STUDY: Lots of local, green electricity possible for most of the U.S.
Posted Nov 3rd 2009 12:59PM by Sebastian Blanco
One of the reasons that a vehicle powered by something other than gasoline is such a popular idea in the U.S. is that it helps us become less reliant on other countries for our transportation needs. To this end, biofuels and electric vehicles offer great potential to use local sources of energy in our vehicles. To get a handle on how much green electricity – wind, geothermal, solar, etc. – is available in the U.S., the Insitute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) has conducted a study on renewable energy potential and came away with some amazing figures. The Energy Self-Reliant States study found that 31 states have the potential to produce more renewable energy in-state than they currently use and that another ten could make more than 75 of the amount. The state with the worst potential, Kentucky, could still meet 24 percent of its electricity needs using renewable energy.
The big problem with all of this potential is the cost of setting up the renewable energy production devices. Solar panels are not cheap, and wind farms have their own opponents. While no one expects Texas, for example, to make 533 percent more energy than it needs using renewable sources, ILSR shows that it's at least possible, and that should give hope to EV proponents (no more coal-powered grid!) and hydrogen vehicle fans (electrolyze water with green energy!) alike. Download the PDF of the study and see for yourself.
[Source: ISLR via Treehugger]
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
Dave 10:17AM (11/05/2009)
Here's the USA info for comparison
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=electricity_in_the_united_states
Carney 9:45AM (11/04/2009)
We are ALREADY energy independent when it comes to electricity production.
Half our electricity comes from coal. 20% each from natural gas and nuclear fission. 5% from hydro-electric dams. That's 95% right there, all domestic (although we are just beginning to import some NG).
Only 3% of our electricity comes from oil, and 60% of that is foreign.
The green darlings - solar, wind, tidal, geothermal, biomass, all combine to total a whopping 2% - all that's domestic too.
So - 97% energy independent for electricity.
Now it may be a good idea for environmental reasons to move away from coal for instance, or to shift around this pie chart in other ways.
But anyone who complains about foreign oil, the Middle East, energy independence, etc., and then talks about solar or wind as the solution is ignorant or trying to fool you.
The problem with energy independence is NOT electric power production - it's another aspect of energy - vehicle fuel. Nearly all our transportation fuel comes from oil. 97% in fact (interesting coincidence). THAT's where the action is in cutting off the Mideast.
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Green Destiny 11:03AM (11/04/2009)
I think you may have missed the point of the study. It refers to *local and renewable* independence, not merely foreign independence.
Local is important- it means no imports of dirty coal from neighboring states.
Renewable is also important- it means no local generation of hazardous emissions or greenhouse gases.
Supercat 2:18PM (11/04/2009)
OK. Well it's possible to build you house out of gold bricks and diamond-encrusted windows, but there's a reason people don't do that, either.
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Crash72 2:37PM (11/04/2009)
Everyone should put a windmill on their electric car roof. That way it can charge the battery as you drive and you'll never run out of power! Noble Prize for me!
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roux 2:38PM (11/04/2009)
"(ILSR) has conducted a study on renewable energy potential "
Potential... as a wise football coach once told me. Many a coach has lost his job because of potential.
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West 6:37PM (11/04/2009)
It's a good thing solar panels are free, otherwise this might be a little bit more difficult. Let's thank our lucky stars that solar and wind takes zero energy investment and requires no maintenance.
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Duncan 2:27AM (11/05/2009)
This isn't very meaningful. There's a lot of green energy available in the US in much the same way that there's an enormous amount of gold dissolved in the ocean.
I'd also question the "greenness" of most bio-fuels. Habitat destruction is a much bigger environmental problem than burning fossil fuels is, and most bio-fuels lead directly or indirectly to habitat destruction. On the other hand nuclear is probably the greenest energy source that makes any sense right now, and the US could certainly generate all its electricity from nuclear easily enough. It would be more expensive than coal, but not prohibitively so.
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rogerroster 5:29AM (11/09/2009)
Green technologies have numerous advantages. There are numerous companies engaged in promoting green technology like Pacific Crest Transformers, we need to support their initiatives as well
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