Whether you call it evolutionary or revolutionary the idea will make a major impact to the citizens of the United States and the rest of the world. Can you imagine what could produce a many change in our lifetimes? If not, I would like to introduce you to a society that no movie writer has written about. An age of electric, neither from major plants nor from oil and coal but in the most part from clean renewable sources from millions of Energy Farms.
These sites will be located across the United States and other countries will rush to promote the same concept. Energy Farms will produce electric on a small scale, sufficient to generate a good income while generating power 24/7, for many families. Major advances, the fear of terrorism, millions out of work, the desire to work for oneself along with getting back to the land, being self-sufficient and wanting to keep the family together will push this revolution.
The government will encourage this new industry to generate jobs, a stable electric price, a wider tax base and to be independent of other countries. Millions of homes will not only generate their own electric but also create a living income for people by selling it back to the power grid. There are …… million homes n the United States. The average monthly bill is $200. If a site was able to generate electric for 30 homes it would thus average $6000 per month. If a producer used a mortgage type loan to purchase equipment at $100,000 it would cost around $1000 per month for the loan. They could start by producing less and use profits to continually upgrade and increase their output.
Electric will be generated using solar, wind, biomass, fuel cells, microwaves, steam and Stirling engines, and technologies that may still be under development. People will opt to push for smaller scale generation since it will stop large plants in neighborhoods and promote jobs while keeping electric prices stable. During outages different parts of the grid could receive electric from local Energy Farms when the plant is offline. A history of millions going without power during natural disasters or other outages and high electric prices will also promote the idea with the general population.
Some states will take a leadership role since it would provide jobs and a broad tax base and more electric at a stable prices rather than coming up with electric problems like California. States that were jealous of the energy structure that allowed Texas to export electric should jump on this concept. Rather than pay out unemployment this could help their economy by creating jobs, increasing land prices, encouraging businesses since they would have a good supply of electric. Families will want new homes designed to accommodate their business. The auto industry, burden with a generation of individuals with late model cars will need a new idea to sell cars and coming up with electric cars that will have a ample supply of fuel will fill the niche. Some Energy Farms could also serve as a fill-up station as an extra income.
Current legislation will need to be improved. Net metering now provides credits rather than a monthly payment from the electric company. In several states the rate is at the gross price rather than the net price that the electric users pay. Somewhere in between would be a good compromise since it would give an added incentive to the Electric companies to support producers. Some people now take advantage and generate electric usually with one method and without much support. Technology should incorporate several sources of generating electric in a modular approach to allow adding additional modules later as income comes in and profits allow for future growth. During outages people rush out to purchase electrical generators what would it be like if they were able to produce their own electric. Future homes may be provided with electric systems that will provide emergency electric if not be capable of providing normal home electric. Battery advancements will provide additional incentives to store electric being generated and to send it back to the grid during peak periods.
Community covenants and zoning would need to take into account additional structures and a personal business on the site.
In the future there will be a national organization that will unite producers on a state basis to help support those states that take an active role in support of this type of energy production. Since the idea is to use clean renewable sources to generate electric communities will be supportive. Future housing developments may also include their own local electric power as a sales incentive. Communes could be formed that would have electric generation at their core.
In addition families will become more self-reliant while creating more personal time to themselves. They could create mini-estates with greenhouses growing food and fishponds as part of their site plan. Reverse osmosis could further independence by providing a source of water from humidity in the air. All of this would be attached or separate from the normal systems.
Electric would be generated with long-term highly reliable units, which would need little intervention. Solar systems require little intervention while lasting more than 20 years. A combination of different systems would allow generating electric around the clock and in various weather conditions. This would help the DOE reach their goal of a million solar roofs by 2010.
Since many of these Energy Farms will be located in rural sites remote education, via broadband Internet access, will be popular. The Internet will also provide entertainment and access to various There will be an increase in home education along with the quality of it across all grades including college. Families will be tighter since they will be united in this home-based business and in the ability to be independent and with a long-term income.
Financial institutions will rush to provide jumbo mortgages since they can automatically
get payments from the generated income. People with other jobs will work on improving their financial income during their off hours by adding modules that will provide a better rate of return on their investment. Rather than investments in the stock market people will put money into their own energy farm to generate funds that will provide for their retirement and a legacy for their family. Unlike the stock market generating electric should always produce a return on their investment, it may even be at a better rate than the market.
Farmers will rush to generate electric for their own use and as a means of additional income. Contrary to the farm market electric may always produce a positive return and thus save many farms from foreclosure during tough times. Tobacco farmers could switch to Energy Farms since the golden leaf is being phased out.
What is needed is for the government and private sources to invest in furthering the technology on a smaller scale rather than aid to large utilities and oil companies. To push funds into the idea rather than aid to oil countries and wars over protecting them. To create incentives that will promote people to push the technology and to build Energy Farms. They will need legislation to have electric companies want to bring these producers online. A standard contract and national agreement will go a long way to prevent legal entanglements. Enhancements to the grid will allow more control and increase capacity.
Local supply of electric may reduce electric losses on the grid and save power in ways unexpected. Decreasing the electric lost of the grid should also decrease electric costs to the end user.
The concept would be assisted if the media pushed it as part of their efforts to help their consumers. The idea also would be helped by using the Internet to aid producers, along with help from the Department of Energy, HUD, and other government resources. Colleges could provide the curriculum for instructing and advances the technology.
This revolution could be right around the corner given the attention it truly deserves. We could become energy independent, improve our balance of payment, clean the environment, develop rural and urban America, relieve the country from the necessity of defending our overseas sources of oil, broaden our tax base, provide a stable source of electric, improve our standard of living, provide jobs in various new industries, and strengthen family life.