ABSTRACT
At its points of use, electricity is a very clean, compact, and quiet energy source. A 10 HP electric motor is no bigger than two or three briefcases, yet it
runs almost silently, and produces no pollution, no leaking fluid, and very little heat or vibration. If need be, the electric motor could be located inside a home or office without causing major disturbance or disruption of quiet business routine. By contrast, a gasoline motor of similar power would be about twice as large, and even when heavily muffled would produce objectionable amounts of noise and vibration, along with considerable amounts of exhaust and heat. Unlike its many positive qualities at its points of use, at its source of production (see Chapter 6, Creating Electricity: Power Generation), electricity requires large, noisy, and in some cases mildly polluting industrial-grade equipment.
