This article is about The Cleaning And Greening Of U.S. Electricity with renewable energy.  We discuss the changes in electricity generation in U.S.   We discuss in detail the change from coal to natural gas and from fossil fuels to renewable (wind & sun).    More in depth details are also presented for Texas.  Al’s Plumbing, Heating & A/C in Plano, Texas provides maintenance & repairs for all brands of Central A/C, Gas & Electric Furnace, and Heat Pumps.  Additionally we sell and install new HVAC Systems from American Standard (same company as Trane),  Ameristar (same company as American Standard) and Coleman HVAC (same company as York HVAC).

Al’s also provides full service plumbing maintenance, repairs and replacements for every plumbing component in your home.  Al’s sells and installs Rheem Professional Series gas & electric water heaters, and tankless water heaters.  Al’s is near your home in Plano, TX; Allen, TX; and Frisco, TX.  We service all homes in southern Collin and Denton Counties with no travel charges.

Call Al’s today to discuss any concerns or problems you have with your HVAC System or Plumbing.  We will arrange an appointment at your convenience and offer 24/7 Emergency Service.

U.S. Electricity Production Over The Years

Using Fossil Fuel & Renewable Energy Sources

This article addresses large-scale renewable electricity generation.  We also have an article for Individual Home Solar Systems:

Residential Roof Top Solar Electricity Generation

Shown: Photo Of A Wind Farm

Image Source: ShutterStock

Click Here To Read Our Article On Texas’ Wind Farms: AlsPlumbing.com Texas Wind Farms Part 1 of 2

U.S. Electricity Generation  Has Become Cleaner & Greener In Recent Years   

In 2006:  1/2 were coal power plants;  20% were Natural Gas; 11% were nuclear, and 12% was renewable.

In 2018:  1/4 were coal power plants;  35% were Natural gas;  19% were nuclear; and 17% was renewable.

In 2016, nearly 1 pound (0.9884 lb) of Carbon Dioxide CO2 (a greenhouse gas) is produced per kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity generation.  This number was computed — using all US average electricity source emissions.

Source: https://carbonfund.org/calculation-methods/

Natural Gas Power Plants

During the generation of electricity, natural gas power plants emit 50%– 60% less carbon dioxide (CO2) in newer, efficient natural gas power plants — as compared to a typical newer coal plant.

However, the drilling and extraction of natural gas from wells, and its transportation in pipelines, results in the methane gas leakage (methane is the primary component of natural gas).  Over a 20 year period, methane gas (a greenhouse gas) is 86 times stronger than CO2 (carbon dioxide — also a greenhouse gas) at trapping the earth’s heat.  Preliminary studies and field measurements show methane gas losses range from 1% — 9%.

Whether a natural gas power plant has lower life cycle greenhouse gas emissions than a coal power plant depends on the amount of natural / methane gas leakage during extraction and distribution.  A recent study found that methane gas losses must be kept below 3.2% in order for natural gas power plants to have lower life cycle emissions than new coal plants over short time frames of 20 years or less.   Technologies are available to reduce much of the leaking methane, but deploying such technology would require new policies and investments.

Source: https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/environmental-impacts-natural-gas

Nuclear Power Plants

Nuclear does not create any air pollution.  However, it does create hazardous waste that must be stored for decades.  In 1987 Congress gave the responsibility to Department of Energy (DOE) to properly store the spent fuel from the nation’s 104 nuclear reactors..  High-level radioactive waste is primarily uranium fuel that has been used in a nuclear power reactor and is “spent” (no longer efficient in producing electricity). Spent fuel remains thermally hot and is highly radioactive and requires remote handling and shielding.

All U.S. nuclear power plants store spent nuclear fuel in “spent fuel pools.” These pools are made of reinforced concrete several feet thick, with steel liners.  The water is typically about 40 feet deep and serves both to shield the radiation and cool the rods.    As the pools near capacity, utilities move some of the older spent fuel into “dry cask” storage.  These casks are stainless steel canisters surrounded by concrete. Fuel is typically cooled at least five years in the pool before transfer to cask.  Spent fuel storage at power plant sites is considered temporary, with the intent to be permanent storage.  The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is currently reviewing two applications for interim storage acilities in Texas and New Mexico.  These facilities would store spent fuel from commercial nuclear power plants until a permanent disposal facility is available.

