While much of the news coverage goes to the current financial situation, experts are commenting upon the aging infrastructure of the US. Utilities, such as water and power, are managed via systems that are extremely old by any reasonable standard.
In California, most of the drinking water consumed in the LA/SF corridor comes from the reservoirs that are fed from the river delta near Sacramento. The levees that hold back the waters to provide farm land are made of earth and are dependent upon a delicate balance of natural forces to remain intact. It is theorized that an earthquake that centers on the water corridor will collapse these levees, rendering the drinking water supply of CA in that are unusable. Estimated costs for updates and repair hover near $4 million/square mile! Of course, CA doesn't have the funds to accomplish even a portion of this work.
Power companies state that US customers see an average of 214 minutes per year of electric power loss. England sees 67 minutes per year and Japan suffers a whopping 6 minutes per year. Both generation and distribution systems are degrading with natural aging. Also, demand for electricity has risen sharply in the last decade, placing difficult burdens on systems that were not designed to handle this much load. Strategies that allow power grids to "pull back" electricity, from citizens' homes via some devices that are plugged in, are being discussed as a means to guard against "peak usage" brownouts". Many of us are aware of programs by local utility companies that will shut down air conditioning at your home/business for short intervals during peak summer usage times. The new programs would be an extension of this theme.
Interesting times, huh?
Lee
In California, most of the drinking water consumed in the LA/SF corridor comes from the reservoirs that are fed from the river delta near Sacramento. The levees that hold back the waters to provide farm land are made of earth and are dependent upon a delicate balance of natural forces to remain intact. It is theorized that an earthquake that centers on the water corridor will collapse these levees, rendering the drinking water supply of CA in that are unusable. Estimated costs for updates and repair hover near $4 million/square mile! Of course, CA doesn't have the funds to accomplish even a portion of this work.
Power companies state that US customers see an average of 214 minutes per year of electric power loss. England sees 67 minutes per year and Japan suffers a whopping 6 minutes per year. Both generation and distribution systems are degrading with natural aging. Also, demand for electricity has risen sharply in the last decade, placing difficult burdens on systems that were not designed to handle this much load. Strategies that allow power grids to "pull back" electricity, from citizens' homes via some devices that are plugged in, are being discussed as a means to guard against "peak usage" brownouts". Many of us are aware of programs by local utility companies that will shut down air conditioning at your home/business for short intervals during peak summer usage times. The new programs would be an extension of this theme.
Interesting times, huh?
Lee