Friday, January 30, 2009

Arizona's electrical energy mix



Here in Arizona we get 32% of our electricity from burning coal, 38% from natural gas, 24% from nuclear, and 6% from renewables, according to a new report from the Council of State Governments. [right, Navajo Generating Station at Page, a 2280 megawatt, coal-fired plant]

On a national level, they project that coal will increase its share from 49% to 54% by 2030, as demand for electricity grows 1.1% annually. Natural gas will drop from 22% to 14% as costs rise. Renewable energy use should climb from 9% to 14% but greenhouse gases will still rise 16% because carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) won't be effectively implemented.

The report notes these projections will all change depending on state and federal policy actions.