renewable resources in the southeast region renewable resources in the southeast region

The American Clean Energy & Security Act of 2009 "discussion draft" introduced by Representatives Waxman and Markey draws upon H.R. In addition to looking at replacing generation with wind or solar, Energy Innovation looked at pairing local solar resources with battery storage to replace some or all of the capacity of each coal plant without costing more than the continued operation of the plant. Increasing electricity generated from biomass sources may be a viable route for compliance with RES requirements nationally, especially as biomass is already the largest source of renewable energy in the United States today. The Southeastern United States, one of the countrys only regions without a competitive wholesale electricity market, is dominated by monopoly utilities, which have favored expensive and polluting fossil fuel generation over cheap clean energy. May 2008. http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/alternate/page/renew_energy_consump/table1.html. Renewable and nonrenewable resources are energy sources that human society uses to function on a daily basis. This blog post examines the land use implications of various energy technologies -- particularly solar. Thestrategy to be undertaken on the Tongass National Forest and in Southeast Alaska includes four primary components: As a part of the strategy, the Secretary of Agriculture made an initial commitment of $25 million to the region. USDA Forest Service photo. Renewable energy resources include biomass, hydro, geothermal, solar, wind, ocean thermal, wave action, and tidal action. petroleum ,limestone ,asphalt, bauxite , naltural gas , gold diamond thi are the nonrenewable resources found in the caribean What will lead to depletion of nonrenewable resources? Gasification technology holds promise for increased efficiency and usefulness of biomass combustion and waste-to-energy technologies. Although biomass-fueled power plants are not immune to such challenges, they are capable of offering base-load capacity, and a viable clean energy alternative for utilities in the Southeast should climate change considerations officially become part of the rationale for a Renewable Electricity Standard. For the purposes of this discussion, southeastern states include Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. It is concerned that competition for biomass resources from new power generation facilities and from transportation fuel uses could drive up prices to the economic detriment of forest product companies. The pulp and paper industry dominates the cogeneration sector today fueled largely by biomass from wood wastes. Waste-to-energy facilities in operation today are typically able to meet clean air standards and requirements.38. This is the type of community development that will bring real solutions and Tlingit & Haida is committed to being a partner in the locally driven collaborative work to help future generations.. 890 (111th Congress) 101, the Federal Renewable Electricity Standard. Overview of the Quality and Completeness of Resource Assessment Data for the APEC Region. Renewable energy development is growing rapidly due to vast population growth and the limited availability of fossil fuels in Southeast Asia. Diversity in biomass supplies will also be key if the resource is to meet competing demands. The Production Tax Credit13 and the Investment Tax Credit14 have been used by the federal government to support renewable energy.15 Recent consideration has also been given to implementing a federal "Feed-in Tariff" (FIT) law. Measuring the Economics of Biofuel Availability. The Golden Age For Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Sign up to receive clean energy updates in your inbox. Our initial Economic Investment effort will commit up to $25 million in federal funding based on local priorities for short-term, project-based investments. (Photo by Rolf [+] Schulten/ullstein bild via Getty Images). Daniel Cusick, "Southern utilities led effort to squash Senate RPS proposal," Earth News, June 26, 2007. In Alabama, for example, people of color are exposed to roughly twice as much PM 2.5 pollution as white people. The next section discusses current and future possible sources of biomass and technologies for renewable energy. Below are lists of the states and territories in the Land Trust Alliance's Southeastern Region, which includes the Atlantic Islands and the Gulf Coast. Policymakers can unleash the power of competition. Georgia Power estimates it will require 160 to 180 truckload deliveries per day to supply the 1 million tons of biomass needed for the 96 MW facility. Other technologies, such as "open-loop" biomass, incremental hydropower, small irrigation systems, landfill gas, and municipal solid waste (MSW), receive a lesser value tax credit. If biomass from forest residues and forest product industry wastes do not prove sufficient to meet RES goals, new resources such as dedicated bioenergy crops or other biomass resources, such as municipal solid waste, may need to be used. Approximately 53% of all renewable energy comes