Dominion Virginia Power Proves the Sierra Club Right

Also, his claims about mandatory Renewable Portfolio Standards (0.00 / 0)

are questionable. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, in fact, "A 20 Percent National Renewable Electricity Standard Will Save Consumers Money and Reduce Global Warming Emissions."

Under a national renewable electricity standard, consumers would experience a slight reduction in their cumulative electricity and natural gas bills compared to business as usual (BAU). By 2030, consumers would save cumulatively $16.4 billion on their electricity and natural gas bills under a 15 percent standard, and $10.8 billion under a 20 percent standard.3 Consumers in the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors are all projected to save money on their energy bills.

A national renewable standard increases the use of renewable energy and reduces the projected demand for fossil fuels, creating new competitors for the fuel sources that currently dominate the U.S. electricity mix. As a result, renewable energy helps reduce the price of fossil fuels and restrain the ability of fossil fuel prices to increase in the future. Natural gas and coal therefore costs less for electricity generation, as well as for other purposes, benefiting both electricity consumers and other natural gas consumers.

Does the CEO of Dominion Power really not understand any of that, or is he just intentionally ignoring the long-term benefits (economic, national security, environmental) of switching to renewable energy?

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by: lowkell @ Sun Jan 08, 2012 at 21:04:52 PM UTC

Biomass energy (0.00 / 0)

Please would someone clarify for me what biomass is.  Is it incineration of trash?  

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by: Peggy @ Mon Jan 09, 2012 at 15:56:23 PM UTC

Definition (0.00 / 0)

Per Wikipedia:

Biomass, as a renewable energy source, is biological material from living, or recently living organisms.[1] As an energy source, biomass can either be used directly, or converted into other energy products such as biofuel.

In the first sense, biomass is plant matter used to generate electricity with steam turbines & gasifiers or produce heat, usually by direct combustion. Examples include forest residues (such as dead trees, branches and tree stumps), yard clippings, wood chips and even municipal solid waste. In the second sense, biomass includes plant or animal matter that can be converted into fibers or other industrial chemicals, including biofuels. Industrial biomass can be grown from numerous types of plants, including miscanthus, switchgrass, hemp, corn, poplar, willow, sorghum, sugarcane,[2] and a variety of tree species, ranging from eucalyptus to oil palm (palm oil).

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by: lowkell @ Mon Jan 09, 2012 at 16:21:48 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

"even municipal solid waste" (0.00 / 0)

Curious to know where Dominion's biomass comes from.  What is your position on whether or not garbage should be considered a renewable resource? thanks

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by: Peggy @ Wed Jan 11, 2012 at 02:42:44 AM UTC