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Bill Gates Promotes Transmission Development

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Henry Craver's picture
Small Business Owner , Self-employed

As a small business owner, I'm always trying to find ways to cut costs and boost the dependability of my services. To that end, I've become increasingly invested in learning about energy saving...

  • Member since 2018
  • 731 items added with 345,080 views
  • Feb 8, 2023
  • 244 views

I grew up in a liberal enclave. I think something like 78% of my hometown voted for John Kerry in 2004. I’m sure that number was considerably higher in 2016 and 2020.  This is all to say that I know Democrats, the political group that pushes the energy transition conversation in our country. 

Since the mid-2000's, or maybe even earlier, that conversation has centered around renewable generation, electrification, and energy conservation. All three topics are frequent dinner party topics, discussed with excitement and zeal. Remember South Park’s San Francisco smug alert episode a long time ago? 

If you know anything about energy and the grid, however, you’ll notice that something conspicuously absent from the popular conversation on climate change mitigation is transmission. We love talking about electric cars and solar farms, but we don’t pay much attention to the practical question of how to connect them.

Our ignorance of transmission’s importance has serious consequences in a democracy like ours. An enlightened technocrat, like Mayor Pete for example, can’t just snap his fingers and start a massive transmission build out. 

Luckily, transmission’s PR fanclub has something to be excited about now. That something is Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft and one of the biggest names in altruism and forward thinking. Just to remind everyone, he basically predicted COVID-19 and his charity organization has done wonders for life expectancy in the global south. Now, in addition to promoting advanced nuclear, Gates is ringing the bell for power lines. This article in Popular Mechanic explains the billionaire’s intentions. 

This is serious. Gates’ foundation and various other endeavors have the capability to push technology and legislation in the field. Perhaps more importantly, however, is the attention Gates himself will bring to the issue.


 

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Julian Silk's picture
Julian Silk on Feb 8, 2023

Thank you for the post.  Transmission is a big need for any change in energy supply.  But there is always the siting problem, which is less for generation.

Henry Craver's picture
Thank Henry for the Post!
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