WHAT: The World Resources Institute (WRI), Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA), and Southface will hold a tele-press conference to discuss the third report in a three-part series on energy opportunities in the Southeast United States. Water and Watts examines the region’s heavy dependence on water for electricity produced at coal and nuclear power plants. The report shows how clean energy policies can protect diminishing freshwater supplies and meet the energy demands of a growing population.
Energy use is the largest driver of GHG emissions, primarily the burning of fossil fuels in the electricity generation, transportation, and industrial sectors.
In the Southeast from 1997 to 2006, total fossil fuel consumption increased approximately 14 percent, outpacing the national average rate of 5 percent growth.
As of 2006, the Southeast relied on fossil fuel sources for approximately 80 percent of its total energy consumption (see chart), a total that is similar to, but slightly below, the national average o
Energy efficiency is significantly cheaper than producing electricity with new power plants (see chart) and offers additional economic and environmental benefits.
Energy efficiency policies in the Southeast U.S. can help reduce electricity use by more than 10 percent over the next six years - saving the same amount of power generated by more than 30 coal-fired power plants, according to a report released today by the World Resources Institute (WRI), the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA), and Southface.
Nuclear power plants withdraw and consume the largest
amounts of water, followed by power plants that use fossil fuels
(coal or oil), biomass, or waste.
Nearly 40 billion gallons are withdrawn each day from Southeast
freshwater supplies for thermoelectric power plants–about 65
percent of all withdrawals.
On April 17, 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a finding that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions pose a threat to public health and welfare, opening the door to GHG regulation under the Clean Air Act. This fact sheet answers some common questions about how GHGs could be regulated, what outcomes could result from the EPA’s process, and how regulations could impact business.
The first meeting of the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate wrapped up here yesterday. The forum, convened by U.S. President Barack Obama, was attended by representatives of 17 major economies, the United Nations, and several developing countries.
A group of major corporate energy buyers announced today that they have reached their collective goal of purchasing 1,000 megawatts of new, cost-competitive power generated from renewable-energy sources - enough power to displace a large coal-fired power plant.
The World Resources Institute (WRI)—together with the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA), Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE), and Southface—compiled high-level overviews of regional opportunities to enhance energy efficiency, develop renewable electric power resources, and manage water-energy relationships.
Watch WRI’s Eliot Metzger discuss the energy efficiency potential in the Southeast with Clean Skies News: