Planet Money Green energy gridlock
22 snips
May 24, 2023 Lyle Jack's quest to build a wind farm on the Pine Ridge Reservation faces a tangled mess of bureaucratic challenges. The struggle to connect renewables to the grid highlights a chaotic demand for infrastructure. Tribal collaboration emerges as a key player in championing green energy for economic growth. Developers grapple with potential connection costs of nearly $1 billion while navigating a complex regulatory landscape. Despite the hurdles, there’s renewed optimism as new partnerships and federal support spark hope for the wind project.
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Lyle's 20-Year Journey
- Lyle Jack has been trying to build a wind farm on the Pine Ridge Reservation for 20 years.
- He formed a company with other tribes to overcome sovereign immunity issues and partnered with Apex Clean Energy.
Strategic Site Selection
- Lyle chose two sites for wind farms, one on Pine Ridge and another further north, based on wind speed and proximity to power lines.
- Connecting to these existing lines is crucial for the project's success.
Grid Management
- Southwest Power Pool (SPP) acts as the "air traffic controller" of the grid, balancing electricity flow.
- They must carefully manage connections to avoid blackouts.