I saw an article in the local paper a few years back where there are Cat gensets running off of the gas collected from landfills west of Chicago. I believe the capacity at one site was 35,000 homes. They had a nice photo of several lined up in a row. Use only what you need, keep some for ready spares and for spare parts, and there you go.
For years after a restoration the Hotel Baker on the Fox River in St. Charles IL had restored power from a water turbine at the dam (about an 8-10 foot drop, the Fox isn't deep around here) right next to the building. They had a setup showing what it was generating that you could view from the street...cool olde-timey gauges and dials. It's been a while since I looked, but I'll check into it.
For years Cat and Kohler (amongst others) have made trailer amounted portable generators that fit in a 40 foot trailer. I see these being used to keep essential services online like the at least some of the local hospitals. If you are out in the middle of nowhere and can keep enough juice going to make and store basic medicines like described in Free City and Armies of the Night, you are a beacon of hope. Better plan to defend it when the word gets out though...
Dave
-Dave
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