Energy in the United StatesElectricity, Nuclear Energy,

Renewable Energy

Summary report by Sarah Lahr

Sustainable Air Quality

2/11/02

Energy Sources Over Time

Energy Consumption by Source, 1635-2000

(Quadrillion Btu)

History 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 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 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

Electricity Flow Chart

Non-utility Electricity Increase• Non-Utility Generator/Power

Producer - A class of power generator that is not a regulated utility and that has generating plants for the purpose of supplying electric power required in the conduct of their industrial and commercial operations.

• 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

Retail Prices of Electricity by Sector

• The residential sector pays the most for electricity per kilowatt hour

• The industrial sector has always paid the least

Cost of Electricity to Consumer

• 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 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 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

Number of Operable Units

Plant Cancellations and Shutdowns

• Cancellations of plant orders and shutdowns of plants increased – Currently only 104

operable reactor units

– No new plants are expected to be built

Nuclear Energy’s Share of Electricity

• Nuclear-generated electricity began in 1957.

• In the 1970s and 1980 the usage of nuclear energy for electricity increased dramatically.

Renewable Energy

• Until recently, renewable energy was the only form of energy

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

accounts for about the same amount as nuclear energy

Energy Consumption by Source

Renewable Energy by Source

• Renewable energy made up 7% of the total energy in 2000. The main source within this category was hydroelectric power.

Renewable Energy Consumption by Trade

This shows a breakdown of where the renewable energy is coming from.

Wood Consumption by Sector

The industrial sector has been the largest consumer of wood in the past 40 years. Non-utility electric power generators have accountedfor a small amount of wood consumption.

Renewable Energy Consumption by Sector

Electric power is the number one consumer of renewable energy.In the 1950, the residential sector consumed more energy becauseof the wood usage.

Summary

• Electricity is a major energy source, despite its higher cost, because it is cleaner and safer than fossil fuels

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

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