Title: Energy in the United States Electricity, Nuclear Energy, Renewable Energy
1Energy in the United StatesElectricity,
Nuclear Energy, Renewable Energy
- Summary report by Sarah Lahr
- Sustainable Air Quality
- 2/11/02
2Energy Sources Over Time
Energy Consumption by Source, 1635-2000
(Quadrillion Btu)
3History 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 - FDRs Rural Electrification Administration (REA)
in 1935 brought electricity to rural America
after the Depression - Advantages clean, flexible, controllable, safe,
effortless, and instantly available.
4Electricity Usage
Electric Utility Retail Sales by Sector
- 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
5Source of Electricity
Electricity Net Generation by Source for 2000
- Main source of electricity comes from coal
- Natural gas, petroleum, and nuclear power are
also major contributors
6Electricity Flow Chart
7Non-utility Electricity Increase
Electric Power Sector Net Summer Capability
- 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
8Retail Prices of Electricity by Sector
- The residential sector pays the most for
electricity per kilowatt hour - The industrial sector has always paid the least
9Cost of Electricity to Consumer
Consumer Prices for Electricity, Natural Gas,
and Motor Gasoline for 2000
- 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.
10Nuclear 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
11Nuclear Generation Units
Number of Operable 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
12Plant 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
13Nuclear Energys Share of Electricity
- Nuclear-generated electricity began in 1957.
- In the 1970s and 1980 the usage of nuclear energy
for electricity increased dramatically.
14Renewable Energy
Energy Consumption by Source
- 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
15Renewable Energy by Source
- Renewable energy made up 7 of the total energy
in 2000. The main source within this category
was hydroelectric power.
16Renewable Energy Consumption by Trade
This shows a breakdown of where the renewable
energy is coming from.
17Wood Consumption by Sector
The industrial sector has been the largest
consumer of wood in the past 40 years.
Non-utility electric power generators have
accounted for a small amount of wood consumption.
18Renewable Energy Consumption by Sector
Electric power is the number one consumer of
renewable energy. In the 1950, the residential
sector consumed more energy because of the wood
usage.
19Summary
- 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