There are currently no facilities for permanent disposal of high-level waste.  In 1987, Congress directed the Department of Energy to design and construct an underground repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada.  The DOE applied to the NRC for a construction authorization in 2008, but canceled the project in 2010 before the NRC completed its review.  The NRC completed its technical review in 2015 and published a supplement to the Yucca Mountain Environmental Impact Statement in 2016, in compliance with an appeals court ruling.

Renewable Energy: Water, Wind, or Sun Power Plants 

Shown: Hoover Dam & Lake Mead are two of the most well know HydroPower installations in the U.S.  They are located 37 miles southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Image Source: ShutterStock

Hydropower / Water

Some hydropower electricity generation has the potential to add notable amounts of carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) to the environment. *   Estimates for hydropower plants in tropical areas are up to 1/2 pound of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour (kWh) — see details below.

Small river hydro power plants emit between 0.01 (1/100th of a pound) to 0.03 pounds of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour.   Large-scale hydroelectric plants built in semi-arid regions produce 0.06 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt-hour.

* Estimates for life-cycle global warming emissions from hydroelectric plants built in tropical areas are much higher.  After the area is flooded, the vegetation and soil in these areas decomposes and releases both carbon dioxide and methane. The exact amount of emissions depends greatly on site-specific characteristics.  Current estimates suggest that life-cycle emissions can be over 0.5 pounds (1/2 pound )of carbon dioxide per kWh.

Wind & Solar

Wind & solar electricity electricity generation does not; consume natural resources, create air pollution, or create hazardous waste.   The primary thing used by wind farms is land.  Most can be used for other purposes (typically agricultural).    Wind turbines are 265 feet high.   The blades of the wind turbines are 120 feet long, so the distance between the ground and the tips of the blade is more than 380 feet (the height of a 32-story building).    Solar farms don’t present an opportunity for the land to serve another purpose as the collector-panels are just above the ground.

Shown: Solar Farm

Image Source: ShutterStock 

For 2018 – The U.S. Energy Information Administration Showed These Sources Of Electricity Generation 

2018:

• 35%    Natural Gas
• 27%    Coal
• 19.3% Nuclear

• 17.0% Total Renewable:
•      7% Hydropower (water)
•  6.6% Wind  94 Gigawatts         / 94 billion watts       1 GigaWatt =   1 billion watts.
• 1.6%  Solar   96 million MWH / 96 million watts      1 MegaWatt = 1 million watts.
• 1.8%  Other (all other combined)

Source: https://www.prescouter.com

The Cleaning & Greening Of Electricity Generation In The U.S. 2006 — 2016:

2016 Electricity Generation By Source:

• Coal = 30%
• Gas = 34%
• Renewable = 13.5%

Source: https://www.ceres.org/news-center/press-releases/new-analysis-us-electric-power-sector-continues-transition-clean-energy

2006: Electricity Generation By Source:

• Coal = 49%
• Gas = 20%
• Renewable = 12%

Renewable % Source: https://www.c2es.org/content/renewable-energy/

Why Is Renewable Energy More Expensive Than Natural Gas Generated?

Great strides have been made to generate electricity while creating less air pollution.  As mentioned above, however, only up 3.2% of the natural gas used for a power plant can be leaked into the atmosphere before today’s newer coal power plants actually create less air pollution damage.  At present, Natural Gas is cheaper than coal according to the Energy Information Administration.  Wind and solar power are becoming competitive with natural gas.

At present nearly 75% of coal-fired power plants generate electricity at a higher cost than local wind and solar energy resources (when the wind or sun are present).  At times, wind provides electricity at half the cost of coal.  By 2025, enough wind & solar power will be generated at low enough prices that it could theoretically replace 86% U.S. coal power plants with lower-cost electricity.

