The Big Idea community illustrated in the National Geographic November 2009 issue is quite feasible, but don’t expect to see it in the new sub-division next door any time soon. Change does not come quickly, easily or cheaply. Reasonable thinking citizens, business people and governments recognize a new energy model is needed and is the right thing to do. The difficult decision is how soon.
Technology is not the issue in achieving the Big Idea as described in this article. Making the commitment to the new energy model is the difficult issue, as thousands of jobs in the petrochemical industries are at risk. Reasonable thinking citizens, business people and governments also recognize there will be new business opportunities, jobs and wealth created with the new energy model.
It all comes down to money, always does. Petrochemical industries are pumping millions of dollars into the political process to delay or insulate their industry from adding a cost of carbon to their products. So far the carbon coated currency used by lobbyists is achieving what was it was intended to do. The problem is not going away and will only increase everyone’s difficulties and eventual cost to fix. I do not profess to be an environmental expert, but over the five decades I have been around, things have changed and it is only logic that tells me to do something, say something, for my grandkid’s sake.
Reasonable thinking citizens, business people and governments should not expect a radical energy shift tomorrow, but reasonable thinking citizens should expect business and governments to have a plan and see steady progress on that plan. Many European countries have made large strides with the new energy shift in recent decades, yet the North America carbon coated currency continues to blur the vision of our elected members. Let’s hope more reasonable thinkers are elected in the future.
Hybrid energy is most commonly associated with cars but is not limited to transportation. Most electrical utilities deliver a combination of renewable energy such as wind, solar and hydro; as well and fossil fuelled generation, including burning natural gas, oil and enriched uranium nuclear power. Every electric consumer purchases hybrid energy!
Theoretically, an open electrical grid can distribute energy generated in New York using fossil fuels to a consumer in California and you would not know it.
Electrical energy generated in the form of AC (alternating current) must match the actual consumer demand precisely or otherwise unused AC generated energy is wasted. In North America, megawatts of generated energy are wasted every day because the consumer demand does not meet the utility generation exactly. Excess utility generation generally goes unnoticed by consumers, but generation shortages cause brown outs, black outs and are a real problem for everyone.
Vast amounts of government and private money is focusing on a Smart Grid and is intended to improve the speed of information from the outer edges of the grid (our homes and businesses) to the generating sources (utilities) to better reduce the losses or wasted generation. A Smart Grid would also assist the utilities to identify exactly where the grid needs repair following storm damage or equipment breakdowns.
A Smart Grid starts with new digital revenue meters on your homes or business. The new Smart Meter electronically transmits electrical information to the utility in micro seconds, is great for the environment, great for the utilities, but will the consumer see a direct economical benefit?
Hybrid energy is most commonly associated with cars but is not limited to transportation. Most electrical utilities deliver a combination of renewable energy such as wind, solar and hydro; as well and fossil fuelled generation, including burning natural gas, oil and enriched uranium nuclear power. 