from biomass sources, represented by biofuels, landfill gas, municipal solid waste, wood and wood-derived fuels, and other biomass feedstocks. Under RES proposals, most producers of renewable electricity will receive renewable energy credits or certificates to prove that a certain amount of renewable electricity was produced (usually 1 Megawatt-hour). Generating electricity from renewable resources emits far less of such pollutants. One portfolio would be to continue to operate these coal plants, and another would be to phase them out while replacement generation and capacity from solar, wind, and storage come online. Solar Power & Energy Storage Mountain West. Increased battery storage and system flexibility also reduces the need for seldom-used gas peaking resources, which are mostly eliminated in the RTO by 2040. CRS Report R40529, Biomass: Comparison of Definitions in Legislation, by Kelsi S. Bracmort and [author name scrubbed]. The latest on SEEM, FERC, and the impact on renewable energy The coalition of Southern utilities petitioning to form a new market exchange has responded to a second deficiency letter from FERC. Vietnam has a high potential for renewable energy, including hydro, solar, wind, biomass, and waste. Renewable energy sources, such as biomass, geothermal resources, sunlight, water, and wind, are natural resources that can be converted into these types of clean, usable energy: Bioenergy Geothermal Energy Hydrogen Hydropower Marine Energy Solar Energy Wind Energy Benefits of Renewable Energy The terms RES and RPS (Renewable Portfolio Standard) are often used interchangeably as no material difference exists in program goals. Proposing to restore the 2001 Roadless Rule protections. Biomass has been characterized by advocates for an RES in the Southeast (i.e., Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia) as the region's main renewable resource which could be used to meet a standard. Southeast Renewable Energy Summit. Georgia Power Company, Georgia Power Seeks Approval for Coal Plant Conversion to Biomass, August 22, 2008, http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-22-2008/0004871944&EDATE=. Southern Company, a major electric utility in the Southeast, asserts it could not meet a 15% requirement by 2015, adding that it may be able to raise only 800 megawatts (MW) of an estimated 6,000 MW of new renewable energy capacity required for compliance.47 Southern Company doubts that currently discussed RES requirements of 20% or 25% (by the year 2025) can be achieved using biomass or other renewable energy sources, and the region may have to purchase renewable electricity credits48 (RECs) from other states.49 In the meantime, Southern Company's subsidiary, Georgia Power, has gained approval from the Georgia Public Service Commission to convert Plant Mitchell, a small coal-fired facility near Albany, Georgia, to woody biomass50 with work beginning in 2011 (and ending in 2012) resulting in 96 megawatts of renewable electricity. However, renewable energy from biomass is the exception. Making up some of this gap from market sources using procurement bids and new commercial solar or wind installations may be possible. Senator Bingaman discussion draft, Title VIII, Renewable Portfolio Standard, 111th Congress. These markets are far from perfect in practice, but have directly connected customers to least-cost renewable energy. http://www.fao.org/docrep/w7407e/W7407e05.htm. This article contributes to the growing academic literature on ocean renewable energy (ORE) in SEA by improving understanding of the opportunities and challenges of ORE development in the region . Unless the utility can put its finger on the scale, this analysis indicates the portfolios where these coal plants are phased out should be less expensive than ones where these coal plants continue to operate. From 2016 to 2021, USAIDs $16.3 million Clean Power Asia program also: For the past five years, USAID Clean Power Asia has been working with Lower Mekong countries and other Southeast Asian nations to encourage power sector investments in environmentally friendly, clean energy sources, focusing on incorporating renewable energy into planning, promoting smart incentives, building an enabling environment for renewable energy policies, and mobilizing finance. Juneau, AK (September 6, 2022) Three Southeast Alaska entities today announced regional strengthening agreements supported through the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Southeast Alaska Sustainability Strategy. State governments have generally led the way in deploying other renewable energy technologies. Three regional utilities Tennessee Valley Authority (a federal entity), Southern Company All renewable energy sources combined account for about 10% of the U.S. total energy production. See http://www.epa.gov/oms/renewablefuels/420f07062.htm. Southern Company is considering converting three additional small coal plants to biomass, similar to Plant Mitchell. It calls for a range of policies, such as low-interest loans and strong state interconnection standards that enable new renewables to link to the grid. endstream endobj 212 0 obj <>stream