Energy and the Environment

Energy is such an integral part of everything we do, it is difficult to comprehend the full impact of using it. Indeed, it is difficult to think of something that does not entail using energy. And, in a country as wealthy and stable as the U.S., where, until recently, consumers didn't have a choice about their energy supply, energy use has not been high on the list of things people think about.

Mainstream discussion about energy use only seems to occur when some major crisis develops. At these junctures, we hear a lot of talk about the need for "energy independence" and for increased production. These days we don't hear a lot of discussion about saving energy, which is the fastest, cleanest and most inexpensive way to increase supply and reduce costs. Once the crisis or incident cools, the intensity of the discussion about how to best meet our energy needs fades, until the next crisis occurs.

In the meantime, a great deal is happening in the energy sector, some of it good and some of it frightfully bad.

The most important development in the energy sector has been the deregulation of the retail electricity generation industry. About half of the 50 states have enacted legislation that will allow the price for generation to be determined by the marketplace. Deregulation, or restructuring, of the electricity industry has the potential to either, change the way we use energy for the better, or continue down the path toward environmental degradation and continued dependence on foreign energy sources. While new technologies are becoming competitive, powerful forces, with the support of the current federal administration, continue to promote unsafe, polluting and inefficient generation sources.

For example, although no new nuclear plants are being ordered in the U.S., the nuclear industry continues to try and ease the licensing process for new plants. At the same time, U.S. nuclear companies, like General Electric and Westinghouse, are pushing nuclear power in developing countries, with U.S. taxpayer dollars to protect them should their nuclear ventures fail.

In the U.S., deregulation has speeded up the process of making customers pay for massive utility investments, essentially nuclear plant construction cost overruns. As a result, while some utilities are getting out of the power generating business, others are keeping old nuclear plants running and using their huge "stranded cost" bailout to buy more nuclear plants.

In a deregulated market, nuclear plants have to run at record availability levels to be competitive, possibly jeopardizing safety. There is still no safe way to store nuclear waste and probably never will be. In addition, these plants regularly vent some of the deadliest gases known to exist, and the process to make commercial grade nuclear fuel contributes to global warming. Then there is decommissioning of these big plants on the horizon, something no one knows how to do, or what it will cost.

CITIZEN POWER, like many other safe energy organizations, has grave concerns about the U.S. failing to learn the lessons from our continuing nuclear debacle. We are convinced that the US can gain energy independence and meet our energy needs without nuclear power or fossile fuels. We subscribe to the Science for Democratic Action's Carbon-Free and Nuclear-Free: A Roadmap for US Energy Policy available here in PDF format (5 MB).

• For more information about nuclear power, you can click here to visit the Nuclear Information and Resource Services (NIRS) site, or go to our link page for other information.

Dirty coal plants, exempted from Clean Air Act requirements, continue to spew record levels of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. About 40% of U.S. air pollution comes from coal-powered plants. According to a January 1998 study by the Clean Air Trust, "Air pollution from coal-fired power plants in the Midwest has increased dramatically as the U.S. electricity market has been opened to competition."

Studies show that total U.S. power sector Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) and Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) emissions could be reduced by 75-80%, beyond the levels mandated by current law, if "grand fathered" coal plants were required to meet Clean Air Act standards. Requiring these old coal plants to come up to Clean Air Act standards is the first step in moving away from using obsolete technologies to generate electricity.

• For more on air quality and electricity production, click here: The Center for Clean Air Policy.

As states deregulate, disclosure mechanisms should be instituted so that customers know the environmental quality of the generation sources they are considering to supply their power. Disclosure or labeling is required for many basic products, like food, automobiles, and appliances. It makes sense that the same kind of consumer friendly labeling should accompany a product as important as energy.

• Click here to find out about the environmental quality of your electricity supplier's product: POWERSCORECARD.

On the positive side, deregulation of the electricity generation industry has opened the door, in a few locations, to customers being able to choose renewable energy generation sources. While these developments can happend without deregulation, they are often coupled with states deregulating. 

• To learn more about renewable energy go to CITIZEN POWER'S Renewable Energy page.

CITIZEN POWER is convinced that the efficient use of energy is the best, immediately available way to decrease the use of unhealthy and inefficient energy sources. The Rocky Mountain Institute estimates that using energy efficiently can reduce our energy demand by 50-75%. For example, under the new national energy efficiency standards soon to be implemented, washing machine efficiency will be improved by 35%, saving consumers about $25 billion and eliminating 77 MMT carbon over the next 30 years.

• To learn more about the tremendous impact using energy efficiently can have click here to go to CITIZEN POWER'S Energy Efficiency
page.

Powerful influences, like the coal and nuclear industry, present a formidable challenge to getting government regulators to institute innovative energy policies. If those resistant to changing the way we use energy have their way, the economic and environmental cost of continued use of outdated technologies will be devastating. For example, some energy analysts predict that, if current trends continue, the U.S. will be dependent on imports for virtually 100% of its oil in just 15 years.

Despite these powerful influences, many excellent organizations are working toward a safe, healthy and efficient energy future. CITIZEN POWER is proud to be part of this national effort, and as you can see in our Education and Advocacy section CITIZEN POWER has had remarkable success in a relatively short time.