Decentralized energy Archives

Blackouts demonstrate the folly of centralized power

by magix | Jul 9, 2012 | Decentralized energy, Distributed energy, Featured, Oregon | 0 |

It is astonishing that after all the empirical evidence, not to mention deaths of energy dependent consumers, that the centralized model is fraught with problems, no consideration is given to doing away with it altogether. Instead of investing billions in upgrading a 19th century construct we should be moving into the 22nd century and a more elegant, redundant and therefore more reliable distributed model where power is produced from multiple renewable sources right at the point of consumption.

Democratize, decentralize and decarbonize local energy supply

by magix | May 21, 2011 | Coos County, Decentralized energy, Distributed energy, Oregon | 5 |

Instead our local leaders linger in the 19th century and label those of us, like the planners in Boulder, who recognize this potential as jobs killers and anti-development activists. The truth is they are anti-development activists opposing anything that looks remotely like something in the future.

What if Coos County produced all its energy locally?

by magix | May 8, 2011 | Coos County, Decentralized energy, Distributed energy, Oregon | 0 |

Americans paid seventy two times more to subsidize fossil fuels in the last five years than solar. If solar (and presumably wind) had received the same taxpayer investment, renewable energy would be cheaper than coal said to be peaking within twenty years. Imagine if the average ratepayer, instead of importing power and exporting dollars, kept his energy dollars local and used that extra money to buy local foods and products.

Engineer calls for halt on nuclear power and a move to distributed energy

by magix | Apr 25, 2011 | Decentralized energy, Distributed energy, Featured | 0 |

Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds Associates concurs we are perpetuating old and flawed technology when we support nuclear power. Calling to put the breaks on further nuclear development and stating that he believes the Nuclear Regulatory Commission cannot be trusted to think out of the box, Gundersen encourages a move away from the 19th century electrical grid and toward 22nd century distributed energy systems.

Holding on to old technology, perpetuating a steam powered grid

by magix | Apr 22, 2011 | Coos County, Decentralized energy, Science | 4 |

Community owned microgrids offer independence from the wasteful business practices of investor owned utilities. Whereas most corporations are loathe to change how they operate or retool or innovate, small businesses and local groups can work together to implement existing and emerging technologies that move society into the 22nd century instead of perpetuating the worst of the past.

Solar storms could unleash massive nuclear reactor failures in US

by magix | Mar 29, 2011 | Decentralized energy, Featured | 0 |

NASA has warned imminent cyclical solar storms may take out power to large parts of the centralized electrical grid causing blackouts than can last for months. One thing we have learned from the crisis in Japan is that nuclear reactor cooling systems require power to function before fuel rods overheat. US nuclear facilities, all 104 of them, have only eight hours of backup time available to them before we see multiple repeats of the Fukushima disaster.

Japan’s nuclear crisis-the real story unfolds amidst folly of centralized power

by magix | Mar 24, 2011 | Decentralized energy, Distributed energy, Featured | 0 |

The Japanese people are now held hostage to business model that only serves utility company shareholders and leaves ratepayers dependent upon power generated hundreds of miles from the point of use.

Solar storms may leave tens of millions without power and water, are you ready?

by magix | Feb 24, 2011 | Decentralized energy, Featured, Science | 0 |

The centralized grid system is built upon antiquated 19th century technology and aging transformers are very vulnerable to anticipated cyclic solar storms. One of the consequences of the central grid is that failures are known to cascade and take out massive sections cutting power to millions.

Ice storms and rolling blackouts illuminate the need for decentralized energy distribution

by magix | Feb 6, 2011 | Alternative Energy, Decentralized energy, Distributed energy, Environment, Featured, MGx News for Kids, National Security, Wind turbines | 0 |

The argument of cost efficiency in a central system is lost when factoring in the losses associated with long distance transmission, a million dollar a mile price tag for high voltage transmission lines

Tax credits or feed in tariffs? Renewable energy doesn't have to be so expensive

by magix | Nov 19, 2010 | Alternative Energy, Decentralized energy, Distributed energy, Environment, Politics, Wind turbines | 0 |

Part of the driving force toward implementation of renewable energy is state and federal incentives. It may be these very incentives are actually adding costs and impairing the broader goal of reducing carbon emissions. The cash...

Thinking small on wind is paying off for poor communities

by magix | Sep 30, 2010 | Coos County, Decentralized energy, Distributed energy, Energy, Environment, Local, Oregon, Wind turbines | 2 |

Rural communities around the world are recognizing the benefits of generating electricity locally. Even big cities are getting into the act. An article in The Times on Wednesday centers on Tocco da Casauria, a small, traditional...

Electricity blackouts increase 124% and infrastructure crumbles

by magix | Aug 9, 2010 | Decentralized energy, Distributed energy, Energy, Environment, Local, National | 0 |

Economist Paul Krugman points out the dangerous after effects of trying to make government smaller The lights are going out all over America — literally…a country that once amazed the world with its visionary investments...

Category: Decentralized energy