BRATTLEBORO — Our utilities are planning for an energy-insecure future in which they will have to make changes to the way they produce and distribute electricity.
Increasing reliance on wind power, for example, requires that we allow the frequency of our distributed electric power to vary more than it has been allowed to since the Great Depression. It will also affect some traffic lights, plug-in clocks, timers and anything that loses the time after a power outage.
In fact, a test of this change is planned for this summer to assess the impact on the country.
Even rich oil-exporting countries are planning for energy shortages. Economists predict that if Saudi Arabia's current energy-consumption growth rate of 7 percent per year continues, the kingdom will burn almost all its daily output of more than eight million barrels a day within 20 years, leaving little or none for export.
Local, community-based initiatives such as Brattleboro's Transition Town and Post Oil Solutions (POS) have organized in anticipation for a future that will have reduced energy availability and energy costs that are unaffordable for much of our population. These initiatives provide a good way to educate and induce positive change.
I suggest that you do what you can to reduce your energy usage now, that you keep your eyes open for local Transition Town events, and that you elect politicians who are working to secure our energy future by executing an achievable plan.
I know I want my lights to come on when I am retired and drawing Social Security, but I also want to be able to pay the electric bill and have money left over so I can afford to enjoy my retirement.