Green Junction - Powering the Future: Meeting Growing Energy Demands
Between 2000 and 2010, electricity consumption in the United States slowed, mostly due to increases in efficiency – light bulbs, appliances, etc. Light bulbs (incandescent bulbs) topped the list of electricity use before 2000. By 2018, they slid to 6th place, behind heating, cooling and appliances, thanks to the emergence of efficient LED light bulbs. Since 2020, the cost of electricity has risen by more than 30%, driven by a number of factors.
The explosion of data centers is a reason in many areas for the increase in electrical output and cost. Another major factor is the expense of repairs and new construction related to the outdated electrical grid, the distributor of the electricity. Former secretary of Energy, Bill Richardson, warned “We are producing a lot more energy from renewable sources than we were 10 years ago—yet it’s not clear our faltering grid systems are capable of transmitting it from sites far removed from the population centers.” And Robinson Myer, the founding executive editor of Heatmap, explains in his recent article “Much of America’s distribution equipment is decades old and nearing the end of its life around now. We need to upgrade and expand the transmission system.”
Myer’s analysis suggests that updates to the grid and incentives for clean electricity are critical. “We will simply need more electricity to meet our needs. Congress must pass permitting reform this year to make it easier for governments and companies to build new solar farms, wind farms and power lines.” He states “investment in the grid is borne mainly by electricity customers through their power bills,” and advocates “Tech companies should be made to finance long-term improvements to the grid by contributing to a national grid modernization fund.”
In the construction of our house several years ago, we chose geothermal for heating and cooling and all electrical appliances to preclude the need for gas. Last year, we invested in solar and battery power and now the sun’s energy supplies most of our energy requirements. I envision a future where this type of clean energy is the standard for new housing. There are good solutions to meet our energy needs if we work together with a vision to improve electrical systems in an equitable manner.