A Look To The Future: Flywheels have the potential to power entire commuter buses with absolutely no harmful emissions!

Rensselaer County could become home to the nation's first flywheel frequency regulation plant simultaneously helping to regulate the supply and demand for electricity within the county as well as reduce its emissions of harmful greenhouse gases.

According to the Times Union, the $50 million, seven acre, flywheel plant will help smooth the transition when an increase or decrease in electrical output is needed. Normally, this change in output requires more coal or oil be burned to accommodate the extra demand for electricity. The flywheels, which operate much like a pottery wheel, will regulate the grid without burning any fuel, which could prevent the release of up to 12,000 tons of carbon dioxide each year - the equivalent of taking 2,000 cars off the road.

The Stephentown Planning Board is reviewing the project and if approved, a quarter of the flywheels could be installed by the end of the year, with the remainder installed by the end of 2009.