64% of US States Could Supply 100% of Their Own Power From Renewable Energy, New Rules Project Shows
Sales potential (if only we had transmission) How expensive a resource is depends partly on whether there is the potential for sales to other states. In the case of wind power this is striking. However, there is no way to ship that wind as yet. The study does not go into potential, but only current in-state resources, and since transmission hampers wind getting out of state, it only counts what is currently available to each state.
Transmission. Recently we at least got the central superstation to make the connection to a high powered grid at Tres Amigas in New Mexico, the first step to building a national grid – but we don’t have the transmission to and from it to really ship all the wind out to where it needs to get to. We still just have a disorganized 19th century mess of tiny grids all over the country.
Other than selling out of state, here are the comparative costs:
Most Commented Posts
Two Thirds of Americans Would Refuse to Give Up iPod – Even if it Ruined Environment
12 Year Old Boy Invents New Type of Solar Cell
Is Wireless Power Closer Than We Think?
Magnetic Air Car Could Be Ready by 2010
October 19th, 2009 at 8:31 am
Being from BC Canada, I have to wonder how much of the power shown in the Northern States includes renewable from Canada.
BTW the last number I have are 50,120 million kWh exported from all of Canada (2007)
Now you need to realize, the USA gets a helluva bargain on this power while everyone in BC gets shafted – and the IPP’s get shafted by the Provincial Governments who in turn are shafted by back room deals Federally.
Sorry – had to add that so people realise where some of their electrical power comes from…
October 19th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
No, this study did not count out of state power currently, but potential for in-state power, only.
Thanks for your electrons though, Canada. We like the green ones.
October 20th, 2009 at 3:56 am
I live in one of those ‘Northern States”. We get O% Of our electrons from Canada. So MD? STUFF IT!
October 20th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
I luv Canadians… don’t be a hater Ty.
The fact is, the potential or capability to produce renewable power is not the issue. The issue is getting producers to retrofit businesses to use or produce renewable energy. Most companies simply aren’t willing to loose profits to change their “system”. THAT is the problem we must overcome. As consumers, we must strong-arm gov’t and private business to do things “our way” or loose our business.
October 28th, 2009 at 2:57 am
I would like to see some comparisons between the costs to build and install the various generation sources. Then compare that to the cost of the new transmission lines. I also think that the cost of building new generation should be incorporated into the cost of generation.
October 28th, 2009 at 7:06 am
Tim, read the study I linked, then. It is about a 50 page pdf with multiple comparisons.
But the states wanted to know how much bang they could get for their buck IF THEY SPENT NOTHING on transmission, so this study was for how much renewable power was right in their own state’s ‘backyards’.
Like; if solar was all right on peoples roofs: what was the potential generation and cost?
January 17th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
Fact is America will go through a liquid energy to Electrical energy convulsion as fast as Asians demand their share of remaining light sweet crude oil in the world! Remember: Asians bid with gold backed, and production backed Yuan on world markets for all resources, oil included and will run prices up beyond what the weakened U.S. fiat, shystered, (See: http://www.viewzone.com/fakegold.html)
paper dollar can afford! America’s own satellite reconnaissance have provided no new drill targets in the whole world! Oil will skyrocket and very soon! Save for the wisdom of China to institute Electric Bullet Train networks to save on transportation costs (400% more efficient) the great oil wars are about to begin! The Saudis pray daily and pump sea water into their wells to get the last oil out to America, and Turkmenistan is already visited by Russia and China, only 350 miles away, with pipelines making Halliburton(Dubai)’s pipe-dream up Afghanistan already obsolete! All these factors and a very weak U.S. dollar, $1200.00 buys only 1 oz. gold today! will make for astoundingly expensive gasoline at the pumps and very soon. America will shift to Electric Power from Solar, Wind, Wave, Hydro, Tidal, Geothermal and Nuclear sources because it has all these. Unfortunately none of them can convert readily to liquid fuel energy, and all of them go to Electric energy quite well! America has just enough oil of her own to maintain military defenses, not more! The change-over from liquid fuel to Electric power is inevitable! Electricity is all America naturally has! Gentlemen! Charge your batteries, the plug ins are coming!