Energy in the United States Electricity, Nuclear Energy, Renewable Energy Summary report by Sarah Lahr Sustainable Air Quality 2/11/02

History of Electricity n n Electricity has been a power source for only about 100 years old n n Edison wanted to "make electric light so cheap that only the rich will be able to burn candles" n n From 1890 to 1910 many industries started using electricity including: mining, textiles, steel, and printing n n FDR’s Rural Electrification Administration (REA) in 1935 brought electricity to rural America after the Depression n n Advantages: clean, flexible, controllable, safe, effortless, and instantly available.

Electricity Usage n High usage of electricity by the residential sector n Since 1949, electricity usage has increased 1,315 percent (population has only increased 89 percent) n Per-capita usage has increased 7 times since 1949 Electric Utility Retail Sales by Sector

Source of Electricity n n Main source of electricity comes from coal n n Natural gas, petroleum, and nuclear power are also major contributors Electricity Net Generation by Source for 2000

Non-utility Electricity Increase n n Non-utility power producers are increasing, showing less regulation and more competition between companies n n Percentage of non-utility electricity consumed increased from 20 percent to 26 percent from 1999 to 2000 Electric Power Sector Net Summer Capability

Cost of Electricity to Consumer n Cost of electricity is high because it accounts for both the cost to generate the electricity and to move it to the point of use n Most of the energy is lost in the form of heat n For every three units of energy that are converted to create electricity, only about one unit actually reaches the end user. Consumer Prices for Electricity, Natural Gas, and Motor Gasoline for 2000

Nuclear Energy n n The energy source with truly modern roots n n The concept: Controlled fission of heavy elements releases large amounts of energy n n Nuclear energy was originally viewed as a way to avoid energy dependence on those countries from which the United States imported crude oil

Nuclear Generation Units n n Peak number of reactor units was reached in 1990 with 112 units in operation n n Reductions in demand due to the accident at Three Mile Island in 1979, concerns about safety, and the high cost of building the plants n n Cancellations of plant orders and shutdowns of plants increased – –Currently only 104 operable reactor units – –No new plants are expected to be built Number of Operable Units

Renewable Energy n Until recently, renewable energy was the only form of energy n It still accounts for only a small amount of the total energy consumed –Renewable energy accounts for about the same amount as nuclear energy Energy Consumption by Source

Renewable Energy: Water n n Watermills have been used for milling grain, pumping water, working metal, sawing, and crushing chalk or sugar cane n n Currently, watermills are mainly used to generate electricity n n River water is held back by dams and used to run turbines which produce energy

Renewable Energy: Biomass n n The main sources of biomass energy include wood and waste. Other sources, however, include methanol, ethanol, peat, agricultural waste, straw, tires, landfill gas, fish oil, and others n n Wood accounted for almost half of the renewable energy in 2000

Renewable Energy: Other Sources n n Geothermal energy accounted for 5% of the renewable energy in 2000 n n Solar and wind energy do not contribute as much as most people think. In 2001, they contributed for only about 1% of the renewable energy n n Despite its minimal contribution, wind energy production has increased 113 percent since 1989

Summary n Electricity is a major energy source, despite its higher cost, because it is cleaner and safer than fossil fuels n Nuclear energy is not used very much because of safety concerns and the high cost of production n Renewable energy continues to contribute a small amount of energy, especially water and its ability to generate electricity using dams

What I Learned n These reports gave me a better understanding of how the different energy sources related to each other, especially those used to generate electricity n It was interesting to see that world affairs and economics played a big part in the advancement of energy technology –The distribution of electricity to rural America was halted due to the Depression –Nuclear energy research was postponed until the end of World War II.