Mike's Blog

That’s right…we’re going about it the wrong way. It seems despite the current political winds…one thing remains the same….our government continues to ignore the lessons from the past. In March of this year- Senator Harry S. Reid(D-Nev) introduced a bill that will send billions of taxpayer money to his home state. The Clean Renewable Energy and Economic Development Act provides a regulatory framework for the development of a national electric superhighway, a network of high-voltage power lines that would transmit electricity from remotely located wind and solar farms to energy-hungry urban areas. While this sounds great in theory even to the most conservative of red-staters…there are numerous problems…

First the bill allows the Federal Government expanded authority to trump state’s rights and approve permits for new transmission lines despite the objection of the state. Even in the most basic sense… this has gigantic constitution hurdles to clear if the states decide to pursue it. This is just another case of the Federal government getting bigger and more powerful to the detriment of state and individual rights.

But even more of a problem is the cost and time involved in building this energy superhighway…Already $11 billion has been set aside to fund this endeavor and it’s not expected to produce fruitful results for another 16 years. Seriously??? This is the answer to perpetuating Green energy? Giving our nation’s utility companies $11 Billion in taxpayer money for something that will not reap any benefits for 16 years is the answer? Do we really think $11 Billion is all that’s going to be required or will we be going back to the well in a few years asking for more money because we “under-budgeted”??? Frankly as someone who believes renewable energy can help to set our country free of the shackles of foreign oil…I’m incredibly disappointed with this government’s plan.

The answer…The Microgrid. Basically the exact opposite of the plan Reid(and his buddy Al Gore) are pushing, the microgrid takes the power away from the utility companies and the government and put’s it in the hands of individuals. Picture this…a homeowner can pick up a solar panel system, a small hydroturbine or a small wind turbine at their local Home Depot that’s as easy to install as a normal household appliance. How about the homeowner not only begins generating enough electricity IMMEDIATELY to power their own homes, but also has enough of a surplus to start supplying power back to the existing grid…essentially spinning the electric meter backward. That’s right…consumers begin receiving a check each month instead of writing a check. Entire neighborhoods could connect creating mini-powerplants. Businesses could create their own powerplants… reducing energy expenses and in some cases creating entirely new profit centers. We would have a nation of renewable micro-powerplants generating their own power and supply power back to the grid…thus…the Microgrid. Your home still connects to the existing grid and power plants without the need to build an entirely new system of powerlines…as Reid and Gore suggest.

There are several reasons this approach makes sense…first and foremost…the power is in the hands of the individual…not the government and not the utility companies. Homeowners and business can begin producing their own renewable electricity immediately. Why wait 16 years… when the individual can do it today. Allow capitalism the room to work…

This is all about individual freedom… aligning tax incentives and information to make green energy pay off for homeowners, businesses and towns. The whole idea is to get enough homes generating green energy fast enough to get costs down so entrepreneurs and large companies alike have the demand incentive to produce the systems for widespread adoption. It’s a great blend of the seemingly opposing forces of capitalism and the green movement.