The electric grid has been described as the world’s largest machine. I’d like for you to take a moment to consider the generation and delivery of an electron to your home or business and how incredible today’s electric grid truly is.

An electron is created by heat, inversion or friction at a power plant. That electron takes what looks like an impossible journey, sometimes across hundreds of miles of transmission lines, to a substation, then to a distribution line, then to your home or business. Finally, that electron helps power a smart device, a heater, a hair dryer or a child’s nightlight.

Ultimately, that’s the business of electricity. And while electrons haven’t changed, everything else in the electric industry is evolving. Twenty-five years ago, we generated power almost exclusively with coal, natural gas or nuclear fission; now we use wind turbines, solar panels and release stored electricity from batteries.

Read more in RealClearEnergy here.

The views and opinions expressed are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of C3.