Nuclear power in the United States is not likely to be built at new sites due to safety concerns. Older power plants will be retired, but a few existing plants have plans to add capacity via new reactors. Other technology innovations have resulted in increased output. The net effect is likely that the USA will…
Category: Supply
Energy you can be proud of: United States energy supply growing faster than demand
In a development that is good for national security, consumers’ wallets, and tree-huggers’ consciences, the latest projections from the US Department of Energy expect our production of energy to grow faster than our consumption. EIA projections show U.S. energy production growing faster than consumption through 2040
Water, wind, and sun: helping to power America
The forces of nature are among the “green and clean” sources of electric power generation. While the United States is a world leader in terms of total KWH generated via renewable sources, it produces only about 13% of our total power. Many hope to see the renewable portion increase in the future for reasons of…
Should we be worried? America’s power infrastructure is getting older
You may have heard that many water utilities around the country are increasing their rates in order to help offset their rising capital costs to maintain and upgrade their aging infrastructure. But do these same concerns relate to electric utilities? How old are U.S. power plants?
Solar PV installations are on the rise
Wind energy gets most of the renewable energy attention these days, but solar PV has been growing too. As the technology grows more affordable, perhaps you have communities worth considering. For more info, see: Utility-scale installations lead solar photovoltaic growth New EIA data show total grid-connected photovoltaic solar capacity
How Net metering policies impact you
Net metering is the name of state and local policies that allow consumers to sell power back to the grid. For communities that are considering generating power on site, knowing the local regulations on net metering might make a big impact on your ROI. For more info, see: Policies for compensating behind-the-meter generation vary by…
Emerging green tech: a new form of water power
In prior articles, I discussed multiple ways how water has been used to generate electricity. But now that most large-scale hydro electric power that can be built already has been built, are there any other ways we might be able to generate electricity from water? Why, yes. Enter: Hydro-kinetic power. For more info, see: Regulators…
Water and electricity do mix after all
When we were growing up, we were told that water and electricity are a deadly combination. But under the right circumstances, they can work together for great benefit to society and the planet. Image courtesy of adamr / FreeDigitalPhotos.net Hydroelectric power is the use of falling water to turn a propeller-like piece called a turbine,…
Smart Grid: new technology can improve power reliability and efficiency
In prior articles, I discussed what the Smart Grid is and how it is finally getting smarter in the middle of the grid. For further developments in this area, read on below. The main impact to the multi-family housing industry is that as the electricity grid becomes more efficient with less waste, it has the…
Visit a national Energy Lab
I recently visited the National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden, CO near Denver. The US Dept of Energy has several such laboratories and research centers spread throughout the country. Most of them welcome visitors during normal business hours. For a full listing, click here and then scroll down to the “Labs & Technology Centers” section….