However, solar & wind must have backup natural gas plants, batteries or other form of reliable power ready at a moment’s notice.  This causes renewable energy to be more expensive than fossil-fuel energy.  With a natural gas power plant, it will provide reliable power when the wind doesn’t blow or the sun doesn’t shine.   With wind & solar farms, the farms’ cost is in addition to the backup power plant.  And, unreliability requires solar or wind-heavy places like California to pay neighboring states to take their solar & wind energy when they are producing too much of it.

Renewable Cost Average Per KillWattHour (kWh):

• Hydro Power = 5 cents ($0.05) per kWh.
• On Shore wind =  10 cents ($0.10) per kWh.
• Off Shore wind = 13 cents ($0.13) per kWh.

Source: https://e360.yale.edu/digest/renewables-cheaper-than-75-percent-of-u-s-coal-fleet-report-finds

Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2019/06/04/climate-change-coal-now-more-expensive-than-wind-solar-energy/1277637001/#targetText=Natural%20gas%20is%20cheaper%20than,to%20grow%20even%20more%20competitive.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelshellenberger/2019/04/22/unreliable-nature-of-solar-and-wind-makes-electricity-much-more-expensive-major-new-study-finds/#74b98eab4f59

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/dominicdudley/2019/05/29/renewable-energy-costs-tumble/#58736b97e8ce

U.S. Renewable Electricity Generation Growth 2008 — 2018

Total Renewables Electricity Generation

• 2018  742 million megawatt hours (MWh)
• 2008 382 million megawatt hours
• In 2018 Renewables provided 17.6% of all U.S. electricity.
• In 2008 Renewables provided  9.0% of all U.S. electricity.

Wind:

• 2018 94 Gigawatts (GW)
• 2008 25 GW

In the 10-year period, wind generated electricity has seen the most growth of renewable energy.  There is a limitation to wind energy though.  For the most part, wind energy is only feasible in the center of the U.S.  Other areas of the country don’t have enough wind to make wind farms a practical investment.

Solar:

• 2018  96 million MegaWatt Hours )MWh)
• 2008    2 million MWh

Though solar has seen impressive gains, it lags behind wind.

Source: https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=38752

2019 Wind & Solar Renewable Energy (Electricity Generation) In the U.S.

Shown: Wind Farm

Image Source: ShutterStock

Wind currently contributes 6.6% of US Renewable Energy Electricity.   In second quarter 2019, total wind energy was at 97,960 Megawatts.  However, other than in the center of U.S., there is generally not enough wind to power electricity wind-turbines.  In this case, renewable electricity generation must come from solar.

Solar currently contributes 1.6% of US Renewable Energy Electricity.   For much of the U.S. Wind Farms are not economically feasible or possible due to too little average wind speed.   In these locations, Solar becomes the primary renewable energy source.  Analysts expect that solar growth will surpass wind growth within a few years.

Copy This Link Into Your Brower To See A U.S. Map By Average Wind Speed:   

https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2018/5/2/17290880/trump-wind-power-renewable-energy-maps

(Then Scroll Down To The Larger Map With Purple In The Center Of The U.S. To See Scale For Average Wind Speeds)

Example:  Solar growth in Florida is experience explosive growth.    In 2018, Florida Power & Light (FPL) brought 8 new solar power plants online.  This brought FPL’s solar power capacity to more than 1,200 megawatts.   In January of 2019,  Florida Power & Light (FPL) brought more than 1 million solar panels on line, producing nearly 300 megawatts of capacity.  Wind farms, both on shore and off shore are feasible for Florida due to low wind speeds.

Also in January 2019, FPL pledged to install an additional 30 million panels by 2030.  This would multiply the utility’s solar-generated electricity by almost 10-fold.  The state’s next largest power provider, Duke Energy Florida, also has plans to have more than 700 megawatts worth of solar power by 2023.

