LOOKING TO THE FUTURE: Distributed Generation

Another important idea for the future of electric power is distributed generation. This scheme attempts to bring down the cost of renewable sources by mass producing them. Individual homes, schools, public buildings and parking ramps can become small power generating stations.

A home with a windmill and some solar electric panels can generate most of the electricity it needs from non-polluting sources. The only expense is that of building the system in the first place, and the more people that buy these systems the more affordable they will become.

Wind and solar technologies are well suited to remote "off the grid" areas not reached by power lines. But homes and businesses connected to a power company grid can also become distributed generating stations.

On a bright sunny day, if the home generates more power than it needs, it can send the power through transmission lines to the electric utility. The company can sell the extra power to other users. On a cloudy day, the same home may need to buy power from the utility. In this view of the future, the power company will act as a coordinator in addition to or perhaps instead of a centralized producer.

NEXT: Solar Thermal Electricity