As I mentioned earlier the U.S. grid isn't very good. Doug asks why. I say bears.
Other hypotheses from our readers, however, would be very welcome.
Some current attempts to fix the problem below the fold.
According to today's Wall Street Journal, the California Public Utilities Commission approved an 82-mile transmission line in March 2007. The line will be the first segment of an giant plan by Edison International to bring wind energy from one side of the Tehachapi Mountains (otherwise known as “nowhere”) to the other (sometimes called “Los Angeles”). The full $1.8 billion plan is supposed to be finished by 2013, and will allow 3 gigawatts of windpower to be brought on line. The eventual plan is to generate about 4.5 gigawatts from the area, which now houses windfarms capable of generating roughly 0.75 gigawatts.
Of course, the Lone Star State wouldn't let the Bear Flag lefties (they even have a big red star on their flag) out-do them. After a misguided attempt at Kevin Costner-style energy policy (build it, or at least declare it with an official-sounding name, and the transmission lines will magically come), the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has just submitted four different transmission plans to add between 6 and 18 gigawatts of windpower to Texas's grid. (In the other words, the plans range from a projected doubling of the Lone Star State's current wind capacity to a quadrupling of same.) The plans will cost between $2.95 billion and $6.38 billion and ... here's the key part ... the cost will be added to everyone's bills equally and automatically.
There's a word for that ... something ... begins with “s” ... can't think of it at the moment.
Finally, FERC (the federal energy regulator, whose powers were expanded in the wake of the California energy crisis) has approved a $3.2 billion plan by PG&E to build a line from British Columbia to southern California. Coordinating five utilities, four states, and two countries, however, is not proving easy. Thankfully, the Canadian federal government has thus far indicated that it's okay with whatever the other ten parties decide. (Although ... while Canadians carefully monitor attempts to steal their water, who's watching the wind?)
In short, the U.S. isn't entirely hapless when it comes to energy infrastructure projects, even without a coordinated federal push.
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