According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA) the U.S. is making strides on its goals to bolster its renewable power portfolio. In their recently released Electric Power Monthly, an overview of our country’s sources and usage, the EIA reports that renewable energy, including hyrdoelectric sources, have jumped to 11.1% of our total production. Of the individual sources, wind power posted the largest gain with a 34.8% increase. Hydroelectric power increased 18.4% The news is complimented nicely by a slide of 13.9% in coal power production, leaving it as producing 46.1% of our total power needs. The rise of cleaner energy sources has positive timing with the Waxman-Markey bill that recently passed through the House and is now being ravaged on the floor of the Senate.
However, the news does bear some caveats. The EIA said that total consumption by the nation declined 4.6%, undoubtedly linked to the recession and decreases in industrial and manufacturing draws. The same reason was used to explain the notable decreased in coal power with more factories producing less and thus using less energy. As a result, a recovery in the economy could add some strength back to coal’s share of the pie.
Nevertheless, the footnotes do not diminish the weight of the opportunity. Keep in mind that these figures come without money coming from stimulus funding or anything related to the Waxman-Markey bill, should it survive its journey through Congress. Moreover, it could be a blessing that more coal plants are running idle when jobs are tight and investments are low, leaving the possibility of having cleaner options to choose from when we have the reason to turn more switches back on. With all hope, we may be able to replace, or at least deter the new construction of, coal plants by buoying the power supply with new investment in green power. The more dollars that can be diverted to sustainable power creation is more jobs that the industry can tote creating as well as working to lower the prices of technology and its resulting kilowatt hours.
July 21, 2009 at 4:58 pm
This is great, I totally agree…I will be doing my best to keep this going without Waxman-Markey.
July 21, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Well I don’t know how much more I can ask for from a staunch conservative than that. At the end of the day, if we can up that number without Waxman-Markey, by all means.
July 22, 2009 at 10:07 am
While an increase in renewable energy supply is always a good thing, it is important to remember the electricty grid implications of too many sources of electricty that have unpredictable outputs (ie. many renewable sources like wind, solar, etc.). Environmentally it is great to shut down more coal and Natural gas power plants, but those plants produce a large amount of our Peak hours electricity need (especially Natural gas which can be turned on and off line very easily). Germany is currently having the problem of rolling blackout because their electric grid relies too heavily on wind energy, meanign when the wind stops blowing, even for just a ittle bit, the blackouts begin. Diversifying with biomass, and maybe even nuclear is the best way to have a complete renewable portfolio.
July 22, 2009 at 11:36 am
A valid point. I do not know what the percentage mark is that would require us to reassess the stability of our power flow, but I imagine we are well beneath it. Both coal and natural gas comprise the basis for our spinning reserve, which adds the capability to immediately add or subtract power to the grid regardless of wind and sun conditions. Some level of reliability will need to emerge in order to make 20+% renewable energy possible.
Biomass is certainly possible, as it brings the dispatchability that makes coal attractive. Concentrated Solar Power with storage such as salt solutions is also another option that could prove to be a good choice for the midwest and west coast. In any case, the swell of renewables must be paired with practicality and reliability.