01/05/2016
Yes, we should all forget Solyndra, but that's actually another story entirely, and a good tale if anyone every wants to hear it over a beer or two. While very accurate, this editorial is actually quite simplistic and underplays the advances in storage technologies and their ability to harness them during peak demand requirements, thus reducing the need for these redundant power plants. The concept of micro-grids utilizing this technology can also provide the nation with more energy security. It's going to take a few more years for battery technology and the associated interfaces to become feasible for homes and businesses, but in the end we will all benefit (including the utilities) from a smarter grid and the integration of renewables and energy storage. The federal and state subsidies that are in place should move us all toward energy security in the near future, and without them could possibly fall into the “technological valley of death,” that Mr. Ho referred to.
Forget Solyndra. With the right subsidies, the industry can be a boon for consumers, the economy — and the environment.
