80% clean electricity by 2035? Can We Do It?

Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Did you watch President Obama's State of the Union address last night?  He talked about a number of green initiatives including green jobs.  The big green challenge he set forth was for the US to get 80% of its electricity from clean sources by the year 2035.

Now, clean energy breakthroughs will only translate into clean energy jobs if businesses know there will be a market for what they’re selling.  So tonight, I challenge you to join me in setting a new goal:  By 2035, 80 percent of America’s electricity will come from clean energy sources.
President Barack Obama, January 25, 2011 State of the Union Address

I think this is a wonderful challenge for several reasons.

One, it is achievable without needing major technological breakthroughs.  We already have wind, solar, and nuclear to provide clean electricity and if other clean electricity technologies come to fruition in the next quarter century, then all the better.

U.S. Primary Energy Flow by Source and Sector, 2009 - EIA

Two, it is specific about a goal that we can measure.  The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) already collects and reports on this data.  By focusing on electricity, which  as of 2009, was 41% (and growing) portion of the energy consumption in the US, we are tackling a meaningful problem.  Just think what that will look like as we see the electrification of the transportation sector.

Three, it does not pick the solutions.  Governments, including ours, are notorious about picking solutions to problems based on political motivations or even the best intentions of the policy makers who cannot be experts on the topics.  Look how well the Ethanol choice went.  As an engineer, I am glad that the President identified what the solved problem looks like, but will let the innovative capitalistic market we have drive the appropriate and cost effective solutions.

Four, it is a stretch goal.  We cannot move from what is today less than 17% clean electricity to 80% without a nation wide commitment to deploying and utilizing clean electricity generation.  This is our generations mission to the moon.

We can and must meet this challenge!  Tell us your reactions and thoughts from the State of the Union.

Happy Greening!
Jon

Solar Hot Water Heating up in Massachusetts

Image courtesy of solarenergyfactsblog.com

I'm really excited to see the new solar energy incentive program testing the waters in Massachusetts.  MassCEC is conducting a trial for a residential solar hot water incentive program.  Scheduled to begin in February 2011, the Commonwealth Solar Hot Water program will provide $12.50/sq ft of collector plus a $200 Massachusetts manufactured component adder for residential installations of solar domestic hot water systems (DHW).  A standard installation will cost $8,000-10,000 before rebates and combined with federal incentives, the net cost of the system will end up about half of that.

In New England, a typical one or two plate collector solar hot water system can provide 50-75% of the hot water needs for a family of four saving about $500 per year in energy costs.

MassCEC is hosting a free webinar on January 26 to discuss the technical details of the program geared towards installer, pre-registration is required.

Now if only there was an Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC) equivalency program that would track and give credit for solar thermal (aka solar hot water) production.  I've seen a couple different meters for tracking energy production from solar hot water systems that convert it to kWh.  That would really get the solar hot water industry booming in Massachusetts and lead to more clean renewable solar energy being produced in Massachusetts rather than burning natural gas, oil or electricity to heat water.

Happy Greening!
Jon