Superconducting power transmission

At the present time it is predicted that the electric utilities will need to double their capacity every ten years. This rate of growth, about 8% per year, is not in itself awe-inspiring until one considers the present size of the electric industry. The estimated demand in the United States for the year 1990 is in excess of 109 kW. In order to meet this demand, the electric utilities will have to install approximately 7.5 x 108 kW of additional generating, transmission, and distribution capacity at an estimated cost of 300–350 billion dollars.