http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/solar-water-heating-how-california-can-reduce-its-dependence-on-natural-gas Solar hot water systems capture energy from the http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/solar-water-heating-how-california-can-reduce-its-dependence-on-natural-gas Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:36:29 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/the-power-of-efficiency-opportunities-to-save-money-reduce-pollution-and-expand-the-economy-in-the-midwest Illinois is sitting on a vast reserve of http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/the-power-of-efficiency-opportunities-to-save-money-reduce-pollution-and-expand-the-economy-in-the-midwest Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:43:41 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/north-carolinas-road-to-energy-indpendence-building-job-growth-in-renewable-energy-component-manufacturing A report http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/north-carolinas-road-to-energy-indpendence-building-job-growth-in-renewable-energy-component-manufacturing Mon, 10 Dec 2007 11:40:43 -0600 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/illinoiss-road-to-energy-independence As a report developed by the Renewable Energy Policy Project http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/illinoiss-road-to-energy-independence Wed, 21 Nov 2007 10:54:29 -0600 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/driving-towards-a-new-energy-future http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/driving-towards-a-new-energy-future Mon, 19 Nov 2007 10:59:23 -0600 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/americas-clean-energy-stars-state-actions-leading-america-to-a-new-energy-future States are leading the way toward a new energy future that http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/americas-clean-energy-stars-state-actions-leading-america-to-a-new-energy-future Wed, 14 Nov 2007 11:37:13 -0600 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/a-new-energy-future-the-benefits-of-energy-efficiency-and-renewable-energy-for-cutting-americas-use-of-fossil-fuels Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG's environmental work. • Fact Sheet: Cutting Our Dependence on Oil (PDF, 119 KB) http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/a-new-energy-future-the-benefits-of-energy-efficiency-and-renewable-energy-for-cutting-americas-use-of-fossil-fuels Sat, 27 Oct 2007 11:41:22 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/clean-energy-for-america-why-the-44th-president-must-put-america-on-the-clean-energy-path America has the technological know-how and the resources to move away http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/clean-energy-for-america-why-the-44th-president-must-put-america-on-the-clean-energy-path Thu, 31 Jan 2008 10:57:19 -0600 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/america-idles-how-president-bushs-inaction-will-cost-americans-billions-at-the-pump-in-2006 Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG's environmental work. America is too dependent on oil, and consumers http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/america-idles-how-president-bushs-inaction-will-cost-americans-billions-at-the-pump-in-2006 Fri, 16 Nov 2007 12:52:04 -0600 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/redirecting-iowas-energy Iowa can be a leader in renewable http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/redirecting-iowas-energy Fri, 16 Nov 2007 12:54:02 -0600 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/ohios-wind-energy-future At the dawn of the 21st century, Ohio faces immense energy challenges, http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/ohios-wind-energy-future Thu, 31 Jan 2008 10:58:00 -0600 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/the-road-to-a-new-energy-future-energy-efficiency-and-renewable-energy-technologies-for-a-cleaner-more-secure-energy-future Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG's environmental work. America can and must move away from our http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/the-road-to-a-new-energy-future-energy-efficiency-and-renewable-energy-technologies-for-a-cleaner-more-secure-energy-future Thu, 31 Jan 2008 10:58:47 -0600 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/michigans-clean-energy-future Michigan stands at a critical energy crossroads http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/michigans-clean-energy-future Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:01:08 -0600 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/putting-solar-energy-to-work-how-arizona-can-help-homeowners-and-businesses-capitalize-on-their-solar-potential Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG's environmental work. Homeowners, businesses and industries across Arizonaare starting to http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/putting-solar-energy-to-work-how-arizona-can-help-homeowners-and-businesses-capitalize-on-their-solar-potential Sat, 27 Oct 2007 11:51:36 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/putting-america-on-the-path-to-clean-energy-a-presidential-plan-of-action-for-the-first-100-days The 44th president of the United http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/putting-america-on-the-path-to-clean-energy-a-presidential-plan-of-action-for-the-first-100-days Wed, 16 Jan 2008 10:16:08 -0600 