Big Energy, The Military and the Power Grid - 1/11/08

Since George W. Bush signed the new energy bill last fall, privately owned Big Energy has been buying up all the publicly owned utilities in the nation. This is Giving Big Energy extreme control over the nation’s power, allowing them to sell energy to the highest bidder. 

This utility deregulation is welcomed by the Department of Defense (DoD) seeing this as a way to monopolize grid energy when needed.  As Peak Oil and Gas drive energy prices ever higher and supply dwindles, Big Energy will be selling to the highest bidder.  The highest bidder could be the military.   

(DoD) Renewable Energy Assessment from March of 2005 reveals how the military encourages this deregulation.  They plan to partner with Big Energy to insure their access to energy during emergencies and energy shortages. 

Increased interest in energy security by the (DoD) has led to the development of Micro Grids.  A Micro Grid connects to modular generation sources serving a specific load.  If the main power grid fails, these Micro Grids can operate independently from the main power grid, providing uninterrupted power to certain customers attached to the Micro Grid.

Communities near these critical Micro Grids will have access to power until supply and demand imbalances require the military to demand all the energy.

It is interesting that (DoD) is covering all it’s bases utilizing renewable energy in the plans.  With renewable energy like wind and solar you must be close to the source to benefit from it.  The (DoD) is securing their energy future by installing as many on base wind and solar projects as possible.

When big wind and solar farms come on line you can count on the Pentagon planning on the utilization of this energy with its partnership with Big Energy. 

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