Source: https://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2019/0211/Putting-the-sun-in-Sunshine-State-Florida-s-about-face-on-solar-power

Top 10 States – WIND Generated Electricity:

• 1 Texas                 23,262
• 2 Oklahoma           7,495
• 3. Iowa                     7,312
• 4. California            5,686
• 5. Kansas                 5,110
• 6. Illinois                 4,464
• 7. Minnesota          3,699
• 8. Oregon                3,213
• 9. Colorado             3.106
• 10. Washington      3.075

NOTE:  All other states had less than 3,000 MW Of Wind Generated Capacity

These States Had No WIND Generated Electricity States in 2018:

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Florida
• Georgia
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• South Carolina
• Virginia

Source: https://www.chooseenergy.com/news/article/best-worst-ranked-states-wind-power/

Shown: Aerial View Of A Solar Farm

Image Source: ShutterStock

Top 10 States – SOLAR Generated Electricity — As Of 2Q 2019

Total Installed Solar Electric Capacity In MegaWatts (MG)

• 2773 California
• 5601 N. Carolina
• 3873 Arizona
• 3502 Nevada
• 3337 Florida
• 3028 Texas
• 2911  New Jersey
• 2567 Massachusetts
• 1775 New York
• 1671 Utah

Source: https://www.seia.org/research-resources/top-10-solar-states-0

Bottom 10 States SOLAR Generated Electricity — As Of 2Q 2019

Percent of All Electricity Generated From Solar:

• 0.2% Rhode Island  Note: (2/10 of 1 %)
• .01% Arkansas
• .01% Kansas
• n/a   Nebraska
• 0.1%  W. Virgina
• 0.1% Oklahoma
• 0.1% Wyoming
• 0.1% Alaska            72 inches average annual snowfall
• 0%   S. Dakota       30 inches average annual snowfall
• 05% N. Dakota      26-38 inches average annual snowfall (depends on location)

Source: https://www.chooseenergy.com/news/article/best-and-worst-ranked-states-for-solar-industry-growth/

Note: Solar panels can’t generate electricity if covered with snow.  But snow melts somewhat quickly and slides off the collector panels.

Note: Solar panels actually work better in colder temperatures.

Source: https://www.revisionenergy.com/why-go-solar/solar-works-in-winter/

Why The Majority Of U.S. Wind Farms Are In The Center Of The Nation.

Shown: Wind Farm

Image Source: ShutterStock

Click on the link below (and scroll down) and you see a U.S. map with a wide strip of purple and red in the center of the U.S.   These two colors represent the highest average annual wind speed.   Scroll down to the larger version of this same map and you will see a scale indicating the wind speed each color represents.

The Great Plains states have the fastest wind speeds.  As compared, the southeastern U.S. has much less wind.  The faster the wind, the more wind-generated electricity potential available.

When wind speed doubles, wind turbines create eight times more electricity. Given the cost to build wind farms, they provide the greatest return when built in the areas with the most wind.

Click Here To See A Map Of U.S. Wind Farms Density: U.S. Wind Farms Densities Maps (scroll down)

Additionally, in many states, the major driver to invest in wind is each State’s Renewable Portfolio Standards.  These standards mandate (by state) how much electricity must come from renewable resources.

Click Below To See A Chart Ranking Each State’s Renewable Portfolio Standards:

U.S. States Ranked By Renewable Portfolio Standard

NOTE: Scroll below the map to see each State’s specific Renewable Portfolio Standard.

Click Below To See A Map Of States Showing Each States’s Grade For Renewable Energy Friendliness:

(scroll down to) Map Of U.S. States By Renewable Energy Friendliness

Solar Can Provide Renewable Energy In Many States With Too Little Wind For Wind Farms

Click Here To See U.S. Off Shore (on land) Wind Speed: ON Shore (on land) U.S. Wind Speed At Wind Turbine Height

Click Here To See U.S. OFF-SHORE Wind Speed:  OFFShore U.S. Wind Speed At Wind Turbine Height

• Areas with annual average wind speeds of 14.5 Miles Per Hour or higher at 262 feet high (a typical wind turbine height) are considered suitable for wind generated electricity.

• At double or 2 times the wind speed, a wind turbine produces 8 times more electricity.

• The Western 1/3 and Eastern 1/3 of the U.S. has little to no wind energy potential BECAUSE average annual wind speeds are too low to make Wind Farms economically feasible.

