The next shortage: Electricity? blame if outages occur. An unfortunate outcome of dealing
By Sean O’Neil
in ideology instead of reality could be the erosion of public
Legislative Assistant
support for clean energy deployment.
A recent assessment of the summer electric grid reliability
According to the 2021 Black & Veatch Electric Report,
by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation shows
the clean energy revolution will involve the proliferation and
the clean energy transition may be getting ahead of the
integration of renewable energy sources. Industry leaders
technologies available to keep the grid reliable.
believe high costs, technological shortfalls and limitations
Just about everything we make, sell, or do depends on
in the transmission infrastructure will hamper domestic
a reliable and affordable supply of electricity. Does it make
renewable energy growth.
sense that this transition must occur consistent with the pace
Renewables have been subject to cost fluctuations
of innovation so that American competitiveness can continue
related to political factors and current events such as supply
to flourish during this evolution?
chain disruptions and tariffs on imports like solar cells and
The electric utility sector does not yet have the tools to
modules from China. Technological shortfalls are the lack of
reliably operate a 100% clean energy grid. Technology and
cost-effective, long-term clean energy storage capabilities
innovation must come first to stimulate the development
to enable seasonal load shifting.
and commercialization of the next generation of power
of the power grid do not allow adequate transmission and
production, energy storage, energy efficiency, carbon capture
distribution of available, low-cost energy to the areas that
and other renewable technologies needed.
need it most. The technologies that will enable a net-zero
In the meantime, we still have to depend on the broad
Infrastructure limitations
emissions economy will include wind and solar generation,
range of resources at our disposal to keep the lights on.
hydropower, geothermal energy, battery energy storage,
For the foreseeable future, fossil-fuel resources are
nuclear power, hydrogen, and technologies that are yet to be
necessary to balance the intermittent output by solar and
created according to the report.
wind. Natural gas has been the backbone of electric sector
In the meantime, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg
carbon emission reduction, but new pipeline construction has
says funding from the bipartisan infrastructure law will help
been blocked by activist groups, as have new transmission
make electric vehicle charging stations as convenient in rural
lines that are essential to meet the increasing demand for
America as gas stations are now. The Energy and Transportation
clean electrical power during this transition.
departments will distribute $5 billion to states over the next
Those who block pipelines and transmission lines bear no
five years for the construction of electric charging stations
responsibility for keeping the lights on, thereby escaping any
across America’s highway network.
Intern spends summer as part of the action Anna Hicks, a rising sophomore studying
Alpha, secretary for the Outdoors Club, and a
politics & international affairs and economics at
campus Title IX Peer Liaison. This upcoming
Furman University, joined the National Grange
year, she looks forward to becoming more
in June as a summer intern working with
involved in The Riley Institute’s Advance Team,
Legislative Assistant Sean O’Neil and Legislative
a group of students who work to foster civil
Director Burton Eller.
discussions about public policy and critical
Anna was born and raised in the northeast
In her free time Anna loves to read, explore
to Greenville, South Carolina to pursue an
the outdoors, and drink excessive amounts of
undergraduate degree at Furman.
coffee.
Since beginning her studies, Anna has Anna Hicks is interning with the National Grange this summer.
Photo by Philip J Vonada
issues on campus.
suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia, before heading
become
heavily
Furman
Grange this summer to learn more about
community. She is a member of the American
agricultural and rural policy as she begins to
Sign Language Club, a member of Zeta Tau
explore a career path in political science.
L
involved
in
the
Anna is thrilled to be working with the
GOOD DAY!™ MAGAZINE www.nationalgrange.org
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