Who controls electricity has the power, page 1

People take electricity for granted. It is the most important natural resource we have. When it goes out, progress comes to a halt, and in a city or in the rural, it can be kind of scary.

Without it, many people lose their water (pipes freeze, pump don't work), heat, we can't even get gas into our cars from the gas pump. Imagine in a nationwide emergency, one where the grid was attacked, a guy/girl with a generator and a good electrical knowledge, will be in very high demand.

So, I want to show you a graph. At first it look a little confusing, but if you really check it out, it is quite interesting..

Image source

The United States uses about 40.3% of it's energy resources on electricity.

Out of that 40.3%, 27.8% is immediately wasted through transmission in power lines. Central power production, with long distance distribution is EXTREMELY inefficient.

For one thing, the power lost in the grid lines through heat is immense. Every day, 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year money flies out of our pockets through heat loss and voltage drop and the cost of maintaining the lines and generation stations.

Let me give a small example. Take the nuclear generator on an aircraft carrier. It really doesn't take up that much room, and powers and electrically propelled ship that carry 6000+ people, and has every known electronic gadget known to man.

If you had that same nuclear plant, and had to transmit that power in a 100 mile area, the generator would have to be at least 10 times bigger (estimated) and the expense of installation and maintenance would be phenomenal.

And since we've come so far with advances in solar, wind and micro-hydro, we can produce much if not all on our own properties, roofs, deck awnings, carports, etc. But there's a catch.

Without an efficient storage system, we are still relying on the grid.
And thats where they've got us. Energy storage.

If you don't have a constant power source, i.e solar at night, you need some form of energy storage. Batteries, flywheels all work, but are inefficient. And it seems there is a huge lack of research into these areas given the importance of it.

Think about how much cleaner our environment would be if we were producing electricity on our own property, silently with effective (currently we're at about 16% area/energy efficiency) solar panels, and being able to store it in environmentally friendly storage systems.

Think about how much control you take away from "the man" and give it to yourselves.

So it come to you with one simple thought. If you are younger, and you want to change the world, forget about becoming rich by managing other people money. Put your focus toward energy efficiency, and together we can make a better world.

And if your older, and have limited knowledge of electricity, do yourself a favor and learn a little about it. If the SHTF, I guarantee you and your loved ones will appreciate it.

Now this info may not shock you, but I hoped to have illuminated you a little on a very unappreciated resource. If we take control of electricity, and produce electric cars, no longer will the oil barons have control, and stop giving power to the giant power company lobby folk, who have much more control over politics than one would ever imagine.

And for the folks that work in the industry? Well, there's work to do. Taking down the grid system and melting down the wire will be just one new job created by becoming a new generation.

[edit on 14-1-2009 by doctordoom]