Can the Power Grid in the US Handle Going Green

Going green is a priority for many families these days. And for good reason! Not only is it important to do our part to preserve the environment for future generations but going green can also save us money in the long run. One area where we can have a big impact is in how we power our homes. But can the current power grid in the US handle a mass switch to renewable energy sources? Let’s take a look.

Can the Power Grid in the US Handle Going Green:

Before we can answer the question of whether or not the power grid can handle a mass switch to renewable energy sources renewable energy sources, we need to understand a little bit about how the current system works. The electricity that powers our homes comes from a network of power plants. These are connected by hundreds of thousands of miles of transmission lines. This network is known as the “power grid.”

There are three main types of power plants: hydroelectric, nuclear, and thermoelectric. Hydroelectric plants use falling water to spin turbines that generate electricity. Nuclear plants use uranium to heat water and produce steam that spins turbines. Thermoelectric plants use fossil fuels, such as coal or natural gas, to heat water and produce steam.

Currently, about 64% of the electricity in the United States comes from thermoelectric power plants, while about 20% comes from hydroelectric plants and 9% comes from nuclear plants. The remaining 7% comes from renewable sources such as solar and wind.

As you can see, the majority of our electricity still comes from fossil fuels. And that’s putting a strain on the power grid. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which oversees about 90% of the state’s power grid in TX, has warned that increasing demand and retirements of older coal and nuclear plants could lead to rotating blackouts within the next few years if steps aren’t taken to improve the grid’s capacity.

Can Renewables Save the Power Grid in the US?

So, what about renewables? Can they help relieve some of this strain on the power grid? The answer is yes…and no. On one hand, renewable energy sources such as solar and wind are becoming more prevalent. In fact, solar capacity in Texas has increased nearly 20-fold since 2010. And wind capacity has increased five-fold over the same period.

However, these increases haven’t been enough to keep up with rising demand. What’s more, renewables are intermittent resources, meaning they only produce electricity when the sun is shining, or the wind is blowing—which isn’t always when we need it most. That’s why thermoelectric power plants are still necessary to provide baseload generation—the minimum amount of electricity needed to meet customer demand at all times.

What Does This Mean for Families Who Want to Go Green?

So, what does all this mean for families who want to do their part by switching to renewable energy sources? For now, it means that it’s still important to have a mix of energy sources powering your home—including renewables, hydroelectricity, nuclear energy, and thermoelectricity—to ensure a reliable supply of electricity around-the-clock. In other words, we need all forms of generation working together to maintain a well-functioning power grid that can meet our ever-growing demand for electricity.

Going green doesn’t have sacrifice reliability—or your budget! With today’s technology advances and wide variety of energy plans available, there’s sure to be an option that fits your family’s needs while also helping preserve our planet for future generations.

The question of can the grid handle going green is a complicated one. On one hand, renewables are becoming more prevalent. On the other hand, they’re not enough to keep up with rising demand. They’re also intermittent resources that don’t produce electricity when we need it most. For now, it’s still important to have a mix of energy sources powering your home—including renewables. This will ensure a reliable supply of electricity around-the-clock while also doing your part to preserve our planet for future generations.