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The Grid
318 pages, 2007
The electrical grid goes everywhere – it's the largest and most complex machine ever made. Yet, the system is built in such a way that the bigger it gets, the more inevitable its collapse. Named the greatest engineering achievement of the 20th century by the National Academy of Engineering, the electrical grid is the largest industrial investment in the history of humankind. It reaches into your home, snakes its way to your bedroom, and climbs right up into the lamp next to your pillow.
At times, it almost seems alive, like some enormous circulatory system that pumps life into big cities and the most remote rural areas. Constructed of intricately interdependent components, the grid operates on a rapidly shrinking margin for error.
Things can – and do – go wrong in this system, no matter how many preventive steps we take. Just look at the colossal 2003 blackout, when 50 million Americans lost power due to a simple error at a power plant in Ohio, or the one a month later, which blacked out 57 million Italians.
Phillip F. Schewe's book, The Grid, helps us understand the complexity of the electrical grid. It's not just a network of wires and poles, but a vast, interconnected system that powers our lives. Schewe encourages us to explore the history and intricacies of this essential infrastructure.
The Grid shows us how this complex system has shaped our society. From the industrial revolution to the digital age, the grid has been a driving force behind our progress. It's fascinating to see how it has influenced our daily lives and the world around us.
Schewe doesn't shy away from discussing the challenges facing the grid. From aging infrastructure to the need for renewable energy integration, he paints a clear picture of the issues we need to address. It's a call to action for us to research and find solutions to these problems.
What does the future hold for the grid? In his book, Schewe takes a look at the potential of smart grids, renewable energy, and other innovations. It's an exciting glimpse into what could be a brighter, more sustainable future.
Above all, The Grid is a celebration of human achievement. Schewe reminds us that the grid is a testament to our ingenuity and ambition. It's a reminder to appreciate the things we often take for granted and to continue striving for progress.