The intra-agency team collected diverse public input to inform opportunities for priority investments and in reducing administrative barriers that support a diverse economy, enhance community resilience, and conserve natural resources. Because every Southeastern coal-fired power plant is unable to compete in an open market scenario, PM 2.5 pollution - one of the most damaging pollutants for human health - drops to near zero by 2040 along with other harmful pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides. A federal RES mandate and consistent, long-term financial incentives are also seen by supporters as necessary to increase renewable electricity generation to attain the goals of cleaner energy and greater energy security. See http://www.ferc.gov/market-oversight/mkt-electric/overview/2009/03-2009-elec-ovr-archive.pdf#xml=http://search.atomz.com/search/pdfhelper.tk?sp_o=4,100000,0. USDA plans to leverage its resources to support these efforts including programs to strengthen small businesses, broadband, renewable energy production, local foods and agriculture production, water and sewer infrastructure, healthcare, housing, outdoor tourism, silviculture support and others as appropriate. The group aims to build renewable energy capacity of 5,000 megawatts across Southeast by 2025. JUNEAU, Alaska, March 31, 2022 The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced 25 projects totaling nearly $9 million of investments that are to be funded through the Southeast Alaska Sustainability Strategy (SASS). Renewable Portfolio Standards. Discover world-changing science. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Pulp & Paperworkers Resource Council, Mill Closures Chart, 2007, http://www.pprc.info/html/millclosures.htm. The Montreal-based international . KINGSTON TN - MARCH 31: Kingston Fossil Plant, commonly known as Kingston Steam Plant, is a [+] 1.4-gigawatt coal-fired power plant located in Roane County, just outside Kingston, Tennessee. Conversely, this situation could potentially benefit landowners in the region who have seen prices for wood fall with the economic decline of the forest products industry. The investments in the three regional strengthening agreements are a critical component of the full $25 million commitment, now fulfilled, which is part of USDAs promise to serve the broader economy of Southeast Alaska and continue to be part of an inclusive, responsive partnership that complements existing efforts toward practical, common-sense solutions. The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) states: Biomass represents about two-thirds of the Southeast's near-term potential for expanding renewable energy. 890, would establish a renewable electricity standard (RES).10 In the Senate, a renewable electricity standard was introduced in S. 433.11 Senator Bingaman had previously released a draft bill to discuss a federal renewable portfolio standard on February 11, 2009.12. The OneUSDA team is continuing to work with Tribal Nations, Alaska Native corporations, and other partners to distribute all funds in 2022. "There have been at least three different proposals back and forth," Stupak said in a short interview yesterday. 709 W. 9th Street Energies. Climate change mitigation goals may have additional impacts on the value of renewable energy credits, and eventual impacts on biomass demand nationwide. But nowadays, possibilities for use include collection of a portion of this material for burning in a biomass boiler, producing steam for electricity, or processing into biofuels (see below) such as cellulosic ethanol, as technologies and new processes are developed. Biomass Resources: The Southeastern United States and the Renewable Electricity Standard Debate, Renewable Energy Resources in the Southeast, Forest-Based Resources: Wood Wastes and Black Liquor, Other Potential Sources of Biomass Energy, Landfill Gas and Municipal Solid Waste [Waste-to-Energy], Potential Biomass Use in the Southeast for RES Requirements, Summary of Barriers and Challenges to Greater Use of Biomass, Technological Challenges and Opportunities, http://www.eia.doe.gov/glossary/glossary_r.htm, http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/alternate/page/renew_energy_consump/table1.html, http://www.eia.doe.gov/glossary/glossary_b.htm, http://americanhistory.si.edu/powering/past/history4.htm, http://www.eia.doe.gov/glossary/glossary_c.htm, http://www.ferc.gov/market-oversight/mkt-electric/overview/elec-ovr-rps.pdf, http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/jul/23/germany.greenbusiness, http://www.ferc.gov/market-oversight/mkt-electric/overview/2009/03-2009-elec-ovr-archive.pdf#xml=http://search.atomz.com/search/pdfhelper.tk?sp_o=4,100000,0, http://www.dsireusa.org/glossary/glossary.cfm?CurrentPageID=8&EE=1&RE=1#con, http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/energy_in_brief/electricity.cfm, http://www.saferalliance.net/projects/bioenergy_roadmap.pdf, http://bioenergy.ornl.gov/pdfs/ornltm-2002199.pdf, http://www.fao.org/docrep/w7407e/W7407e05.htm, http://bioenergy.ornl.gov/faqs/index.html#overview4, http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/pdfs/fta_biomass_cofiring.pdf, ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/010/a0701e/a0701e03.pdf, http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/solar.renewables/page/landfillgas/landfillgas.html, http://wasteage.com/news/waste_epa_report_applauds/, http://www.eia.doe.gov/glossary/glossary_g.htm, http://www.recoveredenergy.com/d_plasma.html, http://www.technologyreview.com/Energy/21029/?a=f, http://www1.eere.energy.gov/ba/pba/pdfs/bio_overview.pdf, http://thehill.com/business--lobby/southern-co.