News
Utilities Seize Control of the Coming Boom in Transmission Lines
Legislatures in a dozen states have passed “right of first refusal” laws that freeze out competition in transmission line projects, raising concerns about higher energy costs for consumers.
By Dan Gearino
The power grid near Chicago, much like the region’s highways, is often congested.
Related Knowledge Center: ENERGY BASICS: electricity
State of Play
Electricity is a secondary energy source: it is generated through the conversion of primary energy sources such as natural gas, coal, solar, hydropower, and wind. Electricity’s versatility is not cost-free: a substantial amount of energy is lost in its generation and the cost of storage is high, compared with fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. The economics of battery technology hold the key to expanded use of renewable sources to generate electricity.