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/solutions-to-americas-oil-crisis-a-federal-agenda-for-reducing-oil-demand-and-protecting-consumers Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG's environmental work. America http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/solutions-to-americas-oil-crisis-a-federal-agenda-for-reducing-oil-demand-and-protecting-consumers Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:18:22 -0600 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/reaping-the-rewards-how-state-renewable-electricity-standards-are-cutting-pollution-saving-money-creating-jobs-and-fueling-a-clean-energy-boom Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG's environmental work. Renewable energy in the United States is on the rise. http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/reaping-the-rewards-how-state-renewable-electricity-standards-are-cutting-pollution-saving-money-creating-jobs-and-fueling-a-clean-energy-boom Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:19:19 -0600 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/energizing-ohios-economy-creating-jobs-and-reducing-pollution-with-wind-power http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/energizing-ohios-economy-creating-jobs-and-reducing-pollution-with-wind-power Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:29:21 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/achieving-a-new-energy-future-how-states-can-lead-america-to-a-clean-sustainable-economy Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG's environmental work. At the dawn of the 21st century, America faces immense energy challenges, and enjoys boundless opportunities. http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/achieving-a-new-energy-future-how-states-can-lead-america-to-a-clean-sustainable-economy Sat, 27 Oct 2007 11:44:58 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/needless-risk-oil-refineries-and-hazard-reduction Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG's environmental work. Across the country, petroleum refineries, chemical plants and other http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/needless-risk-oil-refineries-and-hazard-reduction Sat, 27 Oct 2007 11:45:27 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/big-money-to-big-oil-how-exxonmobil-and-the-oil-industry-benefit-from-the-2005-energy-bill Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG's environmental work. As the oil industry continues to collect record profits from high oil http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/big-money-to-big-oil-how-exxonmobil-and-the-oil-industry-benefit-from-the-2005-energy-bill Sat, 27 Oct 2007 11:45:55 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/making-sense-of-americas-oil-needs-a-sustainable-state-based-response-to-dwindling-oil-supplies Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG's environmental work. Rising http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/making-sense-of-americas-oil-needs-a-sustainable-state-based-response-to-dwindling-oil-supplies Sat, 27 Oct 2007 11:46:22 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/making-sense-of-hydrogen The use of hydrogen as a fuel for cars and trucks has been touted as an environmentallyresponsible way to end America’s dependence on foreign oil. However, a transition to a “hydrogen economy” —if poorly executed—could extend America’s dependence on fossil fuels and nuclear power, while doing little to solve the severe environmental problems caused by our dependence on polluting and dangerous sources of energy. As the nation and various states begin to engage the policy issues posed by hydrogen,it is critical that they do so carefully— proceeding with proven near-term strategiesthat reduce fossil fuel dependence while ensuring that any eventual transition to a hydrogen-based transportation system adequately protects America’s future economic and environmental health. America’s inefficient use of fossil fuels threatens our economy, our environment and public health. • Experts predict that, at current rates of growth in consumption, the worldwideproduction of oil will peak sometime within the next 35 years, and possiblyby the end of the decade. When that peak occurs, supply will no longer be able to keep up with demand, triggering price increases and shortages. • Domestic production of natural gas has failed to keep up with growing demand in recent years, despite a dramatic increase in the number of operating natural gas wells. Natural gas prices have doubled since 1995 and will likely remain high for the near future. • Fossil fuel consumption in automobiles poses significant environmental andpublic health threats. Motor vehicles are responsible for more than a quarterof the nation’s emissions of smog forming pollutants and health-endangering particulates. America’s transportation system emits more global warming gases than the entire economy of any other nation in the world except China and possibly Russia. • Coal and nuclear power are unacceptable long-term solutions to the nation’s energy problems. The extraction and combustion of coal cause devastating environmental and public health problems, while nuclear power remains an extremely risky and expensive source of energy. Hydrogen fuel is neither inherently renewable nor inherently clean. • Hydrogen does not exist by itself anywhere in nature. Instead, it must either be extracted from other fuels (such as natural gas or biomass) or extracted from water using electricity. • The National Academy of Sciences estimates that creating hydrogen from renewable energy sources is likely to be more expensive than creating it from natural gas, coal or electricity in the near term. However, the NAS notes that: • Using coal or electricity from today’s electric grid to create hydrogen is likely to release as much global warming-inducing carbon dioxide as burning gasoline in efficient hybridelectric vehicles (in the absence of as-yet-unproven technologies to capture and store carbon dioxide underground or in ocean waters). • Dependence on natural gas as a source of hydrogen would likely lead to an increase in imports— replacing our nation’s dependence on imported oil with a dependence on imported natural gas.