 |
 |
|
|
Fact Pack
- Between 56% and 80% of US voters say that they are willing to pay more for
environmental protection and renewable electricity. ( “Forecasting the Growth
of Green Power Markets in the United States.” NREL: October 2001)
- The ratio of coal to solar energy in our electricity fuel mix was 2,224.4
kWh to 1 kWh in 1999. The ratio of coal to wind was slightly lower at 420.2kWh
to 1 kWh. Solar energy and wind energy comprised only 0.02% and 0.12% of total
electricity generation respectively, while coal accounted for 51.9% of the
total electricity generation in 1999. (http://www.eren.doe.gov/consumerinfo/refbriefs/da8.html
- In 1996, the Maine Public Utilities Commission surveyed 500 residential
and 500 small business customers. Eighty-six percent of the former group and
75% of the latter indicated that electricity companies should be required to
tell customers how their electricity is generated. (“Disclosure and
Certification: Truth and Labeling for Electric Power” by Edward A. Holt, 1997)
- According to a report by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the
Berkeley Laboratory, green power demand could support nearly 7,000 average
megawatts (aMW) of renewable energy capacity by 2010 assuming steps are taken
to provide better information to consumers about electricity supply choices,
the development of market rules and public policies that support customer
choice. (“Forecasting the Growth of Green Power Markets in the United States.” NREL: October 2001.) (http://greennature.com/article332.html)
- Customer choice programs in both competitive and regulated power markets
could boost electricity production from non-traditional renewable energy
sources by 40% by 2010. (Consumer Choice, Renewable Energy and Electricity)
(http://greennature.com/article332.html)
- In 2000, 70.8% of all 3,799,944 Million kWh of electricity generated in
the United States came from Coal, Natural gas, and Petroleum. Renewable energy
resources (hydroelectric, fuels from biomass, geothermal, wind, and solar)
supplied about 9.4% of our electricity needs, and the remaining 19.8% came
from nuclear power plants. Of the 9.4% from renewable energy, only 2.2% was
from non-hydro renewable sources. (http://www.eia.doe.gov/neic/quickfacts/quickelectric.htm)
- Across the U.S., nearly 650 MW of new renewables capacity has been
installed to serve green power customers with about 440 MW either already
under construction or formally announced. Of the 650 MW, about 430 MW of the
new renewables capacity has been built to supply competitive green power
markets, both at the retail and wholesale levels, while the remaining 220 MW
has been installed for utility green pricing programs. ( “Estimates of
Renewable Energy Developed to Serve Green Power Markets.” January 2002. NREL:
http://www.eren.doe.gov/greenpower/new_gp_cap.shtml)
|
|
|
|
State Environmental Resource Center
- 106 East Doty Street, Suite 200 - Madison, WI 53703
Phone: 608/252-9800 - Email: info@serconline.org
|
|
