With the electricrical demand that Artificial Intelligence will put on the US power grid we will see breakdowns in distribution like never before. The only solution is highly monitored production, pricing and distribution of electricity – and the creation of AI.
Private mass energy production (private nuclear power plants) are highly suspect and unnecessary given an efficiently managed distribution agreement – based on waste production, overall need, and the given supply of various fuels.
I think this needs to be better thought out. Electricity is a commodity, and it does not fall under the “Food, Shelter and Security” hierarchy of needs. I could get behind a better subsidization and regulation program for electrical access in urban poor and underserved rural areas, but it should not be free.
I would say electricity - (the need for light, cooking food, hot running water, heat in the winter and AC in the summer) are all human needs— not wants.
Given the race by private businesses and global governments for the smartest AI — and the energy it requires- balanced against the human needs of the average citizen— it can’t be left to chance and greed.
Disagree. We lived without electricity for all of human history up until its mass availability post WWII. That means it is not essential for human survival and is therefore neither a basic human need nor right.
That being said, our current hodge-pudge of electrical power generation, distribution and billing is a disgrace to a modern society, and I can support making it cheaper and more available. Government funding to modernize and improve transmission lines, and distribution networks would cut the cost to consumers by as much as 50-60% and kickstart our economy in a very meaningful way and falls very much within the realm of government infrastructure responsibility, much like the construction and maintenance of roads.
Power generation on the other hand should remain outside of government management. It needs to have market incentives so that it continues to become more and more cost efficient and competitive.
I agree – Power generation should be treated entirely differently than electricity distribution.
Let market forces dictate how electricity is generated based on cost and ecological destruction. This is what the government needs to monitor closely.
As far as the distribution of electricity – that’s my main point. If left unchecked – large corporate interests will eventually “crash” the system in pursuit of the best AI and greed – and the common American will suffer the consequences.
I’m also not saying that electricity should be free to the average consumer – but it would be helpful to have a basic “formula of fairness” – and a common “Utility Czar”.
The solution can be a simple equation of “fairness” managed by AI. Versions for cost controls for Utilities and power brokers are out there – but I don’t believe it’s subject to proper government oversight.
For example, let’s say each Household pays a base (H) of $100/month, unless they use an excessive amount, in which case it’s billed as H + H$. This takes the financial pressure off consumers for basic necessities.
But if you’re a Business (B) – you pay a higher priced base (B) of $500/month, unless you use an excessive amount (B$$$), then it’s billed as B + B$$$.
This formula makes sure the average consumer’s needs are handled first – before businesses use excessive electricity --which can be harmful to everyone.** There needs to be a point where we cap business electricity usage – based on available energy and the potential for ecological destruction and other considered risks.
This includes businesses that produce their own “nuclear” power. ALL production and ALL distribution need to be regulated – especially over the next ten years – to efficiently grow as a nation. We all live on the same planet.
Right fact, wrong observation. You might chop down trees and burn them for heat, for instance, but you cannot do that if where you live has no trees. The powers that be have transpired such that you must depend on a power grid–there are many laws about how you cannot do certain things off grid depending on where you live.
Yes – That’s the correct observation – and my key point. You can’t run a respirator by burning a candle. In today’s world – access to electricity at all times – needs to be a basic human right – and a government-regulated priority – over a business’s desire to make excess profits --as greed will lead to the death of poor citizens.
I agree with much of what you have to say. That said I have been working on been working on a fully integrated public/private proposal that will create millions of jobs, help farmers, increase food supply, lower the cost of electric and payoff the national debt over 25 yrs. I have always said if you want people to switch electric has to be the cheapest option. 40 million acres of corn is used for ethanol. Ethanol reduces mileage by as much as 15%, creates smog and the carbon footprint of grwing corn is greater than its benefits. Solar will decrease emissions by approx 200 metric tonnes/acre and properly designed grow most any vegetable you can think of. Corn=$675/acre. Elctricity$250-500,000k.