Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Why the U.S. is struggling to modernize the electric grid
cnbc vis msn ^ | 8/15/2022 | Nathaniel Lee -

Posted on 08/17/2022 11:22:10 AM PDT by RomanSoldier19

Blackouts are growing more frequent in the United States. The average American experienced just over eight hours of power outages in 2020, with overall duration of power interruptions in the U.S. more than doubling since 2015, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

"This is not because the grid has changed, but because there is so much greater threat from extreme weather," said Alison Silverstein, an independent consultant at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. "And the number of extreme weather events of every kind have increased significantly over the last decade, in particular."

Despite the Biden administration's effort to improve the situation, recent actions would suggest the federal government lacks the ability to enforce a grid modernization.

There were a total of 549 policy and deployment actions on grid modernization during the second quarter of 2022, but of the $12.86 billion in investment under consideration, regulators only approved $478.7 million, according to the NC Clean Energy Technology Center.

(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: grid; us
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-47 next last

1 posted on 08/17/2022 11:22:10 AM PDT by RomanSoldier19
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: RomanSoldier19

“recent actions would suggest the federal government lacks the ability to enforce a grid modernization”

Also lacks the authority. If a state like California is run — as it is— by incompetent ideologues then let th at state wallow in its own dark misery.


2 posted on 08/17/2022 11:25:34 AM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion, or satire, or both.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RomanSoldier19

Complete bull hockey - “but because there is so much greater threat from extreme weather”

The utilities can’t expand capital investment beyond their approved rate cases, rate cases approved by the gummint.

Don’t Lie. To. Me.


3 posted on 08/17/2022 11:26:42 AM PDT by Blueflag (Res ipsa loquitur: ad ferre non, velit esse sine defensione)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RomanSoldier19

Yeah - that’s a load of malarkey.

The fact of the matter is that all the immigration has greatly expanded development all over the nation including into flood plains and areas that were largely deserted so ANY storm is more likely to affect infrastructure.

So your same dollars are, even with the increases, are being stretched thinner and thinner.

Our government SUCKS and it’s time we acknowledge it.


4 posted on 08/17/2022 11:26:59 AM PDT by Skywise
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RomanSoldier19

“...the number of extreme weather events of every kind have increased significantly over the last decade...”

Does the wench have a link to those data?


5 posted on 08/17/2022 11:27:25 AM PDT by Paladin2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RomanSoldier19

Because government pisses the money away on solar and wind turbines and graft.


6 posted on 08/17/2022 11:28:18 AM PDT by Gaffer (Infidel, and proud of it!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RomanSoldier19

Utilities are just like every other business (and organization) that get less and less efficient as they grow. Part of that phenomenon is sacrificing the quality of your product or service in favor of benefiting yourself in the short term.


7 posted on 08/17/2022 11:28:55 AM PDT by z3n (Kakistocracy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RomanSoldier19

This nation needs an additional 30 nuclear power plants. But the fed restricts what states can invest in and pushes “GREEN ENERGY” (But they don’t consider nuclear as green).

Yes, we also need to expand the distribution of electricity and invest in additional pathways.

Unfortunately, the cost to install and maintain windmills and solar panels is a lot higher per unit of energy produced than conventional nuclear and fossil fuel systems. And that is not going to change in the next 30 to 50 years.

So we will continue to do nothing but push more electrical use because the wackos believe it will stop this interglacial warming.


8 posted on 08/17/2022 11:29:16 AM PDT by Tenacious 1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RomanSoldier19

There also isn’t enough workers, be it lineman, designers, engineers, etc.
We are so behind on work it’s crazy.
There’s a Fed program called LTIIP that gives utilities money for upgrades.
It’s almost impossible to keep up.


9 posted on 08/17/2022 11:31:11 AM PDT by EEGator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RomanSoldier19

LOL

1. Interruptible energy supplies I.e. wind and solar, are gee, INTERRUPTIBLE!
2. Permitting
3. Regulatory process


10 posted on 08/17/2022 11:31:26 AM PDT by Chgogal (Uncle Brandon wants your money.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RomanSoldier19

Read until line three — garbage is all that emanates from MSN.


11 posted on 08/17/2022 11:32:19 AM PDT by George from New England
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RomanSoldier19
Looks like a poor power grid, bad roads, deteriorating subways, buses , ... it is all part of the plan.
12 posted on 08/17/2022 11:34:53 AM PDT by mountainlion (Live well for those that did not make it back.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RomanSoldier19

13 posted on 08/17/2022 11:35:44 AM PDT by Seruzawa ("The Political left is the Garden of Eden of incompetence" - Marx the Smarter (Groucho))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RomanSoldier19
Blackouts are growing more frequent in the United States.

True.

"This is not because the grid has changed, but because there is so much greater threat from extreme weather,"

Bullcrap

It's because the US has not properly maintained and improved the Grid.

Instead, they wasted and squandered the money for Infrastructure Maintenance and Improvement on Far Leftist Socialist Giveaways and associated corruption.

14 posted on 08/17/2022 11:37:11 AM PDT by Navy Patriot (Celebrate Decivilization)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tenacious 1

It would help if we made our own steel, transmission lines, and transformers.


15 posted on 08/17/2022 11:37:31 AM PDT by VanShuyten ("...that all the donkeys were dead. I know nothing as to the fate of the less valuable animals)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: RomanSoldier19

You can’t shut down 100GWs of 24/7/365 reliable baseload and sacrifice it on the altar of unreliable wind and solar and expect there to be no problems. It’s not the grid, it’s the brain dead “progressive” policies that are actually regressive in real life.


16 posted on 08/17/2022 11:39:22 AM PDT by dynoman (Objectivity is the essence of intelligence. - Marilyn vos Savant)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RomanSoldier19

During the 90s when temperatures were rising they SCREECHED that it was what happens when global warming is the cause. Now when temperatures are stable they point at the most severe weather events and say that’s what happens when global warming is the cause.

Shouldn’t someone tell them to get their story straight?


17 posted on 08/17/2022 11:41:36 AM PDT by nagant
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RomanSoldier19

* $13 billion in investment under consideration
* $0.5 billion approved by regulators only

That is LESS THAN 4% for those of you in Rio Linda.

But, naturally, it’s the WEATHER, not the government’s fault.


18 posted on 08/17/2022 11:42:22 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (“May your neighbors respect you, trouble neglect you, angels protect you and heaven accept you”)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RomanSoldier19

Energy companies are slow walked... bery slowly, bery barry swooooolee... until they give up.


19 posted on 08/17/2022 11:44:21 AM PDT by Clutch Martin ("The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right." )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EEGator

In the sunny states like here in AZ. I can see some home owners going as self reliant as they can with solar.

I will install a 6000 watt solar system very soon. I dont care to supply for return to the grid, but care to simply cut off the expense of the bills which are rising rapidly.

Get the friggan government to hell out of the way with their typical tax scams and it will all correct. I would sooner save 150 bucks a month on my power bill than to get a 200 dollar tax rebate-or whatever it is, after filing all the paperwork at the end of the year.


20 posted on 08/17/2022 11:45:56 AM PDT by crz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-47 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson