I did not attend the  Unitil Meeting  at Town  Hall. We were lucky  and got our power back fast, that  night  as I remember. Yes, I have to cast my memory back now, as it is over. I still  am  looking at  install a natural gas fired generator. I am troubled by it’s need to cycle and have to  see how loud it will be in the yard. I like quiet, so do my neighbors. and  Twenty people showed up for the meeting, if that  number  illustrates outrage , it would seem to be tempered.

Burying lines is really  not in the cards. Studies  have shown  that it is more difficult to restore power if the issue is underground. You would have to pull out the whole line to inspect it. Even with segmented chases this would be a bear. Underground lines have even been struck by lightning. If one has enough  people you can visually inspect overhead lines and  reset the system. Water infiltration, burrowing animals, all sorts of complications.

We don’t take care of our trees anymore. Trees, all trees , should be  cared for the same way one does a bush. We just let  them go  until they fail. When I was a kid I can remember  much more care being taken with  our trees, both privately  and publicly. Yes, it is expensive, but if  you don’t do it, be ready for the consequences.

Smart grid technology is years away, years. The power company does not know the power is out until  you call them. The sensors and  chips for our meters and home appliances  are just being developed. This may give you a credit for turning your ac down or off in high usage times. This flexible/intelligent system is  years away, like flying cars.  Yes, I saw the video of the flying car, but Popular Mechanics promised me  that  by now when I was 10.

Maine  is having trouble with their wind farm, the grid is stupid. If the wind stops( it does) the existing power generation methods can’t respond fast enough. It creates havoc with the  system, such at it  can be called a system.

We can’t even extend  cable and all it’s benefits for commerce to the  boonies.

Boonies,  if you live in the boonies you should be more prepared. Go buy a generator  now for the  well

Them is us , all of “them”. Have you seen this ad for a new supposed comedy Park & Rec? The  lines they chose to highlight for  the premiere? “I hate  the public” Funny!   A sarcastic nod in another scene to the few people showing up for a meeting is another  big belly laugh. So now  we are the butt of jokes, the public. I   hope the show bombs.

Get up to speed on the unfulfilled   promise of nuclear energy.Look at the numbers  on the costs  associated with walking away from that and how bad we messed up.

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1888119,00.html

MIT is close  to having  wifi power your  lamps . I can’t wait, the air will be electric!

I am currently trying   fluorescent bulbs , though  I  prefer the  warmth  of an incandescent.

UPDATE

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE53729120090408