February 15, 2012
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In August 2011, 50 million people found themselves in the midst of the United States' most widespread power outage. Three natural gas pipeline explosions claimed the lives of 14 people and destroyed hundreds of homes between September 2010 and January 2011.
The alleged culprit is the aging infrastructure plaguing nearly every sector of the energy industry.
Old energy grids and rolling blackouts
“We’re a superpower with a Third World grid," former U.S. Energy Secretary Bill Richardson told ABC News.
Richardson may not be far off. Many electrical lines, especially on the East Coast date back to the times of Thomas Edison, according to ProPublica. Major power outages have more than doubled in the last 10 years.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman John Wellinghoff acknowledged the degradation of the system.
"It's not getting better. It's getting worse," said Wellinghoff.
The lifespan of most large transformers is shortened because fixing minor flaws like frayed wires and loose screws raises energy costs, according to a study conducted by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). These aging transformers can no longer keep up with current usage demands.
Costly upgrades
Efficient smart grids respond to sudden peaks and drops in electric usage and can reduce cascading blackouts. SmartGrid.gov says the new digital technologies can reroute electricity in emergency situations such as severe storms, earthquakes and terrorist attacks.
Aging transmission lines need replacing. But resistance from landowners and environmental agencies delays and sometimes preventing the installation of new lines, according to The Daily Beast.
These upgrades come with a hefty price tag, although overall projected costs differ significantly. The National Electric Reliability Council estimates improvements will cost around $56 billion, while the EPRI nearly doubles that estimate.
President Obama has allocated $11 billion in stimulus funds toward electric-system upgrades, $4.4 billion of which is dedicated to the building of the smart grid.
In the meantime, electric companies continue to promote energy conservation with customers. Peak usage times, such as summer months when air conditioners are needed, strain the already overtaxed systems and can contribute to blackouts.
Replacing 300,000 miles of pipeline
The natural gas industry also needs to overhaul its infrastructure. Three fatal gas explosions have rocked the country in just under five months, raising awareness about potential dangers.
The pipes suspected in the explosion in Allentown, Pennsylvania, have been in service since 1928, according to an article in the Wall Street Journal. The culprits in the San Bruno California, blast were laid in 1949. The poor welds in the San Bruno steel pipe may be partly responsible for the gas leak and ultimately the explosion.
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration tells MSNBC that the U.S. has more than 2 million miles of pipelines, “enough to circle the earth about 100 times.” The sheer volume of lines makes it difficult to fully assess overall status and safety, especially since the pipelines are buried deep underground.
Although most companies perform routine tests to look for leaks and compromised structures, there is concern that some utility companies are unaware of the condition of their lines. For example, the Wall Street Journal reports that PG&E didn’t know it had seam-welded pipes in San Bruno and was not inspecting the pipes for faulty welds.
“The age of these pipelines is going to continue to cause consternation," U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier told the Wall Street Journal. The California Democrat authored a bill that would address gas-pipeline safety and inspection regulations. The bill, which has 12 co-sponsors, is currently before the Subcommittee on Energy and Power.
The challenges presented by the aging infrastructure will continue to beleaguer the energy industry. The solutions are multifaceted and won’t come cheap. But they will be necessary to preserve the safety of citizens and the flow of energy throughout the country.
Angela Stringfellow is a PR and marketing communications consultant and social media strategist. Angela blogs for Contently.
Photo credit: Thinkstock
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