Transmisson Articles
Transmission
Lines:
Unfounded Fear or Global Opportunity
by
Peter Meisen, President
Global Energy Network Institute (GENI)
Fear is a prime motivator of mankind, whether the
fear is real or unfounded. Since 1979, electromagnetic
fields (EMF)
have been vilified by some environmentalists as a
cause of childhood leukemia. Power transmission lines
were suspected as the carriers of this unseen danger,
and utility opponents blocked projects and advocated
the re-routing or burial of lines -- at tremendous
additional expense to the power companies and ultimately
to the consumer.
Now, after 500 independent studies and millions spent
to examine the impacts of EMFs, the National Research
Council of the National Academy of Sciences reports
that no direct link can be found between cancer and
exposure to these fields. Their research will continue,
as they deem other factors of human congestion in
our cities may cause the statistical increase in leukemia
cases.
If transmission lines had been found guilty, our
modern society would be turned inside-out, as everything
with an electric cord has an electromagnetic field
that surrounds it. The closer we stand to a home appliance
or wire -- the stronger the field. By doubling your
distance from the source, you decrease the EMF strength
by a factor of 4. Given this equation, "prudent
avoidance" became the industry watchword.
We put some balance back into the debate by examining
the benefits of power transmission to our quality
of life. Simply stated, almost everything we do requires
electrical energy -- lighting and air conditioning,
pumping water and treating sewage, communications
by telephone, TV,
radio and the internet, the pumping of gasoline and
air traffic control systems, construction of buildings,
banking and stock markets, even the printing of this
newspaper. Just how fundamental electricity is becomes
clear when we lose it during a system failure or weather-related
outage.
For virtually all people who live in our developed
world, transmission lines provide the freeway
of electrons that deliver this energy for our
daily use. Whether power is generated by coal, gas,
nuclear, wind or hydro -- the only way to move this
power is by these interconnected power networks.
In stark comparison, 2 billion people today in the
developing world have no electricity. One-third of
humanity has never switched on a light bulb! In a
typical family, the women and children walk miles
every day to collect firewood for cooking and water
which is not even potable.
Nothing improves the quality of life faster in a
village than the introduction of electricity -- for
a water pump, a refrigerator for medicine and food,
and a light bulb for the health clinic and schoolhouse.
Research shows that when a developing society reaches
2000 kilowatt-hours/person/year, a threshold is reached
that bolsters the society out of the developing
status. (The average American uses 12,000 kwh/year
-- in Europe and Japan: 6,000 kwh/year).
Twenty years ago, design scientist Dr. Buckminster
Fuller, known for the geodesic dome,Spaceship
Earth and Buckyballs studied global solutions
for peace, population stabilization and sustainable
development. His premier global strategy was the electrical
interconnection of power networks around the world
-- in today's vernacular, a World Wide Web of Electricity.
Electrical interconnections have many proven benefits:
lower bills for customers as utilities buy cheaper
power from neighboring companies and pass some of
the savings onto the consumer, improved system reliability
offers better power quality -- protecting the circuitry
of electronic equipment, the deferral of additional
generation capacity enhances stockholder returns,
plus the ability to tap the abundant renewable energy
resources this planet has to offer.
Power transmission is essential if we are going to
utilize some of the world's bountiful renewable energy
(solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, tidal, biomass) at
the scale required to meet the growing demand in India,
China, Southeast Asia and other developing regions.
By their nature, renewables are site specific, often
in remote regions and neighboring countries. Long
distance power transmission now enables us to tap
this clean energy and move it wherever we want to
work or live.
In some cases, this has become the cheaper option
for utilities and fulfils the environmentalists desire
for cleaner energy. And recently, electrical linkages
closely follow the trend for peace between age-old
enemies. East and West Germany linked systems after
the fall of the Berlin Wall, Israel and Jordan after
the Washington Declaration, and now Iran and Turkey
are planning to connect power grids for the stated
mutual benefits. Electrical interties are a physical
connection between countries that can enhance international
cooperation, trade and peace.
Numerous experts at the United Nations, World Bank
and engineering institutions have since corroborated
Fuller's vision -- the linking of electrical systems
as a compelling global strategy for peace and sustainable
development. Even Al Gore, as Senator, stated that
a global energy network makes enormous
sense if we are to meet global energy needs with a
minimal impact on the world's environment.
The reasoned study from the National Academy on EMFs
enables the beneficial effects of electricity to be
promoted without the fear-mongering of the past. The
2 billion people without electrical power deserve
a chance for a better life. The first world can use
transmission lines to shift to cleaner energy resources.
Dr. Fuller's comprehensive design strategy is a vision
that benefits everyone. Electric power transmission
offers opportunities unforseen just a few years ago,
and can be the cure for some of the world's most pressing
problems.
Mr. Peter Meisen
President, Global Energy Network Institute (GENI)
Mr. Meisen is a graduate (1976) of the University
of California, San Diego with an Applied Mechanics and
Engineering Sciences Degree. In 1986, he founded Global
Energy Network Institute (GENI), a non-profit organization
conducting research and education on the interconnection
of electric power networks between countries and continents
with an emphasis on tapping remote renewable energy
resources. He is an internationally recognized speaker
and author on the global issues of renewable energy,
transmission and distribution of electricity, quality
of life and its relationship to electricity, the environment
and sustainable development. In 1983, Meisen co-founded
SHARE
(Self Help and Resource Exchange), North America's largest
private food distribution program, currently serving
over one million people each month in the US, Mexico
and Guatemala.
Contact information:
Peter Meisen
President
Global Energy Network Institute - GENI
P O Box 81565
San Diego, CA 92138 USA
TEL: 619-595-0139
FAX: 619-595-0403
EMAIL: info@geni.org
WEB: http://www.geni.org/
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