Transmission is the answer for Calistoga

What on earth should be done about California’s power problems? 

If you pay attention to the mainstream media, the solutions are all pretty cool. The golden state needs a robust network on interconnected microgrids fed by renewable energy sources. Maybe some of the miniature grids could be housed in repurposed shipping containers. Of course, there will need to be huge investments in new AI and tech systems. Afterall, a more complex and diverse grid will require a much higher IQ brain. It seems daunting, but believe me, it will be totally worth it. It will be perfect. 

Beware of those who promise you a utopia. Yes, the entire world, including California, should and will move towards a power system like the one mentioned above, but it will take time—something PG&E doesn’t have. Communities in Northern California are suffering after three years of “Power Safety Shutoff events”—i.e. blackouts. Food at homes and in restaurants spoils, workers can’t work, students can’t study, and those living alone during a pandemic can’t video chat with their loved ones. This is serious business. 

So what is the solution? Sorry to disappoint my futurist readers, but the answer may just be a boring old power line. In Calistoga, one of the hardest hit towns, residents are already screaming for a new hookup. There are some hurdles, as detailed in this Napa Valley Register article, but it doesn’t seem like there are any better ideas on the table right now.