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Not just storage, but transmission. From what I understand were far from a plant on the east coast being able to fill needs on the West. Interstate and internat
by patrickwalton 5y ago
Not just storage, but transmission. From what I understand were far from a plant on the east coast being able to fill needs on the West. Interstate and international transmission lines would solve a lot of problems easier than more storage.
- duped 5y agoWe already have pretty good long distance transmission lines (HVDC lines are commonly used today in both remote areas and in undersea lines, there's even a 53 mile long line from SF to Pittsburgh under the Bay). But there's always going to be some point at which it's more economical to build up local power generation along distances. We really don't want to be pumping gigawatts over fire prone areas, for example. We are going to need to figure out how to handle more intense seasonal weather in the south east US. Florida has already done a decent job hardening their transmission lines and making sure their grids can stand up to cat 5 storms (the way they weathered Irma was incredible, compared to Maria in Puerto Rico just weeks later) but transmission lines are easier to replace than generators.
- ncmncm 5y agoYou need both, because long-distance transmission is subject to interruption. Then, transmitted power is cheaper, but storage serves when transmission drops. The effect is amplified when transmission is from or through another country.