• Generating hydrogen from renewable sources of energy would be virtually emission-free. But the cost of renewably generated hydrogen—at least in the short-term—is far greater than the cost of generating hydrogen from other sources. And using solar or windpower to replace the dirtiest forms of electricity generation in the short term would be less expensive and achieve greater reductions in carbon dioxide emissions than using them to generate hydrogen to power vehicles.• Renewable generation of hydrogen— or the use of other renewable fuels for transportation—is essential for the long-term sustainability of the U.S. transportation system. Even if the average fuel use or global warming emissions from U.S. motor vehicles were to be sliced in half immediately, continuing the recent rate of growth in vehicle travel would result in a return to current emission levels by 2027. Renewable energy is the only alternative that can achieve a breakthrough in the reduction of global warming emissions from transportation. If hydrogen is produced from renewable sources of energy, it could alleviate our nation’s reliance on fossil fuels and nuclear power and reduce the environmental impacts of our transportation system. To ensure that hydrogen can contribute to a clean, sustainable transportation future, we must employ “win-win” strategies that reduce our reliance on fossil fuels in the short term, while paving the way for renewable energy to power the nation’s transportation system in the future.1. Make Today’s Cars Cleaner and More Efficient• A variety of analysts have estimated that the nation’s cars and trucks couldachieve 10 to 50 percent better fuel economy at minimal increase in costs using technologies that either exist now or will be on the market soon. • Similar improvements are possible for reducing vehicle emissions. More than20 models of partial zero-emission vehicles—each of which emits about90 percent less pollution than today’s new cars—are now available in Californiaand selected other states.• State governments can encourage improvements in vehicle emission control technology by adopting California’s stringent-yet-achievable standards for health-threatening pollutant emissions and the introduction of advanced vehicle technologies.Governments at all levels can use tax and other incentives to encourage the purchase of cleaner vehicles.2. Develop Renewable Energy• Increasing the amount of electricity generated from renewable sources would reduce the environmental impacts of our electric system, reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and nuclear power, and bring down the price of renewables in the future, making a transition to a truly renewable hydrogen future more easily attainable.• Governments can promote renewable energy through the adoption of renewable energy standards for electricity generation and standards for the integration of renewable energy in building design, the creation of renewable energy funds, the adoption of tax credits for renewable generation, and the removal of barriers to the installation of clean, small-scaledistributed generation technologies, including stationary fuel cells.3. Pave the Way for a Renewably Powered Transportation System• Government can play a role in encouraging basic research into vehicles and fuels with the potential to operate on renewable sources of energy, including hydrogen-powered and battery-electric vehicles and vehicles that operate on biomass fuels.• Governments should not invest in the development of hydrogen fueling stations powered by non-renewable forms of energy. In addition, government should work to steer private-sector investment toward measures that move toward renewable generation of hydrogen. While the development of fueling stations based on natural gas might have short-term environmental benefits and ease the introduction of hydrogen powered vehicles, public money and effort would be best focused on solving the technical problems facing hydrogen-powered and other zero-emission vehicles and on supporting the development of renewable hydrogen technologies. • State and local governments should also monitor the progress of safety codes and standards for hydrogen, adopting and enforcing them once they are promulgated. Governments should also open discussions with businesses, non-profit organizationsand others to plan the future transition to a renewably powered transportation system. Governments should not take actions that encourage the generation of hydrogenfrom environmentally damaging sources of energy. • Government must not support efforts to derive hydrogen from environmentally damaging sources—such as the coal and nuclear-based hydrogen programs favored by the Bush administration— and should support the development of all vehicles and fuelswith potential benefits for energy security and