Offshore Drilling – An Unending Controversy

One of the most controversial topics dominating the energy discussion is related to opening the remaining protected U.S. coastline to oil exploration. Questions remain regarding the impact of offshore drilling on the economy and the environment. Specifically: Figure 1 - Offshore Drilling Platform Those in favor of offshore drilling point toward lower gasoline prices and reduced reliance on...

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)

ANWR – The Developing Controversy The Arctic National Wildlife Range is a fairly desolate frozen tundra region encompassing 8.9 million acres in the Northeast corner of Alaska. It was established in 1960 by the U.S. Department of the Interior as a wildlife refuge. Eight years later the largest oil field in North America, known as Prudhoe Bay, was discovered and developed nearby and the...

Energy Storage in the Electric Grid

Today's Electric Grid Massive blackouts are fortunately few and far between but when they occur their impact is devastating. The 2003 Northeast U.S.blackout ended up costing the region an estimated $6 billion. How does such an event occur? This event was not the result of a natural disaster, nor a sinister terrorist plot to undermine the U.S. Rather, like many other similar events, it was a...

An Introduction to Hydropower

According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), hydropower plants produce 24 percent of the world’s electricity, supplying 1 billion people with power totalling 675,000 MW or the equivalenct of 3.6 billion barrells of oil. Hydroelectric plants include 2,000 plants in the U.S. and it represents one of the oldest and the most pragmatic alternative energy sources in the world. The...

Solar Panels – The Asphalt of the 21st Century?

With the increased focus on renewable energy, solar panels, which are more formally referred to as photovoltaic cells, are becoming more widespread in: Roofs of homes, reducing the amount and cost of purchased electricity, Roofs of hybrid cars, powering its air conditioner and thus placing less drag on the gasoline-powered engine, and Calculators and small electronic devices. There are thoughts...

Nuclear Power – Part of the Solution

Nuclear Power – Safe, Clean, and Efficient Electricity Despite the controversy which often surrounds nuclear power, it remains a vital part of the solution in generating safe, clean, and efficient electricity: Among its many environmental friendly attributes, nuclear power produces no controlled air pollutants or greenhouse gases, contributing to clean air, addressing concerns around...

Geothermal Energy – Earth Driven Electricity

Geothermal Compares Favorably with Other Renewable Sources Geothermal Energy Geothermal Energy originates from the heat stored in the earth, drawing from underground heated water and steam to drive electricity-generating turbines. In comparison to other well-accepted renewable technologies (e.g. wind and solar), geothermal energy: Is available 24/7 and avoids the challenges of variability or...

Distributed Electric Power Storage

Distributed Electric Power Storage The storage of electrical power has been an age-old challenge facing the electricity industry. A number of electric utilities are now in the process of placing equipment in residential areas that is capable of storing several hours of electricity supply. These localized or distributed technologies include lithium ion batteries and underground compressed air...

Potential Barriers to the Rebirth of Nuclear Power

With the recent offer of federal loan guarantees to the Southern Company to build two new nuclear reactors and plans to expand these federal loan guarantees by a factor of seven as part of a comprehensive energy policy, the electric power industry is taking a huge step toward introducing a new generation of nuclear power plants. Recognizing that it has been almost 40 years since the last nuclear...

Nuclear Power – Fuel Cycle Options

Fuel Cycle Choice is a Critical Decision As the electric industry moves towards a rebirth of nuclear power one of the more critical decisions will involve choices around the nuclear fuel cycle. These choices will include: Type of fuel, Type of reactors, and Spent fuel storage and/or disposal These decisions will have a direct bearing on the four challenges that need to be overcome to include...