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What does the world's largest machine do? - Henry Richardson

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TEDEd Animation

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In 1967, Homer Loutzenheuser flipped a switch and connected the power grids of the United States, forming one interconnected machine. Today, the US power grid is the world’s largest machine, containing more than 7,300 electricity-generating plants. So how exactly do these power plants work? Henry Richardson digs into the delicate balancing act of how power grids supply us energy.

Approximately how many electricity generating plants are there in the United States?

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Meet The Creators

  • Educator Henry Richardson, Katie Ryan
  • Director Anna Benner
  • Narrator Jack Cutmore-Scott
  • Music Raphael Tschernuth
  • Sound Designer Raphael Tschernuth
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Producer Anna Bechtol
  • Associate Producer Sazia Afrin
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Script Producer Cella Wright
  • Script Editor Emma Bryce

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