the environment, not just those that operate on hydrogen. • Any hydrogen strategy that does not include progress toward cleaner cars in the near term, the expansion of renewable energy, and basic research into clean vehicle technologies—or that makes investments in technologies known to have major, negative environmental impacts—does not help to achieve the goal of a sustainable transportation system and should be avoided. http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/making-sense-of-hydrogen Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:36:54 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/toward-a-consumer-oriented-electric-system-assuring-affordability-reliability-accountability-and-balance-after-a-decade-of-restructuring Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG's environmental work. America’s electric system http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/toward-a-consumer-oriented-electric-system-assuring-affordability-reliability-accountability-and-balance-after-a-decade-of-restructuring Sat, 27 Oct 2007 11:47:13 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/making-sense-of-the-coal-rush-the-consequences-of-expanding-americas-dependence-on-coal Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG's environmental work. Energy http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/making-sense-of-the-coal-rush-the-consequences-of-expanding-americas-dependence-on-coal Sat, 27 Oct 2007 11:47:46 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/a-responsible-electricity-future-an-efficient-cleaner-and-balanced-scenario-for-the-u_s_-electricity-system Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG's environmental work. A better electricity future http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/a-responsible-electricity-future-an-efficient-cleaner-and-balanced-scenario-for-the-u_s_-electricity-system Sat, 27 Oct 2007 11:48:13 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/exxonmobil-exposed-more-drilling-more-global-warming-more-oil-dependence Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG's environmental work. http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/exxonmobil-exposed-more-drilling-more-global-warming-more-oil-dependence Sat, 27 Oct 2007 11:48:40 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/building-an-energy-efficient-america-zero-energy-and-high-efficiency-buildings http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/building-an-energy-efficient-america-zero-energy-and-high-efficiency-buildings Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:39:04 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/tomorrows-energy-today-how-to-ease-new-englands-energy-crisis-and-curb-global-warming-pollution-starting-now New England is heading for http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/tomorrows-energy-today-how-to-ease-new-englands-energy-crisis-and-curb-global-warming-pollution-starting-now Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:31:51 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/real-relief-from-gas-prices-the-benefits-for-oregon-of-kicking-americas-oil-habit http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/real-relief-from-gas-prices-the-benefits-for-oregon-of-kicking-americas-oil-habit Fri, 26 Oct 2007 09:55:24 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/challenging-nuclear-power-in-the-states-policy-and-organizing-tools-for-slowing-the-nuclear-renaissance Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG's environmental work. Capitalizing on rising energy prices, http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/challenging-nuclear-power-in-the-states-policy-and-organizing-tools-for-slowing-the-nuclear-renaissance Sat, 27 Oct 2007 11:49:23 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/going-nowhere-the-price-consumers-pay-for-stalled-fuel-economy-policies Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG's environmental work. http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/going-nowhere-the-price-consumers-pay-for-stalled-fuel-economy-policies Sat, 27 Oct 2007 11:49:50 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/a-responsible-electricity-future-an-efficient-cleaner-and-balanced-scenario-for-the-us-electricity-system Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG's environmental work. http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/a-responsible-electricity-future-an-efficient-cleaner-and-balanced-scenario-for-the-us-electricity-system Sat, 27 Oct 2007 11:50:37 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/on-the-rise-solar-thermal-power-and-the-fight-against-global-warming Global warming is real, is happening now, and is largely caused by human activities. To prevent the worst impacts of global warming, the United States must take action to reduce global warming pollution quickly and dramatically. Electricity generation accounts for more than a third of America’s emissions of global warming pollution. Preventing catastrophic global warming, therefore, will require the United States to shift away from highly polluting sources of power, such as coal-fired power plants, and toward clean, renewable energy. Concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies—which use the sun’s heat to generate electricity—can make a large contribution toward reducing global warming pollution in the United States, and do so quickly and at a reasonable cost. CSP can also reduce other environmental impacts of electric power production, while