American Superconductor Corp. illustration

A push is on to connect the nation’s three big, separate electric grids - which basically cover the east, the west and Texas - to allow more flexibility in distributing energy. Without it, we’ll never get any of the solar power likely to come out of  Arizona some day. (Greentech Media article about it here.) The connection would be made near Clovis, New Mexico, and probably use superconducting direct-current systems, which are the most efficient for carrying large amounts of power.

The Globe reports that Devens, Mass., firm American Superconductor Corp. has won part of the contract to manufacture the lines. It’s a big-bucks contract but, as the article notes, a long way from generating any revenue.

Tags: grid; power grid; electric grid