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The green energy dream — why it may not happen.
As America looks to dramatically increase its use of renewable
energy, an inconvenient reality stands in the way: the need to
upgrade the country's antiquated electricity grid. Part of that
overhaul involves the construction of gigantic and expensive
long-distance transmission lines to carry clean energy from remote
sites to population centers.
NOW ON PBS travels to California, which has the most ambitious
clean energy plan in the nation. But the state's efforts face stiff
opposition from property owners and conservationists who prefer
renewable energy from "local sources," such as photovoltaic rooftop
solar panels. Complicating the matter are claims that the
transmission lines are not actually carrying renewable energy at
all, but represent a thinly-disguised strategy to stick to old
energy practices.
NOW's Web site at www.pbs.org/now will provide
clickable state-by-state information on initiatives to provide
clean energy and encourage energy efficiency.