-takes-aim-at-renewable-energy-bill-2007-05-08.html, http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-22-2008/0004871944&EDATE=, http://www.rechargenews.com/energy/biofuels/article171226.ece, http://www.pprc.info/html/millclosures.htm, http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090325.wforestry0325/BNStory/National/, http://www.afandpa.org/Template.cfm?Section=Press_Releases1&template=/PressRelease/PressReleaseDisplay.cfm&PressReleaseID=936&PressReleaseCategoryID=10&ShowArchives=0, http://www.cepi.org/content/default.asp?pageid=10, http://www.epa.gov/oms/renewablefuels/420f07062.htm, http://www.harvestcleanenergy.org/enews/enews_0505/enews_0505_Cellulosic_Ethanol.htm, http://wood.tennessee.edu/NR/rdonlyres/70B5D4FC-FAAB-4DF3-A291-45E39CA5C99A/1310/EconomicAvailabilityofWoodyBiomass.pdf, http://www.esri.com/library/fliers/pdfs/measuringbiofuel.pdf, http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=1975, http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090226/testimony_gruenspecht.pdf. Henning Steinfeld, Pierre Gerber, and Tom Wassenaar, et al., Livestock's Long Shadow - Environmental Issues and Options, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2006, ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/010/a0701e/a0701e03.pdf. See http://wood.tennessee.edu/NR/rdonlyres/70B5D4FC-FAAB-4DF3-A291-45E39CA5C99A/1310/EconomicAvailabilityofWoodyBiomass.pdf. But renewable energy technologies (with the exception of basic biomass combustion) are relatively newly developed and costlier than fossil fuels to produce electricity. Gasification. http://www.ferc.gov/market-oversight/mkt-electric/overview/elec-ovr-rps.pdf. Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Over the past decade, the most rapid growth came from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia and Viet Nam. Demand for woody biomass could also be affected by requirements for biofuels production under the Renewable Fuel Standard60 specified by Congress in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, especially as cellulosic methods for ethanol production are improved. When burned, fossil fuels emit pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides which are subject to environmental controls to limit their release to the air. The OneUSDA team employed a four-step assessment process to inform its recommendation for the initial investment of $25 million. www.eenews.net, 202-628-6500. Chapter 4 highlights regional and national targets and examines the policy and institutional frameworks for scaling up renewables across the region. Discussion with Southern Company, March 31, 2009. Infrastructure total commitment of $3.125 million, which includes about $1.5 million for five projects announced today. Renewable energy project developer, operations manager and energy trading business BayWa re has been steadily establishing itself in the region. This modeling highlights how much seven Southeastern states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee) could gain from a competitive wholesale electricity market and how much they could lose from business-as-usual. decision-makers and leading utility executives and renewable energy players from the most dynamic states in the region providing definitive updates on the issues you'll need to understand to seize the very best opportunities across this dynamic region. Even amidst the COVID-19 global pandemic, we have achieved our goals through our four activity areas of improving power sector planning, fostering supportive policy frameworks, mobilizing finance and investment, and promoting enhanced regional collaboration.. Thanks for reading Scientific American. You may opt-out by. Closing the dirtiest sources of power and adding cheaper renewables would also reduce greenhouse gas emissions nearly 40% in the competitive RTO scenario compared to business-as-usual important for a region that faces up to $60 billion each year in 2050 and up to $99 billion in 2090 in costs from climate-change induced sea level rise and storm surge. The definition of what constitutes biomass has varied over time with changes in law and regulations, reflecting policy goals and evolution of potential uses. to support a diverse economy, enhancecommunity resilience, and conserve natural resources in Southeast Alaska. 