Alternatives to Nuclear

Renewables swamp gas for new generating capacity in 1st quarter of 2016: 1,291 MW to 18 MW. No new capacity for nuclear or coal. Non-hydro renewables (9.53 GW) now exceeds nuclear (9.17 GW) in total generating capacity. From Sun Day Campaign.

A major new report from Institute for Local Self Reliance: "Beyond Utility 2.0 to Energy Democracy." Essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the changes that are rapidly transforming the electric utility industry and how to make those changes both democratize production, delivery and use of energy as well as usher in a clean energy system.

For 8th time in past 10 months, renewables dominate new U.S. generating capacity. For year, new renewables are more than 37 times nukes, coal and oil combined. Sun Day Campaign press release

Press release from Sun Day Campaign. Renewables make up 100% of new U.S. generation capacity in July 2014.

Renewables provided 56% of new U.S. generating capacity in first half of 2014. One-third of new capacity was solar. Sun Day Campaign press release.

New release from Sun Day Campaign: renewables accounted for 88% of all new U.S. generating capacity for May; 55% for the year so far.

Yet another study, this one from Greenpeace, on how U.S. can attain a nuclear-free, carbon-free energy system by mid-century. Energy (R)Evolution: A Sustainable Energy USA Outlook.

Sun Day Campaign: EIA renewable energy projections range from: can’t pass the laugh test to unduly conservative. Press release.

New report from the Sun Day Campaign predicts U.S. will reach 16% renewables generation within five years–a level U.S. Energy Information Administration absurdly claims won’t be reached until 2040. Press release; full study. (both in pdf)

Rocky Mountain Institute has published a new paper, The Economics of Grid Defection, that is well worth reading. Grid defection refers to the point when it is just as cheap for people to power their own homes than it is to remain connected to the utility grid. And that day is coming sooner that most people think–Hawaii is already there, but even in large states like New York and California, it will be a matter of years–not decades.

Press release from Sun Day Campaign: Renewables accounted for 37% of new electricity capacity additions during 2013–more than triple nukes, coal and oil combined.

Renewables provide 100% of all new capacity in November 2013; FERC data undermines EIA’s projection of slow renewable growth through 2040. SUN DAY press release.

Policy brief prepared for United Nations Working Group of Sustainable Development recommends phase-out of nuclear power, emphasis on nuclear-free carbon-free future.

96 organizations, including NIRS, send letter to Energy Information Administration stating its energy forecasts severely understate renewable energy growth and have not been borne out by experience; urge review of current methodologies and assumptions.

Major new study, published in Journal of Power Sources, finds that renewable energy can power up to 99.9% of U.S. needs by 2030.

Poll from American Clean Energy Agenda finds nearly all Americans want clean energy. 86% want leadership on shifting from coal/nuclear to wind/solar.

100 organizations present American Clean Energy Agenda plans for first 100 days of the next Administration. Press release. Full plans. You can sign a petition in support of the American Clean Energy Agenda here.

36 groups, including NIRS, join to fight for American Clean Energy Agenda & against dirty energy industry and lobbyists. Principles of Beyond Business As Usual: The American Clean Energy Agenda: Realizing a Renewable Energy Future by 2030.

Yet another major report that provides a path to a 100% renewable energy future before mid-century. This one is from the Institute for Policy Research and Development in London, led by two U.S. university professors.

Major World Wildlife Fund study on how to bring the entire planet to 100% renewables by mid-century; includes explanation of why nuclear power is no solution to climate change or world’s energy future. Worthwhile.

Battle of the Grids. New Greenpeace International report subtitled “How Europe can go 100% renewable and phase out dirty energy.” Though Europe focused, its implications apply elsewhere. How smart grids, micro grids and super grids will enable the transition from nuclear and fossil fuels to renewables.

New study from DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory finds that offshore wind power potential alone equals more than 4,000 gigawatts, or about four times entire U.S. electrical demand. Check your state’s offshore wind potential!

Nuclear Power’s Competitive Landscape. New presentation from Amory Lovins of Rocky Mountain Institute showing why nuclear power cannot compete with micropower—efficiency, renewables, etc. Devastating analysis for new nukes.