sparking economic development and creating jobs. The United States has limited time to transition away from dirty energy sources and toward clean, renewable energy. • The latest climate science tells us that the United States and the world must reduce emissions of global warming pollutants quickly and dramatically to prevent the most catastrophic impacts of global warming. • Should global average temperatures to increase by more than 2° Celsius, scientists warn that dangerous impacts from global warming will become inevitable, including flooding of coastal cities, the loss of large numbers of plant and animal species, and increases in extreme weather, wildfire and drought. • To have a reasonable chance of preventing a 2° C increase in global average temperatures, the world must keep the concentration of global warming pollution in the atmosphere below 450 parts per million.1 • The United States must, at minimum, reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 15-20 percent from 2000 levels by 2020, and by 80 percent by 2050 to prevent catastrophic impacts from global warming. Other nations must act aggressively as well. • America’s electric power plants produce more carbon dioxide (the leading global warming pollutant) than the entire economy of any nation in the world other than China. • Even if America uses energy efficiency improvements to prevent future growth in electricity consumption, the nation will still need to expand its renewable generating capacity dramatically. Reducing carbon dioxide emissions from power plants to 20 percent below 2000 levels by 2020, for example, would require the U.S. to generate 15 to 24 percent of its electricity from new renewable sources—or between 158 GW and 257 GW of new renewable energy by 2020. The need for clean energy will further accelerate in future decades as the United States seeks to meet increasingly stringent targets for emission reductions. Concentrating solar power is ready to reduce global warming pollution, and can begin doing so right away. • America has immense potential to generate power from the sun. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has identified the potential for nearly 7,000 gigawatts (GW) of solar thermal power generation on lands in the southwestern United States—more than six times current U.S. electric generating capacity. Other sunny areas of the United States, such as the mountain West, the Great Plains and Florida, can also generate power from solar thermal energy. • Solar thermal power plants covering a 100-mile-square area of the Southwest— equivalent to 9 percent the size of Nevada—could generate enough electricity to power the entire nation. • Building just 80 GW of CSP capacity—a target that is achievable by 2030 with sufficient public policy support—would produce enough electricity to power approximately 25 million homes and reduce carbon dioxide emissions from U.S. electric power plants by 6.6 percent compared to year 2000 levels. Solar thermal power can make even greater contributions in the years to come—precisely the time when the nation must achieve deep cuts in global warming pollution. • CSP plants are increasingly cost-competitive with other power generation technologies that do not produce carbon dioxide. The cost of energy from solar thermal power plants is estimated to be approximately 14 to 16 cents/kWh—competitive in cost with theoretical coal-fired power plants that capture and store their carbon dioxide emissions and with new nuclear power plants. • CSP development has accelerated dramatically since the beginning of 2007. More than 2,800 MW of solar thermal projects are in some phase of development nationwide and could be completed by 2012. CSP benefits the environment and America’s economy. • CSP power is clean. Its only necessary emission, water vapor, is harmless. By developing CSP, America can avoid the need for coal-fired power plants—which emit health-threatening mercury, particulate matter, and smog-forming pollutants and consume large quantities of water—and nuclear power plants, which consume large amounts of water and produce radioactive waste. • CSP can play a leading role in the electric power system. Unlike intermittent forms of renewable energy, CSP plants with thermal energy storage can deliver power when it is needed to serve demand. CSP plants can be designed to provide either peak or baseload power, enabling them to address a variety of needs within the electric grid. • Solar thermal plants create permanent jobs for local economies. Construction of 80 GW of CSP power has the potential to generate between 75,000 and 140,000 permanent, green jobs for Americans. • CSP and other forms of renewable energy reduce demand for natural gas, thereby reducing prices. Installing 4 GW of CSP in California could save Californians between $60 million and $240 million per year in the cost of natural gas. • America’s vast potential for CSP could one day produce renewable electricity to be used in vehicles—thereby reducing the nation’s dependence on oil. Strong public policies can increase the use of CSP in the United States. Priority actions include: • Enacting a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) that requires 25 percent of all U.S. electricity to come from renewable resources—and a certain percentage from solar power technologies—by 2025. States should also enact RES policies or expand their existing RES targets. • Expanding and extending the Renewable Electricity Investment Tax Credit can give CSP project developers the