Dr. Conca reports that his local electric utility in Washington State just raised my base electricity price and are having to buy renewable energy credits because they are required to supply 9% of his state electricity from renewable sources next year and his state only produces 85% from renewables now.
Yes, electricity generation in Washington State is 79% hydroelectric, 8% nuclear, 6% wind, 4% coal and 3% gas. They have the most renewable energy generation and the lowest carbon footprint in America and have more than surpassed any reasonable low-carbon goal one could possibly imagine. When their only coal-fired power plant is shut in a few years, carbon emissions will drop even more. However, unlike the rest of the world, our huge amount of hydropower is not allowed to be recognized as renewable anymore, thus we have to buy wind from another state and throw away hydro-generated electricity when that wind comes online.
This rather ludicrous situation came about from a foolish, if well-intentioned, 2006 Washington State Ballot Initiative 937. I-937 requires that utilities obtain 15% of their electricity by 2020 from renewable resources such as solar and wind, but in steps, such as 3% by 2012, 9% by 2016 and 15% by 2020. Unfortunately, this initiative also declared that hydroelectric could not be counted as a renewable for this purpose.
Fortunately, Washington State has so much hydro and nuclear that we also have the lowest cost electricity in the civilized world (7 cents per kWh), so this rate increase will not be too onerous for most of us. And our local utilities are offering some relief to low-income senior and disabled customers.
It is debatable whether wind and solar will ever surpass hydroelectric power in global electricity generation, and it is unlikely they will ever pass hydroelectric power in the state of Washington.
Resource Portal for I2M Clients, Associates, and Geoscientists
Managed & Built by I2M Consulting, LLC | © 2010-
Managed & Built by I2M Consulting, LLC | © 2010-