Solar power is now cheaper than nuclear power in North Carolina, and will gain even more cost advantage in coming years. New report for NC WARN by former Duke University Chancellor.

Major new report from Synapse Energy Economics for the Civil Society Institute: Beyond Business as Usual: Investigating a Future without Coal and Nuclear Power in the U.S. Press release. Full report .

Can we go carbon-free, nuclear-free! A resounding Yes! says a new report prepared for Greenpeace by German Aerospace Center (German counterpart to NASA). Energy [r]evolution: A sustainable USA concludes that a virtually carbon-free, nuclear-free energy future for the U.S. is possible by mid-century, at an acceptable economic cost. Download here.

An important new article from Rocky Mountain Institute: The Nuclear Illusion by Amory Lovins and Imran Sheikh. “Nuclear power is continuing its decades-long collapse in the global marketplace because it’s grossly uncompetitive, unneeded, and obsolete—so hopelessly uneconomic that one needn’t debate whether it’s clean and safe; it weakens electric reliability and national security; and it worsens climate change compared with devoting the same money and time to more effective options.” Read this to understand the reality of energy in the 21st century, and make sure your elected representatives at every level of government read it too.

Got Solar!

New report from World Wind Energy Association: 19.7 Gigawatts of wind power—the equivalent of 15-20 nuclear reactors—was added in 2007. Wind now generates more than 1% of worldwide electricity, and continues to be the world’s fastest growing source of power.

Jobs from Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency. New factsheet from Environmental and Energy Study Institute.

A new report from Greenpeace International and the European Photovoltaic Industry Association finds that Solar power can deliver electricity to more than 2 billion people and provide more than 2 million jobs with an annual investment of 113 billion Euros by 2025. According to the report, 350 million tons of CO2 emissions would be cut — the equivalent amount from 140 coal power stations — and by 2040, solar electricity could provide more than 16% of the global power demand.

“Factoids” on sustainable energy issues from the Sustainable Energy Coalition:
Introduction.
Factoid #1: Biomass Could Provide 15% of U.S. Energy Demand by 2030.
Factoid #2: Annual Installations of Rooftop Photovoltaics Could Power Hundreds of Thousands of Homes and Businesses by 2010.
Factoid #3: Wind Power Could Generate More Than Enough Sustainable Electricity to Meet Global Energy Needs.
Factoid #4: Biomass Could Provide at Least 12 Percent of California’s Electricity Needs.
Factoid #5: Untapped Geothermal Resources Could Provide 25,000MW of Electrical Generating Capacity
Factoid #6: U.S. Can Eliminate Oil Use in a Few Decades
Factoid #7: The Northeast Has Enough Efficiency Resources to Slow and Eventually Halt Growth in Electricity Demand
Factoid #8: Wind Power Could Generate 20% of Electricity by 2020; Renewable Fuels Can Largely Replace Gasoline by 2050
Factoid #9: California Can Satisfy 33 Percent of its Electricity Supply Needs With Renewable Energy by 2020 With Little or no Increase in Electric Rates.
Factoid #10: Western U.S. Could Reduce Electricity Use by 20% From Projected Levels by 2020
Factoid #11: Energy Use in Buildings Can be Cut by 14 Percent by 2020 Through Short-term Efficiency Policies
Factoid #12 — Solar Energy Could Provide 8,000+ MW of Capacity in Western States by 2015
Factoid #13 — Combined Heat & Power Could Provide an Additional 43,000 MW of Electrical Generating Capacity in Western States
Factoid #14 — California Has Potential For Almost 150GW of Wind Capacity
Factoid #15 — California Can Meet Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets at no Net Cost While Creating 20,000 Jobs And Expanding State’s Economy $60 Billion
Factoid #16 — Western U.S. Has 13,000 Megawatts of Near-Term Geothermal Power Potential
Factoid #17: U.S. Hydropower Can Be Increased By At Least 50 Percent
Factoid #18: Renewable Resources Could Provide 99 Percent of U.S. Electricity Generation by 2020