Energy in the United Energy in the United StatesStates

Electricity, Nuclear Energy, Electricity, Nuclear Energy, Renewable EnergyRenewable Energy

Summary report by Sarah LahrSummary report by Sarah LahrSustainable Air QualitySustainable Air Quality

2/11/022/11/02

History of ElectricityHistory of Electricity Electricity has been a power source for only about 100

years old Edison wanted to "make electric light so cheap that

only the rich will be able to burn candles" From 1890 to 1910 many industries started using

electricity including: mining, textiles, steel, and printing FDR’s Rural Electrification Administration (REA) in 1935

brought electricity to rural America after the Depression

Advantages: clean, flexible, controllable, safe, effortless, and instantly available.

Electricity UsageElectricity Usage

High usage of electricity by the residential sector

Since 1949, electricity usage has increased 1,315 percent (population has only increased 89 percent)

Per-capita usage has increased 7 times since 1949

Electric Utility Retail Sales by Sector

Source of ElectricitySource of Electricity

Main source of electricity comes from coal

Natural gas, petroleum, and nuclear power are also major contributors

Electricity Net Generation by Source for 2000

Non-utility Electricity Non-utility Electricity IncreaseIncrease

Non-utility power producers are increasing, showing less regulation and more competition between companies

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 Cost of Electricity to ConsumerConsumer

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

Most of the energy is lost in the form of heat

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 EnergyNuclear Energy

The energy source with truly modern roots

The concept: Controlled fission of heavy elements releases large amounts of energy

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 UnitsNuclear Generation Units Peak number of reactor units

was reached in 1990 with 112 units in operation

Reductions in demand due to the accident at Three Mile Island in 1979, concerns about safety, and the high cost of building the plants

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 EnergyRenewable Energy Until recently, Until recently,

renewable energy was renewable energy was the only form of the only form of energyenergy

It still accounts for only It still accounts for only a small amount of the a small amount of the total energy consumedtotal energy consumed– Renewable energy Renewable energy

accounts for about accounts for about the same amount as the same amount as nuclear energynuclear energy

Energy Consumption by Source

Renewable Energy: WaterRenewable Energy: Water Watermills have been used for milling grain,

pumping water, working metal, sawing, and crushing chalk or sugar cane

Currently, watermills are mainly used to generate electricity

River water is held back by dams and used to run turbines which produce energy

Renewable Energy: Renewable Energy: BiomassBiomass

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

Wood accounted for almost half of the renewable energy in 2000

Renewable Energy: Other Renewable Energy: Other SourcesSources

Geothermal energy accounted for 5% of the renewable energy in 2000

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

Despite its minimal contribution, wind energy production has increased 113 percent since 1989

SummarySummary Electricity is a major energy source, despite Electricity is a major energy source, despite

its higher cost, because it is cleaner and its higher cost, because it is cleaner and safer than fossil fuelssafer than fossil fuels

Nuclear energy is not used very much Nuclear energy is not used very much because of safety concerns and the high cost because of safety concerns and the high cost of productionof production

Renewable energy continues to contribute a Renewable energy continues to contribute a small amount of energy, especially water small amount of energy, especially water and its ability to generate electricity using and its ability to generate electricity using dams dams

What I LearnedWhat I Learned These reports gave me a better understanding of These reports gave me a better understanding of

how the different energy sources related to each how the different energy sources related to each other, especially those used to generate other, especially those used to generate electricityelectricity

It was interesting to see that world affairs and It was interesting to see that world affairs and economics played a big part in the advancement economics played a big part in the advancement of energy technologyof energy technology– The distribution of electricity to rural America The distribution of electricity to rural America

was halted due to the Depressionwas halted due to the Depression– Nuclear energy research was postponed until Nuclear energy research was postponed until

the end of World War II.the end of World War II.