Having been a Control Operator in power plants during my career I can tell you one thing for sure.......
AC power must be produced at time of use.
Wind/solar power it limited and basically a side line source of power as it can NOT be counted on, relied on or anticipated as to amount that can be available at anyone time.
Plus if you remove the 'subsidies' it isn't as cheap as reported.
Hydro......
Some of same issues as wind/solar.
Flow rates available and come winter.frozen water doesn't produce MWs
YES....
ALL electric heavy equipment/commercial industries have been around for years
As illustrated by 'Big Muskie' which also came with 200MW demands.
One power plant I worked at provided direct power to a foundry that had electric arc furnaces.....250MW swings when on-line.
It was fed via a dedicated 13KV transformer bank tied to a 66KV switchyard
All electric...
Not until power plants are upgraded and even then the current high voltage transmission system would need increased (more lines, more towers, more switchyards, more distribution systems, more more )
That takes MONIES.....PLUS RIGHT OF WAYS.
Monies are hard to come by due to 'capital expenditures' and not recoupable via rate increases
RIGHT OF WAYS.........NIMBY (that KILLS every project when NEW transmission lines are involved)
Current GRID is tasked. WAIT for it-----won't take much to cause a cascade effect that the eastern one will pale in comparison. CHAOS.
Studied it, trained for it, seen it, dealt with it......and it happens FAST and becomes wide spread quicker then you can imagine
No such thing as 'All Electric'
