Powering the Future: A Scientist's Guide to Energy Independence

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Powering the Future: A Scientist's Guide to Energy Independence Page 38

by Daniel B. Botkin


  projected energy consumption if reliance changes from fossil fuels to solar and wind, 250-253

  projected energy consumption if U.S. energy use remains unchanged, 247-250

  The Future of Large Dams (Scudder), 79, 82

  FutureGen, 52, 70

  G

  Gaia Hypothesis, xx, 89

  Galvin Electricity Initiative, 207

  Galvin, Bob, 207

  gas hydrates, 45

  gas. See natural gas

  Gates, David, 233

  Geiger, Rudolf, 232

  General Electric (GE), 88, 129

  General Motors, 213

  geoexchange systems, 240-243

  geographic distribution of petroleum, 27-29

  geothermal energy, 15, 239-243, 273-274

  Germany

  solar energy production, 148-149

  wind power in, 132

  Gipe, Paul, 115

  Glen Canyon Dam, 78

  Goldwater, Barry, 79

  Grand Canyon Trust, lawsuit against Mojave Power Station, 64

  Greece, historical energy use in, 11

  green buildings, 237-239

  greenhouse gas, 189

  GreenPoint Corporation, 69

  grid. See electrical grid systems

  GridWise Alliance, 207

  Guthrie, Woody, 73, 78

  H

  Hayes, Kingsley, 221

  historical perspective on energy crisis, 11-13

  Hoover Dam, 45, 54, 78

  Hoover, Herbert, 267

  Hopkins, Harry, 267

  Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center (TX), 125

  Howard, Ebenezer, 237

  Hudson River Foundation, 88

  Hunter, Don, 3

  Huntsman, Jon M. Jr., 38

  hydroelectric power. See also ocean power

  case study: breaching of Edwards Dam, 74-76

  case study: Three Gorges Dam, 80-81

  energy provided by dams, 77-78

  environment and social effects of dams, 79

  future of, 81-82, 273-274

  hydrokinetic devices, 82

  key facts, 74

  potential energy production, 83-84

  U.S. energy use 2007, 15

  U.S. hydroelectric power capacity, 76-77

  The Hydrogen Economy (Rifkin), 210

  hydrokinetic devices, 82

  I

  IGCC (integrated gasification combined cycle), 53

  Indian Point Power Plant, 87-88

  International Atomic Energy Agency, 86, 99

  international competition for energy, 32

  International Hydropower Association, 83

  International Transmission Commission, 7

  ITC (International Institute for Geo-information, Science and Earth Observation), 62

  J

  Japan, solar energy production, 148

  Jobs, Steve, 213

  Johnson, Magic, 212

  Jolie, Angelina, 212

  joules, 11

  K

  Kamkwamba, William, 133-134

  Kenetech, 128

  Kennedy, Edward M., 137

  Kentucky, coal mining in, 58-60

  Kenya

  solar power in, 153-156

  use of firewood for fuel, 176

  kilocalories, 11

  KW (kilowatts), 11

  L

  L’Esperance, Roy, 176

  La Rance power plant, 166-167

  Lantz, Janice D., 7

  Laos, Nam Theun 2 (NT2) dam, 79

  LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), 239

  legislation

  Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, 184, 215, 265

  Energy Policy Act of 2005, 68

  Federal Emergency Relief Act, 267

  National Industrial Recovery Act, 268

  Pipeline Safety Improvement Act, 201

  Recovery and Reinvestment Act, 7

  Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), 218

  Surface Mining Law, 65

  Leno, Jay, 212

  Leschine, Susan, 188

  Lesthom, Elizabeth, 153

  Lewis, Nathan, 150, 159, 264

  lifespan of nuclear power plants, 98

  Lignite coal, 54

  local government, proposed energy program for, 269-271

  longwall mining, 62

  Lovelock, James, xx, 89, 115-116

  M

  MacArthur, Douglas, 267

  MacCready, Pat, 156

  Maine, Edwards Dam, 74-76

  Malawi, wind power in, 133-134

  manufacturing limits of solar power, 159

  Maple Ridge Wind Farm (NY), 132

  marsh gas, 45

  Masada Resource Group LLC, 179

  mass transportation, 221-222

  Matthews, Joan Leary, 87

  McCain, John, 192, 201

  McDowell, David, 79

  McGee, Deb, 6

  McGee, Tim, 6

  McHarg, Ian, 238

  measurement units for energy, 10-11

  megawatts (MW), 11

  Mesa Verde, Arizona, 227

  Methane Hydrate R&D Programs, 40

  methane. See natural gas

  microclimate and energy use, 232-233

  microgrids, 225

  microorganisms, biofuel from, 186-188

  microturbines, 136, 206

  Midwest Independent Transmission System, 2-3

  MightyLights, 155

  Mindanao, solar power in, 156

  mining coal

  discussed, 57

  strip mining, 57-60

  underground mining, 60-62

  Mitchell, George, 238

  Mojave Power Station, 64

  Montefiore, Hugh, 90

  Moore, Patrick, 89

  Mountaineer Wind Energy Center (WV), 123

  Mumford, Lewis, 236

  Murray, Patty, 201

  Muskeg River of Shell Canada oil sands, 31

  MV Beluga SkySails, 121, 123

  MW (megawatts), 11

  N

  Nam Theun 2 (NT2) dam, 79

  NASA, experiments with solar-powered aircraft, 159

  National Audubon Society, endorsement of wind power, 138

  National Highway System, 218

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 218

  National Industrial Recovery Act, 268

  National Parks and Conservation Association, lawsuit against Mojave Power Station, 64

