| National Clean Energy Smart Grid Facts |
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| Written by Marjorie Holt | |
| Monday, April 27 2009 | |
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Energy Future Coalition National Clean Energy Smart Grid Facts Economic Benefits of a National Clean Energy Smart Grid o Obtaining 20% of U.S. electricity from wind in 2030 would create 500,000 grossjobs and $450 billion in economic impact. (Source: U.S. Department of Energy) o Transmission congestion costs homeowners and businesses in the Eastern U.S.$22 billion per year in the form of higher electricity prices. (Source: Union of Concerned Scientists) o A stronger power grid will also be more reliable, significantly reducing theimmense cost of power outages for American consumers and businesses. The 2003 blackout in the Northeast U.S. and Canada caused an estimated $7-10 billion in economic losses. (Source: ICF Consulting) o Up to 280,000 new jobs can be created directly from the deployment of SmartGrid technologies, in addition to enabling a substantial number of indirect jobs through the deployment of new technologies. (Source: GridWise Alliance) o The solar industry can create an estimated 440,000 gross jobs and $325 billion ineconomic development over the next eight years. (Source: Solar Electric Power Association) o The wind energy sector alone will account for 184,000 jobs in the EuropeanUnion in 2010, and an estimated 318,000 by 2020. (Source: European Wind Energy Association) o An investment of $10 billion in 25-year solar power purchase agreements wouldproduce 4,000 MW of energy and create 350,000 jobs. (Source Solar Energy Industries Association) Environmental Benefits of a National Clean Energy Smart Grid o “Smart Grid” enabled distribution would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by upto 25%. (Source: The Electric Power Research Institute) o A 25% reduction in CO2 emissions would lower electric sector CO2 emissions by 7.6 billion tons by 2030; the same impact as removing 140 million cars from theroad. This reduction would in turn lower electric sector coal use by 18%, electric sector natural gas use by 50%, and avoid the construction of 80,000 megawatts (MW) of new coal-fired power plants. (Source: U.S. Department of Energy) o The wind power capacity installed in Europe by the end of 2007 (56.5 GW) willeliminate the emission of about 90 million tons of CO2 per year (Source: European Wind Energy Association) o The use of wind as 20% of the U.S. power supply would save 4 trillion gallons ofwater between now and 2030. (Source: U.S. Department of Energy) |
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