45, According to SACE's analysis, biomass is potentially seen as meeting 60% of a near-term RES goal of 15% of all generation in the Southeast (by the year 2015). This buildout of wind, solar, and storage generates 285,000 new jobs in the Southeast through 2040 compared to business-as-usual good jobs in one of the countrys fastest growing economic sectors, offering higher than average wages. Meanwhile, the coastal areas in the region have considerable potential to harness wind energy. These recovery and biomass boilers are responsible for most of the energy generated by the forest products (biomass) sector, either as steam heat for process uses, or electricity generated for on-site use. Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) called the RES a "moving target." Since the USDAs initial announcement about the strategy, more than 289 investment proposals have been brought forward totaling more than $276 million, which indicates both a need and excitement for home-grown, local priorities that reflect the values and peoples of the region., Southeast Conference is excited to be a part of this game-changing shift in the One USDA approach to partnering in economic development throughout our Tongass communities, said Robert Venables, Executive Director for Southeast Conference. The total delivered cost of woody biomass can be calculated as the sum of the costs of procurement (i.e., the amount paid to gain ownership of a biomass resource), collection or harvest costs, and transportation costs. Although some renewable energy technologies have an impact on the environment, renewables are considered environmentally preferable to conventional sources and, when replacing fossil fuels, have significant potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. To learn more, visit the Southeast Alaska Sustainability Strategys webpage. They are finishing up installing a solar panel array at the Aurora Apartments to help offset electrical demand in certain buildings. The key determinants of success related to fuel for a biomass power plant include the availability of biomass resources, prices of the feedstock, and the cost of collection and delivery of these resources. have proposed the voluntary Southeast Energy Exchange Market (SEEM). March 6, 2009. An official website of the Also called "combined heat and power." See http://www.nrel.gov/gis/images/map_biomass_sqkm.jpg, Biomass is possibly mankind's oldest source of energy. on official, secure websites. They contend there is a lack of wind or solar resources that can be delivered economically. Generation sources within seven states in the Southeast RTO model. Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE). USAID Clean Power Asia collaborated with diverse stakeholders, partners, and regional organizations to share lessons learned and best practices across Southeast Asia to accelerate the regional transition to a high performing, low carbon power sector. "These policymakers this year are. The Southeast is one of the country's fastest growing economic sectors and one of the only regions without a competitive wholesale electricity market. For more on Fischer-Tropsch technologies, see CRS Report RL34133, Fischer-Tropsch Fuels from Coal, Natural Gas, and Biomass: Background and Policy, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed]. But this result is indicative of what should be on the table for each utilitys next resource plan. An online data explorer allows users to compare scenarios and understand state-level impacts: By contrast, current utility plans add virtually no wind or storage, only 21 GW of additional solar by 2040, maintain existing coal, and drastically expand gas generation. See http://www.house.gov/jct/x-39-08.pdf. Billions of dollars in savings for customers. The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has agreed on a 23% target for sustainable, modern renewables by 2025. The terms RPS and RES (renewable electricity standard) are often used interchangeably, as no material difference exists in program goals. To this effect, IRENA and the ASEAN Centre for Energy find that $290 billion of . US Department of Energy, Biomass Cofiring in Coal-Fired Boilers, http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/pdfs/fta_biomass_cofiring.pdf. A USDA intra-agency team consulted with Tribal Nations and Alaska Native corporations, and engaged with municipal governments, local partners and communities, and the public to support an integrated approach to economic development planning and implementation. Renewables were used to meet 5 percent of Southeast power sales in 2006, according to the paper, which defines the region as Alabama, the Carolinas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee and Virginia. Addresses historic and/or structural decisions that previously contributed to inequitable access to USDA programs. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack is permanently chartering a regional OneUSDA team to continue this collaborative approach to achieving social, economic, ecological, and cultural sustainability in Southeast Alaska. Picking up where federal research and development dollars left off, states are using the concept of a Renewable Portfolio Standard8 (RPS) to create a market for renewable energy via mandatory goals. Transitioning away from dirty fossil fuels is not just a question of fair competition for clean energy power providers, it's a matter of justice for communities disproportionately burdened by pollution.