Challenge of Greening the Future
As congressional debate over climate change legislation continues, the question of how our nation will generate the power it needs in coming decades has taken center stage. Most of the electricity used today gets produced by burning fossil fuels, which emit greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (blamed as a climate change contributor) or nuclear reactors that emit clean water vapor (steam) but create high-level radioactive waste.
In addition, fossil fuels—primarily coal and natural gas—are non-renewable, meaning supplies are limited. Nuclear energy, fueled by uranium, also relies on a finite resource.
However, renewable sources of energy like water, wind, sun, biomass, earth’s heat, and hydrokinetic sources like tides and ocean waves replenish themselves. And when it comes to generating renewable electricity for rural America, electric cooperatives are leading the way. Electric co-ops receive 11% of their power requirements from renewable resources compared to 9% for electric utilities as a whole.
Renewable energy does have its share of challenges, though. “Green” power resources don’t exist everywhere or in sufficient quantity to “keep the lights on.” There’s a need for more transmission lines to move renewable power from the places where it’s generated to population centers. There’s also a need for new technology capable of storing electricity produced by wind and solar facilities, making them more reliable forms of generation.
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation, which oversees reliable operation of the bulk power grid covering the United States, most of Canada, and part of Mexico, estimates 24,000 miles of transmission lines need to be built by 2018, with 35% dedicated to connecting remote renewable resources to cities. Yet getting these lines constructed poses major regulatory and community challenges.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Energy Information Administration forecasts 260,000 MW of renewable energy being added over the next decade—mainly in the form of wind. But less than
25% of this renewable capacity will be available when consumers need it most, during peak demand periods, highlighting the need for research into development of advanced storage options.
The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), a non-profit research consortium made up of electric utilities, including electric cooperatives, calls for a balanced approach. According to EPRI’s realistic 2009 analysis of various forms of generation, non-hydro renewable resources will provide 15% of America’s power by 2030. Water resources should produce another 6 percent, leaving 79% of the nation’s energy produced by an efficient mix of nuclear, coal, and natural gas.
Since some states boast reliable wind resources while others benefit from more sunshine, a cooperative approach to renewable energy has emerged. Last year, electric cooperatives formed the National Renewables Cooperative Organization (NRCO), www.renewable.coop. The group shares expertise and collaborates on renewable power projects across the nation.
Electric cooperatives are also working closely with other groups to remind Congress to keep consumers in mind when debating climate change legislation. Through the Our Energy, Our Future™ grassroots campaign at www.ourenergy.coop, hundreds of thousands of co-op members are joining this effort, asking lawmakers to keep energy policy fair, affordable, and achievable. A sound approach to renewable energy remains an important element for consideration.
At Access Energy Cooperative we want you to understand the potential of renewable energy in the areas we serve. Over the next few months look for a series of stories on how various renewable resources may fit into our nation’s energy future.