Distributed generation is the perfect disruptive technology solution. It facilities the completion of displacing fossil fuels as an energy source. Whether the utilities embrace this or not, disruptive technologies always win in the long run.
For now, Arizona utilities have chosen the unfortunate path of resistance. Instead of continuing to embrace DG to allow them to clean their grid, abandon fossil fuels and clean our environment, they have decided to portray their proactive clean DG customers as the problem rather than the solution. They do this at their own economic peril.
Clean DG providers like myself will take the next steps to force emissions free power creation.
Step One is to get as efficient as possible. As a result, our solar powered homes will push ever more, cheap, clean power onto the grid. Hopefully after step one, the utilities will wake up and realize that the growing DG grid is becoming more and more of a force in their overall production.
If the utilities choose to continue to fight technology, in the interest of keeping their fossil fuel sector going, Step Two will kick in.
Step Two is, existing solar adopters will initiate solar plus storage with energy management load balancers. Solar plus storage plus on-site load balancers will protect us from unfair Demand Charges imposed on us by rigid backwards thinking utilities. This is simple, inevitable technology growth
Solar installers will benefit as they can help integrate these systems.
Once Step Two begins to take hold in mass, the utility has another decision point. They will have to ask themselves two questions. Do I keep these highly efficient, near invisible energy users of my grid and clean energy providers on my grid? Or do I double down against them in my inaccurate and unfair demonizing of them, as some kind of made up problem?
If the utilities choose to accept our presence on the grid as a clean part of their portfolio, allowing them to begin to ratchet back their dependence on fossil fuel sources, specifically coal, than all Arizonan's win, including the utilities.
If the utilities decide to continue their old school model and insistence on burning coal for power at the expense of all of us, then we will have no choice. We will be forced to drop off their grid, taking with us our clean power, the revenue we still do provide to the utility and all we contribute to the overall clean DG power delivery system.
This will not hurt us and in the long run, it will not hurt the utilities, as their demand will begin to decrease sharply and their portfolio will shift again.
The people who will feel hurt are the people inside the utilities, whose model insist on ever increasing demand, for ever increasing profits at the expense of the consumer. These people will suffer significantly as their model has changed. The ground has shifted under them. Their consumer has spoken. Should they continue to decide to turn deaf ears during every step of this technological transition, they will force themselves and their parent companies into an early and messy demise. If that happens, We the People will be more than happy to take over, transition them to true municipalities that are responsive to the customer and quick on their feet when technology advances.
Friday, February 27, 2015
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Neanderthals in a Truck
Posted under the category of, Tailgated Again by Neanderthals in a Truck
I'm driving from Phoenix to Gilbert, Arizona this morning in our Nissan LEAF. I'm headed south on 101 going with the flow of traffic at about 70 or so in the commute lane.
I look into my rear view mirror and what do I see? The grill of an older pick up truck filling my mirror indicating a special closeness to the rear of my car.
I speed up to 75 and the truck catches up and gets closer. Up to 80, same thing only closer. Now we’re at 85 and we’re closer yet. Now he’s flashing his headlights and high beams, like I'm going to pull over, because you know, 85 is just too slow.
That's when I decide I'm foolishly facilitating stupidity because of my own stubbornness and ego.
I slow down to 65. Now this idiot is practically on top of my rear bumper at 65 mph. Right around the transition to 202 San Tan, he finally breaks off and crosses all lanes of traffic to exit the freeway.
He nicely gives me the single finger salute before almost driving right into the freeway exit sign because he's looking at me.
Genius.
I reflect.
What is it that sets these mindless morons off that they would put me, themselves and everyone around us, in significant physical danger? How do they go from presumably just driving to work at 7:00AM, to literally picking a fight with other random vehicles at high speed on the freeway?
How does a mind work, or not work that causes them to flip off a total stranger for simply driving down the freeway?
A car that looks different, that has a YGETGAS license plate driving in the commute lane... legally?
How is it that this has happened to me so many times?
How are so many people so stuck on stupid? Are they so brainwashed by the fossil fuel industry that any option other than gas is an affront to them?
Do they ever consider their undying support of gas as a propulsion system for their ancient technology vehicles is providing direct support to oil rich nations that seek the destruction of America?
Clearly not.
Do they ever consider that by purchasing gas over their entire lifetimes that they are directly funding both sides of the war on terror?
