency and the integration of renewable sources of energy.

Featuring interviews recorded at the IEEE Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles: Accelerating Innovation Conference (2007) and the IEEE Energy 2030 Conference (2008).

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To Our Leaders: Give Us 100% Clean Electricity in 10 Years

We must save our economy, lower fuel costs, free ourselves from our addiction to oil, and solve the climate crisis. To do this, we must demand that we Repower America with 100% clean electricity within 10 years. Go to http://www.wecansolveit.org/

What the experts are saying:

Lee Thomas — Former EPA Administrator (under President Reagan)

“Our environment, economy and national security interests are threatened as never before. It’s time for all of us to commit to a comprehensive plan to break free of these threats. Al Gore is challenging each of us to be a part of the solution. I believe it will take this kind of bold initiatives and strong national leadership if we are to be successful.”