Sierra Club, PETA, and others have already started protesting over the big pilot plant out west. It kills birds that fly through too low, roasts them. They also claim it causes other environmental issues.

Typical though, they complain about any power generation, no matter the source. They have no interest in actually solving energy problems.

Unless it can be done economically at the individual structure or neighborhood. That would eliminate the transmission issue. Indeed, storage would be an additional cost unless other energy sources were also used. With lower demand (as a result of this tech), those sources could be more economical.

Interesting but a lot depends on improved storage and transmission capabilities.

For myself, that's kind of the key question. When we can separate the individual user from the grid, we will have taken a great step towards freedom. And a necessary step.

And they know it!
There is an interesting white paper from the Edison Electric Institute about how the increasing use of "DER" i.e. Solar PV and other renewable sources of energy is threatening the shareholder invested electric utility grid. An interesting exploration into public utilities, regulatory regimes and how new technologies can "threaten" the status quo.

From Executive Summary:
Recent technological and economic changes are expected to challenge and transform the electric utility industry. These changes (or “disruptive challenges”) arise due to a convergence of factors, including: falling costs of distributed generation and other distributed energy resources (DER); an enhanced focus on development of new DER technologies; increasing customer, regulatory, and political interest in demand side management technologies (DSM); government programs to incentivize selected technologies; the declining price of natural gas; slowing economic growth trends; and rising electricity prices in certain areas of the country. Taken together, these factors are potential “game changers” to the U.S. electric utility industry, and are likely to dramatically impact customers, employees, investors, and the availability of capital to fund future investment. The timing of such transformative changes is unclear, but with the potential for technological innovation (e.g., solar photovoltaic or PV) becoming economically viable due to this confluence of forces, the industry and its stakeholders must proactively assess the impacts and alternatives available to address disruptive challenges in a timely manner.

Full article

http://www.eei.org/issuesandpolicy/finan...

My first question: Is it economically scalable for local power generation instead of massive power plants?
Breaking the political power of big power/big energy could make an enormous difference for individual liberty, and reduce the need for resource farming by force of arms.