financial certainty they need to move forward. • Enacting caps on global warming pollution at both the national and state levels, which will encourage the development of clean, low-carbon energy sources like concentrating solar power and encourage the retirement of America’s dirtiest electric power plants. Money raised by auctioning allowances under a cap-and-trade system should help support renewable energy development and reduce the cost of the program to consumers. • Creating feed-in tariffs for renewable energy sources, which provide financial rewards to generators who feed renewable energy into the power grid. Widely used in Europe, feed-in tariffs aim to move renewable energy to non-subsidized cost competition with conventional energy, creating fair markets between new and traditional electricity sources. • Providing access to transmission for CSP, in particular through western regional policy agreements and initiatives, can ensure that solar power can be delivered to power consumers. New transmission lines should be built to renewable resource areas before they are built to traditional power generators and be sited and designed to minimize environmental impacts. The federal government should also fund existing research and development on a high-voltage direct current transmission backbone. • Creating an annual $3 billion fund for research, development, and deployment of renewable energy for 2009, which can ensure that CSP and other renewable energy technologies are available to meet America’s energy and climate challenges. The fund should be renewed for the next 10 years, committing $30 billion over the next decade. These dollars should come from shifting funds away from coal, oil, gas and nuclear power subsidies. http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/on-the-rise-solar-thermal-power-and-the-fight-against-global-warming Thu, 08 May 2008 09:30:48 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/investing-in-our-future-how-renewable-energy-will-help-to-stabilize-electricity-rates-and-stimulate-ohios-economy The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio projects that the state‟s demand for energy will increase by about one percent per year through 2020. According to the Energy Information Administration, world energy consumption could increase up to 57 percent from 2004 to 2030. Increased demand for energy has already begun to affect the demand for coal, and thus the prices of coal. Ohio generates 87 percent of its electricity from coal, the majority of which is imported. That leaves the state highly vulnerable in the presence of rising coal and oil prices. A federal cap on carbon is increasingly likely and would lead to a dramatic increase in the cost of electricity generated from coal. Because Ohio is the 4th largest emitter of carbon dioxide in the U.S., any energy policy under consideration for the state of Ohio should compare and contrast the future costs of energy resources in order to promote the least cost option and thereby protect residential, commercial, and industrial electricity users. Although Ohio is currently vulnerable to rampant increases in electricity rates due to the state‟s heavy dependence on imported coal and looming carbon legislation, it‟s not too late to change the state‟s energy future. By diversifying its electricity mix with renewable energy, Ohio can shield itself from upward-spiraling electricity costs and simultaneously improve public health and spur economic growth; a renewable energy standard (RES) would not only reduce pollution, but it would also create thousands of new jobs, increase the incomes of rural landowners by $ millions, generate tax revenue for school districts, and add $ billions to the Gross State Product (GSP). Coal prices are going up. • According to a recent article by the Washington Post, “world consumption of coal has grown 30 percent in the past six years,” driving “international spot prices of coal up by 50 percent or more in the past five months, surpassing the escalation in oil prices…if high prices last, that would raise the cost of U.S. electricity, half of which is generated by coal-fired powered plants.” • According to a recent article by the New York Times, “spot prices for two benchmark American grades of coal, from central Appalachia and the Powder River Basin of Wyoming…(are) up 93 percent and 64 percent, respectively, in the last year…„Watch out, consumer,‟ said David M. Khani, a coal analyst at Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group. „You‟re probably going to see accelerating electricity prices in 2009, 2010, and 2011‟…Already, there are some signs of rising prices. Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power, both American Electric Power subsidiaries, on Feb. 29 filed papers seeking approval in West Virginia for a 17 percent increase in revenues, mainly to pay for costlier coal. If the request is approved, a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours a month would see his bill increase from $64.55 to $73.94, starting in July.” Investing in renewable energy will reduce Ohio’s exposure to increasing and volatile fuel prices. • The cost of generation from renewable sources is not tied to fossil fuel prices. Thus, renewable energy can protect against volatility in the fossil fuel markets. • The “fuel” for electricity generation from wind is wind. Thus, because wind does not need to be mined or transported, as does the fuel for other sources of electricity generation, wind power removes a significant cost component and provides