Imagine

       Imagine something that is always on, and constantly adapting to the respected demand that an individual needs. It caters to one’s every demand as he or she carries on with the tasks of their daily life. Sounds almost whimsical, right? Well what if this, reader, is something that doesn’t have to be imagined. It already resides in this earth, and it’s more probable than not that you are using it at this exact moment! In western society, these advancements have been adapted to due to how common this blessing is, that is constantly taken for granted. The technological advancement being discussed today is the power grid, and the progressive smart grid.

The Powergrid and What Is It?

        First introduced in 1882 when Thomas Edison invented the first power plant that the world would ever possess. Think about how revolutionary this idea truly was, and how it would shape American society as a whole. According to Burn Radio the predicament within this process of transporting energy  is that it takes high voltage to get the electricity through the transportation, but one needs low voltage when distributing to a respected vicinity. High voltage in a respected location, for example, at a house is detrimental. High voltages can be fatal. There are three Interconnections within the United States of America that fall under the basics of the Power Grid: Western, Eastern, and Texas Interconnections. There are control senators that monitor electricity. This advancement has revolutionized energy within this country.

Why Is This A Problem?

       So what is the problem with how energy is being produced and the process of the power grid? According to Burn Radio, physically the infrastructure, or the physical equipment being used needs to be updated because it is over fifty years old, and currently it constantly needs repairing. Also let’s not forget weather than can destroy the physical infrastructure of the power grid. According to James McBride in his article, “Modernizing the U.S Energy Grid” that as time progresses the use of “Solar combined with wind, biomass, and geothermal sources still make up only a small fraction of U.S. electricity production—around 7 percent nationwide” (McBride). This being said that percentage is rising, thus making companies under the power grid to increase their prices in order to make a sustainable profit. The companies under the power grid are the same companies utilizing energy that is not conserving fossil fuels which means these respected companies are adding an excessive amount of Greenhouse Gasses into the atmosphere. Which in turn is inclining more people to stop using the power grid. In short if nothing happens, and the power grid stays stagnant the power grid will lose its power.

However, it is important to mention that some of those respected companies have taken initiative to make a change within their utility by offering solar energy and more energy efficient options. Why is this so symbolic? These companies decisions are a reflection off of the consumers that take part of their company, and these companies changing the basis of what their electric company produces inclines me to believe that change can happen, and all it takes is one voice to make a revolution.

What’s the Deal With Smart Grids?

     Now smart grids are simply power grids, but the new and improved version. Scientific America has illuminated the general public on the basis of smart grid is more sensors due to the prices decreasing due to technologies prominence within society. Smart grids is not simply just cleaner for the environment, but it makes life more convenient for us. This could be a possible solution to the problems that reside in power grids. Consistently mentioned by both McBride and BURN Radio but the concept “real time” interaction between the sensors, and the utility seemed significant due to it’s prominence across the sources used. Smart grids also propose cities having micro grids, thus making the interconnections not a general direction in the US, but somewhere where management is not chaotic, but manageable. There are cons with the use of smart grids, even though the media may illuminate it in a positive light. The fear of hacking and cyber attacks may increase significantly. A solution to this predicament is more complex than it seems, and the complexity itself teaches an individual that the positives and negatives of the decision made must be weighed heavily. Solutions are the gateway in not creating more predicaments for an impending society.