Energy

Over 3 years ago we touted the potential of installing solar panels on the roof tops of big cities like <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />New York. At the time it seemed like a good idea and we are more convinced than ever that it still is. That’s because since we have posted our original article, no one has been successful in building new interstate power lines to carry renewable energy like solar and wind to the cities where it is needed. The main reason is no one is in charge of the siting process and and any State in a project's path can veto the project or delay it indefinitely.

What really hit me yesterday was an article in Platts.com about the ongoing rivalry between the States and Federal government for control of the high voltage electric grid. As I read this article, I remembered vividly the numerous times we had a power outage in the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />Washington DC area and being totally in the dark for days.

Why is it that every time the U.S. develops techniques to extract oil or natural gas to cushion us from the foreign energy sources that we have to go into a tizzy. That's exactly what the EPA is doing at the request of Congress over horizontal drilling and fracking which is used to release natural gas from rich shale deposits in the U.S. Are the politicians and environmental groups just trying to kill another source of domestic fuel? I have to wonder because there is no energy source in the U.S. that has the blessing of any national or global energy group.