a hedge against increasing and volatile fossil fuel and oil prices – the price of oil recently reached $112 a barrel. A federal cap on carbon emissions is imminent. By investing in renewable energy, now, Ohio can hedge its exposure to the increase in electricity prices resulting from such a cap. • To prevent the most harmful effects of climate change, the world‟s leading scientists have said that we need to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 80 percent below today‟s levels by 2050. • The Warner-Lieberman Bill, which is currently being considered in the Senate, would result in a cap on 80 percent of total U.S. emissions. Echoing this sentiment, President Bush recently signed into law an increase in Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) standards. • Ohio ranks 4th in total carbon dioxide emissions in the United States. Because renewables would be immune to such legislation, they could help to hedge against the increase in electricity rates resulting from a cap on carbon dioxide emissions. • According to a 2006 analysis by Synapse Energy Economics, one ton of carbon dioxide pollution will likely cost between $10 and $40 in 2010, and between $20 and $50 in 2030.5 At these prices, given Ohio‟s electricity-related carbon dioxide emissions were 145 million tons in 2005, the state‟s carbon exposure would be over $1 billion per year. • U.S. Department of Energy studies have shown that an RES can help lower the cost to consumers of implementing a carbon cap and trade program. Various options have been proposed to reduce carbon emissions associated with electricity generation, such as renewable energy, advanced coal, and advanced nuclear. Among these options, renewable energy is the most cost-effective choice. • New generation of electricity from wind is CHEAPER than new generation from advanced coal and nuclear power. • Twenty-five states and Washington D.C. have renewable energy standards. According to a recent report by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, “The electricity rate increases associated with existing state RPS (renewable portfolio standard) policies, for those states in which such impacts are readily calculable, generally equal one percent or less so far; in several states, the renewable electricity required by these policies appears to be priced competitively with fossil generation.” • According to the EPA, capturing – not including transporting or storing – 90 percent of carbon dioxide emissions from Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) advanced coal plants would increase the total cost of electricity by 38 percent. • Indiana recently approved an IGCC advanced coal plant that will result in an average electric rate increase of about 16 percent. This rate will be phased in between 2008 and 2012. • According to a report by the Renewable Energy Policy Project, from 1970 to 1995, levelized costs per kWh of nuclear power increased from 4 cents/kWh to over 9 cents/kWh (in 1999 dollars). That is an increase of 125 percent. On the other hand, between 1980 and 1995, wind costs decreased from 86 cents/kWh to 6 cents/kWh. That is a decrease of about 93 percent. • According to the U.S. Department of Energy, since 1980, while capacity has increased, the cost of wind power has decreased nearly twenty-fold. • According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the best wind sites can compete in the electricity market with traditional fossil-fuel power plants, even in terms of direct costs – when adding in the indirect costs of electricity generation, such as air and water pollution, nuclear waste removal, etc., wind is in fact the favorable option. http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/investing-in-our-future-how-renewable-energy-will-help-to-stabilize-electricity-rates-and-stimulate-ohios-economy Wed, 16 Apr 2008 08:12:50 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/powering-new-jerseys-future-a-clean-energy-strategy-for-replacing-the-oyster-creek-and-salem-nuclear-plants http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/powering-new-jerseys-future-a-clean-energy-strategy-for-replacing-the-oyster-creek-and-salem-nuclear-plants Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:35:57 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/sun-power-texas-solar-future http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/sun-power-texas-solar-future Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:38:45 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/energy-for-colorados-economy-creating-jobs-and-economic-growth-with-renewable-energy Developing Colorado's renewable energy http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/energy-for-colorados-economy-creating-jobs-and-economic-growth-with-renewable-energy Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:43:08 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/energizing-michigans-economy http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/energizing-michigans-economy Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:54:47 -0500 http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/redirecting-americas-energy-the-economic-and-consumer-benefits-of-clean-energy-policies Environment America is the new home of U.S. PIRG's environmental work. America’s current reliance http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/new-energy-future/new-energy-future/redirecting-americas-energy-the-economic-and-consumer-benefits-of-clean-energy-policies Sat, 27 Oct 2007 11:51:09 -0500