The Tres Amigas project, while
interesting technically, strikes me as yet another example of why renewable
power systems should be as widely de-centralized as possible, preferably all
the way down to the user, or neighborhood/block level.
The company will spend something
like $1 billion to build, in essence, a switch that connects three grids.
This investment, to be paid for ultimately by consumers, adds zero energy
generating capacity. It does allow long distance transmission, however, with
all the line losses (not mentioned in the article) that entails.
In short, the project would actually
decrease efficiency compared to having the same generation facilities located
near the end users. A handful of investors, however, will get the
opportunity to skim something off the top of every MW-hour that passes through
their switch.
Ron Bishop, P.E.
Solid Waste Professional Engineer
Alachua County Public Works Department
352-374-5213 x279
From: Bioenergy and
Sustainable Technology Society [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Humphrey,Stephen
R
Sent: Thursday, December 24, 2009 9:57 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: An Electric Game Changer
After
a long dearth of attention, the New York Times has begun covering the renewable
energy scene well. Here’s a great report on the proposed Tres
Amigas transmission grid interconnention. Also, it’s worthwhile to
become familiar with the source www.ClimateWire.net
Dr. Stephen R. Humphrey, Director,
School of Natural Resources and Environment,
Box 116455, 103 Black Hall, University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611-6455 USA
Tel. 352-392-9230, Fax 352-392-9748
http://snre.ufl.edu