Posted on 12/31/2019 5:04:43 AM PST by karpov
LA GRANDE, Ore.In this small town in eastern Oregon, renewable energy is widely popular. But the power lines needed to transmit it arent.
La Grande is one of many communities nationwide fighting against transmission lines being built to keep up with a surge in clean-power generation.
We need to develop more renewable energy, of course, but it shouldnt come at the cost of damage to our last remaining wild places, Brian Kelly, who helps lead a green group in the area, said of a proposed transmission line that would run through the nearby forest.
Utilities are under pressure to put up more power lines because many clean-energy plants are being built far from major cities. Renewable energy is generated from sources like the sun or wind that dont get depleted, unlike finite amounts of oil and coal.
There were about 2,500 planned or newly completed transmission projects in the U.S. last year, according to the Energy Information Administration. While the federal agency didnt have historical data on such projects, it estimates industry costs for transmission-related operations increased to $11.4 billion last year from $6.7 billion in 2009.
About 900 new plants, most of which produce renewable energy, were proposed last year, compared with 300 in 2004, said Glenn McGrath, an analyst with the federal agency.
Regardless of where you go, theres always some issueswhether its bats, whether its birds, whether its wealthy landowners who dont want their view interrupted, said Dan Shreve, wind-energy research director at consulting firm Wood Mackenzie. As a consequence, you see these initiatives drag on forever.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
Whats the point in making green fuel if you cannot share it? Am I reading this wrong? These people have energy but they cant capitalize on what they have because someone doesnt like how the wires would look? I wonder how those objecting would feel if someone sat them down and explained to them that without wires they would loose their power, their cell service, etc, etc....
The earth just keeps squeezing that stuff up.
Renewable energy is generated from sources like the sun or wind that dont get depleted, unlike finite amounts of oil and coal.
Using expensive windmills and solar panels with short lifespans that only work when the sun is shining or the wind is blowing. Snort.
Nobody is willing to allow new electrical infrastructure, but they all want electric cars. Electric cars are the stupidest thing ever.
Yea, tell them to use solar cells on their homes, that should work real well in Oregon!
Theres plenty of time to develop an alternative.
It’s almost as if someone(s) wants us back in the Dark Ages.
Lawyers f’ed up the nuclear power industry.
It’s likely done for unless I’m mistaken...
None of the sources flying under that label are cost effective in the open market. (meaning without gov't subsidies or tax credits)
Interstate commerce. Its a federal issue. Trump should stick it to Oregon. Teach them a lesson about big government.
No, One known problem with green energy (solar) is that it is irregular (day and night for example) so people who want to use it also need a battery or a grid. The battery technology is very expensive and so is the solar, but if solar is produced in too much abundance, it floods the grid with too much energy and must be distributed. So now moving to solar also involves building more transmission. That adds to the cost of solar so the renewable community is opposed to the idea. But they will have to build it anyway because nothing else works except having everyone go off the grid and put solar on the roof and batteries in the garage.
Since everyone cannot afford it, we have to have the government subsidize this plan. This is one reason why nuclear should be considered at places where the grid is already able to support. Nuclear will not fluctuate so is easier to handle with the grid.
LOL
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