New awareness of the self destructive path excessive carbon emission creates, have echoed a global cry to policy makers for energy reform.

This is a well needed change that will give birth to new green companies. In addition, these new green companies will have the leverage needed to compete and hopefully replace those large established industries responsible for the dilemma. 

The oil and automotive industry have demonstrated there monopoly strength when they literally crushed the electric car development in California. Signifying they are here to stay – and we are going to love em. But, more terrifying is their mod-like approach to literally silent any research and development that is considered a threat to their over-extended dominance.

Global warming concerns are placing pressure on the polluting power plants to reform or convert to cleaner energy. Their response? A name change. The coal-powered power plants humorously responded with ‘Clean Coal Technology’. A term that leaves everyone with a question mark suspended above their heads. The power grid- its partner – joins the fun and introduces ‘Smart Grid Technology’. Smart grid technology?

The automotive industry bypass electrical car to introduce hydrogen powered car. Hydrogen is made from electricity. The conversion is more expensive, dangerous, inefficient, and less practical. Are these companies serious, or, are they making a mockery of us? One has to wonder.

Smart Grid Technology is the power grid marketing tool. It’s like slapping a new label on to a not-so-good product. And what better way to put a futuristic spin on a prehistoric technology, but the integration of the technology that brought us into the information age, and naming it ‘Smart’ through the implementation of computerized controllers, linked to the Internet. The Internet is an unpredictable technology, no to mention, openness that makes it prone to hacking and viruses. This ‘downgrade’, increases our venerability to massive power outage. What are they thinking? This is not different from promoting the smart horse and buggy during the automotive revolution.

 If, and, when coal plants and other large polluting power plant die, the monopoly of power wholesale dies with it. I would want to think that these companies foresee their short comings.

It is the primary drive of modern technology to increase efficiency in all areas including size, cost and output. Electrical energy production isn’t different. Urban up-draft wind mills, solar panels and other energy efficient devices along with super storage capacitors will help in popularizing small power stations where each building and infrastructure will produce its own electricity. A true wireless network. Let’s call it- ‘Smart off Grid Technology’.

Not only will these technology change and reverse global warming, with zero carbon foot print, but they will be more reliable in a wide spread devastation – a plus for national security. Our country will benefit, no dough, from energy independent, but even greater from power grid independence.

Billion dollar industries, are not quick to accept changes, unfortunately, they uses their influences to hold  us back is a time-bubble with obsolete technology through greed. And to show their solidarity, they reinvent themselves simply by a name change.

The reality is this; majority of energy lost within the power grid is in electrical conduction (transmission lines), and electrical transformation. Unless these devices receive efficiency upgrade, smart grid technology is worthless.

 As for power efficiency, this can only be achieved with more efficient transformers, inverters, converters, and higher conductance power lines. Computers cannot increase ‘power’ efficiency (energy in/energy out x 100%), however, power management; (a process already in process) aids the power plants from exceeding allowed pollutant levels.

So what is ‘Smart Grid Technology’? Well, it’s like changing the title of a corporation Janitor to; Director of Sanitation, to make a dull job seem important. Smart Grid Technology, similar to Clean Coal Technology is a desperate attempt to resell an obsolete technology. It represents the fresh coat of paint makeover they needed to acquire government support.

The future will not stand for the cumbersome unreliable, inefficient and dangerous knitting of high tension power lines that now hijack our landscape. Controlled by super computers or not, large power plant and power grid will loose to smaller, closer, more efficient urban power plants of the future.