1. Overview of Regulatory Issues Regarding Various Energy Sources
Dwight A. Howes
Partner

2. US Energy Use Data & Statistics (2010)
Total Energy Consumption
98.1 quadrillion Btu
By Source
Oil
37%
Gas
25%
Coal
21%
Nuclear 9%
Renewable 8%
By Sector
Residential & Commercial
41%
Transportation
33%
Industrial
26%

3. World Energy Use Data & Statistics (2009)
United States
20%
China
17%
Russia 6%
Japan 4%
India
Germany 3%

4. Electricity in the United States
Generated in U.S. in 2010
4 Trillion Kilowatt-hours
Fossil Fuels Generate Most U.S. Power
Coal
45%
Natural Gas
24%
Oil 1%
Total Fossil
70%
Nuclear
20%
Renewable
Hydro 6%
Biomass
Wind
Solar
<1%

5. Regulatory, Development, and Production Issues
Coal: least clean fossil fuel
Steam coal almost exclusively used to generate electricity.
Emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides, particulates, mercury, carbon dioxide.
Emissions Reduction Technology
SO2: Scrubbers – Acid rain no longer significant
NOx: Selective catalytic reduction
Particulates: Bag houses
Mercury & CO2: Technology developing
Impediments
Difficult to Site New Coal-Fired Plants
Difficult to Extend Life of Existing Coal-Fired Plants
Mining Impacts

6. Regulatory, Development, and Production Issues
Natural Gas: cleanest fossil fuel
Use: Heating, industrial, electric generation, some transportation
Emissions of nitrous oxides, volatile organic compounds, carbon dioxide
Emissions Reduction Technology:
NOx: Selective catalytic reduction
VOCs: Thermal
CO2: Technology developing
Impediments/hydraulic fracturing
Advantages
Gas-fired power plants relatively faster, easier, cheaper to construct and operate

7. Regulatory, Development, and Production Issues
Oil: Cleaner than coal, not as clean as gas
Use: Transportation, heating, industrial, maritime, electric generation
Emissions of nitrous oxides, volatile organic compounds, particulates, carbon dioxide
Emissions Reduction Technology:
NOx: Selective catalytic reduction
VOCs: Thermal
Particulates: Largely Uncontrolled (except diesel)
CO2: Technology developing
Impediments/Expensive & Imported
No new construction of oil-fired power plants/primarily a transportation fuel

8. Regulatory, Development, and Production Issues
Nuclear (the only non-solar power)
No emissions/disposal of nuclear waste
In the US: waste disposal on hold/re-processing illegal
Nuclear power plants: extremely capital intensive with long time line
Seabrook: licensed in 1976 (two units planned, one built), construction completed in 1986, full power in 1990
Shoreham: Construction 1973 – In 1989, LILCO agreed not to operate plant - $6 billion in costs passed to rate payers
1979: TMI
1986: Chernobyl
2011: Fukushima

9. Regulatory, Development, and Production Issues
Renewables: Hydro
Use: Electric generation
No emissions/impact of dams
Most small hydro generators not being re-licensed
No new hydro in U.S.
Hydro Quebec, Niagara Mohawk, TVA, Bonneville

10. Regulatory, Development, and Production Issues
Renewables: Biomass
Use: Electric generation/source of methane/liquid fuels
Essentially the same as natural gas, except no drilling impact

11. Regulatory, Development, and Production Issues
Renewables: Wind
Use: Electric generation
No emissions/impact of wind turbine towers
Dependent on wind
Growing, but small contributor to U.S. electric power generation
Increasing NIMBY opposition – Nantucket Sound

12. Regulatory, Development, and Production Issues
Renewables: Solar
Use: Electric generation/heating/water heating
No emissions/large land use
Dependent on sunshine
Growing, but small contributor to U.S. electric power generation
Increasing NIMBY opposition but currently less so than wind

13. END/Questions?