Infrastructure stability

By Dan Hoskins, Manager

This issue is probably new to some of you, but the transmission line infrastructure of our nation is in desperate need of additions. No matter how we decide on producing energy, whether it is by renewables, coal-fired or nuclear, we need a way to transport it across this country, and right now, we don’t have enough power lines to do that. And the ones we do have are overloaded badly.

If you recall the blackout of 2003, that could be called a warning sign of things to come, just as the bridge collapse in Minneapolis this past August, another warning sign that we are not taking care of our infrastructure, whether it is our highway infrastructure or our energy infrastructure.

Ken Keylor, Vice President of Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc., said, “Infrastructure can’t be built and then just ignored; it requires regular reinvestment to stay reliable.” Ken also had this to say, “The electric utility industry is in a Mexican standoff with a new coalition of environmental and political activists who are coordinating attacks on new baseload plant projects all across our nation. In short, they don’t want nuclear plants, and they don’t want coal-based plants, even with the promise of technology improvements.”

“Rather, they nobly tout the folly that renewable generation and energy conservation measures, alone, will provide enough electric capacity for our nation well into the future and are the answer to our nation’s energy security.”

Ken also said, “Governors and attorneys general, eager for the political limelight, are only too willing to sing the same tune. As a result, we are now seriously behind schedule for building facilities, which might, indeed, provide us a secure ‘bridge’ to the future.”