  National Regulatory Commission (NRC), 87

  National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), 209, 230

  natural gas

  coal-bed methane, 45-46

  fueling autos with, 38-39

  future of, 262, 272

  gas hydrates, 45

  key facts, 38

  transporting, 203-204

  U.S. consumption and reserves, 15, 40-43

  worldwide consumption and reserves, 43-45

  Natural Resources Defense Council, 48

  on air pollution resulting from burning coal as fuel, 62

  estimate of China’s electrical power generation in 2010, 67

  on experimental carbon-sequestering plants, 69

  Navajo Aquifer, 64

  Nevada, Yucca Mountain waste storage facility, 86, 100

  New York

  Brookhaven National Laboratory irradiated forest, 108-111

  case study: blackout of 2003, 1-4

  Indian Point Power Plant, 87-88

  Maple Ridge Wind Farm, 132

  New York Power Authority, 87

  New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 87

  Night Comes to the Cumberlands (Caudill), 57

  North American Electric Reliability Corporation, 203, 206, 249

  Norway, wind power in, 138

  NRC (National Regulatory Commission), 87

  NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory), 209, 230

  nuclear disasters

  Che
rnobyl, 106-108

  Three Mile Island, 105

  Nuclear Energy Information Service, 95

  nuclear power

  case study: Brookhaven National Laboratory irradiated forest, 108-111

  case study: Indian Point Power Plant, 87-88

  case study: Washington Public Power Supply System (WPPSS), 104-105

  costs of, 95

  estimated uranium ore deposits, 90, 92

  future of, 260-261, 272-273

  geographic distribution of uranium ore deposits, 94

  key facts, 86

  lifespan of nuclear power plants, 98

  nuclear disasters

  Chernobyl, 106-108

  Three Mile Island, 105

  popularity of, 89-90

  production of, 111-113

  radioactive waste, 97-103

  safety of, 96-97

  U.S. energy use, 15, 90

  worldwide use of, 93-94

  Yucca Mountain waste storage facility, 100

  Nysted Wind Farm (Denmark), 132

  O

  ocean power

  case study: La Rance power plant, 166-167

  future of, 273

  key facts, 163-164

  potential energy production from, 164-165

  power from ocean waves and currents, 168-169

  thermal energy, 169-171

  tidal power, 166-168

  Ocean Power Delivery, 168

  off-the-grid solar energy, 153

  oil

  energy provided by, 23

  environmental effects of, 33-34

  geographic distribution of petroleum, 27-29

  impact on culture, 20-21

  international competition for, 32

  key facts, 20

  oil from oil shales and tar sands, 30-32

  origin of, 21-23

  petroleum exploration versus conservation of endangered species, 34-36

  search for additional oil reserves, 29-30

  shrinking petroleum reserves, 24-27

  transportation of, 203

  U.S. energy use 2007, 15

  use in manufacture of petrochemicals and plastics, 33

  oil shales, 30-32

  Olmsted, Frederick Law, 237

  Olympia Pizza and Pasta Restaurant, 179

  on-the-grid solar energy, 152

  Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Nuclear Energy Agency, 99

  Owino, Margaret, 153

  P

  PanCanadian Petroleum, 69

  passive energy-saving features, 231

  passive solar energy, 144, 266

  passive stability, 113

  passively safe reactors, 113

  Pathfinder, 159

  Pathfinder Plus, 159

  Patton, George S., 267

  Patzek, Tad W., 192

  Payne, Tom, 216, 219

  Peabody Western Coal Company, 63

  Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, 96

  Pearl East, 178

  pedestrian-friendly cities, 223-225

  Pelamis, 168

  Pelosi, Nancy, 37-39

  Pennsylvania

  Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, 96

  underground fires in coal bed, 61

  The Pentagon of Power (Mumford), 236

  per-capita energy use, reducing, 263

  by improving transportation energy efficiency, 264-266

  with passive solar energy, 266

  with social/economic incentives, 266-269

  Perlman, Andrew, 69

  Peters, Mary E., 215

  petrochemicals, 33

  petroleum

  energy provided by, 23

  environmental effects of, 33-34

  geographic distribution of petroleum, 27-29

  impact on culture, 20-21

  international competition for, 32

  key facts, 20

  limited supply of, xvii

  oil from oil shales and tar sands, 30-32

  origin of, 21-23

  petroleum exploration versus conservation of endangered species, 34-36

  search for additional oil reserves, 29-30

  shrinking petroleum reserves, 24-27

  transportation of, 203

  use in manufacture of petrochemicals and plastics, 33

  Philippines, solar power in, 156

  phosphate rock, 184-186

  photovoltaic cells, 147. See also solar power

  Pickens, T. Boone, 37-38

  Pimentel, David, 181, 192

  Pipe, Paul, 115-116

  Pipeline Safety Improvement Act, 201

  pipelines

  advantages/disadvantages, 204-205

  explained, 200-202

  natural gas pipelines, 203-204

  U.S. petroleum pipeline, 203

  Pitt, Brad, 212

 

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