Kurt Yeager, executive director of the Galvin Electricity Initiative, is responding to Al Gore's and T. Boone Pickens' proposals to reduce America's dependence on foreign oil with a call to action that is unfortunately relegated to the back seat in their plans.
While increased use of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and geothermal energy should be everyone's goal, Yeager is calling for a stronger electric power grid as an essential first step that will allow for the full integration of renewables — and meet our growing demand for energy in our homes and industries and for transportation.
As Al Gore acknowledges, our current grid is based on 1950s technology and thus obsolete. According to Yeager and the Initiative, the only way to embrace renewable energy on a large scale is to make our grid "smarter" with up-to-date digital controls and communications technology. This technology allows the grid to anticipate the natural fluctuations in wind and solar power and keep power supply in lock-step with consumer demand.
The Galvin Electricity Initiative, launched by former Motorola chief Robert W. Galvin, has brought together the Nation's leading electricity experts to reconstruct our electric power system into one that is more affordable, reliable and fuel-efficient. The Initiative has created innovative business and technological blueprints for the ultimate smart grid — a Perfect Power System that meets the needs of 21st century consumers and provides reliable, secure electricity regardless of nature's wrath or security threats.
WH Kurt Yeager, executive director of the Galvin Electricity Initiative, president emeritus of the Electric Power Research Institute and chair of the World Energy Council Study on Energy and Climate Change
Mr. Yeager is available to discuss the challenges facing America's current electric power system and the enormous potential to reduce carbon emissions by generating more electricity from wind and solar energy sources — in combination with necessary electricity grid infrastructure improvements.
WHY: "Gore's and Pickens' energy visions for America both demonstrate the kind of 'big thinking' that we need to achieve energy independence and abate global warming, but we can't rely on renewables without also renewing our aging grid infrastructure," said Yeager. "Our current power grid uses 1950s technology, which makes it a barrier to renewable sources rather than an efficient carrier of reliable and greener energy to power American homes and businesses."
