Heartening news today from Capitol Hill, as Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), the Senate Majority leader, proposed a way for the federal government to encourage the growth of renewable energy. Reid envisions the federal government stepping in to provide power lines for renewable energy sources that are in out-of-the-way locations.

This is great news for every sector of renewable energy, from wind power turbines to hydroelectric dams. But this is a particularly great opportunity for solar, as this could encourage the construction of solar energy “plants” in deserts and similarly inhospitable terrain, while still allowing the power generated in these locations to integrate in with the existing power grid.

Moreover, this is a clear case where the federal government is best-suited to deliver this kind of service, with state finances ailing nationwide and the lack of capital or incentive for either producers or distributors of power to lay down the money for this kind of construction. In other words, this is a sensible policy with no real reason for ideological backlash, and with nothing but positive benefits for the growth of green energy and the nation’s transition away from fossil fuels. Great news!