United States Is Transforming Its Power Grid!

National Economy

The North American country of the United States of America is bordered by the Pacific Ocean, Canada, Atlantic Ocean, and Mexico. The population of the United States is approximately 336.34 million people[1].

In 2022, the United States’ economy was ranked first in the world in gross domestic product (GDP)[2]. The country’s economy[3] is dependent on the export of refined petroleum, natural gas, cars, integrated circuits, medical instruments, gas turbines, and corn.

Environmental Policies

In 2016, the United States signed the Paris Climate Agreement[4] committing to a 26% to 28% reduction in 2005 greenhouse gas emission levels by 2025.

On November 4, 2020, the United States formally withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement by order of then President Donald Trump. On February 19, 2021, the United States formally rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement by order of newly elected, President Joe Biden.

Power Generation Capabilities

In 2005, utilities used Coal (49.6%), Nuclear (19.3%), Natural Gas (19.1%), Renewable Energy (9.0%), and Oil (3.0%) to generate electricity[5] in the United States. In 2005, hydropower was the dominant types of renewable energy used to generate electricity in the nation.

In 2021, utilities used Natural Gas (38.8%), Coal (21.9%), Renewables (19.9%), Nuclear (18.9 %), and Oil (0.5%) to generate electricity[6] in the United States. Wind, hydropower, and solar are now the dominant types of renewable energy used to generate electricity in the United States.

A few of the many renewable energy projects being developed in the United States include:

• 3,000 MW Onshore Wind Project – Power Company of Wyoming is continuing work on the Chokecherry-Sierra Madre wind energy project in Wyoming. The project is forecast to be commissioned in 2026.
• 2,042 MW Onshore Wind + 50 MW Solar Project – MidAmerican Energy is continuing work on the Wind Prime project at a site in Iowa. The project is forecast to be commissioned in 2024.
• 1,510 MW Offshore Wind Project – EDF and Shell are continuing work on the Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind project off the coast of New Jersey. The first of two phases of the project is forecast to be commissioned by year-end 2024.
• 1,148 MW Offshore Wind Project – Ørsted is continuing work on the Ocean Wind II project off the coast of New Jersey. The project is scheduled to be commissioned in 2028.
• 1,100 MW Offshore Wind Project – Ørsted is continuing work on the Ocean Wind I project, which is located off the southern coast of New Jersey. The project is forecast to be commissioned by year-end 2024.
• 816 MW Offshore Wind Project – Equinor is continuing work on the Empire Wind project off the coast of New York. The project is forecasted to be commissioned in 2026.
• 800 MW Solar Project – Swift Current Energy is continuing work on the Double Black Diamond solar project in Illinois. The project is forecast to be commissioned by year-end 2026.
• 800 MW Offshore Wind Project – Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners is continuing work on the Vineyard Wind offshore project off the The project is scheduled to be commissioned by year-end 2024.
• 800 MW Onshore Wind Project – LS Power is continuing work on the Salmon Falls Wind project in Idaho. The project is forecast to be commissioned in 2024.
• 700 MW Solar + 700 MW Energy Storage Project – American solar company, 8minute Solar Energy is continuing work on the Rexford 1 Solar & Storage Center in California. The project is forecast to be commissioned by year-end 2023.
• 500 MW Pumped Storage Hydropower Project – The City of San Diego, California is continuing work to build a long-duration energy storage project. The project is forecast to be completed in 2030.
• 477 MW Onshore Wind Project – S-Power is continuing work on the Chevelon Butte Wind project in Arizona. The project is forecast to be commissioned by year-end 2023.
• 471 MW Solar Project – Ørsted is continuing work on the Mockingbird Solar Center at a site in Texas. The project is scheduled to be commissioned in 2024.
• 460 MW Solar Project – Xcel is continuing work on the Sherco Solar project at a site in Minnesota. The project is forecast to be commissioned by year-end 2025.
• 443 MW Solar Project – NextEra Energy is continuing work on the Goldenrod Solar Energy Center in Nebraska. The project is forecast to be commissioned by year-end 2023.
• 400 MW Solar Project – Kenlov Renewable Energy and the Ashtrom Group are continuing work on the Tierra Bonita solar project in Texas. The project is scheduled to be commissioned by year-end 2024.
• 400 MW Offshore Wind Project – Ørsted and Eversource are continuing work on the Revolution Wind off the coast ofRhode Island. The project is scheduled to be commissioned by year-end 2025.
• 345 MW Solar Project – Lightsource bp is continuing work on the Ventress Solar project in Louisiana. The project is forecast to be commissioned by year-end 2023.
• 311 MW Onshore Wind Project – Portland General Electric and NextEra Energy are continuing work on the Clearwater Wind project in Oregon. The project is forecast to be commissioned by year-end 2023.
• 300 MW Solar Project + 600 MWh Energy Storage Project – French energy company, EDF Renewables is continuing work on the Desert Quartzite solar project in California. The project is forecast to be completed by year-end 2024.
• 285 MW Solar + 215 MW Energy Storage Project – Massachusetts renewable energy company, Longroad Energy is continuing work on the Sun Streams 3 solar plus energy storage project in Arizona. The project is forecast to be commissioned by year-end 2024.
• 250 MW Solar Project – Savion Energy is continuing work on the Sun Park solar project in West Virginia. . The project is forecast to be commissioned by year-end 2024.
• 200 MW Solar Project – Colorado solar company, Dakota Power Partners is continuing work on the Harmony Solar project in North Dakota. The project is scheduled to be commissioned by year-end 2023.

Conclusions

In 2005, 49.6% of the electricity in the United States was generated from coal fueled power plants. By 2021, only 21.9% of the nation’s electricity was generated from coal. Why the dramatic decline in the use of coal?

1. Economics – The cost to generate power from coal without subsidies is more than double the cost to generate power from renewables, like wind and solar.
2. Climate Change – Coal generates 40 % to 45 % more greenhouse gases than natural gas.
3. Pollution – Coal ash, the product of coal burned in a power plant contains arsenic, mercury, and lead; which are toxic. In 2019, coal ash was documented to have leaked into the ground water around 241 coal-fired plants in America[7].

Renewable energy project development is booming in every state, regardless of politics. Utility scale wind and solar projects are able to generate electricity for a fraction of the cost of power from fossil fuels (coal, oil, or natural gas).

The United States possesses vast renewable energy resources, including offshore wind, onshore wind, solar, geothermal, hydropower, and biomass. Although some people still debate the theory of climate change, almost no one doesn’t like to save money. United States is now transforming its power grid with clean, low-cost renewable energy!

 

Jack Kerfoot

Website – “Our Energy Conundrum”

www.jackkerfoot.com

 

Jack Kerfoot is a scientist, energy expert, and author of the book FUELING AMERICA, An Insider’s Journey and articles for The Hill, one of the largest independent political news sites in the United States. He has been interviewed on over 100 radio, podcasts, and television stations from New York City to Los Angeles on numerous energy related topics.

 

[1] United States Population (2023) –  April 5, 2023, www.worldometers.info

[2] Gross Domestic Product By Country 2022 – Worldometer

[3] The Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) – United States

[4] Carbon Brief “Paris 2015: Tracking Country Climate Pledges”

[5] U.S. Energy Information Agency (EIA), Table 7.2a Electricity Net Generation: Total (All Sectors)

[6] U.S. Energy Information Agency (EIA), Table 7.2a Electricity Net Generation: Total (All Sectors)

[7] Reuters, “Coal Ash Contaminates Groundwater Near Most U.S. Coal Plants: Study” by Valerie Volcovici, March 3, 2019