Distributed Energy

The US demand for electricity is projected to increase, as it has over the past 100 years. Electric infrastructure, in many regions, is aging and severely strained during peak periods. Many utilities have peak period rates which are very costly to the consumer. They have encouraged energy conservation, and have implemented both voluntarily and involuntary power interruptions. Public policy in 34 states has required that electric utilities have a percentage of renewable energy as part their total energy sales. Utility siting of new transmission lines has become increasing difficult, as well as consuming significant amounts of time and money in the public hearing process. While electricity from coal has been the main source of fuel for electric utilities, the regulatory environment for this abundant and inexpensive resource is increasingly hostile. The economy of scale strategy for electric utility capital investment that dictates bigger leads to lower energy costs, reached the end of its effectiveness in the 1980's. This economy of scale evolution placed a priority on large central power plants feeding high power transmission lines, whiles the small local electricity distribution networks, crucial to electric consumers, was patched as needed.

All of these factors have combined to create an ever increasing cost for electric energy, while decreasing its reliability. Gross National Product (GDP) is directly related to the amount and cost of electricity. Electric energy is fundamental to the economic stability and the financial productivity of the USA. The industry founded by Thomas Edison has flourished for more than 100 years in building today's electric grid, has been key to America's economic prosperity. It is now old and overloaded. The electric industry is moving forward with the "smart meter" leading to the "smart grid", which will add new costs to electric energy, but doing little to improve electric consumer service, or extend the life of the aged and orphaned electric distribution systems.

Distributed Energy promises an alternative to the old utility hub and spoke strategy, which must now be rebuilt to an energy independent, more efficient energy network, providing greater value at lower costs and increased energy security.

It is now a recognized fact the USA has enormous amounts of natural gas reserves from coast to coast. By utilizing these natural gas resources, regional economic conditions can be significantly impacted. Natural gas combined with distributed hybrid energy systems create vitality for an energy strategy which has become encumbered by special interest groups, and moves energy security from a national scenario to the local free market. Because distributed hybrid energy systems are more efficient than existing electric networks, and because they will not be encumbered with escalating overheads; lower costs for the energy consumer are achieved, while providing a higher level of energy security.