U.S. FINALLY TAKING STEPS TO IMPROVE OUR ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE

Over the past 2 decades, United States energy policy has focused on improving utility technology, increasing generation capacity and developing cleaner cheaper sources of energy. All of these things are designed to improve the cost and efficiency for Americans. However, one glaring step has been ignored for far too long: (0ur utility infrastructure).

(Image of New York City Blackout)

Most of the electricity that runs through our energy grid, does so through lines attached to poles that are more than 50 years old. That alone has caused repeated problems, primarily from weather because our antiquated system can be knocked over by a stiff breeze. Another major flaw is that during our initial build of an interconnected electric grid, we designed it on speed of set up rather than strategically planning when and where would be the best places to build up our system. A major case in point is in Connecticut where the electrical substation built in the 1920’s on Long Island Sound was built at sea level. So for the past 95 years the power fails every time there is a storm surge.

Ever since Westinghouse transmitted power from a Niagara Falls hydropower plant to the city of Buffalo we have become addicted to electricity. With that we have had to discover the best way to get electricity to the masses. Transporting electricity over long distances was much cheaper than creating generation everywhere it was needed. So we quickly designed a system of poles and wires to transport that energy across the U.S. But since then, the grid has aged and investments have not kept up. Power failures have tripled since the 1980s.

ENERGY GRID MODERNIZATION BILL PASSED

In a step in the right direction, the House Energy and Commerce Committee has approved the North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act of 2015.(known as HR 8)

HR 8 is aimed at strengthening and modernizing the U.S. energy infrastructure. The main objective for this bill is to address the issues that plague our current infrastructure like cyber threats, severe weather and EMP attacks. This will also streamline the approval of liquefied natural gas exports and improving coordination on energy diplomacy issues.

This bill is designed to promote economic growth and increase jobs.

With a cost effective and secure supply of energy, it could also help advance our foreign policy objectives. This bill is aimed at bringing the U.S. energy policy into the 21^st century.

Matt Helland
SVP Client Relations 

Sources:
http://www.smartgridnews.com
http://www.utilitydive.com