• The Central 1/3 of the U.S. has good to excellent wind speed potential.  This is why the majority of U.S. ON Shore Wind Farms are located.

• See ON Shore Wind Speed Map link just above.

Source: https://www.energy.gov/eere/wind/wind-energy-technologies-office

July, 2019 TEXAS Electricity Sources

Shown: Wind Farm

Image Source: ShutterStock

• Texas is the largest energy-producing and largest energy-consuming state.
• Texas leads the U.S. in electricity generation.  Texas generates almost twice that of Florida which is the nation’s second largest electricity producer.
• Texas leads the nation in wind-powered electricity generation.  In 2017 Texas produced 25% of all U.S. wind powered electricity.

Source: https://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=TX

2019 Texas Electricity Generation By Source:

• 38% Natural Gas
• 22% Wind
• 21% Coal
• 11% Nuclear 
•  1% Solar

Many of the coal power plants in Texas are “peaker plants”.  Peaker power plants run only during the times when electricity demand exceeds the capacity of year-round power plants.

Source: https://www.kut.org/post/texas-has-generated-more-electricity-wind-coal-so-far-year

The Amount Of Carbon Dioxide Produced While Heating Your Home

With Different Heating Systems

Shown: Heat Pump

Image Source: DreamsTime

Electric Furnace or Heat Pump:

0.9884 lbs of Carbon Dioxide CO2 (a greenhouse gas) is produced per kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity generation.  That’s nearly 1 pound of carbon dioxide per kWh (using the US average electricity source emissions).   Note: This number does not include renewable electricity generation from wind or sun.

29.25 pounds of CO2 is produced to create 100,000 BTU’S with an Electric Furnace.    1 kWh of electricity produces 3415 BTU’s of heat and nearly 1 pound of Carbon Dioxide.

19.25 pounds of CO2 is produced to create 100,000 BTU’s with a Heat Pump.  Heat Pumps use 1/3 less electricity as an electric furnace.

Note: If you have electric heat or Heat Pump, and use 100% Renewable Energy.  There is no CO2 or methane gas produced while heating your home.

Note: You can purchase 100% Renewable Energy Electricity from some electricity retailers in DFW.  One such retailer is Green Energy Exchange — www.https://getgex.com/

Gas Furnace:

14 pounds of CO2 is generated by a standard efficiency (80%) gas furnace produces 20% more Co2 , or 14 pounds of CO2

11.75 pounds of CO2 is generated by the most efficient (98.7%) gas furnace made at this time.

11.7 pounds of CO2 is generated will burning 1 therm (or 100 cubic feet) of natural gas to produce 100,000 BTU’s — at 100% efficiency.

Note:  This represents only the burning of natural gas to make heat.  It does not conside the amount of natural gas leaked into the environment during extraction & distribution (see below for details).

• Source: https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=427&t=3
• Source: https://carbonfund.org/calculation-methods/
• Source: U.S. Dept. Of Energy (DOE).
• Source: https://www.rapidtables.com/convert/energy/kWh_to_BTU.html
• Source: https://www.newenglandductless.com/heat-pumps-vs-baseboard-heat/

This article was about Renewable Energy (electricity) production in U.S. and in Texas.  Al’s Plumbing, Heating & A/C in Plano, Texas provides maintenance & repairs for all brands of Central A/C, Gas & Electric Furnace, and Heat Pumps.  Additionally we sell and install new HVAC Systems from American Standard (same company as Trane),  Ameristar (same company as American Standard) and Coleman HVAC (same company as York HVAC).

Al’s also provides full service plumbing maintenance, repairs and replacements for every plumbing component in your home.  Al’s sells and installs Rheem Professional Series gas & electric water heaters, and tankless water heaters.  Al’s is near your home in Garland, TX; Richardson, TX; and northeastern Dallas, TX.  We service all homes in southern Collin and Denton Counties with no travel charges.

Call Al’s today to discuss any concerns or problems you have with your HVAC System or Plumbing.  We will arrange an appointment at your convenience and offer 24/7 Emergency Service.