August 15, 2003

Power Failure Reveals a Creaky System, Energy Experts Believe

We take so much for granted in our affluent society, yet when cold, hard realities confront us, we often fail to bite the bullet and build what's needed to support our need for electricity.

All the arguments for renewable energy and conservation as a replacement for the increasing need for power and the associated transmission capacity ring hollow in the face of a blackout with millions of people negatively affected.

Vermont regulators have a major proposal before them for additional transmission capacity to modernize of Vermont's grid. Also present are the usual voices of opposition and their mostly hollow arguments for conservation. I can't agree that we can save our way out of this infrastructure shortage.

One argument that I find particularly disturbing is the bogey man of health hazards from electromagnetic radiation. This fallacious 'scare' tactic based on junk science is tossed into the mix by opponents of cell/radio towers and transmission lines. Hopefully, regulators, intelligent media and an informed public will reject that nonsense.

Let's hope we have our minds rather than our emotions engaged to improve Vermont's transmission grid.
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"The North American Electric Reliability Council, which was set up by the utility industry after the blackout of 1965 to reduce the likelihood of cascading failures, said power problems were felt today throughout the eastern interconnection, which is most of the North American electric grid east of the Mississippi River. The South was unaffected by the event; the areas chiefly affected were around the Great Lakes, New York City, northern New Jersey and parts of New England, the council said.

Earlier this year, the council issued its annual summer reliability assessment of the supply of electricity, and concluded that the nation should have adequate resources. It warned of possible problems, particularly around New York City, if power generation should fall or if extreme weather produced unusual demand."

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