Clearly not.
I'm starting to think the Model X may not be the option for us I was hoping it would be, (just kidding, that’s the electric vehicle that’s perfect for us if we can afford it someday).
But if I had the money, I'm starting to think a giant all electric pickup truck with ELECTRIC POWERED plastered all over the side would be the way to go to help people understand electrics are not threatening to their tender sensibilities.
Maybe I could add signage that says, DRIVING ELECTRIC USES DOMESTICALLY PRODUCED, NON-POLLUTING FUEL.
Perhaps, DRIVING ELECTRIC STARVES OIL NATIONS WHO HATE US would work.
Maybe, DRIVING ELECTRIC IS THE MOST PATRIOTIC THING YOU CAN DO would break through.
Do you think any of those statements would get the point across?
If I had that spare money, I'd build a big electric truck starting today, maybe with ALL those messages on it.
Of course our Neanderthal friends would find even those statements somehow offensive, as it doesn't fit into the "gas guzzling ditto's Rush" crowds broken ideologies.
It’s all gas all the time or something is wrong in their minds.
How sad.
The upside? In 50 years, we’ll all be gone and our kids and grandkids will be wondering what we were thinking when we used highly toxic, dangerously flammable, ridiculously polluting liquid fuels to get ourselves around.
I'm driving from Phoenix to Gilbert, Arizona this morning in our Nissan LEAF. I'm headed south on 101 going with the flow of traffic at about 70 or so in the commute lane.
I look into my rear view mirror and what do I see? The grill of an older pick up truck filling my mirror indicating a special closeness to the rear of my car.
I speed up to 75 and the truck catches up and gets closer. Up to 80, same thing only closer. Now we’re at 85 and we’re closer yet. Now he’s flashing his headlights and high beams, like I'm going to pull over, because you know, 85 is just too slow.
That's when I decide I'm foolishly facilitating stupidity because of my own stubbornness and ego.
I slow down to 65. Now this idiot is practically on top of my rear bumper at 65 mph. Right around the transition to 202 San Tan, he finally breaks off and crosses all lanes of traffic to exit the freeway.
He nicely gives me the single finger salute before almost driving right into the freeway exit sign because he's looking at me.
Genius.
I reflect.
What is it that sets these mindless morons off that they would put me, themselves and everyone around us, in significant physical danger? How do they go from presumably just driving to work at 7:00AM, to literally picking a fight with other random vehicles at high speed on the freeway?
How does a mind work, or not work that causes them to flip off a total stranger for simply driving down the freeway?
A car that looks different, that has a YGETGAS license plate driving in the commute lane... legally?
How is it that this has happened to me so many times?
How are so many people so stuck on stupid? Are they so brainwashed by the fossil fuel industry that any option other than gas is an affront to them?
Do they ever consider their undying support of gas as a propulsion system for their ancient technology vehicles is providing direct support to oil rich nations that seek the destruction of America?
Clearly not.
Do they ever consider that by purchasing gas over their entire lifetimes that they are directly funding both sides of the war on terror?
Clearly not.
I'm starting to think the Model X may not be the option for us I was hoping it would be, (just kidding, that’s the electric vehicle that’s perfect for us if we can afford it someday).
But if I had the money, I'm starting to think a giant all electric pickup truck with ELECTRIC POWERED plastered all over the side would be the way to go to help people understand electrics are not threatening to their tender sensibilities.
Maybe I could add signage that says, DRIVING ELECTRIC USES DOMESTICALLY PRODUCED, NON-POLLUTING FUEL.
Perhaps, DRIVING ELECTRIC STARVES OIL NATIONS WHO HATE US would work.
Maybe, DRIVING ELECTRIC IS THE MOST PATRIOTIC THING YOU CAN DO would break through.
Do you think any of those statements would get the point across?
If I had that spare money, I'd build a big electric truck starting today, maybe with ALL those messages on it.
Of course our Neanderthal friends would find even those statements somehow offensive, as it doesn't fit into the "gas guzzling ditto's Rush" crowds broken ideologies.
It’s all gas all the time or something is wrong in their minds.
How sad.
The upside? In 50 years, we’ll all be gone and our kids and grandkids will be wondering what we were thinking when we used highly toxic, dangerously flammable, ridiculously polluting liquid fuels to get ourselves around.
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