I'm a bit of a new technology geek; especially when its transformative. I find it frustrating when the political class in this country is engaged in mid-twentieth century thinking in the face of the transformational nature of the new toys.
    For example, Newt Gingrich, author of the Contract with America, fancies himself a futurist. O.k, I'm being a little snarky; he is a very thoughtful fellow. Yet I see him on the news talking about how American municipalities should invest in miniature nuclear reactors for power generation and my mouth drops open that he can't see the obvious.
    What am I talking about? Simple; centralized power generation, and the political power that it holds, is likely to fade away within coming decades.
    "You jest!" you say. Well, actually, I hope. That's different.
    The basis for my hope is what is slowly happening in my little part of California. It has, as happens with new technology, begun with the wealthy, and is quickly becoming affordable for the majority of us. This technology is one of the many being explored, but has enormous potential to change the way we do things in a fundamental way. What I see around me is more and more rooftops decorated with hideously ugly and expensive devices that do a simple thing: turn sunlight into electricity.
    This doesn't happen just with homes. Small businesses are installing solar power generation systems on their rooftops, a local university just installed parking lot covers that shade the cars and generate 12% of the campus' power needs, cutting their power expenses considerably. Developers are now, today, including these systems as a matter of course in new housing and business parks.
    The beauty of these systems is this: These devices often produce more electricity than is needed by the customer.  The extra electricity is sold back to the local power company and fed onto the grid, providing decentralized power generation.
    The "decentralized" idea is the bit I'm getting at. As prices fall and more homeowners and businesses begin generating their own power, the necessity for a central power station will become slowly moot over time as the grid is democratized. Central power companies will find themselves in the business of selling power generated by individuals, not selling power to individuals. With this democratization also comes an unlooked for benefit: power stations are no longer viable military targets, as they are back-ups, not essential to the function of our society.
    A pretty dream. But a dream that is slowly, (ever so slowly), actually becoming real.