The vision for a sustainable future

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European countries are way ahead of the United States when it comes to renewable energy ( see: “Northwest Looks to Europe for Ideas on Wind”). The continent's lead in renewable energy stems from the European commitment to combat climate change.

The evidence for climate change is no longer based solely on complex computer analysis. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2000-2009 was the warmest decade on the historical record, and 2010 is well on a pace to being the hottest single year. We need to get serious about reducing carbon emissions that contribute to climate change.

Electric energy generation accounts for about 40 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions, and those of us in that industry have a responsibility to present a realistic vision for a sustainable future. The good news is that although technology got us into this mess, it can clearly get us out of it.

The highest priority is using energy as efficiently as possible. Huge advances in lighting, heating, and electronic technologies have cut the historical relationship between energy consumption and economic growth. Efficiency improvements will continue and can be greatly augmented by the widespread use of solar water pre-heating systems as is now mandated for all new housing in Hawaii.

Beyond efficiency, accelerating the expansion of our renewable energy fleet: wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, and others has vast capability to reduce use of fossil-fueled resources. The United States is blessed with an abundance of these sources of energy, whose costs are now competitive with fossil-fueled resources in many cases State renewable energy standards are launching us in the right direction, creating markets for renewable energy and stimulating technological improvements to reduce costs further.

Ultimately, reducing carbon emissions in the electric energy industry is all about replacing coal generation. Although coal fuels half of U.S. electric energy production, it accounts for 90 percent of the resulting carbon emissions. Huge reductions in carbon emissions could be accomplished without building a single new power plant simply by reducing coal plant operations at night or in spring and autumn when demand is low and can be met with cleaner alternatives.

While abundant renewable resources reduce pollution and fuel costs from other power plants, some express concern over how power systems can manage the variability and relative unpredictability of many renewable resources. Most simply, when the wind doesn’t blow or the sun doesn’t shine, other resources such as gas power plants are available and versatile enough to provide the power we need. Of course there may be some resulting emissions, but they will represent a very tiny fraction of today’s emissions.

A sustainable future is both attainable and affordable. Last year, I was invited to witness firsthand Denmark’s commitment to a renewable future as a guest of the Danish government. Wind provides 20 percent of Denmark’s electricity consumption today, but they expect it to supply half their demand in 10 years. The Danish island of Bornholm has been identified as the first utility-scale example of a completely carbon-neutral power grid.

A brighter, affordable, sustainable future is within reach — it's time to implement the policies needed to achieve it.

Ken Dragoon is Research Director at Renewable Northwest Project, where he works on power system wind integration issues, analytical support for utility resource plans and on the implementation of renewable energy portfolio standards. He previously worked at PacifiCorp for nine years in various analytical support roles and with Bonneville Power Administration for nearly fifteen years.