Bi-National Grid with Mexico Could Boost Renewable Energy Use in Border States

[Nathanael]

The Urban Land Institute came up with an interesting idea: create a collective energy grid between the U.S. and Mexico. They believe this would lead to more use of renewable energy sources, provide more reliable power to border states (like California), and allow both nations to work together to solve their energy issues.

Here's the story:


Panelists at an Urban Land Institute meeting yesterday in San Diego, Calif. floated the idea of a bi-national grid between the U.S and Mexico that would allow both nations to collaboratively manage their energy needs and guarantee increased use of renewable energy sources.

The bi-national grid would also offer a reliable power supply for border regions like Southern California.

The idea is not radical or unique to the U.S. The European Union (EU) has been talking about a pan-European electricity grid for some time, which would connect individual country grids, increase reliability and uninterrupted supply and ensure price competitiveness in the market.


Link: http://www.energyboom.com/policy/bi-national-grid-mexico-could-boost-renewable-energy-use-border-states

[Greyskye]

1. Doubt the national security folks would let this fly

Too bad, though.

And the article doesn't even list national security issues when it listed potential 'challenges' on the US side of things. That seems pretty unrealistic right there.

[Terry in Austin]

3. National, heck -- try Texas

Texas doesn't even like sharing its grid with the rest of the US, let alone with foreign neighbors.

The Texas grid is entirely separate from the rest of the US, except for a connection in just one place. It can be disconnected at a moment's notice -- the so-called "rusty switch." With Perry's hand on it, I guess it's the technological equivalent of secession.

(edit for punctuation)

[excess_3]

2. US and Mexico are already interconnected .n/t