Among what often seems like a relentless stream of dark news on the environmental front, a glimmer of hope could be seen yesterday in the Electric Power Annual 2006 report, released by the Energy Information Administration.
U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from electricity generation declined in 2006, according to the report. Sulfur dioxide emissions fell 7.9%, the largest drop since the 9.2% reduction in 2000. Carbon dioxide emissions fell 2.2%, and nitrogen oxides emissions were down 4.1%.
The reductions are far from the marks needed to halt climate change, but demonstrate that even in a year when electricity usage went up, cleaner energy sources can make a difference.
According to the report the main factors in emissions reductions from electricity generation included: decreases in overall generation from fossil fuels, like coal and petroleum, and increases in generation from nuclear, hydroelectricity and wind, all of which are emissions-free.
The report also stated the retail price of electricity increased by more than 9% in 2006, the largest increase since 1981. As reported earlier this week, increased energy prices bode well for the solar industry, which has yet to contribute significantly to the nation’s clean energy mix, due to relatively high costs of production.
14 states and the District of Columbia saw the average price of electricity rise by 10% or more between 2005 and 2006. Electricity prices increased in all regions of the country, but most of the larger increases were in the East.
The main factor leading to these increases was the lifting of retail electricity price caps in States transitioning to competitive retail markets, allowing the pass-through to consumers of previous increases in costs that had not been completely reflected in prices during the duration of the caps.
On a less optimistic note, it appears that energy conservation and efficiency has yet to catch on, even as surveys show Americans are becoming more aware of the dangers of global warming.
Electricity generation and sales to customers reached record levels in 2006, despite milder summer and winter temperatures dampening electric power demand for heating and cooling.
Total net summer generating capacity increased by nearly 1%, mostly in the form of natural gas-fired combined cycle units. There were also significant increases in wind capacity in Texas and Washington. Net generation at nuclear plants increased by 0.7%, even though no new nuclear units were added.
Electric Power Annual 2006 can be found on EIA’s web site:
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